[eric2011 (OP)]

Hi. Hope you guys are ok. I need an assistance to anybody who has done this. If I make a charcoal foundry and put two hairdryers one on each side to blow air do you think the temperature of the heat the furnace produces reach at least 1700 C?

Thanks

[alancalverd]

Unlikely. Charcoal isn't expected to exceed 1500.

[Origin]

If I make a charcoal foundry and put two hairdryers one on each side to blow air do you think the temperature of the heat the furnace produces reach at least 1700 C

I don't think hair dryers heat the air hot enough to melt steel, unless it is Binford 900 or something.

[Petrochemicals]

Try a hot air gun paint stripper! The key to achieving high temperatures is mass, you will need a large volume to keep a large temperature. Insulation will not work as you have a problem with the fire needing oxygen.

[Bored chemist]

People have- albeit with difficulty- melting cast iron with air and charcoal furnaces for thousands of years- and without the advantage of a powered air blower.
It should still be possible in the 21st C.
But getting to 1700C is  going to be tricky.

[eric2011 (OP)]

Thanks fellas!

[eric2011 (OP)]

By the way, How much maximum temperature an ordinary homemade charcoal foundry can get? with a single hairdryer. Does anybody ever measured the temperature when charcoal heat is at maximum temperature?

[Bored chemist]

The theoretical limit is about 2200C
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiabatic_flame_temperature
what you actually get will depend on the design.

[Petrochemicals]

By the way, How much maximum temperature an ordinary homemade charcoal foundry can get? with a single hairdryer. Does anybody ever measured the temperature when charcoal heat is at maximum temperature?

Theoretically it is energy released is an addition, the energy required to raise the mass of the temperature of the fuel and oxidiser is removed leaving a net addition to the mass you wish to heat. But there are a multitude of factors such as thermal resistance, convection radiation etc.

You could try running it on neat oxygen gas or fluorine if you can find it. But if you pump in hot air via a heat gun at 600 degrees I imagine the air will be hot enough to be above the flash temperature of charcoal. Essentially your fire should be smokeless and shall not suffer from surface temperature lag needing to heat the fuel surface, any vapour from the fuel will ignite and the fuel itself will be completely self heating to flash temperature.

I am not familiar with charcoals flash temperature but it is probably around the 400- 600 mark.

[Bored chemist]

I am not familiar with charcoals flash temperature

It doesn't have one.

[hamdani yusuf]

I am not familiar with charcoals flash temperature

It doesn't have one.

I just googled it.

The flashpoint of charcoal is the temperature at which it will ignite and give off an open flame. The Flashpoint of Charcoal is 40 degrees Celsius. Dec 23, 2021

[Bored chemist]

I am not familiar with charcoals flash temperature

It doesn't have one.

I just googled it.

The flashpoint of charcoal is the temperature at which it will ignite and give off an open flame. The Flashpoint of Charcoal is 40 degrees Celsius. Dec 23, 2021

And today you learned that Google doesn't always get things right.
Do you really believe that you can't light charcoal in cold weather, or that you can light a barbecue with a match- as long as the weather is warm?

"In chemistry, the flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which its vapors ignite if given an ignition source.[1]"
From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_point

[hamdani yusuf]

And today you learned that Google doesn't always get things right.

I know. My experiments on diffraction of light tought me a thing or two, among others. Although a statement from an anonymous dude in the internet is usually even less reliable, especially when no evidence is given.

What do you mean by saying that charcoals don't have flash point?

[Bored chemist]

especially when no evidence is given.

Just as well I gave you evidence then, isn't it.

What do you mean by saying that charcoals don't have flash point?

Well, which bit(s) of these don't you understand?

Do you really believe that you can't light charcoal in cold weather, or that you can light a barbecue with a match- as long as the weather is warm?

"In chemistry, the flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which its vapors ignite if given an ignition source.[1]"

[hamdani yusuf]

especially when no evidence is given.

Just as well I gave you evidence then, isn't it.

What do you mean by saying that charcoals don't have flash point?

Well, which bit(s) of these don't you understand?

Do you really believe that you can't light charcoal in cold weather, or that you can light a barbecue with a match- as long as the weather is warm?

"In chemistry, the flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which its vapors ignite if given an ignition source.[1]"

I'll believe you if you show a video showing about it which I can replicate myself. I'll accept some other forms of evidence if I can confirm their validity.

Well, which bit(s) of these don't you understand?

The flashpoint of charcoal is the temperature at which it will ignite and give off an open flame. The Flashpoint of Charcoal is 40 degrees Celsius. Dec 23, 2021

[Bored chemist]

I'll believe you if you show a video showing about it which I can replicate myself. I'll accept some other forms of evidence if I can confirm their validity.

You want a video of me using a match and failing to set fire to charcoal that has been warmed to over 40C?
Really?
Why?

Wouldn't it be better if you just stopped and thought about it?

[Bored chemist]

Well, which bit(s) of these don't you understand?

The only bit I don't understand is why you posted it- because it's clearly wrong.

Did you send the author a request for a video demonstrating the claim's truth?
Or do you only ask me?

[hamdani yusuf]

I'll believe you if you show a video showing about it which I can replicate myself. I'll accept some other forms of evidence if I can confirm their validity.

You want a video of me using a match and failing to set fire to charcoal that has been warmed to over 40C?
Really?
Why?

Wouldn't it be better if you just stopped and thought about it?

It doesn't have to be you. It can be anyone. Don't take it personal.
The evidence should show the limiting factors. e. g. failing to set charcoal to burn below 40C but success when it's over 40C. Some other influential parameters should be stated, such as particle size of the charcoal, air pressure, oxygen concentration, humidity, spark size/energy.

[Bored chemist]

I'll believe you if you show a video showing about it which I can replicate myself. I'll accept some other forms of evidence if I can confirm their validity.

You want a video of me using a match and failing to set fire to charcoal that has been warmed to over 40C?
Really?
Why?

Wouldn't it be better if you just stopped and thought about it?

It doesn't have to be you. It can be anyone. Don't take it personal.
The evidence should show the limiting factors. e. g. failing to set charcoal to burn below 40C but success when it's over 40C. Some other influential parameters should be stated, such as particle size of the charcoal, air pressure, oxygen concentration, humidity, spark size/energy.

You are probably the only person on Earth who thinks that a match near a block of warm charcoal will set it on fire.

So you should do the experiment.
The rest of us already know the answer.

[Bored chemist]

Did you send the author a request for a video demonstrating the claim's truth?