Starting from iron smelting

Chapter 61 Coal

The completion of the preparatory work does not mean the end of the task, but the beginning of a new stage. After confirming that all the preparatory work was completed, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng decided to rest for a night to fully recover their energy and prepare for the next ironmaking work.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, they lit a bright oil lamp in the simple wooden house. Under the light, the two sat at the table, drinking hot tea and discussing the next plan.

"Tomorrow is the day for iron smelting." Lu Xiu looked at the starry sky outside the furnace and said in a firm tone.

Liu Meng nodded, his expression serious: "Yes, we must be fully prepared and cannot make any mistakes.

Lu Xiuyuan took a deep breath and clearly presented the plan in his mind: "First, we need to collect enough fuel to ensure sufficient fire in the furnace. Second, prepare iron ore and flux to ensure the smooth progress of iron smelting. Finally, we must always pay attention to the temperature and fire in the furnace to ensure that the molten iron in the furnace can be fully melted."

Liu Meng listened carefully and nodded in agreement from time to time. He knew that this ironmaking was not only for the purpose of achieving Lu Xiuyuan's goal, but also for their own future. If they could succeed, they would have enough resources and weapons, and it would be easier to protect themselves and the people around them.

As the night deepened, the two continued to discuss for a while. After confirming the action plan for tomorrow, they returned to their beds and prepared to greet the new day.

The next morning, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng got up early and began the final preparations before iron smelting. They first checked the structure and condition of the furnace to make sure there were no holes or defects. Then, they began to collect fuel and piled enough firewood and straw next to the furnace for use in iron smelting.

Next, they began to prepare iron ore and flux. Lu Xiuyuan took out the iron ore he had collected before, carefully selected the best quality ore, and cleaned out the impurities to ensure the purity of the material in the furnace. At the same time, Liu Meng was also preparing flux. He ground limestone into powder so that he could add it to the furnace to increase the fluidity and melting temperature of the ore.

After everything was ready, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng stood by the stove, ready to light the fire. They took a deep breath, exchanged a firm look, and then lit the fire at the same time, lighting the straw and firewood at the bottom of the stove.

As the flames jumped up from the bottom of the furnace, the whole furnace was filled with a hot atmosphere. Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng silently stood by the furnace, paying attention to the changes in the fire and the temperature inside the furnace. They knew that only by keeping the fire stable and the temperature inside the furnace high enough could the iron ore be melted into molten iron smoothly and the ironmaking process be completed.

When the temperature in the furnace stabilized, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng prepared to proceed to the next step. They turned the blower to burn the charcoal to the highest temperature, and the flames showed a dazzling red light, reflecting their nervous expressions.

Then, Lu Xiuyuan carefully put in iron ore and limestone, which is a key step in iron smelting. The iron ore and limestone melted at high temperatures and began to react with the carbon in the charcoal, gradually producing molten iron and slag. The entire furnace was filled with a strong metallic smell and heat waves, as if the whole world was immersed in the magic of the fire.

Time passed by minute by minute, and Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng waited nervously beside the furnace. Suddenly, they saw red liquid flowing out from the bottom of the furnace, and Liu Meng shouted happily: "The molten iron is flowing down!"

However, Lu Xiuyuan shook his head and said calmly: "Don't worry, this is not molten iron, this is melted stone, it is slag."

Liu Meng was a little disappointed, but he immediately regained his composure. They knew that ironmaking was a complicated and difficult process, and smelting high-quality molten iron required patience and skills. They were determined to continue adjusting the temperature in the furnace and the speed of the blower to ensure the smooth progress of the ironmaking process.

Lu Xiuyuan continued to observe the situation in the furnace. He knew that in order to obtain pure molten iron, he needed to constantly control the temperature and add flux during the smelting process to ensure that the slag could be effectively separated from the molten iron. His experience told him that this was a process that required patience and meticulousness. Any impatience or carelessness would affect the final ironmaking effect.

Liu Meng worked attentively with Lu Xiuyuan to adjust the parameters of the furnace to ensure the smooth progress of the ironmaking process. They cooperated tacitly, each doing their own job, and worked together to lay a solid foundation for the success of the ironmaking work.

As the red color in the furnace gradually faded, the ironmaking process was nearing its end. Lu Xiuyuan stood beside the furnace, frowning, knowing that this moment would determine the success or failure of the entire ironmaking process. As the temperature gradually dropped, he cautiously opened the furnace door.

The furnace door slowly opened, and a hot breath rushed in, making people feel as if they were in the flames. Lu Xiuyuan stared into the furnace, his eyes focused and nervous, he was looking forward to seeing the pure molten iron.

However, when his eyes gradually moved to the inside of the furnace, a trace of disappointment and confusion appeared on his face. At the bottom of the furnace, he found some black objects, which were very different from the molten iron he expected. These objects looked like bubbles, full of bubbles and various impurities, far from the pure iron he expected.

Lu Xiuyuan felt heavy in his heart. The iron ore he had spent so much effort to prepare and smelt did not achieve the desired effect. He pondered for a moment and decided to take out the iron blocks first, and then carefully analyze the possible problems in the iron smelting process.

He carefully took out the iron blocks with a shovel and placed them on the ground. There was still some hot slag on the black iron blocks, which made a slight hissing sound. Lu Xiuyuan squatted down and carefully observed the iron blocks, trying to find out what was wrong.

After careful observation, he found that the surface of these iron blocks was full of pores and the texture was soft, far from being as hard and dense as normal iron blocks. He speculated that the furnace temperature might not be high enough or the proportion of materials added during the ironmaking process was wrong, resulting in excessive gas and impurities remaining in the molten iron, which eventually formed this abnormal iron block.

Lu Xiuyuan frowned, his heart filled with frustration and disappointment. He knew that ironmaking was a complicated process, and every detail could affect the final result. This failure made him feel particularly frustrated, but he did not give up, but strengthened his determination.

He decided to re-examine every step of the ironmaking process, identify possible problems, and try to improve and adjust them. He re-examined the structure of the furnace and the temperature control system, while re-evaluating the ratio of ore and flux. He was determined to achieve better results in the next ironmaking process.

Liu Meng looked at Lu Xiuyuan's thoughtful expression, and his heart was filled with helplessness and worry. He knew that this failure was a huge blow to Lu Xiuyuan, but he also believed in Lu Xiuyuan's ability and determination, and believed that he would be able to overcome the difficulties and achieve success.

Lu Xiuyuan began to carefully examine every step of the ironmaking process. He examined each process, trying to find possible problems. He checked the structure of the furnace, the choice of fuel, the temperature control, and the proportion of flux added, but he could not find any obvious mistakes. Although he tried many times and re-tested several times, the result was still the same. The iron blocks produced still contained obvious impurities and were of substandard quality.

This failure made Lu Xiuyuan feel very frustrated and confused. He spent a lot of time and energy, but he couldn't get the results he wanted. Whenever he looked at those abnormal iron pieces, his heart was filled with frustration and helplessness. He began to doubt his ability and methods, not knowing how to find out the problem and make the ironmaking process smooth.

Liu Meng looked at Lu Xiuyuan's frustrated expression. He knew that Lu Xiuyuan was very disappointed with the failure. He walked to Lu Xiuyuan's side and patted his shoulder gently, trying to comfort him. "It's already very impressive. We use meteorite iron or red gold to make magic weapons." He tried to say in an encouraging tone.

Although these words came from the heart, they did not comfort Lu Xiuyuan much. He knew that compared with making magic weapons, iron smelting was not an easy task for them. What they needed was a large amount of high-quality iron, but the current situation put them in a difficult situation.

Although Liu Meng's words made Lu Xiuyuan feel a little warm, he still felt that he had the responsibility to find out the root cause of the problem and solve it. He was determined not to give up and continued to work hard to find new methods and ways to achieve better results next time.

Therefore, Lu Xiuyuan began to re-examine the entire ironmaking process. He carefully studied every detail and thought about the possible problems in every link. He began to readjust the furnace temperature control, tried to change the ratio of ore and flux, and even redesigned the furnace structure, hoping to find a breakthrough to solve the current difficulties.

Eventually, Lu Xiuyuan discovered the root cause of the failure of iron smelting - insufficient temperature. Although the charcoal they used produced a fairly high temperature when burned, about 1000 degrees, it was still not enough to completely melt the iron ore. In fact, to completely melt the iron ore, the temperature required was at least 1500 degrees, and the temperature of the furnace needed to reach a higher level, about 1600 degrees.

This discovery shocked and disappointed Lu Xiuyuan. He realized that charcoal alone could not meet the high temperature requirements for iron smelting. They needed a more powerful fuel to be able to get the furnace temperature to the required level. So he began to look for other types of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, natural gas, etc., hoping to find a solution to the problem.

Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng started their journey to find alternative fuels while working in the firewood room. They realized that finding more effective fuels was crucial to the success of iron smelting, so they decided to embark on this search.

At first, their search was not smooth. They crossed dense forests and climbed rugged mountain roads, but they could not find a suitable source of fuel. Sometimes they would find some dead wood and branches scattered on the ground, but these resources were far from enough to support the high temperature and duration required for iron smelting. However, they were not discouraged, but were determined to move forward.

After several days of arduous journey, they finally found a coal mine hidden in a remote valley. This coal mine is hidden in a dense forest and is little known to people. However, it is this forgotten corner that contains the hope and opportunities they need.

When they arrived at the entrance of the coal mine, the two were extremely excited, with their eyes flashing with determination and desire to explore the unknown. They began to carefully survey the surrounding terrain, trying to understand the distribution and depth of the veins. Then, they collected some coal samples and conducted preliminary tests and analyses.

After careful analysis, they concluded that the coal mine was rich in resources and of high quality, and could fully meet the fuel requirements for iron smelting. So they decided to start collecting coal and transport it back to the iron smelting workshop for processing and utilization.

In the following days, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng worked tirelessly in coal mining. They used hoes, shovels and other simple tools to dig out a large amount of coal ore. Every piece of coal was the result of their unremitting efforts, and every sweat was a contribution to the ironmaking industry.

After collecting the coal, they process and treat it to ensure its quality and purity. Then, they put the coal into bags and baskets, hang them on their shoulders with ropes, and start the difficult journey back home.

This journey full of challenges and exploration not only deepened the cooperation and tacit understanding between Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng, but also brought new impetus and hope to the development of the ironmaking workshop. They firmly believe that as long as they persevere, they will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve success.

Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng were extremely excited about the unexpected discovery of coal. This was an unexpected joy for them, as if the god of fate had favored them. With such high-quality fossil fuels, they believed that ironmaking would become much easier and everything would come naturally.

So, they couldn't wait to bring the collected coal back to the iron workshop. These black ores shone with crystal light in the sun, as if they were treasures. They put the coal into the iron furnace, replacing the charcoal that was originally used. Liu Meng waved the shovel and threw the coal into the furnace piece by piece. The coal fell into the furnace and immediately made a crackling sound, accompanied by thick coal smoke, and the flames burned fiercely in the furnace.

When the temperature in the furnace stabilized, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng operated the blower together to adjust the burning speed of the coal and gradually increase the temperature of the flame. The charcoal and coal in the furnace continued to burn, and the flames reflected their faces red, as if they were a pair of craftsmen performing an ancient ritual. They cooperated tacitly, constantly adding fuel and adjusting the fire to keep the temperature in the furnace stable.

As the temperature in the furnace rises, they put iron ore and limestone into the furnace together, and the real ironmaking process begins. The iron ore melts rapidly under high temperature, and the molten iron slowly flows out from the bottom of the furnace and flows into the pre-prepared iron mold, forming the shape of an iron block. The limestone acts as a flux, helping to separate the slag from the molten iron and reducing impurities in the ironmaking process.

Against the backdrop of the fire, Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng looked taller and more powerful. They stared at the fire intently, paying attention to the details of the iron-making process. The iron-making process was in full swing, as if an ancient ritual was going on, and they were the protagonists of the ritual.

As time went by, the molten iron in the furnace gradually became clear and transparent, and the impurities were successfully separated, leaving only pure molten iron. When they saw the molten iron flowing out of the bottom of the furnace becoming purer and purer, they became more and more excited. Finally, after a period of waiting, they took out pieces of dense and hard iron from the furnace, which was the result of their hard work.

Lu Xiuyuan and Liu Meng looked at the iron blocks with satisfaction. They knew that this was the achievement they had always dreamed of. With high-quality fuel like coal, they successfully smelted relatively pure iron.