If I start up some charcoal but then change my mind and decide not to cook, what happens? It's a two ft in diameter Weber grill. I closed off the three holes on the bottom and closed the 4-hole vent on the top. I doubt this thing is air-tight and thinking about it led me to some technical questions. Would some burning stuff inside a semi-closed chamber cause some sort of pressure that could pull in fresh air and push out exaust gasses? I know hot air rises and stuff but other than that, does the burning reaction itself cause a pumping action? I want one of those things that measures temperature just by pointing it, where can I buy one of those?

5/14/2007 5:28:56 AM

WTF

You would be fine. Fire needs oxygen to burn. Current fire creates smoke and CO. Some smoke leaks out, but there is not enough oxygen to support a burn and your fire goes out.

In a totally inclosed vessel use your ideal gas law and relate pressure and temperature at constant volume. Pressure is totally dependent of temperature.

Pulling in fresh air would require a pressure less than atmospheric and that would not happen here.

In a "semi-closed chamber" the charcoal burns increasing the temperature and a SLIGHTLY higher pressure, just enough to move the exhaust gases and smoke out of the holes.

5/14/2007 5:51:14 AM

just go buy more charcoal

5/14/2007 12:12:18 PM

Quote :

"I want one of those things that measures temperature just by pointing it, where can I buy one of those?"

ebay. i got one for <$10. search for infrared thermometer

5/14/2007 1:10:30 PM

Quote :

"does the burning reaction itself cause a pumping action"

I was afraid I'd see something like:

Quote :

" Major : Nuclear Engineer"

But I was relieved.

5/14/2007 1:14:08 PM

lol, what's that supposed to mean? Yea, I have the skills to go look everything up and do the calculations... I'm just lazy. I enjoy speculating about things until I figure it out without doing any actual work.

5/14/2007 1:37:27 PM

just to clear things up, BBQ is a type of food, not an activity.

5/14/2007 9:19:01 PM

No, it's also a verb; not to mention about 5 other nouns besides what you're thinking of.

[Edited on May 14, 2007 at 11:14 PM. Reason : ]

5/14/2007 11:13:49 PM

he said GRILL anyway so both of you STFU. it doesn't matter if BBQ there refers to the food or the act or the cooking device.

5/15/2007 12:08:26 AM

Am I the only one that can see the trolling this guy is doing of this section?

5/15/2007 9:28:45 AM