[Stoves] Action about Stove Testing

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Dean

I am not sure what the point of your message is.

>The UCB revised WBT has an incredibly long list of species of wood for
>energy calculations although there is not much difference by weight.

I have been making the point that the calculation method, independent of the
fuel, does not give the correct answer.  The use of fuels other than high
energy softwoods increases the errors.  Dung is on the list, it is about 1/2
the heat of the highest energy wood.

>The moisture content IS accounted for. Crispin is thinking about how the
>calculations are done, how they might be more accurate.

No one said it was not accounted for, but I say it is accounted for
incorrectly in one of the three places where it is calculated - at the most
critical point, too.  Wait until you see the effect of the charcoal error.

>Every calculation has been gone over many times in the UCB WBT. Users have
>found errors and corrections have been made, probably every year.

While one might ask why such a basic error has been overlooked, I don't
care.  I am not interested.  I want to know what happens to all the stove
comparisons made in the lab and the field when they are recalculated without
the errors. I want to know the real performance of Roger's stove. So does
his funder.

>Crispin's problems are being addressed. The Board of ETHOS is talking about
>having a discussion of testing to allow everyone to carefully go over
>everything, including the math that Tami, Crispin, Rob, Nordica, Damon, et
>al. are looking into.

Other than a few insults and denials I have received no response from anyone
regarding the first problem I have raised (we agreed to address them one at
a time). How will you all know what other problems there are?  Shall I
publish one needed change per week so the discussion can continue on the
larger list while the ETHOS groups listens?  What is going on?  Many of the
problems are not a cut and dried.  Lack of consultation will lead to
confused, multiple, incompatible solutions when the time runs out.

Perhaps Prof Lloyd should chair the discussion, so there is going to be
some.

Regards
Crispin