ScottyWelden
10-09-2016, 10:24 PM
I'm working on my 3rd-generation homemade evaporator. I have shell (fire brick this year) surrounded by ceramic insulation, all inside cinder blocks. My arch length is 4' and my vent was 7' (6" stove pipe). I have good, adjustable air flow underneath from the front (usually about equal to 6" round). This year I'll increase the vent height to 8 or 9'.
Here are the questions:
1) Last year I'd sometimes get flames shooting out the top of my pipe. I read something about "air over fire" helping to burn off gases. If this is indeed the fix, how much air should I allow in, and is it best located toward the front, middle, or rear of the evaporator? Would a couple of 1/2" holes work?
2) I also would get thick black smoke sometimes- -maybe when I tried to cool the fire by reducing air in. I read that this smoke might be from too much wood vs. too little incoming air. So I guess this means I just have to be smarter about how much wood to add, yes?
Thanks for any advice!
Here are the questions:
1) Last year I'd sometimes get flames shooting out the top of my pipe. I read something about "air over fire" helping to burn off gases. If this is indeed the fix, how much air should I allow in, and is it best located toward the front, middle, or rear of the evaporator? Would a couple of 1/2" holes work?
2) I also would get thick black smoke sometimes- -maybe when I tried to cool the fire by reducing air in. I read that this smoke might be from too much wood vs. too little incoming air. So I guess this means I just have to be smarter about how much wood to add, yes?
Thanks for any advice!