Propane Burner options

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gwrdriver
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by gwrdriver »

Chris,
Is there any design information available for Von Ruben burners?
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NP317
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by NP317 »

Chris:
Al Von Rude told me he made a burner for "a Challenger in BC, Canada."
Now we see it.

I have one of his outstanding burners in my Mikado, with a small pilot light sticking up between two burner tubes just inside the fire door.
Works like a charm.
RussN
Last edited by NP317 on Sun Apr 09, 2023 11:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
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NP317
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by NP317 »

gwrdriver wrote: Fri Apr 07, 2023 4:42 pm Chris,
Is there any design information available for Von Ruben burners?
Some is available, even in Al's hand writing.
RussN
Attachments
0-4-0 burner Al's.pdf
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Al VonRueden's Orifice Mixing Head.pdf
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Orifice sizing for propane.pdf
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Propane Burner Calculation Notes from Al VonRueden.pdf
(27.23 KiB) Downloaded 125 times
Burner 1 small.jpg
Burner 1 small.jpg (158.29 KiB) Viewed 1997 times
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gwrdriver
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by gwrdriver »

Perfect ~ thanks Russ.
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Bill Shields
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by Bill Shields »

ABAB

atta big a** burner
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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NP317
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by NP317 »

Big Burner, yes. And easily controlled.
That Challenger burner can easily heat a garage!

Chris:
I discovered that my burner, which burned nicely blue on the table, required additional air into the mixing tube once enclosed in the firebox, even with the bottom open. Pic attached showing the yellow flames, indicative on incomplete combustion.
It burns blue after the air input adjustment.
RussN
Mikado First Fire2 sml.jpg
Mikado First Fire2 sml.jpg (104.5 KiB) Viewed 1884 times
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Chris Hollands
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by Chris Hollands »

Thanks for the heads up Russ .
The Challenger burner was the largest Al designed at 24" long by 12" wide some 1200 holes and he was heating his workshop for about 2-3 weeks before he shipped it to Australia . Ive had it now 22 years and this is the first time I have fired it ready to install properly .
The Challenger has taken a little longer than I thought - now at 16000 hrs and 26 years hopefully will be running later this year if life does not get in the way .
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NP317
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by NP317 »

Chris:
I hope you get it running this year. It obviously has been a HUGE project for you.
Wishing you the best, and looking forward to seeing it steaming and moving on rails!
RussN
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cbrew
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by cbrew »

I also built a tube style burner, but based off the write up from By Lindsay McDonnell.
the recovery on the test stand was impressive.
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If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
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Chris Hollands
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by Chris Hollands »

The only difference between Al's burner and Lindsay's design and I maybe wrong is the pressure they operated at .
Al's was low pressure 1-3psi and Lindsay's was higher pressure up to 20 psi .
Al preferred things a bit quieter .
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cbrew
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by cbrew »

that maybe true,, I didnt follow the design that closely,
I built mine using about 50 dollars of material and used a 1/16" clippard barbed fitting for the jet
at low frame where i just had frame across the whole burner, the needle didnt lift off the peg,
the attached image was at max just before the frame tips started turning color,,
all in all, very impressed and happy with the burner
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20220220_093444.jpg
20220220_093444.jpg (283.46 KiB) Viewed 1746 times
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
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NP317
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Re: Propane Burner options

Post by NP317 »

Well done, Chris.
RussN
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