Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Hi,

I was wondering how switching to metal mesh affects the performance of the burner when compared to the ceramic?

I had thought there might be only two positive benefits using mesh: being able to make a lower burner and not crumbling if it got damp but yesterday I found another, it won't crack.  I had resurrected a vertical boiler that was made many years ago and when I checked the ceramic it had broken into four pieces. I have no way of measuring wether there is a difference in the heat output between the two elements however I am going to replace the ceramic of this burner with mesh to see how it performs in practice.

Judging from the video, the radiating effect of the glowing ceramic is not present with the metal mesh.

I think there is little or no radiant heat produced by the rectangular burner on the video however the round burner at the end of the video is producing quite a lot with the mesh glowing red?  It is only a feeling but the mesh seems to remain red at a lower gas setting than ceramic, but it might be wishful thinking.

I will report how the boiler performs after I have fitted a mesh element.

Take care.

Tony.