Burner venting/airflow

[jeeppilot]

So I had to make some changes to my table. A friend of mine got me this killer stainless top with holes cut for the burners. The holes are smaller diameter than the kettle diameter and right now, the kettle sits flat on the top completely covering the hole.

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Here is a view with the kettle slid back a bit.

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Underneath looking up.

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I think this setup will snuff the flame on the burner since the only exhaust path will be underneath the table and may not provide efficient heating of the kettle. I may have to put small blocks around the hole to raise the kettle off the table so the air can exhaust up and around the kettle but I'd rather not do that if there is another way. Thoughts?

 

[day_trippr]

[...]I may have to put small blocks around the hole to raise the kettle off the table so the air can exhaust up and around the kettle but I'd rather not do that if there is another way. Thoughts?

You're far from the first that ran into that problem.
Many folks solve it by using sections of 1/2" or thicker square bar as risers...

Cheers!

 

[JohnSand]

Find a cast off oven rack or grill grate.

 

[day_trippr]

It would need to be exceptionally thick to work well, and judging from the porcelained racks in our relatively recent vintage kitchen oven, those wouldn't do the job.

You have to consider the exhaust gas volume is going to be a multiple of the propane and make-up air...

Cheers!

 

[TennBrewer]

Find a cast off oven rack or grill grate.

I had a similar problem with my keggles sitting over Alpha burners. Grill grates aren't thick enough to withstand the heat but the bottom grate for Weber charcoal grills works.

 

[jeeppilot]

I was really hoping to avoid the riser option, even though I know it's unlikely. Is there anyway the gas could vent under the table and out the back, sides, etc? I really don't want anything I have to weld as the stainless table top will work nicely if/when I switch from gas to electric and don't need the risers.

 

[day_trippr]

You could just lay a few square SS bars on top of the deck.
I never move my kettles once I start a brew day...

Cheers!

 

[jeeppilot]

You could just lay a few square SS bars on top of the deck.

I never move my kettles once I start a brew day...



Cheers!

New plan. I am going to have someone weld Brewers Hardware heat shield/burner mounts to the underside of the table so the top of the shield sits flush with the table top. Mount the burners to the shields then use some loose risers to lift the kettle for exhaust airflow. If/when I convert to electric, the top will still be clean and the heat shields underneath can just stay.

 

[jrcrilly]

New plan. I am going to have someone weld Brewers Hardware heat shield/burner mounts to the underside of the table so the top of the shield sits flush with the table top.

Those work very well, especially if you can open the rear of the structure to permit venting in that direction (as the mounts are designed to so). You wouldn't have to raise the pots at all then.

 

[jeeppilot]

Those work very well, especially if you can open the rear of the structure to permit venting in that direction (as the mounts are designed to so). You wouldn't have to raise the pots at all then.

If I get the back opened up, would they still vent properly under a solid table top?

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Since the holes are smaller than the kettles, not raising them would prevent any upward venting. There is a 1" 90 degree bend on the front and back of the top. The exhaust would go backwards then contend with that downward bend. Should I cut that out in the exhaust area?