TESTING CREOSOTE-REDUCING DEVICES: THE RESULTS

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

The fuel loads weighed an average of 5 kilograms (11 pounds). At each refueling, the loads were within 10% of having the same weight, and for any given firing day, the total fuel weights were within 1% of being equal. Approximately 163 kilograms (359 pounds) of wood, altogether, was burned in each stove. Creosote accumulations were determined by weighing the stovepipe and chimneys before and after the test. At the end of ten burn days, the venting systems were carefully dismantled, weighed, dried in an oven at 200°F for two days, and then weighed again. (The oven drying removes any moisture that might be contained in the creosote.)

METHODS OF OPERATION

It was our overall intent, in designing the experiment, to maximize the effects of the devices and to follow the manufacturers' instructions. Before lighting the kindling fires each morning, all the creosote reducers were adjusted to allow maximum draft. The draft regulator flaps were closed, the Smoke Consumer filters were rotated to let the smoke pass, and the Smoke Dragon bypass dampers were opened. Once the main fuel loads were added, the devices were operated according to the following procedures.

BAROMETRIC DRAFT CONTROL: During the burning of the main fuel loads, the weights on the regulator flaps were adjusted to admit the maximum amount of air that would allow the desired firing rate to be maintained. Thus, for the smoky fires, the hinged flap was wide open much of the time. But when running the hot fires, we had to adjust the draft regulators to a partially closed position.

SMOKE DRAGON: The blower control knob was turned to the ON position as the first main load of fuel was added, in order to allow the bypass damper to close automatically once the temperature inside the device reached a critical value. The blower also started automatically, and ran at the velocity selected on the variable control. (A number of different blower speeds were used during the project. )

The operation of the Smoke Dragon's catalyst was monitored continuously with a second set of thermocouples located just below and just above the catalyst. A temperature rise (as the smoke passed through the unit) indicated that the catalyst was working, and that some smoke was being burned inside the ceramic honeycomb. The combustor usually started functioning about ten minutes after the first main fuel load was added, and continued to operate (almost all the time) until near the end of the day's testing. The temperature rise across the catalyst was typically 185 to 230°C (365 to 446°F) during very hot fires and 230 to 325°C (446 to 617°F) during low-power fires.

SMOKE CONSUMER: After the first load of fuel was added, the filters were closed, and the combustion air inlets on the stoves were then adjusted to achieve the appropriate firing rate. The devices remained in the closed position throughout the rest of each day's operation.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print