[Stoves] A hypothesis for a more efficient stove

[Paul S. Anderson]

Dear David and Crispin and all,

Clarifications please:

Quoting "David G. LeVine" <dlevine at speakeasy.net>:

> Three stone fires tend to burn the excess CO and give better 
> efficiency due to the small blue flames,

Perhaps this is not a valid statement considering the variations in 3-stove
fires and the changes during the time from ignition through to final
extinguishing.  I do not associate 3-stove fires with small blue flames nor
with good burning of CO.  What am I not understanding?

> Make a steel can fuel container with limited air from below.  Put it 
> in the Rocket chamber and light the fuel.  Restrict the air coming 
> around the can until the gases do not fully burn, then increase 
> slowly for best heat output.

Can you please send a drawing, or a more complete word description of 
where this
can is placed, and where the flows are for the air and the gases, and any
openings.  I like the concept, but I might not be on the same page yet.

> When the gasses combine with the heated air near the pot bottom it 
> will burn dumping its heat load closer to the pot, possibly at a 
> point where the flame best intersects the pot...  <snipped>  This is 
> a traditional TLUD burner except it has no fan and it preheats the 
> secondary air.

I believe the key word here is "burner" (that is, up at the top of the typical
TLUD where the gases are combusted).  And this is NOT in relation to 
the making
of the combustible gases that occurs lower in the TLUD device.  Please confirm
or correct my comment.

I have observed in TLUD devices that CO increases (as expected) when pyrolysis
is finished and the char is being gasified below.  Only occassionally and for
limited times has the CO gas been combusted in a nice blue flame at the top
(secondary combustion area).  The standard TLUDs are not made for changing the
ratio of primary to secondary air, and the result (I believe) is too much
dilution of the CO (cooling it) thereby obstructing combustion.  These TLUDs
might benefit from David's suggestion of inserting a metal can, (and if there
could be a way to put in the can after pyrolysis is finished).  But I need his
comments (requested above) before going further on this track.

Essentially, TLUDs are not intended to be charcoal burners.  (But this is a
complex topic for some later discussions.)

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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