[Stoves] Efficiency of clean fuel

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Friends

Stove notes:
>You should also take into account the amount of infrastructure required 
>to supply heat to the pot.

That is what I was on about regarding the total emissions when space heating
with coal or electricity.  The total load emitted by the production of all
that infrastructure is pretty high compared with a metal or brick simple
stove.

Keeping things in perspective means counting the actual total harm/benefit
ratio.

We don't talk too much on this list about space heating even though a large
number of people need it.  Lesotho and Nepal and now Mongolia are mentioned
occasionally.  What is clear to me regarding testing stoves is that testing
a heating stove or a dual purpose heating+cooking stove is quite different
from a cooking only stove.  It settles on heat provided per kg of fuel
burned and the related emissions. It is surprising how differently stoves
are rated when this is the measure, not the emissions or fuel mass used per
litre boiled and simmered.

Perhaps the 'Methods' group should consider the implications.

Heating stove efficiency can be measured using combustion efficiency,
thermal efficiency (heat released v.s. heat up the chimney) and total
emissions per kg of fuel used, adjusted for moisture content. There may be
some big surprises in store.  I have not yet seen a rating like that for an
open fire.

Regards
Crispin

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