LPG burner recommendations for forced air

[Richard Lim]

Apologies for sneaking into a blacksmithing forum but I'm at my wit's end after posting on various coffee roaster forums and not receiving any useful answers or none at all.

And who knows gas, fire and air better than the people who work extensively with it.

So here's the story.

I've been pretty happy with my electric powered homebuilt fluid bed roaster and haven't made any modifications to it for at least a year and a half but the electric open coils run at slightly past 8000W and require wiring and breaker changes everytime I move.

Thought of converting the heater section to run on gas but am wondering whether there are better alternatives to a single large flame Sievert type burner. Will any of these work? Is one big flame a la Sievert torch preferable to many smaller jets?

And that's my coffee roaster in action. Theoretically I should be looking at somewhere around 70 - 80k BTUs.

ps. Please don't kick me out because I believe you are the best people to help me with this.

 

[blvckisking]

I think a single larger flame like a Sievert style burner usually gives more even airflow and heat distribution than multiple small jets. Multiple small flames can create hotspots and uneven roasting. So if you go gas, make sure you have good control over the flame and can adjust it safely

I dont know if this is gonna help

 

[jalapeno twister]

a multi-jet or ribbon burner system would be a better choice for achieving the kind of uniform heat distribution that a fluid bed roaster needs. While a single-flame burner can work, it will require a very carefully designed air plenum to prevent hot spots. No matter which burner you choose, focus on getting the flame and airflow to mix evenly before it enters the roasting chamber.

 

[Yam_Koo]

Totally fair to ask us, smithing forums deal with burner builds all the time. From my experience, a blower-driven burner body with multiple smaller jets (or a ribbon slot) is a better long-term approach than a giant single flame torch. The control you get is worth the extra setup effort, and you’ll avoid hotspots that scorch one part and underheat another. Just remember this isn’t like wiring a toaster... gas and flame need to be treated with respect. Test connections with soapy water, start at low pressure, and always have ventilation and a way to shut it down instantly if something goes wrong.