Dear All,
Would you think it would be helpful if the Stoves List posed a "General Specification" for stoves?
1: PERMISSIBLE COST:
What is the maximum cost of the stove delivered to the "Customer", in $US equivalent?
What is the maximum allowable cost for installation?
2: COOKING TASK:
Boiling water? Stewing? Frying? Baking?
3: EXHAUST SYSTEM:
Is a chimney, or exhaust hood, permissible or affordable?
4: FUEL:
What are the characteristics of the fuel? (Size, density, moisture content, uniformity, higher heating value, percentage of voids, etc.)
5: HEAT OUTPUT:
What is the fuel burning rate of the stove, in grams per hour?
What is the minimum acceptable combustion efficiency, as defined in terms of CO and excess oxygen content?
6: HEAT RECOVERY EFFICIENCY:
What is a relevant test for measuring the heat recovery efficiency, consistent with the desired cooking task?
7: PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY:
How many cooking tasks are to be performed at one time?
What is the required temperature to be "seen" by the cooking container?
What is the required turndown ratio, while operating within the acceptable combustion efficiency constraints?
8: OPERATING CONSTRAINTS:
How frequently will the stove be fed with fuel?
Is a fan permissible to assist combustion?
Is heat loss from the stove advantageous for space heating requirements?
9: PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS
Does the stove have a minimum weight requirement, for theft, or stability considerations?
Is there a maximum weight constraint, for portability or freight considerations?
Is there a desired minimum or maximum cooking surface height from the floor or ground level?
Is there a minimum life requirement?
10: OTHER RELEVANT SPECIFICATIONS?
What other relevant requirements, constraints, and limitations should be include in a relevant stove specification?
Best wishes for a Warm, Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year.
Kevin Chisholm
kchisholm@ca.inter.net