I know this doesn't really have to do with computers but what can I say, I love to grill and part of that is having a good flame and charcoal. 

Lets just say that you have to compute the amount of heat needed to initiate the Mallard Reaction and determine the optimum interior temperture to maximize enzyme action for the perfect texture and succulent flavor.  Yeah... that has to do with computers. ;)

Ohh, I know, it has to do with science and chemistry, with out those we would never have computers! A -> B -> C, therefore A -> C!

So, In any case, this web site gives a complete tutorial on how to build a charcoal kiln. 

"BRIQUETTES
To make briquettes you'll need some starch from the grocery store and some molds: Margarine bowls, muffin tines, short cans or 'most anything. Crush or grind the small pieces of charcoal as fine as you have the patience for. The finer the better, but some lumps are okay. Cook the starch to a thick paste and mix in the charcoal. The thicker a mix the better, but mix it well. Pour or dip into the molds and that's all there is to it. After the mixture sets, dump the briquettes out and let them completely dry. Depending on the weather, it may take a couple of days for them to be dry all the way through. The starch will burn smokeless and odorless and you don't waste any of your charcoal. You also don't have any extra "junk' in your briquettes. In our research we discovered that the commercially made briquettes we buy at the store probably contain earth coal as fill for extra weight and even raw sawdust for "smoke". Of course, starch is the binder that is used commercially too. Your briquettes will burn clean and with no more smoke than the rest of your charcoal. If you wish to have smoke, it can be had by putting any kind of meat sauce directly on the burning charcoal.

...

The temperature of 250 degrees Celsius is to be considered the minimum at which carbonization begin. Your kiln is designed in such a way that the temperature can go much higher, to 357 degrees Celsius (700 degrees Fahrenheit). At this temperature carbonization is rapid and some skill and practice is required to know just how much draft is required and when to stop the burn. Placement and size of the intake and exhaust vents in relation to the size of the kiln combined with skill are the keys to the proper decomposition of the wood."

Between wires and websites, this is my next project.  Don't be supprised if I bring you a bag of charcaol as an appreciation gift!