[Stoves] Stove testing methods

[Paul S. Anderson]

Stovers,

A new thread specifically about "Stove testing methods" is needed.

Crispin recently questioned again the use of lids, and the use of artifically
dried wood in the testing.  And he concluded with:

> It is interesting to note that DGIS is not using any of the three
> (proposed?) tests to evaluate the performance of stoves in its multi-million
> dollar programmes because they either are impractical because of cost, too
> influenced by the observers, not representative of reality or contain
> logical flaws.  That is pretty serious stuff if you ask me.

Yes, it is very serious.  I would like to know more about the DGIS methods,
about the other ones, and especially what is in common between any tests as
well as what is different.

Eventually we should have a comparative summary of

A.  the named "tests" (like WBT, CWBT, DGIS, others) and

B.  what "measured components" (CO, particulate matter, time to boil, 
fuel use,
etc) are in each test, and

C.  what "methods" are used (lids, pot types, amounts of water, etc), and

D.  who is using each test (geographic areas, organizations, etc.) and,

E.  how much data has been collected under each test method, and

F.  the costs of equipment and time, because

the bottom line is that some of us want to evaluate our stoves without being
restricted to one specific set of rules, etc.

This will probably need a spreadsheet eventually, but just a list or some
discussion would be a start.

For a single example:  What "control on fuel quality" is used and is 
necessary? Certainly some testers are getting results without relying 
on kiln-dried
saw-wood.

I am NOT advocating nor discouraging unification.  We need to know the options
that different groups of very respectable professionals have spent hours and
money on developing and implementing.

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




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