The Advanced Woodstove Technology
Learn how the improved design of EPA certified woodstoves will improve air quality and reduce smoke compared to the conventional woodstoves.
Video
Video transcript | |
Objective: Show the emissions performance difference between conventional and advanced low emission wood burning technology. Set up: Burn trailer in visually appropriate setting with coniferous trees (or other dark backdrop) in the background for contrast | |
| It is one thing to talk or read about low emission wood heating technology, but quite another thing to see it in action. The Burn it Smart display trailer is used to demonstrate the visual difference the new advanced wood burning technology makes. One of the stoves on the trailer is an older conventional stove and one is an advanced technology EPA or CSA B415 certified stove. The two stoves don’t look much different. They are about the same size, both have glass doors and they are both painted black. But that is where the similarities end. |
| Cut to medium shot of conventional stove | The conventional stove has none of the technologies that can burn wood smoke before it enters the chimney. Notice that the fire looks dull and there is only a small amount of flame in the firebox. This is because the smoke that rises off the wood as it heats does not burn completely in the firebox. |
| Pan to medium shot of advanced stove | In contrast, the EPA certified stove does have these technologies and the difference is noticeable right away. There are a lot of flames and they completely fill the area above the fuel. This is a characteristic of advanced technology stoves. The wood smoke burns in lively flames before it leaves the firebox. |
| Zoom out to show both stoves and their vents | The differences in technology show up at the top of the chimneys. Notice the plume of smoke coming from the chimney attached to the older conventional stove, but there is no visible smoke from the EPA certified stove. That visual difference represents up to a 90 per cent reduction in smoke pollution from the advanced stove. Let’s take a closer look to see how the new technology works. |
| Cut to close up shot of EPA stove door being opened to expose internal components (a new stove so the components can be seen clearly) | The advanced technology stove has an insulating firebrick lining and a large baffle covering the top of the firebox. The bricks and baffle reflect heat back towards the fire raising its temperature. Underneath the baffle are air tubes or a hollow chamber where super-heated secondary air is fed to the fire through small holes. Now let’s see this new technology in action. |
| Cut to close up view through glass door of operating stove. Ensure that jets of secondary air flames are visible. | The gases rising from the wood are kept hot by the baffle and insulated firebox, and they react with the hot combustion air fed to the top of the fire. The result is a striking display of flames high in the firebox that is characteristic of these advanced technology stoves. |
| Zoom out to medium view of advanced stove | Now let’s compare the advanced stove with the conventional one |
| The conventional stove has firebrick lining but does not have a large baffle at the top of the firebox to reflect heat back down to the fire. It also doesn’t supply preheated secondary air to the flames as they rise off the wood. Most conventional stoves are like this one: empty steel boxes in which to build a fire. But you can’t burn wood cleanly in an empty box. |
| Without the reflecting baffle and preheated secondary air supply, wood smoke can exit the firebox into the chimney where it clings as creosote deposits or is expelled outside as wood smoke pollution. Smoke is also wasted energy that could be used to heat a house. |
| Compare that with the advanced stove. Because the wood smoke is burned in the firebox, there is no visible smoke at the top of the chimney. This results in up to 30 per cent higher efficiency. That’s 30 per cent less cutting, splitting and carrying, and 30 per cent less cost if you buy your wood. |
| Cut to medium view of burn trailer showing both stoves | They say that seeing is believing and that is certainly true when it comes to advanced stove technology. |
