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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Dear stovers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify'><span lang=EN-US>When promoting the institutional rocket stoves in public
administrations kitchens, restaurants, hotels in South Benin, mostly in the
cities of Cotonou and Porto-Novo, I am told more than once that wood is not
used anymore, because of the smoke, the cost, or the hassle. Many moved to gas
burners, which is of course great. We produce and sell wood stoves, but we
always encourage people to use gas cookers, because they are cleaner, more
ecological and economical. We only produce wood stoves for people who would
have use wood for cooking anyway (for certain dishes, certain quantities, or in
certain big institutions).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Many people liked the sturdy design of the stoves and asked if they
could have the same for gas stoves. I always reply that is was designed for
wood only, and promise we’ll think about a model for gas burners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>My question is: how much can a gas burner be improved in terms of
energy efficiency? Is it worth spending metal in making a skirt around the burner
and the pot? I was thinking also of a surface under the burner, perhaps just
like the institutional stoves, made of a mix of clay, to radiate heat upwards.
It would give a traditional look to a modern cooking device.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>My quick calculations showed it could cost in the very very worst
case up to 30 000 CFA francs all included (about 45 euros) for a skirt for
one burner. People seem to be ready to pay that, if it means savings. A lady
who runs a restaurant paid a welder 60 000 CFA for two skirts, which
amusingly enough is in line with my calculations. They are not made yet,
I’m curious to see how they look.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Here is a picture of the burners:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><a href="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/803/rimg1222.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/803/rimg1222.jpg/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Another burner, inserted in a truck rim:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><a href="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/rimg1229.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/rimg1229.jpg/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Here is a picture of a small burner, with a small skirt which only
protects the flame from wind, not the pot:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><a href="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/rimg1228.jpg/">http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/rimg1228.jpg/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>I’ve searched a bit on Bioenergylist, and in <i>Micro
Gasification Cooking with gas from biomass</i>, I could only find the Vesto
stove as a gas stove with a skirt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>This post brings another question, which I will detail in another
issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
lang=EN-US>Xavier<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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