Dear Kevin, and info to all Stovers
I am tired of the banter back and forth, but something you wrote really
needs to be pointed out to show that you do not really understand about
charcoal making in TLUD stoves and others that make a relatively high
percentage of char.
Kevin wrote:
*Recovery of char from ash is a dirty, unpleasant job, and only
desperate people would recover char from ash for re-burning. *
Well, the truth is that char from TLUDs actually holds virtually all of
the ash in the char particles (as is done in the traditional making of
charcoal also). There is no need to separate char from ash, and it
cannot be done without burning the char. The char can be burned
immediately (that is, not extinguished) in a charcoal stove, or can be
extinguished for saving for later burning or for placement into soil as
biochar.
And if the percentage of ash needs to be calculated (once ever 100 tests
maybe??), it can be easily and cleanly done be separately burning the
char to recover the ash that was in it.
I am not arguing a point. I am stating a fact.
Paul
Doc / Dr TLUD / Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Email: [email protected]
Skype: paultlud Phone: +1-309-452-7072
Website: www.drtlud.com
On 10/25/2013 9:11 AM, Ronal W. Larson wrote:
List: CC Kevin
I presume Kevin wanted this to go to the full list.
Ron
On Oct 25, 2013, at 7:47 AM, "Kevin" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Dear Ron
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Ronal W. Larson <mailto:[email protected]>
*To:* Kevin <mailto:[email protected]> ; Discussion of
biomass cooking stoves <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Friday, October 25, 2013 12:53 AM
*Subject:* Re: [Stoves] Shields E450c as a way totest char-making
stoves(attn: GACC testers)
Kevin and list
There are many reasons for one test procedure rather than two:
All stoves can produce char. It depends on when and how
you stop their operation.
*# Where fuel economy is important, then stoves would be run in a
manner to minimize char production. *
I have participated in a lot of stove testing - and users
have always saved their char.
*# I would suggest that the stove tests that you have
participated in were structured so that reported results were
better when the char was recovered and its energy content was
deducted from the input fuel. Recovery of char from ash is a
dirty, unpleasant job, and only desperate people would recover
char from ash for re-burning. A "Full Combustion Stove" test
could include screening of ash for capture and weighing of char,
to show how little was produced, as a percentage of fuel input. A
"low percentage of char production" would be a great selling
point for Stove Buyers wanting to maximize fuel economy. *
Char has value, no matter how little is made.
*# That is true only if the char is put to a use where its value
is returned to the Fuel Buyer. A dollar bill has value only if it
is exchanged for goods or services... it has no value if it is
torn up and tossed to the winds.*
If there is zero char, then there is no extra cost.
*# That is true also, but if, as you say above, "...all stoves
can produce char..." then all stoves could be burdened with the
extra cost of detrermination of the energy content of the char
produced. A "Full Combustion Stove" that produced say 1/2% of
fuel input weight as char would be required to do the "char
energy content test", the same as a TLUD producing say 30% char.
That makes no sense.*
You will not be able to compare between tests using the
present protocol unless you know the amount of char produced.
There are decades of tests with char production records.
You will lose the ability to compare progress if you stop
measuring char.
*# The Proposed Testing Protocols are based on science and
clarity, and are intended to remove the confusion, inaccuricies,
and misdirection assocated with past testing protocols. Comparing
"accurate test results" with "inaccurate test results" serves no
useful purpose.*
Some char-making stoves are more efficient (less annual
input material) than many that have no intended production.
*# True*.
You need the charcoal amount to show that.
*# No, you don't. Just measure fuel input required to accomplish
a given "stove task." That alone will tell you what stove is more
"Fuel Efficient."*
Many experts have Ok'd the existing tests.
*# The existing tests have served a purpose in the past. Now,
however, the short-comings and inaccuracies of previous tests are
recognized, and are in the process of being corrected.*
Changing the procedures will cost time and money.
*# True. However, clear and accurate test results will save the
Funding Agencies and Individual Stove Customers huge amounts of
money in the future by enabling the Purchaser to select stoves
that are best suited for their intended purposes.*
Every stove manufacturer should want the charcoal included
- including char makes the efficiency numbers look better (not
as good it could/should, but better).
*# This is perhaps a significant part of the problems with the
present stove testing procedures... they were configured by Stove
Manufacturers, to make their stoves look good. Testing protocols
are dishonest, if they are constructed "... to make the
efficiency numbers look better..." The Proposed test protocols
are constructed around science, truth, and clarity.*
Those arguing for a change have given no good reason for
that change other than saving a small dollar amount.
*# One very good reason for changing the present stove testing
protocols is that the proposed stove testing procedures will
enable Stove Customers to purchase stoves that are best suited to
accomplishing their targets or goals. Others who know more about
Stoves than I do can give many other good reasons for improving
the Stove Testing Protocol.*
Much present stove testing is free to the manufacturer -
and they will/should learn a lot from knowing how much energy is
in the char - if they desire to get rid of it.
*# If someone is attempting to build a Fuel Efficient Stove, and
if they see significant char in the ashpit, they don't need tests
to tell them that they are doing something significantly wrong. *
*"Char in Ash Pit = Back to Drawing Board." *
*On the other hand, the designer of a "Char Making Stove" will
indeed find tests on char production and energy content very
important. However, it is unfair to burden a Fuel Efficient Stove
manufacturer with the requirement to test the char, when he
already knows that char production will cut into the Fuel
Efficiency Rating for his stove. *
There are probably more; this list is not intended to be exhaustive.
*# I find that:*
*1: your above points do not justify retaining present Stove
Testing Protocols*
*2: it is unfair and un-necessary to burden "Full Combustion
Stove Manufacturers" with the cost of testing charcoal for its
energy content.*
*3: that the proposed Stove Testing Protocols will be much more
helpful to the Stove Buyer, and will greatly help the Stove Buyer
select a stove that best meets his wants and needs.*
**
*# If you have otrher reasons for wanting to stay with teh
present Stove Testing Protocols, please present them for
consideration*.
*Kevin*
Ron
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