IRON SMELT Experiment Overview

2013 Iron Smelt Experiments

v1 - 2021

Go HERE for a bare text version (all experiments) ... Go HERE for table style version (all experiments) ...

CONSUMPTION / SEQUENCE rates (at m/kg) are from first ore to last ore additions

Date: May 11, 2013 Experiment: 53 Location: Western Michigan Universtity, Kalamazoo MI Team: Neil Peterson, Keeney Swearer, Lisa Anne Conner Furnace: standard Short Shaft clay cobb on plinth tap arch (bottom extraction) Size: 28 cm ID / 72 cm H Source: standard furnace Tuyere: standard ceramic tube 2.5 cm ID Placement: 4 cm proud, 15 cm above base set at 22.5 degrees down Bellows: standard electric blower / 900 LpM Charcoal: 48 kg, oak Consumption: varies considerably, 8 - 16 minutes/charge 5.3 m/kg Ore: DD1A @ 57% Fe 24.5 kg Sequence: mainly 1 kg charges 9 min/ kg Duration: main sequence about 5 hours Result: 5.4 kg Yield: 22 % at extraction Notes: workshop demonstration at ICMS
Date: May 27, 2013 Experiment: 54 Location: Wareham Team: Greg Eamon and Jeff Evarts Furnace: Short Shaft on plinth clay and chopped straw cobb slag tapping / bottom extraction Size: 29 x 27 cm ID oval x 72 H cm Source: standard furnace Tuyere: 2.5 cm ID ceramic tube Placement: 12 cm above fines base 4 cm proud set at 22 degrees down Bellows: standard electric blower delivery at 800 LpM Charcoal: 52 kg, maple / oak Consumption: fast, average 10 m per charge 4.9 m/kg Ore: mixed types total 30.4 kg Sequence: regular increase from 1 to 2 kg / charge 5.8 m/kg Duration: about 4 hours Result: 10.5 kg bloom Yield: 34 % Notes: course
Date: October 20, 201 Experiment: 55 Location: Washington College, Chestertown MD Team: Washington College students Furnace: Short Shaft on plinth bottom extraction Size: 28 cm ID x 64 H Source: standard teaching system Tuyere: standard ceramic tube 2.5 cm Placement: 10 cm above base 5 cm proud set at 23 down Bellows: electric blower Air: 800 - 1000 LpM Charcoal: 71 kg (E) type? Consumption: varies considerably, average 12 per charge 5.9 m/kg Ore: Unknown (poor?) Limonite 42.5 kg Sequence: normal increase from 1 - 3 kg charges 7.7 m/kg Duration: about 6 hours (including preheat) Result: 3.2 kg bloom Yield: 8 % Notes: teaching (student records only)
TEAM PARTICIPANTS
Neil Peterson, Student groups
IRON SMELT LINKS Lee Sauder DARC - Iron Experiments