moroney@jon.DEC (Mike Moroney) (12/09/85)
>B.T.W. I can't really figure out why the steam would dislodge the carbon >buildup: chemically the carbon is very inert. What is the mechanism? >Mechanical shock? No, hot carbon will react with water, C + H2O -> CO + H2 (carbon monoxide and hydrogen). This process used to be used commercially by adding water to hot coal to produce "water gas" (impure carbon monoxide and hydrogen) which was used as fuel for the gaslight street lights of the past. -Mike Moroney ..decwrl!rhea!jon!moroney