[Stoves] ETHOS Stove Camp $500 Prize

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Paul

Judging by the humor implied in the "Kirk Smith Cat Piss Award" title, I
would expect that the rules could be a bit on the loosey goosey side. My
general impression would be that the winning stove should have some
combination of impressiveness and redeeming technical merit that others
could build upon to do good for humanity.

Those who have had the opportunity of attending a previous Stove Camp will,
of course, know the flavor of what is appropriate.

I have had the opportunity to attend a local event, the BSNB4 on 2 June
2006, where some impressive technology, at early stages of development, was
presented. One of the presentations,
a T-LUD pellet stove, burning a 25 pound bag of wood pellets in 15 minutes,
had a few rough edges, but it certainly brings the T-LUD to a new height. A
suitable exhaust hood would, of course, be required for safe indoor use. See
picture. In this photo, it was being used to take the chill off the night
air, when the bonfire proved inadequate. While the technology employed would 
be overkill for some applications, one can assume from the nonchalantnand 
unplussed nature of the seated Guests that the technology was indeed 
appropriate for this circumstance. The Diameter of the T-LUD was about 14" 
(35.56 CM) and flame height was about 8' (243.84 CM), suggesting a Flame 
Length to Stove Diameter ratio of about 6.85 to 1. With a bit more secondary 
air, flame length could be shortened, but this would tend to blue up the
flame, and reduce its radiation characteristics. CO and Particulate 
emissions, however, would also be expected to improve. Underfire air was 
provided through the white 100 mm blast tube (4" sewer pipe) by a fan system 
(not shown). In that this is the work of others, I am not at liberty to 
provide much further detail at this time.

Later on in the evening, a propane fired Digerydoo was demonstrated for the
entertainment of the Guests. Since this also was the work of others, at an
early stage of development, I cannot release construction and operating
details without permission of the Developer at this time. The technology
employed to change the pitch of the notes was especially interesting.

So, depending on the "rules of the road", and the degree top which the
Voters could over-rule the instruments and the sensibilities of the Judges,
a T-LUD of this nature, with a few improvements, could indeed have a chance
to win the coveted KSCPA.

Best wishes,

Kevin

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul S. Anderson" <psanders at ilstu.edu>
To: "Kevin Chisholm" <kchisholm at ca.inter.net>
Cc: "Dean Still" <dstill at epud.net>; "'Stoves-List'"
<stoves at listserv.repp.org>; "'ethos'" <ethos at vrac.iastate.edu>; "'Kirk R.
Smith'" <krksmith at berkeley.edu>; "'Jeremy Roth'" <Jeremy at aprovecho.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 12:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Stoves] ETHOS Stove Camp $500 Prize


> Stovers,
>
> Diverse comments on the KSCPA of Stove Camp:
>
> 1.  Kevin, the very loose system of judging by the participants who have 
> access
> to the data seems to work well.  I can say that because I won the award in 
> 2005
> and I was not at the discussion/voting session.  The campers who are 
> together
> for several days really get to know each other and the different stoves.
>
> 2.  It is really the stove that is recognized as a winner, not so much the
> person who has the stove.
>
> 3.  This year, the "low cost" aspect will be up for more discussion, but I 
> think
> things can be worked out.  I share some of Kevin's concerns.  We are not 
> just
> trying to compare apples and oranges, but with international varieties of 
> each
> "fruit".  We could debate if costs include DC batteries or AC 
> line-current, or
> is it just "post-incoming-power" (power is assumed to be available).  But 
> that
> debate should not impact significantly the judging because a great (clean
> burning) stove with an expensive fan that is required to run real slow 
> (like a
> very inexpensive fan could do) should be seen as being easily made less
> expensive.  But if a similar burning stove requires massive air power from 
> the
> same expensive fan, it will be less favorably viewed.
>
> 4.  The total prize money is set at $500, but there are no written rules 
> about
> ties or categories or whatever else will be in the best interests of 
> advancing
> the stoves work.  Of course, Dean Still, as the organizer of the funds, 
> has a
> major say, but those present and voting, after seeing the entries, might
> strongly suggest appropriate interpretations of the intentionally vague 
> rules.
>
> 5.  Competition can be friendly, with everyone enjoying the benefits of 
> shared
> information.  But competition can make people try harder and simply enjoy 
> the
> activity (like playing a game of cards).
>
> 6.  Laurie, I think that your suggestion has great merit, but in a 
> slightly
> different way.  The "fan stove" competition should stay as it is, but 
> perhaps
> there should be a "Laurie Childers Cook-Friendly Stove Award".  Set some
> criteria, such as "What Laurie likes is what will win!" or be more 
> specific if
> you desire.  And the prize?  How about a cake or a plate of cookies or ??? 
> What is most important is the recognition of the Cook-Friendly issues. 
> This is
> something like Nate Johnson's efforts on Stove Safety (along with Mark 
> Bryden
> and others) that has a ranking system.  That kind of serious evaluation 
> leads
> to discussions and ETHOS presentations and improvements.
>
> Dean, thanks for organizing this KSCPA competition again this year.
>
> I will have a second message about the competition under the Subject of 
> "T-LUD
> stoves at Stove Camp 2006".
>
> Paul
> -- 
> Paul S. Anderson, Ph.D., Geography professor - Emeritus
> Telephone:  USA-309-452-7072 (residence and office)
> Internet site:  www.ilstu.edu/~psanders
> For my gasifier stoves info, go to:
> http://bioenergylists.org/contributors#Paul_Anderson
>
>
> Quoting Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net>:
>
>> Dear Dean
>>
>> The challenge is interesting!!
>>
>> How long does the stove have to last?
>>
>> What is the desired range of burning rates for the fuels?
>>
>> How are costs calculated?
>>
>> Is the cost of providing power to the fan considered as part of the cost 
>> of
>> the stove?
>>
>> When you say "lowest cost stove", how is cost determined? How are 
>> materials
>> costed? How about labor costing? What about the time to make the stove?
>>
>> Is the stove intended to be one that is manufactured in a Factory 
>> setting,
>> OR one that can be made from indigenous materials by the end user?
>>
>> What emissions are you testing for, and for how long a period will you be
>> testing?
>>
>> Perhaps the rules are posted somewhere already? If so, would you have a 
>> URL?
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dean Still" <dstill at epud.net>
>> To: "'Stoves-List'" <stoves at listserv.repp.org>; "'ethos'"
>> <ethos at vrac.iastate.edu>
>> Cc: "'Kirk R. Smith'" <krksmith at berkeley.edu>; "'Jeremy Roth'"
>> <Jeremy at aprovecho.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 9:03 PM
>> Subject: [Stoves] ETHOS Stove Camp $500 Prize
>>
>>
>>> Dear STOVERS,
>>>
>>> A $500 prize (the second annual Kirk Smith Cat Piss Award) will be given
>>> to
>>> the participant who creates the least expensive, cleanest burning fan
>>> stove
>>> at the ETHOS Stove Camp this year. Fan stoves have been shown to reduce 
>>> CO
>>> and PM by more than 90% which could help turn brown skies blue and 
>>> reduce
>>> indoor air pollution.
>>>
>>> Bring a fan and create a better future with your friends! Winning design
>>> will be documented and published on REPP!
>>>
>>> Contact Jeremy to reserve a space...
>>>
>>> Jeremy at aprovecho.net
>>>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Dean
>>>