Re: CO detection

["Das" <das@eagle-access.net>]

Dilution Method for CO Measurement Inside STOVES

In response to the CO monitoring question I am familiar with the Nighthawk
CO detector which provides digital readout 35 to 999 ppm with a 2.5 minute
refresh rate.  It is available inexpensively ($40 - 60) at most hardware
and building supply stores.
This can be rigged using an air tight enclosure around the detector, a
small vacuum pump ( 1 cfm compressor from a dead refrigerator free) and a
pair of floating ball flow meters ($10 to $20 new) to adjust for a 1000:1
dilution ratio.  This would give a round number readout of  10 X CO % for
3.5 to 99.9 %  CO.  This is good for fuel gas measurement.  All this for
under $100 in parts.  This is a lot better than the gas analyzer industry
standard offer of $2000 per gas. 

Environmental CO measurement around STOVES
I have always appreciated a CO detector in the working environment around
gasifier and combustion equipment.
This inexpensive  Nighthawk  CO detector indication is blanked out to
display zero CO for all levels below 35 ppm per Underwriters Laboratory
requirements to reduce the number of fire department calls.  (Full story is
available at http://www.avweb.com/articles/codetect.html#comparison).  This
casts a pall of suspicion on those zero CO readings at the end of indoor
turbo stove runs.  

Private airplane pilots have found an inexpensive faster reading lower
threshold digital readout CO detector for cockpit  have prevailed on a CO
detector manufacturer to produce a low level CO detector the AIM Model 935
Low-Level CO Monitor  www.Aeromedix.com  or via a 24-hour toll-free
telephone number: 888-362-7123.



A. Das
Original Sources/Biomass Energy Foundation
Box 7137, Boulder, CO 80306
das@eagle-access.net

----------
> From: Tami Bond <Tami.Bond@noaa.gov>
> To: stoves@crest.org
> Subject: Re: CO detection
> Date: Friday, November 23, 2001 8:58 PM
> 
> 
> Stovers,
> 
> > We've talked and talked about CO metering on this list, but none 
> > of our technically-inclined members have come up with a workable 
> > and affordable instrument design yet. 
> 
> What's 'affordable'? There are at least a couple of CO devices on the 
> market in the 250-300 USD range. There are combustion analyzers for 
> under 1000 USD that will measure CO, CO2. (Bacharach is the most 
> famous, I think-- often used in gas-furnace service, for example-- 
> www.bacharach-inc.com). 
> 
> Is that too much? What kind of price ought we to target? 
> 
> Trouble with the cheap devices is the response time is slow (~10 
> minutes) and if your burn is changing rapidly you might miss high and 
> low spots. That may not matter if you are measuring IAQ. I'm of the 
> opinion that real-time monitoring is needed, though. 
> 
> What do we need to measure? What species, response times, ranges? I am 
> trying to organize thoughts on this, and started writing something for 
> circulation that I should've finished a couple of weeks ago. Then I got 
> bogged down by explaining procedures from USEPA vs procedures that are 
> reproducible by our 'real' clients-- that is, people without money. But 
> the paper is still in the works, I promise!
> 
> Tami
> 
> 
> 
> -
> Stoves List Archives and Website:
> http://www.crest.org/discussion/stoves/current/
> http://www.ikweb.com/enuff/public_html/Stoves.html
> 
> Stoves List Moderators:
> Ron Larson, ronallarson@qwest.net
> Alex English, english@adan.kingston.net
> Elsen L. Karstad, elk@wananchi.com www.chardust.com
> 
> List-Post: <mailto:stoves@crest.org>
> List-Help: <mailto:stoves-help@crest.org>
> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:stoves-unsubscribe@crest.org>
> List-Subscribe: <mailto:stoves-subscribe@crest.org>
> 
> Sponsor the Stoves List: http://www.crest.org/discuss3.html
> -
> Other Biomass Stoves Events and Information:
> http://www.bioenergy2002.org
> http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/
> http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/carbon.shtml
> 
> For information about CHAMBERS STOVES
> http://www.ikweb.com/enuff/public_html/Chamber.htm

-
Stoves List Archives and Website:
http://www.crest.org/discussion/stoves/current/
http://www.ikweb.com/enuff/public_html/Stoves.html

Stoves List Moderators:
Ron Larson, ronallarson@qwest.net
Alex English, english@adan.kingston.net
Elsen L. Karstad, elk@wananchi.com www.chardust.com

List-Post: <mailto:stoves@crest.org>
List-Help: <mailto:stoves-help@crest.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:stoves-unsubscribe@crest.org>
List-Subscribe: <mailto:stoves-subscribe@crest.org>

Sponsor the Stoves List: http://www.crest.org/discuss3.html
-
Other Biomass Stoves Events and Information:
http://www.bioenergy2002.org
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/carbon.shtml

For information about CHAMBERS STOVES
http://www.ikweb.com/enuff/public_html/Chamber.htm