Alternate Solid Fuels

[Bill Shields]

I would like to hear what others do for alternate solid fuels.

We have a 3/4" Tich that has to run on something that will not load up the grate because there is no way to dump the grate...

For years, we have been running it on high-volatile petroleum (green) coke with great success...once this stuff gets burning, EVERYTHING goes up the stack, there is literally nothing left on the grate.

So for years it has been coke or no-run...period..I believe that we have burned up 2 x 55 gallon drums of the stuff over the years...and that is a LOT of Tich miles....

For our 3/4" vertical boiled 'tom thumb' variant, we are also using the coke..burns clean and hot and what the heck, is virtually free if you know where to get it.

Has anyone else tried this stuff and if so, what sucess....or do you have any other alternate that burns absolutely clean?

[pockets]

Bill, in the February, 1988 issue of Modeltec there is an article about a Wilbur Kloppenberg. He states that he burned corn cobs and that they burned very hot and left no ash.

Just a thought,
Greg B.

[Bill Shields]

REALLY....corn cobs?

I can believe the no-ash part, but would have thought that the BTU/# would be rather low.

I will walk out my back yard and grab a bushel backet or so from my field and grind them up and see what happens.....

Thanks...

[Unka Jesse]

The Klockenburg locomotive lettered "The Corn Cob Route" is now owned by Tim Mikko of near St. Louis and it is usually at MSLS meets. Mr. Klockenburg had access to reject cobs from a corncob pipe factory and apparently they worked quite well. This brings to the subject of burning corn kernels themselves. I had intended to take some corn to the MSLS meet this fall and see if I could con someone into burning them for fuel, but forgot to load any in the wonderful DODGE Cummins diesel pu truck bed. Wood pellet stoves successfully burn corn so it should work in our stuff too. I have only one locomotive that has coal grates in it right now and that is my Mich-Cal Shay so I haven't personally tried the corn. Next time I will take some with the Shay. (unless I fergits again http://bbs.livesteam.net//frown.gif)

Unka Jesse

[Bill Shields]

Good Grief!!!

I am interested in stuff you dig up from the ground, not stuff that grows. Corn cobs, corn kernels..why not camel droppings? Heck the bedouins have been using them for years to heat their tents....

Next thing you know, somebody will be extolling the virtues of running their engine on biodiesel.

[This message has been edited by Bill Shields (edited 11-08-2005).]

[pockets]

Bill, you asked....We're just tryin' ter hep. LOL

Jesse, wouldn't burnin' corn be a waist of squeezins material?

Regards,
Greg B.

[Bill Shields]

OK...how about we restrict this topic to more along the lines of stuff dug up from the ground...and let's leave out the story of digging my 3/4 Hudson out of an embankment many years ago (and fortunately a continent or 2 away)...

So, does anybody out there (except for me and couple of friends) even KNOW what green (uncalcined) petroleum coke IS?

[pockets]

No, Bill, but I'd be interested in learning.

Best regards,
Greg B.

[Bill Shields]

Coke.

Comes from petroleum refineries as almost a waste product.

Looks like porous coal.

Depending on the variety, either burns well or hardly at all....hence the 'green' or uncalcined that has a high volatile (hydrocarbon) contant.

When it does burn, does so very hot and very clean - no clinkers..practically a clean grate if you let it burn out.

Very advantageous for small engines with small grates that are tough to clean.

Drawback...you have to get the stuff HOT to get it to burn, but once it starts, it is wonderful stuff....loves a deep fire and lots of draught....

Guys with big engines don't seem to like (or appreciate) it as much as us with small engines...which is why I am surveying the small engine market under WHAT GAUGE to see if there MIGHT be enough interest in the stuff to maybe justify my getting a dump truck full....(my wife would love that)...

I have a fellow that GIVES me what I want in 5 gallon buckets right now, but heck, a 55 gallon bucket costs not much more than the price of gas to go get it.

We USED to pick it up off the ground along the RR tracks at the local refinery, but since 9/11, all that has been fenced off...guess someone things some terrorst might make a 'coke bomb' or something...

So...answer your question?

[GWRdriver]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">So, does anybody out there (except for me and couple of friends) even KNOW what green petroleum coke IS?</font>

I wish I could say you belonged to a more exclusive club but members of the MSLS club began using it around 1967, mixed 50/50 or so with Pocahontas #3. This was promoted by a certain strong-willed individual who was convinced it was the only way to fire and pushed everyone else to use it also. Steaming was good but grate mortality was high and the exhaust fumes also made some people really sick. After a while the use of a PC blend ended.

Supply was never a problem, the L&NRR conveniently derailed a 40tn car of it not too far from Nashville, on the way to the club track, and even after a cleanup quite a few tons were left.

[Bill Shields]

GWRD:

ah HA, so someone else has used it.

Interesting that you had grate problems. Have burned almost 3 55 gallon drums of the stuff through our tich, and the grate still looks like new....

Would think you must have had high-sulphur stuff if it was making people sick..

Other than those two points, any other thoughts?

[GWRdriver]

No, other than Pocahontas #3 was the cleanest burning stuff readily available at that time (or so I was told), aside from Welsh steam coal of course, and no one in our bunch was going to bother trying to get any of that. I was just getting started at that time so coals was coals to me.

I think part of the grate problem was that some people were trying to get away with laminated CRS grates rather than fool with SS or CI. The CRS didn't last long. I do recall that there were a few isolated problems when folks mixed in too much coke, and things got a bit too hot.

[Bill Shields]

Ah Yes, CRS Grates, only slightly better than brass....of course, none of my personal engines have anything but propane burners...when you live in the desert, and the nearest coal supplier is 2 continents away...go gas...besides, you can always stick a hot dog in the firedoor while running and have lunch....

[Unka Jesse]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by pockets:
Bill, you asked....We're just tryin' ter hep. LOL

Jesse, wouldn't burnin' corn be a waist of squeezins material?

Regards,
Greg B.</font>

Pockets, the corn I have was stored in a five gallon bucket that was originally filled with diesel fuel. Result is that the corn has a di-stinkly oily smell to it and I am afraid to use it for squeezings. http://bbs.livesteam.net//smile.gif

I thought the topic was about alternate fuels is why I brought up the corn/fuel post. I have some coal that was given to me from the basement of a house in Troy. Stuff burns well, has high sulphur content, but leaves little ash and no clinkers. I have no idea what kind of coal it is, but I bet the EPA would have a running hissy fit if they got a whiff of my Mich-Cal Shay using the stuff, but hey, it was free and I am frugal (spelled c-h-e-a-p).

Unka Jesse
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c400/Unkajesse/Ogg.gif

[Bill Shields]

Let's see...diesel in the squeezin's...that's called Jack Daniels isn't it?