Operating Instructions; The Burning Process; Start-Up & Primary Air Systems - Quadra-Fire 2100 Millennium Owner's Manual

BURNING PROCESS
In recent years there has been an increasing concern about
air quality. Much of the blame for poor air quality has been
placed on the burning of wood for home heating. In order
to improve the situation, we at Quadra-Fire have developed
cleaner-burning wood stoves that surpass the requirements
for emissions established by our governing agencies. These
wood stoves, like any other appliances, must be properly
operated in order to insure that they perform the way they are
designed to perform. Improper operation can turn most any
wood stove into a smoldering environmental hazard.
KINDLING or 1st STAGE
It helps to know a little about the actual process of burning
in order to understand what goes on inside a stove. The first
stage of burning is called the kindling stage. In this stage, the
wood is heated to a temperature high enough to evaporate
the moisture which is present in all wood. The wood will reach
the boiling point of water (212°F) and will not get any hotter
until the water is evaporated. This process takes heat from
the coals and tends to cool the stove.
Fire requires three things to burn: fuel, air and heat. So, if
heat is robbed from the stove during the drying stage, the
new load of wood has reduced the chances for a good clean
burn. For this reason, it is always best to burn dry, seasoned
firewood. When the wood isn't dry, you must open the air
controls and burn the stove at a high burn setting for a longer
time to start it burning. The heat generated from the fire
should be warming your home and establishing the flue draft,
not evaporating the moisutre out of wet, unserasoned wood,
resulting in wasted heat.
The air control in the center of the pedestal is called the
Start -Up Air Control; it is used during the kindling stage
of burning. It must be closed (pulled out) after the first 5
to 15 minutes.
2nd STAGE
The next stage of burning, the secondary stage, is the period
when the wood gives off flammable gases which burn above
the fuel with bright flames. During this stage of burning it is
very important that the flames be maintained and not allowed
to go out. This will ensure the cleanest possible fire. If you
are adjusting your stove for a low burn rate, you should close
down the air to the point where you can still maintain some
flame. If the flames tend to go out, the stove is set too low
for your burning conditions. The air control, immediately
beneath the ashcatcher, is the one used to adjust the stove
for burn rates. This is called the Primary Control.
Figure 15A.
250-6931C November 3, 2004
2100 ACT Millennium Wood Stove

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE USING STOVE
See
FINAL STAGE
The final stage of burning is the charcoal stage. This
occurs when the flammable gases have been mostly
burned and only charcoal remains. This is a naturally
clean portion of the burn. The coals burn with hot blue
flames.
It is very important to reload your stove while enough
lively hot coals remain in order to provide the amount of
heat needed to dry and rekindle the next load of wood.
It is best to open the air controls for a short while before
reloading. This livens up the coalbed. Open door
slowly so that ash or smoke does not exit stove through
opening. You should also break up any large chunks
and distribute the coals so that the new wood is laid
on hot coals.
Air quality is important to all of us, and if we choose to use
wood to heat our homes we should do so responsibly. To
do this we need to learn to burn our stoves in the cleanest
way possible. Doing this will allow us to continue using
our wood stoves for many years to come.
AIR CONTROLS
START-UP AIR SYSTEM
The combustion air enters at the rear of the firebox
through the rear air tubes. This air supply is controlled
by the Start-up Air Control.
PRIMARY AIR SYSTEM
The primary air enters at the upper front of the firebox,
near the top of the glass door. This preheated air
supplies the necessary fresh oxygen to mix with the
unburned gases, helping to create secondary, tertiary
and quaternary combustions. This air is regulated by the
Primary Control. For more primary air push control in,
for less air pull control out.
START-UP AIR
CONTROL
FIGURE 15A
OPEN - PUSH IN Rod
PRIMARY AIR
CONTROL
CLOSE - PULL OUT Rod
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