[Stoves] RE: improving charcoal stoves

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Friends

Jason asked:
>All else being equal* how does the CO output of 'good' charcoal
>stoves compare to the sorts of fuels typical of a rocket stove?

The problem is to find an 'improved charcoal stove' that meets the 
definition of 'improved'.

A JIKO is not really an improvement over much these days.  It has "Brand X' 
and the new ones should be compared with it.  I guess the problem is to find 
really bad metal charcoal stoves against which to compare your 'new 
improved' stove.

For example, if you are measuring CO only, a JIKO is not an improvement over 
a metal grate.

If you are measuring specific fuel consumption, a JIKO is better.  In fact 
it is pretty good as long as you don't look at CO.

If you are measuring affordability, a ceramic stove will 'win' over a JIKO 
because it is cheaper and has about the same performance.  If it is an 
'improved' ceramic stove it will be cheaper and have much lower CO.

If you are measuring lifetime of the investment, the metal stoves stand up 
pretty well, with the best ones being stoves which you can change the parts 
that break or wear out - as is the case with a JIKO.

So...taking the present state of the art in the kitchen, the CO output of 
the most common 'improved Kenyan JIKO' is really high compared with just 
about any wood stove, and the specific fuel consumption is 'medium'.  All of 
them can be improved with skirts and for the most part, more space between 
the fuel and the pot so the flames are not quenched.

Regards
Crispin