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Post by briank on Oct 6, 2017 20:02:26 GMT -8
Potassium is named after the potassium carbonate in wood ash. I found this on the web:
“Wood ash is definitely very alkaline. The alkalinity comes mainly from the potassium carbonate formed during burning. As noted by others, there is also a significant amount of calcium carbonate present in wood ash as well. However calcium carbonate is far less alkaline than potassium carbonate.
“An interesting piece of trivia is that wood ash is the reason the element potassium got its name.
“Before the advent of electricity, wood fires were used to heat cooking pots, the ash left was called pot ash or potash. This potash was used to clean pots and cooking utensils because it removed the grease far better than plain water. (the alkaline nature of the pot ash was actually producing a crude soap, in situ, by reacting with the grease and fat) Eventually potash was widely used commercially in the manufacture of soap from animal fats.
“In time, early chemists isolated a new element contained in the potash and called it potassium.”
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Post by Jura on Oct 7, 2017 6:51:08 GMT -8
“Wood ash is definitely very alkaline. The alkalinity comes mainly from the potassium carbonate formed during burning. As noted by others, there is also a significant amount of calcium carbonate present in wood ash as well. However calcium carbonate is far less alkaline than potassium carbonate. Once dissolved in water it forms KOH (Potassium hydroxide) which is of course far stronger than Ca(OH 2) “Before the advent of electricity, wood fires were used to heat cooking pots, the ash left was called pot ash or potash. This potash was used to clean pots and cooking utensils because it removed the grease far better than plain water. (the alkaline nature of the pot ash was actually producing a crude soap, in situ, by reacting with the grease and fat) Eventually potash was widely used commercially in the manufacture of soap from animal fats. That is why in my former post I told Mathewalker he was on a straight path to start producing his own soap  Once watching his film I found a few appliances which clearly showed he had some inclination toward permaculture so he was probably familiar with the topic of homesteading soap production |
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Post by briank on Oct 7, 2017 7:01:22 GMT -8
That is why in my former post I told Mathewalker he was on a straight path to start producing his own soap Yes, I caught that so I figured you’d enjoy this excerpt. |
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Post by Orange on Oct 10, 2017 6:41:25 GMT -8
The magnetite one slightly sticks to the magnet. neodymium magnet sticks, so I guess it's MAGNETITE  ![]()   |
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watto
New Member
Posts: 8 
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Post by watto on Oct 10, 2017 7:32:28 GMT -8
Hi folks, I will be using the magnetite bricks in an orientation that exposes just the narrow edge to the hot gasses and disperse them through the brickwork of the bell. This should accelerate heat absorption and ultimately release. When (if) they degrade then they can be individually replaced. I suspect since rocket stoves should be ultra clean burning there should be minimal ash and creosote being released into the bell.
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Post by briank on Oct 11, 2017 13:24:07 GMT -8
Where are folks finding magnetite bricks?
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Post by Vortex on Oct 11, 2017 15:16:36 GMT -8
They're used in electric night storage heaters that are common in Europe. They use cheap nighttime electric to heat the bricks and release it slowly through the day. Don't know if you have them in the U.S.
I got mine from a guy who salvages them and sells them to people for making pizza ovens.
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Post by briank on Oct 12, 2017 20:30:22 GMT -8
They're used in electric night storage heaters that are common in Europe. They use cheap nighttime electric to heat the bricks and release it slowly through the day. Don't know if you have them in the U.S. I got mine from a guy who salvages them and sells them to people for making pizza ovens. Those heaters were popular here in the 80s and seem to be having a reemergence, but I have not found any of these bricks in salvage yet. |
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Post by briank on Oct 13, 2017 7:08:07 GMT -8
A forge supply company here in PA has 50lb bags of black magnetite powder for $14 per bag. Does anyone know how it should or could be mixed with castable or cement to make DIY thermal storage bricks?
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Post by Orange on Oct 13, 2017 7:58:57 GMT -8
it's easier and probably cheaper to go with the stuff you can find like solid rocks, iron, aluminum block, water, firebrick, concrete etc.
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Post by Vortex on Oct 13, 2017 14:17:13 GMT -8
A forge supply company here in PA has 50lb bags of black magnetite powder for $14 per bag. Does anyone know how it should or could be mixed with castable or cement to make DIY thermal storage bricks? You could mix it with Calcium aluminate (fondue) cement which is rated to 1200*C. The standard size storage heater bricks are 7.5KG / 16.5lbs each, so you'd only get the equivalent of 3 bricks out of one of those bags as this stuff is seriously heavy, so not a cheap option. |
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Post by briank on Oct 13, 2017 15:02:56 GMT -8
You could mix it with Calcium aluminate (fondue) cement which is rated to 1200*C. The standard size storage heater bricks are 7.5KG / 16.5lbs each, so you'd only get the equivalent of 3 bricks out of one of those bags as this stuff is seriously heavy, so not a cheap option. Wouldn’t the fondue cement or castable make up a percentage of the weight of each thermal brick? For instance, Rutland 25 lbs. Castable Refractory Cement Tub says “Approximate coverage: 25 lbs. casts a block 12 in. x 24 in. x 1-1/2 in.” It could be mixed 50/50 or 3:1? Could it be mixed with regular cement for use in a masonry bell? |
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Post by Vortex on Oct 14, 2017 3:25:33 GMT -8
Using regular cement would depend a lot on where you'd be using it in the system. I've used concrete blocks to build sides of benches that were after large tall bells, but I'd never use them in the top of a bell, and would avoid it in the bottom.
I'd try a 4:1 ratio of black magnetite powder grog to Calcium aluminate cement. The CA Cement is quite light and fine compared to magnetite, so it wont make a lot of difference in the weight or volume as it will fill the gaps.
I make trial pieces in a plastic takeaway tub, and then once they're fully dry I fire them in my stove firebox to see how they stand up to heat. Maybe you could try it out like that.
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Post by Acempdc on Jan 31, 2018 10:19:30 GMT -8
Hi guys, amazing work! We are looking forward to more great news with the DSR... will it possibly be suitable as a replacement for BatchBoxes? Or is it a different application scope?
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Post by Orange on Feb 18, 2018 13:54:50 GMT -8
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