I've Got Gas

[George Bowman]

Trying to build a homemade BBQ grill and almost there. But, these orange flames are driving me crazy.  My idea is at a standstill, the local experts are perplexed and no solutions found on Google. Suggestions?

[bankruatsteve]

Are you using LP gas?  If so, you should be able to regulate the air mixture to allow more air.  Check the hole size in your burners and make sure not plugged.  ??

[grollies]

Charcoal?

 

[Crossy]

I'm definitely no gas expert (it makes me nervous) but I see:-

• Regulator valves in the wrong place (after the air inlet / venturi), close all the valves and things could get interesting in an explosive sense.
• Mixer tubes too small anyway.
• If you want 1,2 or 3 burner control give each burner its own air inlet and venturi.

 

Don't try to regulate the mixed gas / air, regulate the gas and adjust the air for blue flames (the venturi will actually auto-regulate the air supply once set up).

 

Did you get that design from some official source?

 

If you open that valve fully and adjust the gas flow at the bottle can you get a blue flame?

 

 

EDIT There are a number of instructibles on YouTube, I'm not sure that "safe" could be applied to any of them, but I'm paranoid about being blown up.

 

 

[Forkinhades]

Well I was following this with interest, but with Xy's last comment, I think ill stick with charcoal.

 

Good Luck

[carlyai]

There is also a special Teflon tape for LP gas other than that white stuff. (Many will say it doesn't matter).

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[George Bowman]

Thanks for the suggestions. This grill needs more air. It is just a matter of figuring it out.

[Kwasaki]

15 hours ago, Forkinhades said:

Well I was following this with interest, but with Xy's last comment, I think ill stick with charcoal.

 

Good Luck

I think l'll just leave it to the wife and family, l just pay for the goodies.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Kwasaki

[grollies]

This one could take off over here.

 

 

[grollies]

This is my favourite, one for @transam maybe?

 

 

[grollies]

And, of course, you Yanks have to top everyone!

 

 

[Gary A]

I have a Quick Fire BBQ. Since I always cook, mostly chicken, I use the lowest burner setting. (150c temperature) I have the air adjusted to where I get a nice blue flame. Unfortunately when I set to a higher setting, I get orange flames. I have fiddled with the air settings quite a bit but apparently I'm not smart enough to always get a blue flame. I am content to have a clean burning flame at the low setting and usually only use the maximum heat when I burn off the oil soaked volcanic rock.

[sipi]

I was a qualified gas fitter 30 years ago and I'm not surprised the local experts are perplexed.

Frankly the whole thing looks a mismatch of brass, galv and stainless "fittings" screwed together with water thread tape in a dangerous configuration. Is your orifice the old "drill the ball out of a grease nipple"trick?

Yes a yellow or rich flame is a sign of a poor fuel/ar ratio so opening the choke on a properly designed and balanced burner will lean the flame.

The exact science of designing even the simplest lpg burner with orifice, pressures, burner size and number of holes, mixing tubes etc is quite complicated. If you insist on making your own system I can probably copy some of my text books and pm you, but frankly you should look at buying ready made burners and getting a qualified local tradesman to install it for you. 

[Crossy]

5 minutes ago, sipi said:

... but frankly you should look at buying ready made burners and getting a qualified local tradesman to install it for you. 

 

Yup, I'll bet the local "assorted gas stuff" shop has suitable straight burners that can be simply slotted in to the barbie, piped up and will work right off.

 

@sipi "Qualified local tradesman"??

 

[sipi]

Maybe try drilling out the primary air holes and smashing a dozen bricks out to allow for adequate secondary air without blowing the flame out (or up)?

 

But I didn't say that.

 

"Plan A" sounds better and safer.

[Daffy D]

On ‎4‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 4:42 PM, Crossy said:

but I'm paranoid about being blown up.

Wot no T-Shirt

 

Go on - you know you want to

[sipi]

Inscription on grave headstone.

"Here lays Barry.

Dedicated husband.

Devoted father.

Useless gas fitter".

 

[Kwasaki]

On 4/12/2017 at 4:42 PM, Crossy said:

I'm paranoid about being blown up.

 

[carlyai]

Hey@grollies ...not as beautiful but fantastic.


And, with its Easter bonnet on



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[George Bowman]

14 hours ago, sipi said:

Frankly the whole thing looks a mismatch of brass, galv and stainless "fittings" screwed together with water thread tape in a dangerous configuration. 

 

Guilty as charged. This project is a work in progress...

[George Bowman]

13 hours ago, sipi said:

Maybe try drilling out the primary air holes and smashing a dozen bricks out to allow for adequate secondary air without blowing the flame out (or up)?

 

I think this is the next step. 

[sipi]

Every fire needs secondary air whether it be timber, charcoal, gas or any other fuel.

I can't see it burning back through the venturi and reg into the bottle and exploding, but I have seen some burners burn back into the pipework so you get a raging fire in the pipework but nothing at the burner where you need it. The other problem is if one burner blows out and another keeps burning it will gather a nice lpg/ air mix trapped in that confined space until it ignites. 

Also you are using one mixer to feed three burners effectively making it 2/3rds too small even if you do manage a nice blue flame. I can't see it raising enough heat.