03-17-2008, 09:52 AM
Here's the numbers, as I spent the day reworking the prototype with the new patent throat design.
1 2x4 burnt.
35 minutes preheat time. A nuisance as it was wet and hard to light. Unless the device is at full heat you are wasting your time. Actually, the wet wood isn't wholly bad, as in the combustion ring some of the water actually gets busted into hydrogen, as it's so fringen' hot, the O gets absorbed by the charcoal immediately. But it's awful for starting. Wet guava burns wonderfully, at less than 1 percent ash.
1.25 minutes uninterrupted gas flow at 50 cfm, calibrated to power a 10 hp generator at 3500 rpm, at 1.10 to 1 fuel mix. Occasional stoking required, perhaps every quarter hour. Mind you, that's running a 2 inch jet with a 16 inch flame, not some silly little candle.
That's almost 10000 watts/hours for 2 dollars. I reclaimed no waste heat for drying fuel, heating residential water, or elsewise, which only butters the bread.
Try to get that with solar. I dare you.
It is, and will be, a pain in the ass forever to run these machines. If you're not intimidated by woodstoves and can build a good fire, these are a godsend. If you expect pushbutton convenience, well, you are out of luck.
1 2x4 burnt.
35 minutes preheat time. A nuisance as it was wet and hard to light. Unless the device is at full heat you are wasting your time. Actually, the wet wood isn't wholly bad, as in the combustion ring some of the water actually gets busted into hydrogen, as it's so fringen' hot, the O gets absorbed by the charcoal immediately. But it's awful for starting. Wet guava burns wonderfully, at less than 1 percent ash.
1.25 minutes uninterrupted gas flow at 50 cfm, calibrated to power a 10 hp generator at 3500 rpm, at 1.10 to 1 fuel mix. Occasional stoking required, perhaps every quarter hour. Mind you, that's running a 2 inch jet with a 16 inch flame, not some silly little candle.
That's almost 10000 watts/hours for 2 dollars. I reclaimed no waste heat for drying fuel, heating residential water, or elsewise, which only butters the bread.
Try to get that with solar. I dare you.
It is, and will be, a pain in the ass forever to run these machines. If you're not intimidated by woodstoves and can build a good fire, these are a godsend. If you expect pushbutton convenience, well, you are out of luck.