Operating A Catalytic Wood-Burning Appliance

At least once during each burning cycle, the temperature within the stove should be raised high enough to cause the catalyst to become active. This is known as it's "Light-off" temperature. The most convenient time to do this is during fuel loading. Gas inlet temperatures to the combustor of between 500˚ and 7000˚ F. (260˚-3700˚ C.) will initiate catalytic burning.

NOTE: In units equipped with a view port, it should be noted that the combustor usually glows during the first 1/4 to 1/3 of the bum cycle.

You should be aware, though, that the combustor does not need to glow to be working. The use of temperature monitors is a more reliable means of determining if the combustor is functioning.

Maintaining Catalytic Burning Conditions - During the start-up of a cold stove, a medium to high firing rate must be maintained for about 20 minutes. This insures that the stove, catalyst and fuel are all stabilized at proper operating temperatures. Even though it's possible to have gas temperatures reach 6000˚ F. (3200˚ C.) within two or three minutes after a fire is started, if the fire is turned down immediately to low-fire conditions, it will result in either the fire or the combustor going out.

At the end of a bum cycle, it's possible that the amount of burning charcoal might not provide sufficient temperatures or fuel for the catalyst. During the refueling of a hot stove that has an internal firebox tempera­ture below 5000˚ F. (2600˚ C.), we recommend that the stove be fired for about 10 minutes to ensure that the catalyst reaches 6000˚ F. (3200˚ C.). Doing this will ensure sufficient temperatures and proper amounts of volatiles for catalyst operation.

When refueling a hot stove that an internal firebox temperature above 5000˚ F. (2600˚ C.), no re-firing step is necessary. Just load the fuel and continue to operate. Temperatures within the firebox will be hot enough to support catalytic burning and wood paralysis.

Methods for determining these temperatures are included in the Temperature Monitors section.

Bypass - Whenever the stove is being loaded or when it is being operated in the high-fire mode the bypass should be in the open position. This keeps smoke from entering the room when the door is opened and also prevents over firing of the combustor during high-fire conditions. Once light off has been accomplished and the stove has been turned down, the bypass can be closed.

(Caution: Before installing a catalytic appliance on an existing chimney, be sure that the chimney has been cleaned and any creosote build-up removed. Failure to do this could result in a chimney fire.)

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