More catalytic combustor information: WHY DO COMBUSTORS NEED REPLACED?
• THERMAL SHOCK – OCCURS WHEN REFUELING WITH WOOD CONTAINING MOISTURE EITHER ON IT OR IN IT. MOIST SMOKE IS SENT TO THE COMBUSTOR WHEN THE BY-PASS IS CLOSED AND THE RESULTS ARE THERMAL SHOCK AND CRACKING OF THE SUBSTRATE. A CONTINUAL PRACTICE OF THIS WILL CAUSE THE COMBUSTOR TO DETERIORATE. • FATIGUE – THE CATALYTIC COMBUSTOR HAS A SIX-YEAR (6) LIFE EXPECTANCY WHEN USED ACCORDING TO THE STOVE OWNER’S MANUAL. ALTHOUGH, SOME COMBUSTORS HAVE OPERATED WITH EFFICIENCY FOR AS HIGH AS TEN YEARS, THE COMBUSTOR’S LIFE IS BASED ON THE STOVE OPERATOR, MAINTENANCE, FUELS USED, AND THE STOVE MANUFACTURER’S DESIGN. • MISHANDLING – OR ABUSE TO THE COMBUSTOR. A FEW EXAMPLES WOULD BE … DROPPING IT, USING ABRASIVE TOOLS FOR CLEANING IT, USING HIGH PRESSURE AIR TO BLOW THE CELL FREE OF ANY FLY-ASH BUILD-UP, USING CLEANING SOLVENTS TO CLEAN IT OR PERHAPS BEATING ON IT TO REMOVE IT FROM IT’S HOLDING DEVICE. • DIRECT FLAME IMPINGEMENT – FLAMES BURNING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME DIRECTLY INTO THE COMBUSTOR WIT
