[Stoves] Large TLUDs for greenhouse heat and CO2

[Paul S. Anderson]

Dear Alex, Crispin, Hugh, Paul W., Dale, Christa, Tom and others,

I found the document Alex cited about CO2 in greenhouses to be  
extremely interesting.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-077.htm

There has been occasional discussion at BEF Stove Camps and elsewhere  
on the use of larger TLUDs in small greehouses for both heat and for  
CO2.  With some proper CO and CO2 or O2 and smoke detectors to provide  
safety features, the igniting of quality-checked large TLUDs WITH FAN  
ASSISTANCE (to assure best combustion and to help with circulation)  
would make great sense for small greehouses.

The document gives some basic numbers that we could use for  
calculations, but all the examples are for very large greenhouses and  
using propane and natural gas.  But perhaps the "number crunchers" in  
our group could calculate the heat and CO2 from a TLUD-FA with perhaps  
a 30 gallon capacity burning chips or pellets.  And then match that  
with a size of greenhouse in some appropriate climate/temperature zone.

If safe and appropriate, perhaps 5 or more TLUDs could be prepared and  
(automatically?) ignited at specific times through the night.  The  
concept could be scalable within the range of small to medium  
greenhouses.

If interested, please respond initially via the Stoves listserv and  
also to the addresses of this message.  If there is interest, then a  
working group could be created off-line from the Listserv.

Paul
-- 
Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Known to some as:  Dr. TLUD    Doc    Professor
Phone (USA): 309-452-7072   SKYPE: paultlud   Email: psanders at ilstu.edu
www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/giz2011-en-micro-gasification.pdf   (Best ref.)


Quoting Alex English <english at kingston.net>:

> Crispin,
>
> The current state of CO2 use in 'northern' greenhouses is summarized here.
>
> http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-077.htm
>
> I have heard mention of research work on using CO2 from biomass  
> combustion. No specifics though.
>
> Alex
>
>
>
> On 8/24/2011 9:54 AM, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:
>
>>
>> There was a time (early 80's) when tobacco was grown in the US in
>> greenhouses that were heated by natural gas burners that vented into the
>> greenhouse. It was found that highly carcinogenic compounds were formed at a
>> higher rate although it was not the higher CO2 that did it, it was an
>> incomplete  combustion product. It was quickly banned as a fertilisation
>> practise about the mid-80's.
>>
>> I had hoped to use the emissions from stoves to fertilise things but so far
>> I am unconvinced there would be a reliable and clean exhaust stream. If it
>> doesn't work with something as clean as natural gas it is going to be more
>> difficult with wood.
>>
>> Regards
>> Your agro-fan Crispin
>> ++++++
>


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