[Stoves] Full cooking with minimal TLUD stove --- Re: Rebecca Vermeer sent you a video: "Cooking Performance of Eco-Kalan Tincan TLUD Stove, Feb 6, 2017"

Wed Mar 8 09:10:34 CST 2017

Dear all,

Rebecca's message (below) merits special attention.  Very informative 
about a low-cost variation of TLUD stoves.  Low cost because it is with 
a clay pot support, hollow clay brick for primary air entry with sand 
for air control, and one or two tin cans.   I ask Rebecca to tell us the 
cost of her TLUD stoves.  I suspect that you are under US$ 5. !!!!!    
(not counting the bench / platform upon which the stoves are placed for 
convenient operation height for those who cook while standing up.   But 
the stove is short enough by itself to appeal to those who cook while 
seated or squatting.)

She is past the stages of proof of concept and the proof of 
acceptance-by-cooks.  Some fine tuning remains, but this arrangement is 
close to ready to be into some (further) pilot studies.

Notes (that only make sense to those who have viewed Rebecca's materials):
1.  Advantage of a densified fuel ("log pieces"), but wood in a taller 
tincan would do the same job and same time.  Also your comment about the 
male cooks (army) and fuel preparation help point out that fuel 
preparation can be a new employment for some unskilled workers.   Fuel 
type and supply are very important,  but almost always any small 
complaints can be resolved with a little attention to fuel  handling.

2.  I am not 100% sure of how the top (concentrator) lid is made and 
placed onto the fuel can.   (I suspect usage of the can opener that 
leaves the lip on the lid.   Highly economical use of the tin can.)   
Instead or alternatively, a separate concentrator lid could be made from 
a metal dinnerware plate or improvised easily with a tinsmith.

3.  Video and photos show TWO stoves that I will call "short one" (on 
the left) and "taller one" on the right which is simply raised on a few 
bricks.  I like the taller one because it has space for and uses a 3+ 
inch riser (the second tin can, best seen in the still photos before it 
is put into place.)

4.  About that riser, I suggest that you turn it upside down.   (or 
completely cut out both ends).   And consider larger diameter cans for 
risers.   Experimentation is needed.   Please report what you find to 
work best (or to not work well).

5.  There are still issues of safety, such as contact / movement of the 
very hot single-wall metal pieces (TLUD fuel canister, riser, etc).   
Tongs or handles will eventually appear, adding convenience but 
increasing the price.  This will be adjusted according to the prefernces 
of the stove users, and there should NOT be requirements that these 
stoves have handles, etc,. thereby delaying the availability of these 
stoves to people who could want them.

6.  And an important note about BIOCHAR in Rebecca's configuration: In 
the video, they choose to burn the charcoal, which is fine.   But if you 
want to make biochar, simply remove the fuel canister at the end of 
pyrolysis, and insert a second tincan what was already prepared and 
ready for use.  I think that this stove might have significant interest 
in Bangladesh with Mabubul's project.

Congratulations to Rebecca and her team!!   (I suggest that a condensed 
version of the video and photo collection might also be appropriate.)

Everyone can enjoy reading and seeing their success!!!

Paul

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

On 3/8/2017 4:03 AM, Rebecca A. Vermeer wrote:

Cooking Performance of Eco-Kalan TinCan TLUD Stoves with Wood Briquettes 
& Sticks, March 1, 2017

https://youtu.be/ESiEWSBnewI

NOTE:  WHEN VIEWING A PHOTO ALBUM, LEFT CLICK ON THE i icon TO SEE THE 
INFO DETAILS OF EACH PHOTO.

  March 1, 2017 Broken Alder wood puck briquettes in widemouth Eco-Kalan 
Tincan TLUD stove - Cooking Peas Phase 1

https://goo.gl/photos/LfSkQkeRHeYxmZKYA

March 1, 2017 Ipil-Ipil Sticks in narrow mouth TinCan TLUD stove with 
riser - Cooking Peas Phase 2

https://goo.gl/photos/9zttbuSzjLkQgb7V8

*Dear Paul, Ron, Julien, Jon and All,*

Thank you for your encouraging comments and valuable suggestions on 
the  Feb. 6, 2017 video,  "Cooking Performance of Eco-Kalan TinCan TLUD 
Stove .  In the above March 1, 2017 video and photo albums, I responded 
to your comments as follows:

1.  Jon's  comment on squirting kerosene on the top of the fuel bed 
which then drips down to the bottom:

The kindlings we use for starting a fire are now dipped into 25 ml of 
kerosene and placed on top of the fuel bed.

2.  Paul's and Julien's suggestion to turn down the flame.

This has been achieved by:

a)  Sealing with sand all areas of primary air entry including the base 
of the TinCan which touch the parilla;  the back opening and sides of 
the parilla; and a small but adjustable opening at the front end of the 
parilla

b)  Loading the minimum required fuel.

c)  Reducing the concentrator hole diameter and maintaining that same 
hole diameter for the riser.

Of the above 3 measures, having a small but adjustable opening is the 
simplest way to control the flame.

3.  Paul's request for more photos -- please see the above photo albums.

4.  Ron's query on my cooks' views on the TLUD vs. Traditional approaches

My female cooks have been using the Eco-Kalan-C for many years and 
therefore, are hard to wean away from the stove that allows them to do 
all their cooking effectively and use any type of found fuel year round 
at Felipa Beach, Dumaguete City, Negros Island, Philippines. They 
dislike cutting or sawing wood into prescribed lengths  for my TLUD 
stoves.  But since male cooks from the Philippine Army  took on some of 
the cooking and most of the wood fuel preparations, all my cooks (males 
and females) now like to use the TinCan TLUD stove for short time 
cooking (within 1 hour) for dishes such as Pancit, Bam-I, soups, 
vegetables, small pieces or ground meats "because the TinCan stove (with 
dry wood and kerosene as fire starter) is easy to light, no smoke and  
fast cooking".     For long time cooking (> 1 hour), they prefer to use 
the Eco-Kalan-C as adding fuel when needed is very easy.   For frying, 
my cooks prefer to use the Eco-Kalan-C because they can adjust the 
temperature of the cooking oil easily by taking out or adding fuel to 
the fire.

Since I introduced Wilvaco's  (Willamete Valley Company) alder wood 
briquettes to my cooks for use in the Eco-Kalan-C and the Eco-Kalan 
TinCan TLUD stove (see video and photo albums below),  I have noticed 
significant increase in their enthusiasm for and enjoyment 
from cooking. A fuel can really make a stove tic. The importance of a 
good and dry solid fuel motivates me to participate in finding ways to 
make wood briquettes commercially viable for everyone.

Warm regards from Felipa Beach,

Rebecca Vermeer

Eco-Kalan Project in the Philippines

________________________________________________________

_____________________________-
Previous message is below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: *"PAUL ANDERSON" <psanders at ilstu.edu>
*To: *"DISCUSSION OF BIOMASS COOKING STOVES" 
<stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org>, "REBECCA VERMEER" <ravermeer at telus.net>
*Sent: *Thursday, February 23, 2017 11:37:06 AM
*Subject: *Re: [Stoves] Rebecca Vermeer sent you a video: "Cooking 
Performance of Eco-Kalan Tincan TLUD Stove"

Rebecca,

I agree with Ron that it is a very good video.  I am very glad to see 
your accomplishments.

My comments are intended to be constructive.

1.  Your fire is a bit high.   That indicates some leakage of primary 
air.   I suspect that it is where the can is sitting on the hollow 
brick, not at the primary air entrance that you correctly cover with 
sand.   Check all around.   Put sand around the base of the metal can.   
You can also try moist sand.    Please let me know your results (because 
I am still learning).

2.  Have you experimented with slighly smaller diameter of the 
concentrator hole in the top of the metal can?

3.  Also, a few more inches of height between the concentrator top and 
the bottom of the pot would allow for more time for more turbulence.

4.  Additional photos or videos from other angles and of the individual 
part would be useful.

In general, fabulous work.   I suspect that you will find further ways 
to improve the results.   Some ways will be beneficial. Others will be 
good but not worth incorporating.

Looking forward to hearing more of your activities with TLUD combustion.

Paul

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

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