Paul Borian on thu 3 jan 08
I have always thought that my kiln fired faster on cold days - and the
colder the faster - but i don't know if this has to do as much with the
actual air temperature or the moisture content in the air - it is usually
much less humid in cold weather at least where i live.
I didn't really pay much attention to this when i had propane burners
other than noticing that the kiln fired a little slower on very hot, humid
days. But since installing waste oil burners about 70 firings ago i have
noticed this more, probably because oil requires considerably more air for
combustion so it makes sense that the condition of the air would influence
the firing.
Jan 1 was the most recent firing and the first cold day i fired in over a
year, with temps somewhere between 20-30 F throughout the day and the kiln
fired a full hour faster than the last one in mid december when it was
unseasonably warm out - i was still in a t shirt at 4:30 a.m. when i
finished loading it the day before.
So does anyone know for sure if the air temp really matters or is it the
humidity level? I know that modern diesel engines use intercoolers to cool
down the turbo charged air before the intake to get more power and i am
just curious as to whether this is the same concept as what i am seeing or
not. Anyone care to comment?
thanks,
paul
Maggie Jones on thu 3 jan 08
there's more oxygen in colder air, I always breathe better in colder air.
maggie
On Thu, 3 Jan 2008 14:11:50 -0500 Paul Borian
writes:
> I have always thought that my kiln fired faster on cold days - and
> the
> colder the faster - but i don't know if this has to do as much with
> the
> actual air temperature or the moisture content in the air - it is
> usually
> much less humid in cold weather at least where i live.
> I didn't really pay much attention to this when i had propane
> burners
> other than noticing that the kiln fired a little slower on very hot,
> humid
> days. But since installing waste oil burners about 70 firings ago i
> have
> noticed this more, probably because oil requires considerably more
> air for
> combustion so it makes sense that the condition of the air would
> influence
> the firing.
> Jan 1 was the most recent firing and the first cold day i fired in
> over a
> year, with temps somewhere between 20-30 F throughout the day and
> the kiln
> fired a full hour faster than the last one in mid december when it
> was
> unseasonably warm out - i was still in a t shirt at 4:30 a.m. when
> i
> finished loading it the day before.
>
> So does anyone know for sure if the air temp really matters or is it
> the
> humidity level? I know that modern diesel engines use intercoolers
> to cool
> down the turbo charged air before the intake to get more power and i
> am
> just curious as to whether this is the same concept as what i am
> seeing or
> not. Anyone care to comment?
> thanks,
> paul
>
>
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James and Sherron Bowen on thu 3 jan 08
Did you make your own waste oil burners?
JB
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Borian"
To:
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:11 PM
Subject: Cold days, faster firings -- right?
Rod on thu 3 jan 08
Paul,
Just a thought but it could be that you use too much gas on regular warmish
days. If your gas is at regular water column pressure, your house heat, and
neighbors heating can effectively drop the amount of gas you are actually
using.
I say this making a few assumptions, that you don't have gas pressure
regulators\meters on each of your burners, and you don't use an oxy probe
etc.
This would have the end result of speeding up your firing. So many times
over the years when other potters would use my kiln they would either stall
the kiln or wonder why I could get the kiln to fire so fast. I would say
because I use 1/3 less gas than you. More isn't always better.
Anyways just a theory with a whole lotta' assumptions.
Cheers,
Rod
I have always thought that my kiln fired faster on cold days - and the
colder the faster - but i don't know if this has to do as much with the
actual air temperature or the moisture content in the air - it is usually
much less humid in cold weather at least where i live.
Ingeborg Foco on thu 3 jan 08
Paul,
Yes, your suspicions are correct. Hot temperatures makes for longer firings
and more fuel use. It's similar to an airplane trying to get lift at take
off...hot weather, slower lift off and more fuel used. I don't think
humidity plays much in either scenario since I have fired in hot dry weather
as well as hot humid weather and the results are longer firings to reach
temp. Someone else might know more about what part humidity plays.
Best wishes
Ingeborg
On Jan 3, 2008 2:11 PM, Paul Borian wrote:
> I have always thought that my kiln fired faster on cold days - and the
> colder the faster - but i don't know if this has to do as much with the
> actual air temperature or the moisture content in the air - it is usually
> much less humid in cold weather at least where i live.
> I didn't really pay much attention to this when i had propane burners
> other than noticing that the kiln fired a little slower on very hot, humid
> days. But since installing waste oil burners about 70 firings ago i have
> noticed this more, probably because oil requires considerably more air for
> combustion so it makes sense that the condition of the air would influence
> the firing.
> Jan 1 was the most recent firing and the first cold day i fired in over a
> year, with temps somewhere between 20-30 F throughout the day and the kiln
> fired a full hour faster than the last one in mid december when it was
> unseasonably warm out - i was still in a t shirt at 4:30 a.m. when i
> finished loading it the day before.
>
> So does anyone know for sure if the air temp really matters or is it the
> humidity level? I know that modern diesel engines use intercoolers to cool
> down the turbo charged air before the intake to get more power and i am
> just curious as to whether this is the same concept as what i am seeing or
> not. Anyone care to comment?
> thanks,
> paul
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
> subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>
--
Sincerely,
Ingeborg
www.thepottersworkshop.com
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