Help: Aluminium Reverse Flow Offset Build?

[Seva]

Hello!
Guys, please, help me out. I got a great deal on this tank on wheels. It's about 290 gallon tank with thick metal (1/4 inch). The only problem is that it is made of aluminium. I'm going to make reverse flow with steel FB. So my question is... Can i be sure that my pit won't melt down in first run? And how to prevent it?
I mean, maybe i should make some shields or longer transition FB/CC (to cool it down before aluminium part of build)?

[Chasdev]

I think if you keep it below 500 degrees it should be fine but you might think about heat loss problems before you spend too much on the project.
Also, what did it used to contain?
If nasty or petro chems can you be sure you can get ALL of it/them out?

[slamkeys]

Yeah, I'd be worried about heat loss too. Aluminum makes a great heat sink, and is commonly used for air-conditioning coils and radiators.

• Carbon steel has a much lower conductivity than aluminum: a thermal conductivity of about 45 watts per kelvin per meter.
• Pure aluminum has a thermal conductivity of about 235 watts per kelvin per meter - more than 5 times the conductivity of carbon steel.

https://sciencing.com/aluminum-vs-steel ... 97828.html

[Markw142]

The firebox would have to be insulated from the chamber, The fire gets hot enough to get steel expanded metal get soft. I can picture either some double wall affair with insulation between, or isolate by putting a gap between the FB and the chamber...and i wonder how much heat loss that aluminum chamber would have. Interesting though, be sure to post your results.

[Copasspupil]

I have a question since you can’t weld steel to aluminum how are you plannng attaching the firebox to the pit?