[Stoves] Gas lamp efficiency

[Paul S. Anderson]

Dear Andrew and Anil and all,

My interest is specific to the burning of alcohol for light, and I am 
trying to
figure out the reported results.

The data provided by Dr. Anil K. Rajvanshi who heads the Nimbkar Agricultural
Research Institute (NARI) in Phaltan, India, gives alcohol the value of 2.82
lumens per Watt.  That would be per Watt of thermal energy (?), and is 
specific
to the Noorie lantern.

Whereas, the bulb at 13.4 lm/W would be per Watt of electrical energy, so we
must multiply by 0.20 because of the conversion factor, resulting in 
2.68 lm/W.
That would be basically equivalent to the alcohol result.

If those are about equal, the issues become financial (cost of fuel and
equipment) and developmental (are electrical lines reaching the homes) and
environmental (locally renewable fuel vs fossil fuel), etc.

If I am getting it correct so far, it appears to me that there might be
justification to advocate alcohol lanterns (Noorie type or equivalent, not
alcohol burning on a wick).

The above is for your comments and clarifications.  The part below is 
about the
burning process to get the light.

The Noorie lamp uses a mantle.  What does it take to get the mantle to burn
brightly?   I have read about the special characteristics of mantles.  I am
referring to how the gases or flame or what comes into the area of the mantle.

Could a small jet of alcohol vapor (without air pre-mixed) be injected into a
mantle, with the resultant burning being where that alcohol vapor comes in
contact with the air that surrounds the mantle.

OR, does the alcohol vapor need to be mixed with air (for O2) before entering
the inside of the mantle-covered area?

OR some other combination?

Thanks to all who can help me grasp this.

Paul   (who had the pleasure of visiting Anil and NARI in Phaltan last year)
-- 
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 AJH <list at sylva.icuklive.co.uk>:

> On Tue, 19 Sep 2006 06:47:30 +0530, nari phaltan wrote:
>
>> You all might take a look at; http:/nariphaltan.virtualave.net/lantern.htm
>>
>
> Thanks Nari
>
> For anyone that didn't have time to look Nari has a table where he
> compares the Lumens output per Watt of input for an electric light
> bulb, some liquid fuel lamps and a fluorescent tube.
>
> He gives
>
> Bulb                13.4 lm/W
> Noorie kerosine     2.03 lm/W
> Noorie alcohol      2.82 lm/W
> Hurricane (kerosene)0.35 lm/W
> Petromax (kerosene) 1.27 lm/W
> Fluorescent tube,   60.00lm/W
>
> So even if you discount the poor conversion efficiency of a small
> genset at say 20% conversion of thermal to electric, it does seem to
> confirm what I thought.
>
> One must bear in mind though that a generator just producing 100W(e)
> will not manage the efficiency of a 4kW(e) one and initial costs and
> maintenance are a factor.
>
> It also makes a TEG at 10% conversion efficiency and some bright LEDs
> look competitive.
>
> AJH
>
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