Re: "Worlds Fastest Stove" Contest Was: Re: LETS ADOPT A UNIVERSAL POT

["Lanny Henson" <lanny@roman.net>]

Kevin, I am sending this to the list.
 This fast stove contest is a great idea, count me in.
At first I thought that your choice of pot was not good but after thinking
about it I believe that it is a good choice because the small bottom and
large side area (4+ X larger than the bottom) will cause us to find better
ways to transfer heat to the side of the pot. We will have to be more
creative heating a tall can than a flat bottom shape. I think your first
suggestion for the rules are good. 1 stoves same start temp. 2 good. 3 & 4
fine. 5 good 6 Like Ron said only punch holes. Don't cut top. 7,8,9,10 & 11
sound good.
I wander if it would be possible to use the honor system with independent
testing of the top stove/ stoves?  for the first year?
I doubt that I will be able to travel to a contest but I could ship my stove
and fuel.
This thing would grow year by year.
I am in Rome, Georgia.
Lanny


----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Chisholm <kchishol@fox.nstn.ca>
To: Lanny Henson <lanny@roman.net>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: "Worlds Fastest Stove" Contest Was: Re: LETS ADOPT A UNIVERSAL
POT


> Dear Lanny

> At this stage, two others have volunteered to work on finalizing the
rules.
> At the present, I am proposing to proceed as follows:
>
> 1: Lay out a set of "Rules" that would simply serve as a "benchmark" or
> guideline for people to build stoves and have a general "standard of
> comparison", so that one can see how he generally stacks up against others
> who have built a similar stove, BUT with "modifications in construction or
> operation that were not specifically prohibited."
>
> This should teach us all a great deal about stove design, operation, and
> heat transfer.
>
> 2: Then we figure how to stage a "reasonably fair contest", so that a
prize
> can be awarded, and the WFSC Winner can be declared.
>
> This will not be easy. It will be a nuisance shipping stoves to a central
> testing point. It will be disappointing to you if you can operate your
stove
> to boil in say 47 seconds, but if someone at the "Central Run-off"
operates
> it for you, and only gets a 57 second time, then you will be disappointed,
> especially ifthe winner comes in at say 52 seconds. Travel costs to a
> central point are a major consideration..... presumably people from all
> around the world will be entering.
>
> I'll keep you posted as to how things are unfolding.
>
> You have any suggestions or ideas on how to structure the Contest?
>
> BTW..... where are you?
>
> Kindest regards,
>
> Kevin
> > >

> > Dear Tom
> >
> > Given that 1 litre is a convenient water volume, and given that the test
> > should be available universally, I would propose that the standard "pot"
> be
> > the standard 1.36 litre "juice can" which measures about 7" (176 mm) by
> > 4-2/8" (106 mm) outside dimensions. My assumption is that this is indeed
a
> > universally available can size.
> >
> > A 1 litre measure would be at a height of 127.2 mm from the inside
> > bottom.The can I have in front of me now just happens to rolled rings in
> it.
> > The second ring from the top is almost exactly 127.2" from the inside
> > bottom. This would serve as a very simple "fill level indicator." This
can
> > size also has about 50 mm of ullage or "head space" to prevent
boil-over.
> >
> > Note that this is a test system, and does not necessarily have to use a
> > "real world cooking container."
> >
> > A very interesting point was raised by Ron: Who has the "World's fastest
> > stove?" If there was sufficient interest, my Company, Energy Engineering
> > Ltd, would post a $100 First prize to the Contest entrant having the
> "Worlds
> > Fastest Stove," using a maximum of 500 gms solid biomass fuel charge
> >
> > Contest Rules could tentatively include:
> >
> > 1: The stove system must be at room temperature before start of the
> timing.
> > 2:  The time clock starts when the fuel is lit.
> > 3: Any "common solid biomass fuel" may be used.
> > 4: A "common solid biomass fuel" is defined as any naturally occurring
> > solid non-fossil biomass material that is economically available to at
> least
> > 1 million people throught the World.
> > 5: The stove system must be entirely self powered. Internal powering,
such
> > as would result from a thermopile and motor, or a Sterling engine system
> to
> > provide forced draft or suction effects, is permissable, providing that
> > their source of energy is the permitted fuel charge.
> > 6: The container employed shall be a standard commercially available
> "juice
> > can" with the top cut off with a standard can opener.The can shall not
be
> > modified to increase its surface area.The Judges can, at their slole
> > discression, supply the Entrant with a "standard" can if they feel the
> > entrant's can has been modified in any way.
> > 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..
> > 8: Water content in the container shall be 1.0 kG of potable water,
> measured
> > at 20.0 degrees C. Water temperatures more than 20.0 C shall be lowered
to
> > 20.0 starting tempreature with ice cubes..
> > 9: A copper penny shall be placed over the 10 mm hole in the cover prior
> to
> > the start of the test.
> > 10 Timing will stop when the penny is seen to more as a result of steam
> > created.
> > 11: The winner shall be the entry whose penny moves as a result of steam
> > generation in the shortest time.
> >
> > Judging the stoves will be a bit more difficult, in that this is a
> > potentially a  "World Class Event." If there is sufficient  interest,
then
> > Contest and Judging Details can be worked out.
> >
> > I would tentatively propose that the Final Tests and Award of the Prize
> > would take place no later than 1 Nov 2002
> >
> > Perhaps the Stoves List, or some other suitable Organization could
> sanction
> > the event, to give it stature?
> >
> > Possibly we could discuss the Contest Concept on the Stoves List, to see
> if
> > there is interest, and if so, to see if a practical way can be found to
> run
> > the contest.
> > Kindest regards,
> > Kevin



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