[Stoves] Gas lamp efficiency

[Ken Boak]

Andrew & Stoves,

I have emailed the Chinese Thermoelectric company  asking for representative
prices.

The placement of the TE modules in the stove would require some thought, so
as to get the correct level of heat flux through them - without overcooking
them.

I still think that there is mileage in considering steam of hot air for
driving the forced draught fan.

As we both saw at a recent Stirling Engine Society meeting at Kew Bridge,
there are plenty of enthusiasts cabable of making a hot air engine for
driving a small draught fan.

With steam however the solution might be simpler, either with an ejector or
turbine.   I used to make turbines from cocoa tins lids in my youth.  As
long as you have a failsafe way of releasing the pressure, then small steam
should be feasible.


Ken


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "andrew" <list at sylva.icuklive.co.uk>
To: <stoves at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Gas lamp efficiency


> On Thursday 21 September 2006 11:06, Ken Boak wrote:
> > Andrew and Stovers,
> >
> > Here is one Chinese company offering lower cost TEMs.   Hi-Z being based
in
> > the USA will certainly  not be the cheapest.
> >
> > http://www.sitechina.com/thermoelectric/Pspec.html
>
> OK Thanks for finding that again Ken, I haven't had time to look at their
> prices though, some comments on my analysis would be welcome.
> >
> > If you scroll down to the bottom of the page you will see an application
> > where 4 modules have been bonded to the bottom of a saucepan, and the
> > current produced is lighting a compact fluorescent lamp.
>
> Yes, I saw this before, in later discussions Crispin has pointed out the
TEG
> is better placed between the input air and the combustion chamber.
> >
> > Modern electronic design could produce a compact, low cost and efficient
> > inverter to power these CFL bulbs from a varying dc supply, or power
some
> > white LEDs.  The inverter need only cost about 50 US cents.
> >
> > Whilst white LEDs are fairly efficient, they are really only suitable
for
> > spot lighting - such as a substitute for a desk reading lamp, and CFL is
> > better for lighting an area - a 20W CFL will easily light a room of 16
m2
> > or more.
>
> Thanks, I knew there was little to choose between fluorescent and LEDs in
> lumen per Watt. In fact I use a 121V 8W fluorescent tube in my van, these
> have high frequency inverters built in and cost about GBP5.
>
> AJH
>
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