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Alien BBQ BBQ All Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 5426 Location: Roswell, New Mexico
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Posted: Dec 03 2006 Post subject: Pit Building Ratios |
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Hey guys, I have bounced these ratios off all of my smokers and they hold fairly constant. Could you all check your properly working smokers and see if they are within an acceptable range. We get so many questions on this very subject that I thought I would produce a graphic to illustrate a GENERAL rule of thumb for pit building.
 _________________ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry |
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mrcustomsteel BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 1997 Location: Bilings, still a Texan, MT
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Posted: Dec 03 2006 Post subject: |
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Good idea, Alien, but do you really want volume measurements? If so, maybe someone can remind me how to calculate cylinder volumes so I don't have to go look it up. pi r length something?  _________________ D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com |
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mine Newbie
Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 32 Location: Redmond, Oregon
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zilla BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: Universal City, Texas
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Posted: Dec 04 2006 Post subject: |
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How/Where did you derive these numbers? This is great stuff. _________________ Zilla
GIANT BBQ |
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mine Newbie
Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 32 Location: Redmond, Oregon
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Posted: Dec 04 2006 Post subject: |
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Alien, I ran your numbers on my pit today before I started cutting the chimney out.
OLD air inlet ratio .0015
exhaust ratio .038
opening ratio .008
chimney length 5/8
The first ratio I guess would explain sluggish fire recovery when I get forgetful.
Along with my new chimney, I can easily add more air.
Thanks for the insight, I'll let you know how it turns out. |
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skybob BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 1533 Location: Wichita, KS
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Posted: Dec 04 2006 Post subject: |
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You know, I've calculated areas and volumes, diameters and a whole bunch of other stuff since college. BUT, I've never ever had any kind of problem that the fool College Algebra was useful for. Took 4 tries to get through that dam class and have never used it in over 35 years. What a waste of very valuable beer drinking time!
Last edited by skybob on Dec 04 2006; edited 1 time in total |
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SoEzzy BBQ Super All Star

Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 13183 Location: SLC, UT
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Posted: Dec 04 2006 Post subject: |
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skybob wrote: | You know, I've calculated areas and volumes, diameters and a whole bunch of other stuff since college. BUT, I've never ever had any kind of problem that the fool College Algebra was useful for. Took 4 tries to get through that dam class and have never used it in over 35 years. What a waste of very valuable beer drinking time! |
X + Z = 18,408,600 / (4 x Y)
Where X = a passing grade at college algebra, Z = the additional value a college education added to your career earnings, and Y = total drinking time in minutes lost! _________________ Here's a change Robert.
I still work here! |
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BoilermakerFan BBQ Fan

Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 383 Location: Evansville, IN
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 Post subject: |
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Alien
Is the chimney length ratio for the entire length of the chimney, including the length that is down inside the smoker?
I want to see what the ideal length chimney would be for my Char-Griller, but I will be installing the aluminum flashing on the inside to lower it to the grate level as well as extending it on the outside. _________________ My highly tweaked Char-Griller Smokin' Pro died many years ago... my Weber Kettle gave us 20 years of great food... Now i'm rocking an Oklahoma Joe's Bronco! |
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sheddcanyon Newbie
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Shandon, California
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Posted: Dec 07 2006 Post subject: |
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If I'm using two stacks, does each stack need to be 3/4 the length of the cooker, or can the combined length of both stacks equal 3/4 the length of the cooker?
And while on the subject, can you have too long a stack? |
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skybob BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 1533 Location: Wichita, KS
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Posted: Dec 07 2006 Post subject: |
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I'd say that yes you can have too long a stack. If the stack is too long, the temp will drop and the draw will go away. Or, conversely, you may not be able to get enough draw to get the smoke moving in the first place. |
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Rubit BBQ Pro
Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 505 Location: South Georgia
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Posted: Dec 07 2006 Post subject: |
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The taller the stack the stronger the draw with the exception of Skybobs comment.
The bigger in diameter a stack is, the higher volume it will suck.
A square tube even though it has more area than a round pipe of the same inside diameter. will suck the same as the round pipe., _________________ Vertical Brick pit wood burner
Converted Lazy Q Charcoal
Tank smoker Charcoal
Tank smoker wood burner
Tank Charcoal grill |
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Alien BBQ BBQ All Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 5426 Location: Roswell, New Mexico
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Posted: Dec 08 2006 Post subject: |
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skybob wrote: | I'd say that yes you can have too long a stack. If the stack is too long, the temp will drop and the draw will go away. Or, conversely, you may not be able to get enough draw to get the smoke moving in the first place. |
Excellent observation. _________________ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry |
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Kosmos Q BBQ Pro

Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 508 Location: Mustang, Oklahoma
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Posted: Dec 08 2006 Post subject: |
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If someone could explain this to me please.
Ok. my tank is 20x70 and my fire box is 18wx20dx20t. What should my stack be if I'm using 5" pipe? Rev. flow _________________ www.KosmosQ.com
The New Generation of Injections
TASTE THE DIFFERENCE |
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skybob BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 1533 Location: Wichita, KS
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Posted: Dec 08 2006 Post subject: |
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Hi there, using Alien's calculations, your air inlet to the firebox should have 21.6 sq" of opening. Now with the 5X5 exhaust, using the area of a 5" circle because of the turbulence from the corners, it comes out to 19.6 sq" for the exhaust. Using the optimum, a 5.5X5.5 square tube would be just right, or go on up to a 6" sq tubing for a little extra exhaust capacity. Once again using his rule of thumb, the length of the exhaust pipe should be 52.5" long. |
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skybob BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 1533 Location: Wichita, KS
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Posted: Dec 08 2006 Post subject: |
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Ok Alien, got a question. I went back over my figures and realized that the exhaust VOLUME multiplier is .05 rather than the .005 that my eyes first saw. Is it correct that you're trying to get the volume of the entire stack, rather than the outlet area? If that's the case, and Kosmos is going to use the 5" square tubing, the exhaust stack length would be approximately 18". The volume of his firebox 7200 Sq" X .05 = 360 (volume of the stack) / 19.6 (the area of a 5" circle) would equal 18" length. |
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Alien BBQ BBQ All Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 5426 Location: Roswell, New Mexico
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Posted: Dec 09 2006 Post subject: |
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This is one of the reasons I was asking for input from others to verify to averages and figures. As I figure it:***All of these numbers were rounded***
Your Fire box opening should have an area of approx 22 inches. A 4.5x5 inch opening should be about right. It does not mean you will run this way all the time; it is just a figure that will give you enough air to allow for higher temps.
The chimney volume for that size fire box needs to be 360 sq. inches minimum. Based on a 4 inch chimney that would be approximately 23 inches tall. You have a 5 inch pipe so that throws the figures off (there should be an exponential component, but I haven’t figured it at this time) so the MINIMUM length should be approximately 15 inches tall (for that size fire box.)
The fire box opening (area) should be approximately 58 sq. inches. (6x10 should be minimum.)
Here comes the tricky part. The length of your cooking section is 70 inches, which would indicate a 52 inch long 4 inch exhaust. (I based all of my original calculations on a 4 inch square pipe) because you have a 5 inch square pipe the length of pipe comes out to approximately 33 inches in length.
So it would seem that there is a conflict between the fire box volume chimney figures (15 inches) and the cooker section figures (33 inches). It would seem so but not really. The 15 inches is the MINIMUM needed for a fire box of your size. The 33 inches is a ratio for the cooker section. So the happy point is somewhere in between.
When I started this, I asked for other working ratios so we could develop a formula. Other things not considered in the equation are the volume of the cooking section. Some smokers may have the same length, but are wider or narrower than what was tested. Only by collecting data from smokers that work efficiently can we come up with a formula that we can use in building.
I have almost the same exact dimensions you have on one of my smokers. The exhaust is 30 inches long and I can get it to cook at 200 degrees and go all the way up to 475 degrees. I am currently helping a guy with a smoker that can not go past 225 degrees with a full load of wood in the box. His smoker has a very little fire box and just can not kick out enough heat to keep it going good.
If your smoker is working well with your numbers then we will add them to the list of variables. If it is giving you problems, then we need to know that as well! _________________ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry |
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Alien BBQ BBQ All Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 5426 Location: Roswell, New Mexico
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Posted: Dec 09 2006 Post subject: |
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skybob wrote: | You know, I've calculated areas and volumes, diameters and a whole bunch of other stuff since college. BUT, I've never ever had any kind of problem that the fool College Algebra was useful for. Took 4 tries to get through that dam class and have never used it in over 35 years. What a waste of very valuable beer drinking time! |
I know what you mean. My algebra is not the best in the world and I do quite often make mistakes. I based most of my calculations on the pits I have, made some assumptions, tossed in Boyle’s law on expanding gasses and volume, and tried to come up with a working formula. It is by no means finished (it needs more variable inputs.) For years I have heard that this is what you do (from some old pit builders) and they could not give me a formula for how they got to their numbers. Most of the time, it was trial and error on their part until they found something that worked. In my shop I am trying to push the envelope on design so I need a formula. This is the only way I can figure to get enough information so I don’t have to do trail and error. _________________ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry |
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skybob BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 1533 Location: Wichita, KS
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Posted: Dec 09 2006 Post subject: |
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Glad to see that I was on the right track and following your directions. If you get some free time, you could do the Pitmaster U here in Wichita Probably be able to give you a tour seeing some fine machinery that's built in the area. Not to mention the number of "Q'ers" in the neighborhood. |
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Alien BBQ BBQ All Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 5426 Location: Roswell, New Mexico
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Posted: Dec 09 2006 Post subject: |
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skybob wrote: | Glad to see that I was on the right track and following your directions. If you get some free time, you could do the Pitmaster U here in Wichita Probably be able to give you a tour seeing some fine machinery that's built in the area. Not to mention the number of "Q'ers" in the neighborhood. |
If I ever finish the smoker(s) I am currently working on, I will take the show on the road. My current Stainless Steel smoker is a lot like a drivers ed car. It is a combination, reverse flow, tunable plate, horizontal offset with an attached vertical section that can operate like a WSM. I use it to teach students how to operate the many different types of smokers. It is a great smoker with only one problem. It is too small for a class of 20 people smoking full size briskets, pork butt and chicken in the class. I need something pushing 6000 sq. inches of cooking grate that I can use in the demonstrations. This is what I am currently trying to design. Right now the design is a vertical, forced air convection smoker with no moving parts. I am building a smaller (3800 sq. inch) version first to see if the concept works. If it does, I will build the larger one and put it on a trailer. _________________ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeloberry |
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SoEzzy BBQ Super All Star

Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 13183 Location: SLC, UT
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Posted: Dec 09 2006 Post subject: |
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Alien BBQ wrote: |
The chimney volume for that size fire box needs to be 360 sq cu. inches minimum. Based on a 4 inch chimney that would be approximately 23 inches tall. You have a 5 inch pipe so that throws the figures off (there should be an exponential component, but I haven’t figured it at this time) so the MINIMUM length should be approximately 15 inches tall (for that size fire box.)
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This is a cubic area not a square area, just wanted to keep the numbers right. _________________ Here's a change Robert.
I still work here!
Last edited by SoEzzy on Aug 03 2008; edited 1 time in total |
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