Section 2 - Operating Instructions; Wood Selection And Preparation - Central Boiler Pallet Burner Dual Fuel Owner's Manual

SECTION 2 – OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Fig. 36

Wood Selection and Preparation

For the best results, it is best to burn seasoned split
wood. However, it may be possible to burn some unsplit
wood with the split wood depending on quality, size,
moisture content and wood type. Properly seasoned
wood contains less than 25% moisture by weight. Most
wood needs to be split to dry down to 25% within a year.
Wood between 4" and 8" (10 and 20 cm) in diameter
works well in most cases. Pieces of wood that are too
large can reduce output capacity because they burn
slower.
• Seasoned wood burns more efficiently, minimizes
the amount of creosote formation, reduces
emissions and extends the life of the outdoor
furnace.
• Maintain a quantity of smaller, drier pieces of
wood for relighting the fire and for other situations
when larger pieces of wood don't work as well.
• The larger the heat load on the outdoor furnace, the
drier the wood needs to be in order to maintain an
adequate glowing coal bed.
Following are some reasons that green, unseasoned
wood should not be used:
• Green wood contains about 50% moisture by
weight. Energy is required to heat the wood and
evaporate the moisture - energy which could have
been used to provide heat. The illustration shows
that burning drier, seasoned wood provides
more energy for heating compared with burning
green, unseasoned wood that uses more energy to
evaporate the moisture and provides less energy
for heating.
• Unseasoned wood provides less heat, resulting in
more condensates (moisture) in the firebox and
increased wood consumption.
• Increased moisture in the firebox can result in
corrosion.
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• Unseasoned wood causes reduced performance,
lower combustion rates and lower heat output.
• The full heating potential is unlikely to be achieved
with unseasoned wood.
• Burning wood with an excessively high moisture
content increases maintenance requirements and
can lower the service life of the outdoor furnace.
• The higher the moisture content of the wood being
burned, the harder it is to maintain a glowing coal
bed because it burns more slowly.
NOTE: Do not store wood within the outdoor
furnace installation clearances or within the
spaces required for fueling, ash removal and
other routine maintenance operations.

Section 2 - Operating Instructions