I wrote:
> Here is a well-written guide to how this is done with a combustion boiler, > with sample worksheets and lookup tables: > > > http://www.cleaver-brooks.com/reference-center/insights/boiler-efficiency-guide.aspx > On p. 9 this manual describes two methods of measuring efficiency: Input-Output Method. In cold fusion jargon we call this flow calorimetry. Heat Loss Method. Isoperibolic or static calorimetry. Both methods are used with large boilers. Both should be used in a long-term study. Flow calorimetry would determine whether excess heat is large enough to be commercially valuable. Assuming there is excess heat. Detecting excess heat with the Heat Loss Method would be interesting but if the effect were so small you could not measure it with the Input-Output method no one would care in a commercial installation. Generally speaking, in a factory scale installation, they could not even detect excess heat of less than ~10%. The instruments are insensitive. You can see that in the divisions and the number of decimal places in the look-up tables. Facility managers would would not bother with a device that saves less than ~30%. They can achieve savings on that scale by conventional methods such as installing more efficient equipment, and by various steps described in industry publications. - Jed
