[Stoves] [biochar] Understanding FUEL EFFICIENCY vs Energy efficiency

[Kevin]

Dear Paul

I would like to suggest a different way of looking at things.... look at a stove through the eyes of the customer.

(The "Customer" is the person or Organization that pays the Manufacturer for the Stove.)

The fundamental question should be: "What does the Customer want?"

Does the Customer want the stove to produce biochar?

Does the Customer want the stove to have the least fuel input to accomplish a stated task?

Does the Customer want to minimize products of combustion vented into the living space?

Does the Customer want the stove to provide a space heating benefit for the stove user?

Does the Customer want a stove that requires extended burn times between refuelling, and a minimum of attendance?

Does the Customer want a single firing rate throughout the burn, OR, a "Two Level Firing Rate capability, OR a large range of firing capabilities?

etc....

"Efficiency" is basically a measure of "Resource Input to accomplish a desired task"

It is not the purpose of "testing" to promote a particular technology or philosophy, but rather, to measure the effectiveness of accomplishing a given task of importance to the Customer..

"The Customer is the King." Proper Testing Protocols should allow a Customer to test a range of stoves, under a variety of circumstances, so that he will be able to select the stove that best meets his requirements.

Best wishes,

Kevin

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Anderson 
  To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves ; Hugh McLaughlin ; Bob Fairchild ; biochar at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, April 08, 2013 1:50 AM
  Subject: [biochar] Understanding FUEL EFFICIENCY vs Energy efficiency


    
  Dear Stovers and Biochar makers,

  We are NOT sufficiently emphasizing that TLUDs/char-maker stoves can use 
  fuel other than stick wood. When burning briquettes and pellets and 
  cobs and shells (which most other stoves cannot burn very well), we are 
  NOT burning tree-sourced fuel.

  Crispin correctly says that a kg of wood in and pyrolyzed is no longer 
  wood, and therefore is FUEL used, and that relates to FUEL Efficiency. 
  TLUDs can consume more wood because they are converting some of that 
  wood into charcoal. That is different from ENERGY efficiency, which 
  can allow calculations for the energy in the charcoal that is not used.

  Especially in char-making stoves, energy efficiency is better than the 
  fuel efficiency IF USING WOOD. But if the fuel is not wood, then the 
  WOOD-FUEL efficiency is 100% (none was burned in the cooking of the 
  meal), and the ENERGY efficiency might be very good, while the FUEL 
  efficiency (burning ag residues, dung, etc) might be low in comparison 
  with other stoves, but no trees were cut or burned.

  About the above, there will need to be some education given to the stove 
  community (including GACC and manufacturers and governments). WHAT fuel 
  is burned does make a difference if FUEL efficiency is an important 
  criteria when evaluating stoves.

  Just because wood is the traditional fuel used in stove testing does not 
  mean that stoves that can also burn OTHER biomass should be judged on 
  the WOOD-FUEL efficiency calculations. For places like Haiti, Rwanda, 
  and many large zones of numerous large countries, to be able to cook 
  WITHOUT FOREST DEGRADATION should be a major reason for choosing TLUD 
  stoves.

  Having written about this here does not mean that the message has 
  reached the decision makers and those who report test results on 
  cookstoves. And the makers of "stick-wood-burning stoves" are unlikely 
  to want to tell this message to others.

  Because the GACC is about stoves AND FUELS, I hope that proper 
  recognition can be given in the discussions and decisions about the 
  stoves that can have 100% avoidance of cutting wood, if that is important.

  Paul

  -- 
  Paul S. Anderson, PhD aka "Dr TLUD"
  Email: psanders at ilstu.edu Skype: paultlud Phone: +1-309-452-7072
  Website: www.drtlud.com



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