Bell Ceiling Materials for a DSR3

[foxtatic]

I’m designing a brick bell with internal dimensions 48 inches long X 24 inches deep. I can get away with this limited depth with a DSR3 core, but the problem comes with spanning the top of the bell.

My plan was to use the standard “angle iron holding fire brick splits design” like in the Mallorca build and many others. But the plans always say to avoid angle iron directly above the core exhaust.



The problem: Since fire bricks are only 9 inches long and the core exhaust will be 12.5 wide, there is no avoiding hot exhaust blasting the angle iron.



Here is an illustration: drive.google.com/file/d/1sX7GKjOpNl1eXxTVsuYnTNXM2txfV1_J/view?usp=sharing   Core will sit 9 inches below the bell ceiling (it’s a 6 inch system.)



Would it be ok to still use angle iron supporting fire brick, or should I center something bigger above the core exhaust? Perhaps a kiln shelf or cast refractory piece wider than the core?

[peterberg]

Good question. The core exhaust of DSR3 is much wider as compared to a 'normal' batchrocket. By the way, the Mallorca ceiling is done with full firebricks and T-profile. That T-profile is getting more and more difficult to find, so the most recent I did was with two angle irons welded together back-to-back. On my own heater, the red bell.

As your picture shows, the exhaust is spread over a wider area so I don't expect problems with the steel.

[foxtatic]

Makes sense. Wider exit= wider distribution of heat. I might use high carbon steel in those middle sections just to be safe.
You mentioned the Mallorca build used full firebricks. Do you think splits are insufficient?

[martyn]

Ceramic glass might work for you, standard cook top is about 600 x 550mm but you can find them up to 1200 x 600mm.
Also the inner glass from a large oven is often ceramic.