[Stoves] Stoves for Scouts

[Clarke Green]

I am a Scoutmaster in the U.S. Scouts here generally use propane stoves for
cooking while camping. We use 1lb disposable propane cannisters to fuel
these stoves. While they are convenient  I feel that the use of these
cannisters is not the optimum use of resources -so I am seeking some advice
and direction.

Perhaps you all can help me prove or disprove the assumption that the total
emissions produced in the production, packaging, transportation, use and
disposal of single use propane containers has a much greater environmental
impact than the use of wood as a fuel in a campfire. Can you help me define
these factors in a scientific analysis?

I would also like to develop a gasifier stove that Scouts can build from
easily available materials. I have looked at many, many plans and studies
but have yet to find anything like thorough directions on building a
gasifier stove from start to finish. There are a lot of suggestions and
ideas, but no real definitive directions that include dimensions and so
forth.

Ideally I'd like to develop a two burner portable gasifier stove that has a
short learning curve, is constructed from easily available materials, burns
sticks, twigs, etc and is more environmentally efficient than the propane
stoves. It seems that the forced air designs I have seen are better than the
passive designs in that they require a shorter warm up period before the
gasification begins. The power source for the fan, than, must be factored
into the final analysis.

I have purchased one of the Reed gasifier
stoves<http://www.woodgascampstove.com/>that are now being produced
commercially. When it arrives I will put it
through its paces.

While this project may not have the scope and impact of the other projects I
have read about the potential is still significant. A Scout troop of 25
members spends an average of 20 days and nights camping annually and prepare
about 2500 (!) servings over propane stoves or less efficient campfires each
year. I estimate that our Troop uses about 50-75 1lb disposable propane
cylinders per year at a total cost of $150-$225 US annually. These figures
multiplied by several thousand amounts to a significant environmental
impact.

Thank you
Clarke Green