IRON SMELT Experiment Overview

2012 Iron Smelt Experiments

v1 - 2021

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

Date: May 5, 2012 Experiment: 50 Location: Wareham Team: none! Furnace: standard Short Shaft clay cobb on plinth tap arch (bottom extraction) Size: 28.5 cm ID / 48 cm stack height Source: production furnace in metal shell Tuyere: standard forged copper at tip 2 cm Placement: 5 cm proud set at 22.5 degrees down Bellows: standard electric blower / 900 LpM Charcoal: 48 kg, mixed oak / maple Consumption: varies, about 16 minutes/charge 8.4 m/kg Ore: mixture of types / ?? Fe 43.9 kg Sequence: steady increase to 3 kg charges 7.2 min/ kg Duration: main sequence about 7 hours Result: large bloom 12.3 kg / compressed to 8.8 Yield: 28 % at extraction Notes: massive effort as single
Date: May 26, 2012 Experiment: 51 / D27 Location: Wareham Team: Neil Peterson Furnace: banked Short Shaft clay and manure cobb 'slag room' (bottom extraction) Size: 28 x 26 cm ID flat at front x 53 H cm total / 48 cm shaft height Source: working space based on Hals Iceland Tuyere: 2.5 cm ID ceramic tube Placement: 10 cm above ash base 5 cm proud set at 22 degrees down Bellows: standard electric blower delivery at 800 LpM Charcoal: 49 kg, type? Consumption: varies, average 12 m per charge 10.8 m/kg Ore: DD1 = 48 % Fe total 31.8 kg Sequence: regular increase from 1 to 3 kg / charge 6.5 m/kg Duration: about 5 1/2 hours Result: 11.1 kg bloom Yield: 35 % Notes: wall thickness reduced to 4 cm
Date: August 11, 2012 Experiment: 52 Location: Goderich ON Team: Celtic College students Furnace: Short Shaft on plinth top extraction Size: 27 x 29 cm ID x 64 H Source: standard teaching system Tuyere: standard ceramic tube 2.5 cm Placement: 15 cm above base 5.5 cm proud set at 22.5 down Bellows: electric blower Air: 800 LpM Charcoal: 50 kg, maple Consumption: 1.8 kg charcoal every 12 minutes 6.7 m/kg Ore: DD1A = 55 % Fe 24 kg Sequence: ore charges recorded by 'scoops' 7.6 m/kg Duration: about 6 hours (including preheat) Result: 7.1 kg bloom Yield: 22 % Notes: combination teaching & demonstration
TEAM PARTICIPANTS
Dark Ages Re-creation Company Neil Peterson, Kelly Probyn-Smith
IRON SMELT LINKS Lee Sauder DARC - Iron Experiments