[TheForge] preheating forge blower air

[Mike Linn]

I have a '2 chamber' fire pot made of 3/8" stainless. The 'pot' that hold 
the fire is set in another chamber fed by the air pipe. This accomplishes 2 
things, one it helps keep the fire pot cool and 2nd it preheats the air 
before it goes into the fire. I do think it helps a little with the fire, 
but mainly the benefit is in pot life.

mike


At 05:34 PM 2/5/02 -0500, you wrote:
>   Intercooling serves to provide more oxygen per volume or air
>aspirated, as you pointed out.  The reason it helps an internal
>combustion engine is that the volume is limited to the piston stroke.
>You have to get creative to get more oxygen, i.e. intercooling,
>supercharging...
>
>    For a forge, if you need more oxygen, turn up the speed on the
>blower, You are not limited in volume. I think the point of not
>cooling the fire at the point of the work by providing hot air is
>valid.  However as already pointed out, it's doubtful that it is more
>efficient, you pay for the heat regardless of where you direct it.
>
>    On the other hand... I also wonder that circulating the air around
>a cast pot wouldn't extend it's life...
>
>    Jeff   ><>
>
>  Dodge experimented with Intercooled aspirated car
> > engines on the principal that colder air is denser and will give
>more
> > oxygen for the same volume.  The HP did increase, so it worked for
>them.
> >          Is there something else going on that makes preheating for
>forge
> > combustion good and bad for auto combustion?
>
>
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         Michael Linn
       Artist Blacksmith
      McCalla, Alabama
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http://afc.abana-chapter.com