PO-86-06-4 -- Improving Flue Loss Methods for Measuring Wood Heater Thermal Performance PDF

A series of 18 simultaneous calorimeter room and flue loss tests were performed on three wood-burning stoves to provide a set of data for establishing the relative accuracy of various flue loss calculation procedures and data-handling techniques. Parameters investigated include flue moisture, fuel chemistry, hydrocarbon analyses, data averaging, and thermal storage. Results showed overall good relationships between stack loss and calorimeter measuring procedures. However, statistical analyses indicate only limited potential for improvement with the use of specific calculation procedures and data-handling techniques. Statistical analyses did not indicate any clear approach for significantly improving results obtained from the current flue loss method. Improvements may be possible by the direct measurement of combustible losses.

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