----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 10:54
AM
Subject: Re: "Worlds Fastest Stove"
Contest Was: Re: LETS ADOPT A UNIVERSAL POT
Kevin:
Thanks for having given so
much thought to this contest topic.
1. Your choice of using
a standard Juice can is brilliant. I will go today to see if I can buy
juice in such a can (or "bum" from a restaurant) - and hope others will report
in on whether this can is locally available (or a different
preferred size and shape that may better fit their stove).
Thanks. <blush> :-) Actually, it should be practical
and work quite well when the pot is in direct contact with the products of
combustion. However, it is perhaps not appropriate for use on a flat stove
top, as someone pointed out, because of the ridge on the bottom..
2. I think one problem
will be your item 7: "The can shall have a snug fitting cover
with a 10 mm hole in the top center, and a 2 mm hole to act as an air vent,
25mm away from the center of the cover."
Actually, this can be done simply by using aluminum foil,
bent over the top of the can, and held in place a few turns of stovepipe wire.
This should be plenty good for initial tests.
This will be tough for many
contestants, - and we will find many ill-fitting caps, I am afraid.
But, we might all be able to punch two small top holes in a standard can
and still get the juice out cleanly - and still use the US penny as a standard
"pressure valve". Do you think this modification of your proposed
rule will work (this being your $100)?.
This would certainly work. I was sure that when the Entrants
saw all the steam leaking away from their ill fitting covers, they would
quickly come to this same conclusion.
3. I presume there
will have to be some rule about plugging the second hole? Or two
pennies?
The small hole was intended as an air vent, to leak out the
air from the head space as it warmed, without disturbing the penny.
Additionally, the small hole ensures that actual steam is being made and being
vented at a particular rate, before the penny will move.
Many helpful comments have been made relating to a Stove
Contest". I am working on distilling them into a set of contest guidelines,
and hope to post something in the next few days to address their valid
comments.
Bear in mind that this is intended to be a "fun thing",
rather than a test protocol for comparing "real world stove systems." The hope
would be that by focusing the creative efforts of Stovers on one of the many
facets of Stoves, significant advances to practical stoves could
follow.
Kindest regards,
Kevin Chisholm
