I used to work with a guy who ran a similar OWB, (non-gassifier). He would go through 8-10 full cords with that thing and insisted it worked better with green wood. He said dry wood just burned up faster and he would have to reload more often. I sometimes wonder if some of these units were actually designed to burn higher moisture content wood and just will not cut the air back enough to burn the dry stuff... just a theory of mine..
I thought there was a thread a couple of years ago where that was addressed, with some numbers that supported the conclusion that when you figure the amount of BTUs required to boil the water weight of the split away, versus the BTUs contained in the piece of wood, the percentage of BTU loss wasn't too large when boiling away water. I will try to dig up that thread...it takes a TON of energy (possibly up to 1/3 of what's in the wood) to burn off the moisture.
I thought there was a thread a couple of years ago where that was addressed, with some numbers that supported the conclusion that when you figure the amount of BTUs required to boil the water weight of the split away, versus the BTUs contained in the piece of wood, the percentage of BTU loss wasn't too large when boiling away water. I will try to dig up that thread...
Here's that thread. The actual BTU loss isn't very big between burning 20% vs. 30% wood, but the point is made that you have to give the stove more air to burn the wet stuff, so your stove is running less efficiently and a lot of heat is going up the flue. And there may be more loss from inefficient re-burning of the smoke, cat or non-cat...There is no doubt I used considerable more wood than I do now that I burn mostly dry stuff.
That study is a joint study by the Georgia forestry commission and the USFS. I have a hard copy in my office here right now.There was also a study cited on here a few months back about how the best wood to burn to prevent creosote buildup is green pine. Studies can prove virtually anything. When I burned green wood back in the day, I did keep warm. However I had to keep the woodstove really hot otherwise new pieces would smolder more than burn. And I had to get up three times per night to keep throwing wood on the fire. I don't know what the loss of BTUs is, but one must also factor in the inconvenience of starting the fire and keeping it going. There is no doubt I used considerable more wood than I do now that I burn mostly dry stuff.
There was also a study cited on here a few months back about how the best wood to burn to prevent creosote buildup is green pine.
I read here a while back that hardwoods make more creosote than soft, so there may be something to that. I don't know what the "green" part would have to do with it...That study is a joint study by the Georgia forestry commission and the USFS. I have a hard copy in my office here right now.
I know of people who have them because they have had chimney fires - one even lost his home - and are afraid to have a fire within their home, be it fireplace or wood stove....Personally, I don't like the amount of wood I see stacked near many of these burners...I'm a tree hugger and strong conservationist at heart.We have a VC Defiant (stove) and we keep our 1800 sf home very cozy all season, only letting the furnace come on if we're out of town, etc. We burn about 5-7 face cords/season depending mostly on the weather.
FWIW, I've never used an OWB so I have no direct knowledge but I have a couple of neighbors who use them and one was just complaining that he goes through so much wood and has to feed it several times per day/night. I do seem to see larger wood stacks (more cords) where I see OWBs. But to be fair he is heating his 2000 sf house and 1000 sf shop with it.
We love the indoor stove ambiance, but I'm guessing many OWB users must not have a home suitable for a space heater type setup, or like bringing wood into the house, or they just don't have room or a suitable space for a stove? Many ways to skin a cat!
I know of people who have them because they have had chimney fires - one even lost his home - and are afraid to have a fire within their home, be it fireplace or wood stove....Personally, I don't like the amount of wood I see stacked near many of these burners...I'm a tree hugger and strong conservationist at heart.
Agree 100 % --and the chimney. The OWB's I've observed are pretty far away from their respective houses.....HehHeh . . . my father and mother lost their home to a fire . . . with an OWB. A large part of this however was due to my father placing the OWB too close to the house to save on piping, heat loss and so he didn't have to walk outside too far. Just having an OWB is no gurantee of better safety -- it all starts with the individual installing the stove correctly, running the stove correctly and maintaining the stove correctly -- whether it be a smoke dragon, OWB or EPA stove.
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