FAQ Section C FAQ SECTION C Operating an Air Burner   Previous Page QUICK LINKS A Questions on purchasing a machine B Questions on permitting a machine C Questions on operating a machine D Questions on mobility E Market questions Will you train and certify our operators on the use of Air Burners' equipment, and if so, at what expense? Yes, we have field technicians who specialize in training and operator certification.  There is a per diem charge for this service, and, additionally, the client pays travel and related expenses for the technician.  Usually, three days are scheduled for the training, including travel time. Can I use charcoal or coal in lieu of wood in an Air Burners system to support combustion? Yes, the system will function well with coal; coal may cause some additional smoke (emissions), and wood waste will be needed to start the fire. You will need to check with your local authorities to insure the use of coal is legal.  Coal has been used in the US and in England by MAFF (now DEFRA) to support combustion for the disposal diseased animal carcasses where a supply wood waste was scarce. Can I burn chips or mulch that I have piled up and that now nobody wants?  Taking them to the landfill will cost me a fortune, and the Fire Marshal wants me to get rid of them fast. No.  Chips and mulch are too dense to burn in the air curtain machines; they will smolder and create too much smoke for the air curtain to contain. Chipping and grinding is a very expensive method to the disposal of wood waste when compared to our air curtain burners. The equipment is very maintenance intensive and costly to operate and to acquire. Unless there is an application for reuse of the grindings a much more environmentally friendly alternative is the use of an Air Burners system. Wood waste is reduced 96% to 98% to a sterile ash that can be land applied or used as a soil amendment. The chipped or ground wood waste has to be trucked to landfills at great expense for trucking and tipping fees. Take a look at this comparison of ACB disposal vs. chipping for land clearing or pallet wood waste disposal. How do I use a trench burner where the water table is high and it's difficult to maintain a pit? Build a hill or berm from good, if possible, clay-like material on the surface and then dig a pit into the hill, staying above the groundwater table. The unit must be placed on a dirt platform level with the top of the berm. The retractable carrier pipe cannot be positioned at an angle as it is rigid. It is important to position the machine such that the manifold will provide a properly angled air curtain over the pit. How long does it take for the unit to cool off after use before the engine and fan can be cut? Usually, about 1-2 hours. How long does it take to set up a trench burner? It takes one operator only about 3-5 minutes to set up the T-200 or T-400 without the need to employ ancillary equipment.  This does not include the time it takes to dig the trench. How long will the trench burner last? Many Air Burners trench burners are still in service after more than 15 years.  We have been manufacturing our T-Series trench burners for more than 30 years. Is there any reason why I should not make my trench as deep as I can? No (but within reason, say up to 12 to 13 feet), some additional depth will give you a little more volume. Go here for pit dimensions. A few jurisdictions have rules in place that limit he pit depth. Previous Page Top of Page