Waste Oil Heater Forum - Your definitive source for burning waste oil for heat.
Waste Oil Heater => Welcome Center => Topic started by: Alfie on January 08, 2012, 06:10:25 pm
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Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum, and have found it interesting reading.
I've been building a heater with plans I bought from http://www.murphysmachines.com/waste_oil_heater.html
Has anyone built one of these heaters? The one I built I altered the design making it easier to access the burner unit.
Unfortunatly I have a problem in that the small air nozzle doesn't last long and keep blocking up and burning out upon shut down.
Any help, pics or advice on these heaters would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Welcome to the forum.
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Welcome Alfie!
I have been to that site before, but have never investigated much further.
What type of nozzle do these units use? Some kind of siphon nozzle, or pressure?
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Welcome Alfie!
I have been to that site before, but have never investigated much further.
What type of nozzle do these units use? Some kind of siphon nozzle, or pressure?
The nozzle is a 0.15 misting/fogging nozzle that air is blown through at around 80 psi.
Basically, oil is pumped through a pre heater, (in my case a 300w towel rail heater in a steel tube), then up into a overflowing burner neck. The over flowing oil returns to tank. Just below the overfow point is this small nozzle blowing air up through the pre heated oil pool, causing a vapour that is ignited and burns. Once up and running the pre heater isn't needed as the oil supply pipe is wrapped around the burn chamber, so is self warming. There is also a small fan supplying combustion air to aid efficient burning of the oil.
The system is similar to a babington design, and seemed to me a good idea, as dirt, bits, or even slight water content in the oil should cause no problems, but like I say the prob;em I've come up against is this nozzle seems to kind of over heat,and block frequently.
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there are several guys on youtube that have built murphy heaters, you might be able to ask them questions, also paul, the guy that made your plans you bought is always willing to help or answer any questions
murphys machines, 586-995-0101 10am-10pm est
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there are several guys on youtube that have built murphy heaters, you might be able to ask them questions, also paul, the guy that made your plans you bought is always willing to help or answer any questions
murphys machines, 586-995-0101 10am-10pm est
I have contacted murphys machines about this problem, and he suggested fitting a certain type of ss nozzle, which I did, but unfortunatly the problem still exists, and as he hasn't answered any more emails, so I guess he's at a dead end.
The small nozzle just doesn't seem up to 80 psi being constantly blown through it, and probably the small 0.15 hole soon becomes bigger as of this.
I was hoping someone may have come up with a stronger better design nozzle! (wishfull thinking!!)
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I'd keep pounding on Murphy's door untill I got the problem solved. You paid good money for his great plan. Get your moneys worth. He's got a phone number use it untill your happy.
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i agree with doug, muphys selling point with his heater is (no nozzels to plug) does he recommend 80 psi ? that seems high, i have read several post from people that built his heater and never heard of nozzel plugging, i have talked to paul (aka murphy) more than a dozen times on the phone and he has allways been more than happy to answer questions
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i agree with doug, muphys selling point with his heater is (no nozzels to plug) does he recommend 80 psi ? that seems high, i have read several post from people that built his heater and never heard of nozzel plugging, i have talked to paul (aka murphy) more than a dozen times on the phone and he has allways been more than happy to answer questions
Yes he recommends at least 80 psi, but realistically at that pressure through such a small 0.15 nozzle, it's not really going to stay 0.15 for long.
Believe me, I've tried all kinds of different nozzles, but they all wear out within 6 or 7 lightings of the burner.
If this problem could be solved somehow the design is great, and as already said I've spoke with Paul on this but all he could suggest was fitting a ss nozzle from a supplier in US which I have done, but to no avail.
I really could do to speak to someone who's successfully built one of these heaters, but although theres a lot about them on the net, I still haven't found anyone who says, "yes I made one it works perfect"!!
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I still stand by my earlier statement. Either your not doing something right or there's a flaw in Murphys plans. The two of you need to work togather and make it right. Simple.
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I still stand by my earlier statement. Either your not doing something right or there's a flaw in Murphys plans. The two of you need to work togather and make it right. Simple.
I took your advise and I keep trying to email murphy, but it's hard and frustrating to sort a problem when I don't ever receive a reply from him!!...So it aint that simple!!
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Sorry to be so rough on you. It looks like Murphy's machine and/or word isn't so good. Keep trying to contact him use the phone number and email. Doesn't seem to be anybody here that can help right now. Good luck and keep us informed.
doug
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Sorry to be so rough on you. It looks like Murphy's machine and/or word isn't so good. Keep trying to contact him use the phone number and email. Doesn't seem to be anybody here that can help right now. Good luck and keep us informed.
doug
Yes I guess I'll just keep on trying, although I really thought someone else but me would have had a go building one of these heaters, and maybe able to share experiences.
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Murphy's Machines web site state "tech support is just a phone call away 7 days a week". What do you get when you call them with your problem?
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Do you know the temp of your oil in the pre heated oil pool? Am I to understand your nozzle sets below the oil level and if so is the level adjustable?
I can't believe that compressed air is abrasive enough to increase the size of your nozzle with 6 or 7 cycles. Is the nozzle getting too hot?
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Do you know the temp of your oil in the pre heated oil pool? Am I to understand your nozzle sets below the oil level and if so is the level adjustable?
I can believe that compressed air is abrasive enough to increase the size of your nozzle with 6 or 7 cycles. Is ithe nozzle getting to hot?
Yes the air nozzle sits just below the oil level, and this can be adjusted by screwing the pipe fitting in or out thus rising or lowering the oil level.
The pre heater is switched off once running, and the supply pipe is wrapped once around the burn chamber to pre heat the oil.
Maybe this is creating too much pre heating, and is melting or distorting the air nozzle.
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Alfie,
Found this post through google so I joined the forum to get you some help.
Can you skype??? I'd imagine a phone call from England isn't going to be all that economical.
There are no fuel nozzles to plug and since your air jet is just passing air, it should not plug either.
That said, there have been issues with them getting plugged but it had nothing to do with oil build-up or anything like that.
Issues have been mostly as follows:
1) People using black iron pipe air lines. Moisture in the air causes rust, the rust flakes off and plugs the air jet. The solution is to install a filter like a cotton ball in the pipe.
2) Radiant Heat blow back is melting a tiny composite plastic insert inside the air jet nozzle. When I originally started using them, the insert was made of brass. A year or so after, they changed the design and now the insert is plastic.. (very bad). I called cloudtops and was told the all stainless version is stainless inside and out and there was no plastic on it. We've had good luck ever since.
As for the comment about finding happy customers.. Most people do not complain loudly that things work correctly.. they take the time and energy to complain loudly only when things go wrong. The absence of people who are pissed off at me should be a strong indicator that my plans work.. And I do stand firmly behind them.
My plans are not perfect.. my designs are not perfect.. who's are? But, they are more than good enough to satisfy 99.999% of all my customers. In fact, most of my customers will eventually tell me they did not expect the level of quality or service they receive. My burner system works and works well or I would have been too shy to make it public.
If I am not answering your email, I guarantee you it is because I am not getting it for one reason or another. I answer every email I get and I always pick up my phone.. Always (unless I'm already on it). In my almost 6 years of doing this, I have never brushed a customer off.. this is why I am still in business. Customer support is a top priority for me and I have been known to spend 3 to 5 hours on the phone providing tech support to someone who bought a $29.99 Super Oil Sucker plan from me. Doesn't seem like it pays but its not about the money with me, its about a successful customer so I happily do it.
Hope that helps,
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MURPHY,
Welcome to the forum. Good to hear your side of the story and what was causing Alfie's problem.
Interesting someone would build a nozzle with plastic in it.
doug