How hot is a fire?

[dirt guy]

Has anyone ever seen any statistics on how hot each fuel source is (I guess this wouldn't apply to electric) for wood, charcoal, or propane? The constant would have to be they are burning on their own with no limit of available oxygen. I also realize there would be differences in the wood and/or charcoal due to density, moisture, etc.

BBQ Engineer's cheese smoke using three briquettes and a piece of wood made me wonder just how "hot" a fire is based on the fuel source. I don't think I've ever seen a stat on temps generated in a fire on anything but magnesium (safety film--forgotten the temp, but it was HOT!!!)

 

[tasunkawitko]

from the bbqfaq (http://www.eaglequest.com/~bbq/):

 

[dirt guy]

Forgive my poor communication skills. Maybe a better way to put it is at what temperature does each fuel source burn at? Would it be the temp where each source ignites? I understand about BTU's and the energy stored in a given quantity of the fuel source.

 

[jdt]

A good wood fire can run up to 1600 F, charcoal a little higher maybe to 1800 from what I have been told, both are inferior to natural gas which can go to 2100 F and propane which is hotter still at 2400 F, this of course is lab type setting, the hotest ever records lump charcoal fire I have seen from a test was a little over 1100 F. Of course with a retort or forced flow liquid oxygen you can get a charcoal fire much hotter, heck you can burn cow poop at 3000 degrees if you got the right equipment. I say that because you might as well be cooking with cow poo if you use gas lol