Smokeless fuel - corrosion issue!

Si_Clist

We have a Stovax Brunel stove which was installed 12 years ago (together with a new top-quality stainless liner), on which we burned nothing but dry (<20%) hardwood until two years ago when, alas, we switched to Multiheat smokeless.   We now know that

1  Our liner is corroded to hell and is actually in two pieces

2  There is quite significant corrosion in the stove itself.  For one example, the door-glass clips which were still perfectly OK two years ago are now crumbling away, one having almost disappeared completely.

3  Whenever you mention "smokeless fuel" to a sweep or a flue liner bloke round here, you get a knowing look, usually accompanied by "oh dear ..."

Whatever, we have now seen the error of our ways and are going back to wood. We are though left with a large quantity of Multiheat, so my question is - what's the best plan for using this up while at the same time minimising its corrosive effect?  I'm guessing that most of the acid formation occurs before the system gets up to temperature, therefore we'd be better off getting a good wood fire going then adding some Multiheat than using Multiheat from cold.  However, we'd then be burning Multiheat over a longer period to get rid of it all, so the corrosive effect would be spread over maybe two winters instead of one.

What would you do, given that a new stainless liner goes in next week and we can't afford to write off our stash of Multiheat?

Swipe

Have you been mixing wood and smokeless as the by-product is really bad for corrosion?

Si_Clist

Swipe said:

Have you been mixing wood and smokeless as the by-product is really bad for corrosion?

No.

(which was 6 characters too short to post)

Si_Clist

Problem now solved, thank you.

dunstonh

What was the problem?

Ectophile

Si_Clist said:

Problem now solved, thank you.

Do tell... how?

Si_Clist

Ectophile said:

Si_Clist said:

Problem now solved, thank you.

Do tell... how?

Short answer is that we discovered that the liner we believed to be a 904 was actually a 316, and that the smokeless we were sold is a lot higher moisture content than we'd realised.

A new 904 liner goes in tomorrow all being well, and we'll be doing our best to dry out our stock of smokeless between now and October.  It's all bagged, so the plan is to slit the tops of the bags open to let it breathe, and cover the open tops with a tarpaulin when it rains.  Not perfect but it's got to improve matters.

We'll then burn 100% smokeless until it's all gone, then revert to wood. 

A._Badger

Si_Clist said:

Ectophile said:

Si_Clist said:

Problem now solved, thank you.

Do tell... how?

Short answer is that we discovered that the liner we believed to be a 904 was actually a 316, and that the smokeless we were sold is a lot higher moisture content than we'd realised.

A new 904 liner goes in tomorrow all being well, and we'll be doing our best to dry out our stock of smokeless between now and October.  It's all bagged, so the plan is to slit the tops of the bags open to let it breathe, and cover the open tops with a tarpaulin when it rains.  Not perfect but it's got to improve matters.

We'll then burn 100% smokeless until it's all gone, then revert to wood. 

As much of an issue as damp could be the sulphur content. You can find the supposed level on the DEFRA website: https://smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/fuels.php?country=england

I've burned smokeless fuel for over a decade with the current liner and often with wood. So far, no problems. That said,,I have my suspicions about some of the smokeless fuel on sale, as to whether it really is as low in sulphur as is claimed. 

Si_Clist

Cheers for that link.  Very interesting.  BTW, we now realise that three winters' burning on our Stovax stove has corroded the stove itself far more than the previous 9 years of wood ever did, so roll on the day when we've got shut of it all.

A._Badger

I find this very strange. i've had three different stoves over the years, two steel and one cast iron. all have mostly been used with smokeless and none has shown any sign of corrosion.  Stovax is a reputable maker, have you considered asking them what they think is behind this? If it were a general problem with smokeless fuels, other people would have experienced it, surely?  

greyteam1959

I have a Clearview stove & have used Oxbow Red smokeless fuel when I have run out of dry pallet wood.
Been doing this for the last 10 years.
No sign of liner corrosion & absolutely no stove corrosion.
I presume you have a proper chimney / flue cap on ??
The corrosion could be down to rainwater ingress if not.