Fuel consumption - Oil vs Propane Pros/Cons

[Mfoxchicago]

Evening Mike, not sure.....???? I guess he has a steam atomizing configuration. This boat has been fired with crankcase oil for many years. He states that he collects it, strains it through a basic sieve to remove any metal particulate there may be, adds a touch of clean diesel and then fuels up the boat's fuel tank with this mixture - runs smoothly for him. Also, he describes having adapted the burner to be serviced by two alternating fuel line connections. Either of which can be switched over when on occasion the working one gets a clog or becomes fouled up; pretty smart it sounds to me.

Always impresses me how practical and yet resourceful Steamboaters can be when need be.

Mack

[Lopez Mike]

I wonder if anyone has tried a regen burner with heavier oils like crankcase drainings? It would take a bigger coil, of course. Probably wouldn't throttle down worth a toot. It would sure cure some water consumption issues for a boater I know.

Mike

[barts]

Meh. I had a vaporizer on my old boiler. Too much carbonizing. Need to tune burner.

- Bart

[fredrosse]

As far as solar heating of the feedwater, not a practical option on a boat. The surface area for solar collection would have to be very large (probably the full area of a typical steamboat canopy), and might, at best, save you a couple of percent (1% - 3% ) reduction of your fuel consumption. Keeping reasonable focus of the sun's rays onto the heating pipe would be very doubtful.

Oil burners generally come in several types:

1.Electric driven atomizing burners typical for home heating furnaces, these are efficient, but require electricity, something many steamboaters want to avoid.

2. Steam atomized oil burner type, where superheated steam sprays and atomizes the oil flow into the firebox. These work well, but you need to get steam up before using them, and they consume water reserves, a negative issue with boats that operate in brackish (or ocean) water. Compressed air can also be used here, that works, but the compressor would usually rob way too much power. Some have used propane to atomize the oil, that works well, but then you have all the propane apparatus, and its safety issues.

3. Pressurized Vaporizing Burners, the same as a Coleman gasoline stove, or the Stanley Steamer type burner. These pass the oil through a tube in the firebox, vaporizing the oil, and a pressurized jet of gaseous fuel induces combustion air which mixes with the vapor and then burns. Plenty of heat, but a fuel tank full of oil or kerosene or gasoline at pressure (up to 100+ psi on the Stanley type), and carbon deposits buildup in the vaporizing tube.

4. Atmospheric Vaporizing Burners, burner heat vaporizes the oil before it mixes with combustion air, but all this happens with no pressurized oil or air, typically too low an output for a steamboat. Surplus US Army "Tent Heaters" are still marketed for this type burner. They will burn Gasoline, Jet fuel, Kerosene, No 2 fuel oil, waste oil, peanut oil, or olive oil.....etc.

As Mike points out, It is not clear which type of burner you have?

[Mfoxchicago]

Thanks for the Primer Fred, I always learn so much from your and other's posting here; glad I joined the Group.

I made inquires - my intended boat has a Steam Atomizing Oil Burner. She has a 12V DC Induced Draft Fan & a Stack Blower.

I am leaning more and more in the direction of leaving the Boiler Firebox and Burner the way they are. Guess I will have to build some partnerships with local Oil Change Shops to establish a steady supply of Crank Oil.

Mack

[Mike Rometer]

Here in the UK, most of that stuff (used oil) is collected by tanker from the Service Stations etc. and taken to be re-refined. Same with used cooking oils which go to bio-fuel.

[Oilking]

Dave Bell of the "Captain Bell" uses propane to atomize the fuel oil (waste engine oil diluted with diesel) on light off and then switches over to steam when the boiler reaches 10psi. He has this set up so the cross over is automatic. His web page explains the details:http://www.captainbell.com/capbeltechnical.html

Happy steaming.

Dave

[Mfoxchicago]

Thanks Dave, Yep, the owner of the boat I am considering states that he first fires up the boiler with wood, when the gauge hits 15-20psi, he can then kick in the steam atomizing burner with the Used Crank Oil.

I poked around at two of the better known Oil Change/Car Wash outfits around town today. I live in "Oil Country" West Texas, both owners stated that they sell their used oil to a collection outfit for around $2.00 per gallon - it's a revenue source for them; did not seem interested in working with me. I suspect I will have to partner up with a network of smaller "mom & pap" Garages to establish a reliable source for this fuel.

I did get the name of the outfit that buys/collects the used oil - who knows - perhaps they will sell the unfiltered raw product to me before they head out of town to the refinery.

Someone also suggested reaching out to the Oil Field Mechanics that service all these Oil Field Trucks and equipment that get serviced constantly.

Wood would be less hassle to lay hands on, but I would loose so many BTU's and still have to pay someone, something to go out in the fields to cull the waste mesquite wood for me. Plus, cut it down to size.

Guess it will be what it will be.

Thanks anyway Dave and all the others that have helped me clarify this decision in my mind and my business plan.

Mack

[Cyruscosmo]

There's an idea I had not thought about, what to fire my boiler with? Hell I am still working out what hull engine and boiler combination I wanna build. I have access to all the pallets I can carry as well as all the used oil I care to cart away. Maybe I should think about an oil tank somewhere under the floor boards as well. The oil pump is very small and driving it off the steam engine would be a snap.

Many years ago my brother and I set up an old 30-gallon horizontal air compressor tank as a wood stove in his shop. We had a few barrels "12" of old engine oil left over from the previous owner of the property who ran an excavating business. One night we were talking about what to do with the oil after having added a few gallons of our own after changing the oil in our trucks. "We were in to 4 wheelin and camping at the time." My brother was talking about buying a used engine oil burner to heat his shop and me being the experimenter type talked him in to building one instead.

We started with the oil pump from an oil fired heating unit that did not work. We set up a double spin on remote oil filter unit off one of our old trucks. Then I took apart an old fan and used the motor to turn the oil pump with a bit of fuel hose used as the flexible coupler. We did some TIG welding of various pipe and fittings "who needs Teflon tape anyway?" to get it all hooked up.

At first the oil did not burn very well until I made a flame holder for it. It burned better but still did not have the "zing" we thought it should so we I added a few feet of brake line between the pump and the tip that was wrapped around the flue pipe to preheat the oil. That was all it took to get a fine atomization and a really hot fire. Over the next few winters we refined the burner until it sounded more like a little jet engine and used all that oil and went looking for more.

I am thinking that one could drive the oil pump, which is about the size of my fist with the steam engine, and forgo using steam to atomize the oil. The pump will pressurize the oil enough to get a good spray going. And pre heating the oil would be easy with all that live steam about.

Start the boiler on wood and then switch to oil when things got hot enough.

Scott

[Mfoxchicago]

Great story and thanks for sharing your experience with me Scott, much appreciated.

Mack