Forecasting, storage, and planning fires

[Nofossil]

For those who are into this to an obsessive degree, here's a screen shoy of a page that I built to help plan fires. It automatically fetches NOAA forecast data (temp, wind, and cloud cover) in three hour increments for the next 48 hours.

It then applies a wind chill correction based on an analysis of my history - it adds a degree day for every 5 mph of wind speed. Degree days are based on 60 degrees, not 65.

Then, it averages the degree days for the next two 24 hour periods and calculates the heat load. My heat load is a constant 45000 BTU per day (DHW), and a variable amount based on degree days. The formula is:

Heat load = degree days * 8900 + 45000

Then, it calculates the burn time required based on 52,000 BTU/hr - a fair estimate of the EKO 25 average over the course of a fire.

Eventually I'll have it take into account the heat left in storage, and I'll integrate it with my control panel (picture below).

 

[Bad Wolf]

You don't get out much do you?

 

[88rxn/a]

thats nice!
i like the sweeping gauges and such in the second pic.
i could picture that in my kitchen using a LCD computer flat screen. or mounted on the wall somewhere..

 

[VtRv]

That is incredible. I wish I had the time and knowledge to do stuff like that. Between this and your controller I see the making for a nice little business. I'm sure I'm not the only one that's envious.

 

[WoodNotOil]

Nofo

I'm only about an hour or so north of you so our weather can't be that different. Can you make it email me automatically to let me know when to fire too? (just kidding) :bug: That is a nice little program. Perhaps it could be made into a customizable thing where you enter your zip code and heat load requirements and it lets you know when to build a fire. It could be a widget running on your desktop!

 

[pybyr]

That is incredible. I wish I had the time and knowledge to do stuff like that. Between this and your controller I see the making for a nice little business. I'm sure I'm not the only one that's envious.

Heck- I'm no longer just coveting the NoFo system controller and this new monitoring system-- I'm in awe of NoFo's wife and /or his and her understandings of each other, such that he gets to do these kinds of nifty things without sparking jealousy, etc-

 

[chuck172]

NoFo, Are you familiar with Davis Weather Instruments?
Right up you're alley. You can set up a weather station, have a web site and integrate it your heat setup

 

[jebatty]

Where did you install the flux capacitor? and how did you isolate it from the dohinky?

More than good system. I have done lots of computer programming in past years, and would really enjoy tackling what you have done. My very significant other (wife) already is more tolerant than is reasonable, so the better course is not to test her limits.

 

[mysticfalcon]

It seems every day there is another reason why you should offer tours of your house. Or at least your boiler room.

 

[free75degrees]

Look very cool. I like the interface with the dials and stained glass. How are you making those dials?

For the indicator that tells you whether or not you need to make a fire, do you think you could make it say how soon you need to make a fire? Typically people are going to be faced with a decision like the one I need to make right now... I need to leave for work in an hour and I need to decide whether to make a fire now, or when I get home. If the indicator said I need to make a fire within 5 hours then I know I need to do one before work, but if it says within 10 hours then I know I can wait until after work.

 

[Birdman]

really good stuff... uh... I am not even close to thinking about my system in this manner. But I am still a young jedi...learning from the masters here.

 

[Nofossil]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I am indeed blessed with a kind and understanding wife who tolerates most of my obsessions. Of course, a system that delivers guaranteed hot showers doesn't hurt....

To answer a few questions:

1) I do get out, if only to collect firewood ;-)

2) This is all accomplished using PHP scripts running on my main server. It queries the system controller to get current temperature data for the boiler and storage, and queries NOAA to get forecast data.

3) The stained glass and brass dials are courtesy of my daughter, who is a graphic artist. I asked for a Victorian era look and she obliged. As mentioned above, it's driven by a PHP script.

4) The flux capacitor was firmly mounted in the future, and that's where it will stay. That's why you can't see it.

5) I've looked at weather stations, but not found any simple Linux-compatible models. Eventually I'll probably build my own.

6) I'm seriously considering a NoFossil open house this winter, depending on the elasticity of spousal tolerance. I'm open for suggestions as to format - potluck? BYOB? Lecture / tour?

7) I'm gradually bending in the direction of at least offering the Nofossil Control System as a salable product.

If anyone is interested and either single or fortunate to have a spouse as tolerant as mine, I'll gladly make all my scripts available for tinkering.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Make it into an iphone app.

 

[smokinj]

Make it into an iphone app.

Now your talking!

 

[Nofossil]

Make it into an iphone app.

Quite seriously, one of the nice things about the NoFossil Control System is the ability to check system status from anywhere. I don't have an iPhone, but I'll bet that it will do a fine job of displaying the simple status web page.

Doesn't every wood boiler need its own web page?

 

[free75degrees]

It seems every day there is another reason why you should offer tours of your house. Or at least your boiler room.

I say we rent a bus, buy a keg, and do a boiler room tour of New England.

 

[mysticfalcon]

Now that the way to take a good idea and improve it.

 

[sdrobertson]

[.[/quote]I say we rent a bus, buy a keg, and do a boiler room tour of New England.[/quote]

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't think I would remember any of the places we would stop by after coming from Michigan by bus w/ a keg.

 

[Mushroom Man]

Now I know how a cave man would feel in this modern age. I find the plumbing complex enough. Well done nofossil.

 

[Nofossil]

I wonder if Web still has the map of member locations that was mentioned a year or so ago. I think there are enough in Vermont alone to make a pretty packed itinerary...

 

[pybyr]

Make it into an iphone app.

we in Vermont are still in the ridiculous situation of not being able to buy iPhones in a direct/official manner. various people bootleg them in and get them to function here in one way or another, but it seems to end up being an enthusiast endeavor unto itself, and thus fiddly and time consuming although interesting-- and I already have enough preexisting activities in that category. supposedly AT&T;and the iPhone will come to VT any time now if, as supposedly expected, the FCC approves AT&T;'s acquisition of the VT territory of RCC/Unicel (the rest of which was bought by Verizon). Hey A.P., by the way, if you are following this thread, and, if I am recalling correctly that you are a trained chemist, can you shed any light on whether an old-tech liquid combustion analyzer (that measures co2 indirectly by using a reagent with hyrdoxide in water) and that has calibrations for coal and oil would be able to take useful measurements on a wood gasifier flue?