Three's a Crowd

[Oilking]

I would not be surprised if research was to discover that welders and boilermen have what is called the "Moth Gene" thus accounting for our fascination with hot and bright light ?

Dave

[Steamboat Mike]

Steve, Minor (or not) correction, but my boiler has 61 tubes 1.250 diameter, 14" long. Drafts like a Clydesdale and really no appreciable difference in stack temperature from the Mark 1 version that had tubes same diameter but 24" long. I think this is a result of the effect that some researchers observed at an engineering university in New Zealand that determined that flue gasses went from incandescent to stack temperature in the first 6" of tube length and the rest of the tube is just a conduit for the spent gasses. With a little sooting of the tubes, this extra length seems to add a great deal of drag to the flow to the stack with little if any heat gain.
It is my thought that 1" tubes are on the small side for solid fuel firing from the aspect of sooting, however your results may vary. The primary considerations are height of firebox for clean, hot combustion. I remember reading somewhere that the firebox surface is many times more effective as a radiant heat transfer than the tubes are by conduction. At least 1/2" ligaments and space between tubes and at least 1 1/2" water leg for good circulation. I look forward to seeing the finished boiler.
Best regards, Steamboat Mike

[S. Weaver]

Mike, the tube design mod is Kelly's. His mileage may vary ... The tubes are also 14" long. I'm sure you and he (and Scott), will be conducting side-by-side sea trials.

Dave, when I was apprenticing with a nuclear man in the late seventies, he made a point of telling me not to look at the arc like "some daft fool." (Which begs the question: How could he tell I was focusing on the arc?) My welding immediately improved as I focused on the molten puddle and flow. In weaker moments I'm still drawn to the arc ...