[Stoves] Instruments for: Stove testing

[Paul S. Anderson]

Stovers,

Thank you everyone for the discussion.

Summary by me, plus leading to further discussions:

For moisture determination:
Looks like a scale and an oven should be used.  Suggestion was for 300 
grams of
fuel and a 1-gram-precision scale.  For my quick estimates, I will stick with
my 2-gram-precision scale from Walmart and use at least 100 grams of fuel.

Andrew mentioned using a microwave oven.  Could you or others please 
comment on
the advantages (maybe speed?) and disadvantages (would my wife tolerate such
usage in her kitchen microwave?).

About using human senses for measurements:  Only Peter V. made a favorable
comment, which I repeat here:
> I think if it is a wood fire and the effluent has no smell and is 
> invisible, it is clean. Charcoal might be another thing, producing CO 
> which has no smell.
For sure about the charcoal burning.  But I can only hope he is right 
about the
wood fire.  Any more support or refutation about the clean burning wood fire?

About equipment:
I only used moisture measurement as an initial example, and look at the good
discussion.  But as Nordica wrote (below), there are so many other worthy
measurements possible.

While I can understand the value of the integrated system in operation for the
duration of the water boiling test, I have a strong desire to have an
inexpensive set of instruments that I can use selectively, such as use 
only one
or two instruments for occasional measurements.

I learned from Tami about "grab samples" (sort of capture a sample of 
the gases
at a moment of time and take the reading(s).)  Then I could see if it stays
that way, or I could alter my stove is some way to see if there is any change
for better or for worse.  Testing at 5 or 10 minute intervals would seem
appropriate.
Nordica says that the portable emissions hood (PEM) "measures CO, PM, CO2,
Temperatures, Humidity, and Flow Rate".  Each one of these variables merits
discussion, especially about low-cost methods for getting grab samples.  And
let's include the lowly weight-scale.  (I hope the 2-gram precision of 
my scale
is sufficient.)

NOTE:  I acknowledge the need for the quality of measurements of the PEM or of
Tami's equipment or Aprovecho's lab and other "high-end" systems.  BUT, what
can be done with a few hundred dollars instead of a few thousand dollars of
equipment?  (This means recording the data by hand, not with computer
hook-ups.)  This way I can be better prepared for stove operation before I get
to my one or two chances at stove camp to have my stove under the full 
scrutiny
of the high-end systems.

What about the "IAP" (Indoor Air Pollution") meters that Nordica mentions?

If you have a significant reply about ONE of the variables, now might 
be a good
time to branch the Subject line to read:

Subject:  Instruments for: CO testing
   or
Subject:  Instruments for: PM testing

Paul

Quoting [Nordica on] Dean Still's [address] <dstill at epud.net>:
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> The portable emissions hood, or PEMS, development is progressing well.  I am
> hoping it will be available by ETHOS.  The cost of the unit is based on the
> entire smoke collection, power, and data acquisition system.  It would not
> work without all the components, so it would not be useful to purchase only
> certain parts.  The system measures CO, PM, CO2, Temperatures, Humidity, and
> Flow Rate, integrated over the duration of the test to give measures of
> emissions per task, emission factors, and CO2 ratios. IAP meters are less
> expensive but the variable of the kitchen is added, creating uncertainty.

-- 
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



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