Charcoal is a fuel that burns hotter than the wood that it's made from. This happens because the initial energy-consuming steps of combustion take place while making the charcoal – driving off volatile parts of the wood like water and sap. Charcoal gets very hot and burns for a long time.
Charcoal burns hotter than wood primarily due to its higher carbon content and lower moisture levels. During the charcoal production process, wood is carbonized, which removes moisture and volatile compounds.
Although carbonization causes a loss of energy, the charcoal produced gives a higher yield in use than wood. Thus, the thermal energy yield of wood is, on average, 8 percent and can even go as low as 5 percent with the popular three-stone African stove. Charcoal has a thermal energy yield of about 28 percent.
Understanding 'wood' combustion
He indicates that charcoal can spontaneously combust at temperatures as low as 150 to 250 or even 100 degree C and this is in total contrast to ignition temperatures of 350 to 750 degree C for pyrolysis gas products from wood.
One of the main benefits of wood grilling is that it gives food a unique flavor that cannot be replicated with other methods. Additionally, wood grilling is considered healthier than charcoal grilling because no chemicals or additives are necessary to start the fire.
Charcoal has a low ignition temperature, produces less smoke and has a higher calorific value as compared to wood.
On average, coal tends to have a higher calorific value than wood. This means that pound for pound, coal can release more energy than wood, indicating that coal indeed burns hotter.
A few sorts of charcoal, truth be told, can reach more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a sizable amount of warmth to barbecue flavourful meats. Given its capacity to create such a lot of warmth, charcoal doesn't burn as long as different sorts of fuel, including cooking wood.
Charcoal is a better fuel than wood because it has a higher calorific value than wood, and it burns without producing smoke whereas wood produces a lot of smoke on burning.
It is used primarily for barbecue as it produces no odor, no smoke, little ash, high heat, and has a long burning time (exceeding 4 hours). Extruded charcoal is made by extruding either raw ground wood or carbonized wood into logs without the use of a binder.
While lump charcoal is 100% hardwood and has no additive, briquettes are made from compressed sawdust that often contains fillers and binders to hold their uniform shape. For most people, briquettes are the better choice as they're cheaper, much easier to light, and provide more even heating.
The benefits of charcoal over wood include a more consistent heat source, less smoke, and fewer impurities, which lead to a cleaner burn. Charcoal ignites quickly and maintains a steady temperature, making it preferable for grilling and barbecuing. Additionally, it produces less ash, simplifying cleanup after cooking.
Lump charcoal burns faster and hotter than other charcoal, so you have to be careful with temperature control. It can burn as hot as 1400°F, making it very effective for grilling chicken wings and searing steaks. Briquettes are made from leftover woods and sawdust.
Although in some cases propane can be a more costly fuel than wood, it burns hotter, more efficiently and more evenly, so the space you're supplementing your heat in won't fluctuate the same way it might with a wood burning fireplace.
Myth #4: Firewood is Cheaper Than Charcoal
It's often assumed that firewood is more cost-effective than charcoal. However, this isn't always the case. The cost of firewood and charcoal can vary significantly depending on your region, the type of wood or charcoal, and the quantity purchased.
Kingsford Charcoal, for example, by far the most popular brand in the US, is made up of bits of charcoal, coal, starch (as a binder), sawdust, and sodium nitrate (to make it burn better).
Once your charcoal is lit, you should have anywhere between 45 minutes and 3.5 hours of cooking time for a full chimney's worth of charcoal. Exact times will vary, but lump charcoal generally burns for times on the shorter end of the spectrum, whereas briquettes give you longer cooking time.
Briquettes tend to not burn as high as lumpwood charcoal, but they still get extremely hot. The difference is the burn with briquettes is more of a reliable and constant temperature. This allows you to cook low and slow for bigger pieces of meat like brisket and lamb shoulder.
Today, coal is an affordable heat source that is used in coal-fired furnaces to heat homes, commercial buildings, barns, hot tubs, pools, and greenhouses. Heating your space with a coal burning furnace has several main benefits and drawbacks that we will cover in this guide so you can decide if it is right for you.
Highest temperature
Dicyanoacetylene, a compound of carbon and nitrogen with chemical formula C4N2 burns in oxygen with a bright blue-white flame at a temperature of 5,260 K (4,990 °C; 9,010 °F), and at up to 6,000 K (5,730 °C; 10,340 °F) in ozone.
Yet another reason to grill with wood is that it produces an abundance of heat. Dry wood burns hotter than charcoal.
Ideal for a charcoal grill setup, simply sprinkle a large handful of pellets on hot coals to get going. Close the lid to allow the pellets to smoke, not flame. Enjoy when your meat has reached the desired temperature. Fill a small baking pan approximately 1/3 full with your choice of BBQ wood pellets.