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Analysis of Modified Fire Grate

SteveWPBFL
SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
edited May 2012 in EggHead Forum

Check this out for laughs!

Analysis – Effect of Increasing BGE Grate Hole Diameter from
.625 to .750

Large Big Green Egg (mine), nominal dimensions (inches) and flow areas

Analysis – Effect of Increasing BGE Grate Hole Diameter from
.625 to .750 


Large Big Green Egg, dimensions (inches) and flow areas

A1 = Max Intake 3.95 x 2.1 = 8.3 sq in

A2 = Max Chamber inlet area = 13.7 sq in, consists of:

Firebowl slot  .125 x
6 = .7 sq in

Firebowl holes 6 x .625 dia. = 2.6 sq in

*Grate holes  34 x
.625 dia. = 10.4

A3 = Max Exhaust 3.85 dia. = 11.6 sq in

 

Assuming the BGE burns fuel rich and burns all available O2
the Egg is designed to meter O2 at the smallest of the three ports (A1, A2,
A3), which is the intake (A1). (No surprise!)

 

Assume a 50% intake area results in a dome temperature of
350F: A1 = 4.15 sq in

 

When 50% intake area A1 results in less than 350F that means
the chamber inlet A2 has been reduced to < 4.15 sq in. In this case:

The blockage is A2 – 4.15 = 13.7 – 4.15 = 9.5 sq in

The percent blockage is 9.5/13.7 = 70%

The equivalent number of chamber holes blocked is .7 x 34 =
23.8 holes

 

Grate holes of .75 results in A2’ = Max Modified chamber
inlet area = 18.3 sq in from:

Firebowl slot  .125 x
6 = .7 sq in

Firebowl holes 6 x .625 dia. = 2.6 sq in

* Fire bowl holes  34
x .75 dia. = 15.0 sq in

 

When 50% intake area A1 results in less than 350F that means
chamber inlet A2’ has been reduced to < 4.15 sq in. In this case

The blockage is A2’ – 4.15 = 18.3 – 4.15 = 14.1 sq in

The percent blockage is 14.1/18.3 = 77%

The equivalent number of holes blocked is .77 x 34 = 26.2
holes


Conclusion: Opening up the grate holes from .625 to
.750 in dia. means that 2-3 more holes would have to be blocked to provide the
same restriction in O2.


How 'bout that!

Comments

  • Duganboy
    Duganboy Posts: 1,118
    Yep, sounds about right to me :D
  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    Sorry 'bout all the font commands, can't seem to get rid of them all after pasting in from Word .....
  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
    Huh? I teach 5th graders. This is a bit above the scope of the math that I teach. Anybody need to know how to simplify fractions? I'm your guy.
    Mark Annville, PA
  • Chubbs
    Chubbs Posts: 6,929
    Huh?
    Columbia, SC --- LBGE 2011 -- MINI BGE 2013
  • SamFerrise
    SamFerrise Posts: 556
    Hey, you can slice and dice it any way you please.  It works!

    Simple ingredients, amazing results!
  • Doc_Eggerton
    Doc_Eggerton Posts: 5,321
    Ugggh, fire good, fire make food good, fire make warm.  Me like fire.

    XXL #82 out of the first 100, XLGE X 2, LBGE (gave this one to daughter 1.0) , MBGE (now in the hands of iloveagoodyoke daughter 2.0) and lots of toys

  • Doc_Eggerton
    Doc_Eggerton Posts: 5,321
    On a more serious note.  Steve I am so happy to have you around, you keep some of the other guys off my back :-)

    XXL #82 out of the first 100, XLGE X 2, LBGE (gave this one to daughter 1.0) , MBGE (now in the hands of iloveagoodyoke daughter 2.0) and lots of toys

  • XLBalco
    XLBalco Posts: 607
    so what youre saying is
  • MikeP624
    MikeP624 Posts: 292
    Any proof that slightly big holes just don't get clogged with slightly bigger lump?
  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    What I think I meant to say was this.

    1 - First. Opening up the grate fire holes does nothing to increase the max airflow through the Egg since that is set by the wide open intake sliding door position, which is the smallest max flow area in the chain. Smaller than the unplugged grate/firebox holes area. Smaller than the max exhaust area. I think we can agree on that.

    2 - As far as clogging up the grate with ash: With the .625 dia. fire grate holes you have to block the equivalent of 23.8 holes to restrict the flow through the grate more than the airflow being set by the half open intake door when trying to set 350F. The number of holes clogged will change if you're trying to set a different temperature with a different intake door position.

    3 - As far as clogging up the grate with ash: With the .750 dia. fire grate
    holes you have to block the equivalent of 26.2 holes to restrict the
    flow through the grate more than the airflow being set by the half open
    intake door when trying to set 350F. Again, the number of holes clogged will change if you're trying to set a different temperature with a different intake door position.

    Bottom Line - Assume there's no difference between the lump/ash ability to more readily plug the .625 dia holes than the .750 dia. holes. Intuitively that might appear to be true but it doesn't necessarily matter. It's a small difference and the trade is to drop more unburned lump through. It's a tough call, depends a lot on the lump in the bowl at the time. But, the remaining fact is that it will take less unplugged .750 dia. holes to  deliver enough O2 for the fire to burn at the set position (350F in the example above) because they are bigger. Over time, you would look at how much unburned lump is falling through the grate to decide if the grate is performing better.

    There. Clear as mud!
  • Check this out for laughs!

    Analysis – Effect of Increasing BGE Grate Hole Diameter from
    .625 to .750

    Large Big Green Egg (mine), nominal dimensions (inches) and flow areas

    Analysis – Effect of Increasing BGE Grate Hole Diameter from
    .625 to .750 


    Large Big Green Egg, dimensions (inches) and flow areas

    A1 = Max Intake 3.95 x 2.1 = 8.3 sq in

    A2 = Max Chamber inlet area = 13.7 sq in, consists of:

    Firebowl slot  .125 x
    6 = .7 sq in

    Firebowl holes 6 x .625 dia. = 2.6 sq in

    *Grate holes  34 x
    .625 dia. = 10.4

    A3 = Max Exhaust 3.85 dia. = 11.6 sq in

     

    Assuming the BGE burns fuel rich and burns all available O2
    the Egg is designed to meter O2 at the smallest of the three ports (A1, A2,
    A3), which is the intake (A1). (No surprise!)

     

    Assume a 50% intake area results in a dome temperature of
    350F: A1 = 4.15 sq in

     

    When 50% intake area A1 results in less than 350F that means
    the chamber inlet A2 has been reduced to < 4.15 sq in. In this case:

    The blockage is A2 – 4.15 = 13.7 – 4.15 = 9.5 sq in

    The percent blockage is 9.5/13.7 = 70%

    The equivalent number of chamber holes blocked is .7 x 34 =
    23.8 holes

     

    Grate holes of .75 results in A2’ = Max Modified chamber
    inlet area = 18.3 sq in from:

    Firebowl slot  .125 x
    6 = .7 sq in

    Firebowl holes 6 x .625 dia. = 2.6 sq in

    * Fire bowl holes  34
    x .75 dia. = 15.0 sq in

     

    When 50% intake area A1 results in less than 350F that means
    chamber inlet A2’ has been reduced to < 4.15 sq in. In this case

    The blockage is A2’ – 4.15 = 18.3 – 4.15 = 14.1 sq in

    The percent blockage is 14.1/18.3 = 77%

    The equivalent number of holes blocked is .77 x 34 = 26.2
    holes


    Conclusion: Opening up the grate holes from .625 to
    .750 in dia. means that 2-3 more holes would have to be blocked to provide the
    same restriction in O2.


    How 'bout that!

    Huh!
    image
  • stike
    stike Posts: 15,597
    The stack effect may torpedo any thought that relationships are linear. Dunno

    ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante
  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    edited May 2012
    Assume linearity! Otherwise, have another beer.
  • tjv
    tjv Posts: 3,830
    can't find where you took into account the gap between the top edge of the firebox and inner egg wall.  That area could be as much as 50% of your chamber intake area.   

    i.e., not all the air coming thru the lower slider goes into the firebox, some sneaks up the egg wall.  found this out couple years ago, wondering why the medium egg, at times, was difficult to get up to searing temps......

    then, there's also leakage around the felt line........always somethin'

    www.ceramicgrillstore.com ACGP, Inc.
  • burr_baby33
    burr_baby33 Posts: 503
    Thanks for clearing that up, it's been on mind for quite a while. Now all I need to do is decide what to cook tonight.
  • Billy Grill Eggster
    Billy Grill Eggster Posts: 404
    edited May 2012
    SteveWPBFL how long did you work at the Aircraft ? ?

    Too much analysis and like was said above, beyond a 5th grade math level.
    Billy
    Wilson, NC
    Large BGE - WiFi Stoker - Thermapen - 250 Cookbooks

  • The Naked Whiz
    The Naked Whiz Posts: 7,777
    All I can say is, "It depends...."   :))
    The Naked Whiz
  • FanOfFanboys
    FanOfFanboys Posts: 2,615
    Sorry 'bout all the font commands, can't seem to get rid of them all after pasting in from Word .....

    . Paste in Notepad first. Then can delete the commands.
    Boom
  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    It always depends and is more likely to depend as you get older, too. Ignore the airflow going up the sidewall, the charcoal burning is going to pull what it wants from the available inlet flow into the firebowl, but you already knew that!
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,174
    Not sure I understand all I know here-but taking into account all assumptions, then you need serious air hole blockage (>70%) to impact temperature control.  And since that happens to some cooks the increased air flow (bored out holes or High-Que grate) should help reduce the chances???
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • Egg Juju
    Egg Juju Posts: 658

    I... uh... yeah!

    Large and Small BGE * www.quelfood.com
  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    The real benefit is that with the bigger holes more of them have to get plugged to reduce the firebox flow area below the inlet vent setting. Cheers!
  • Dan4BBQ
    Dan4BBQ Posts: 271

    Did you consider the relationship of the moon to the sun at the time of the burn?  If not, you may need to change your calculations by 18.23%

    Let me know your thoughts on this.

  • Ragtop99
    Ragtop99 Posts: 1,570
    I think your analysis assumes air flow and pressure are equally distributed across the fire grate, which I don't believe is the case once a fire gets going.  Also it does not account for whether the airflow can get easily to the fire.  Open holes on one side of the egg will not help the fire at the bottom of the lump burn on the other side as well as an open air hole right below the fire which allows for O2 to enter from below and combusted gases and heat to exit from the top.

    I'd bore the holes out if you feel like cutting some steel.

    Cooking on an XL and Medium in Bethesda, MD.