[Stoves] Fuel burn classification

[Frank Shields]

Greetings Stovers,

I've often thought fuel combustion characteristics to be a factor that need
be quantified and used when reporting quality of cook stoves. Been thinking
a 'standard stove' with fixed air flow, fuel quantity and standard ignition
and watching and measuring the combustion properties of different fuels
might be useful. 

Found ASTM  E 136 a test that takes construction materials and does just
what I was thinking. There is a tube (~ 225mm long and ~100mm dia) circled
with nichrome wire for heating a sample to 750 deg. The sample is suspended
in a cup in the center.  Center cup 40mm dia and 70mm long that holds
sample. Air flow 0.0027 m3/min. Glass top for looking. Thermocouples all
over the place. The test goes for max. 30 min or the sample temp does not
change (< 1 deg per 10 min). Preheated to 750 before sample added to center
cup. Report: weight change, visual-(quality, quantity, intensity, duration,
smoke, flame, change in state), temperature profile, etc. etc. 

We do not have the equipment to do the test but it seems simple enough
should a lab want to do this. 


Just thinking...

Frank



Frank Shields
Control Laboratories, Inc.
42 Hangar Way
Watsonville, CA  95076
(831) 724-5422 tel
(831) 724-3188 fax
www.biomassfuellab.com