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Overview of Testing and Judging

November 30, 2015

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  1. The stoves will be tested with a dilution tunnel, using EPAMethod 5G (pdf).

  2. Modified ASTM E2779 - 3.5 hour test, performed twice, with a one hour warm up.

    • One hour on the highest heat setting

    • One hour on the medium heat setting

    • One and a half hours on the lowest heating setting.

  3. Filters will be pulled and weighed after each setting to record PM levels at each heat setting.

  4. The final PM number will be based on a weighted average from the 3 heat settings.

  5. Particulate emissions measurement: ASTM E2515-11;

  6. Efficiency measurements: CAN/CSA B415.1-10;

  7. Each team will use the same batch of PFI certified pellets(teams cannot use their own pellets).

  8. If the stove has fan settings, we suggest using a high fan setting for the high heat setting, a medium fan setting for the medium heat setting, and a low fan setting for the low heat setting. If fans on the stove are set automatically, then the stove will be operated as it’s designed to be operated.

Team responsibilities

  1. Teams must agree to a time to test the stove at BNL (in advance of the public event) between Feb. 16 and March 31. At least one team member must be present during testing. (We hope to test 2 or 3 stoves at similar times, so that teams will overlap, having the ability to see their testing and interact). This will be the only official testing of the stove.

  2. Teams are responsible for “conditioning” the stove prior to arrival at BNL. If the stove is brand new, it should be operated for at least 10 hours before testing. ASTM calls for 40 hours of conditioning before a EPA certification test.

  3. Teams are responsible for delivering the stove in good working order and the expenses associated with this. Once it is installed in the lab, the teamscan operate the stove to ensure that it is working properly the day before testing.

  4. Once the testing begins, teams cannot touch the stove for the remainder of the testing period.

  5. All testing data from your stove will be available to you.

  6. Stoves can be stored at BNL after testing until the April 6 – 8 event.

  7. During the public event, from April 6th – 8th, your stove will be running for at least half a day so that all attendees can see it during operation. We can do some unofficial testing with a Testo or Wohler gas analyzer so that attendees can see real time numbers during operation.

  8. During the Design Challenge event, each team will have an opportunity to do a presentation about their stove to Design Challenge attendees. We will have a computer and projector for Powerpoint presentations. Teams can use that time as they wish - to show how their stove is designed and to share testing data, and to take questions. More details and guidance on presentations will be provided in February and March.

  9. Each team can also display a poster at the poster session. See poster session announcement for more details.

  10. Teams must sign liability waivers and a document agreeing to the rules of the competition prior to being tested at BNL. (This document provides an overview of basic rules.)

  11. Teams are responsible for their own accommodations when they test at BNL and during the public event in April. We have secured a very good group rate at Indigo Hotel ($119 for a double).

Overview of Judging

  • The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) will designate a group of judges, consisting of PAC members and potentially 1-2 additional judges not from the PAC.

  • There will be a “Grand Prize” of $1,000 to the stove that has the best overall scores in the following areas: 1. particular matter, 2. efficiency, 3. safety (CO and other safety issues), 4. innovation, and 5. market potential (cost, marketability, etc.).

  • Particulate matter, efficiency and CO are objective criteria that are provided by the testing equipment. Other safety issues, innovation and market potential involve some subjective assessment and the judges can bring a variety of values and considerations into their deliberations.

  • Judges can, in their discretion, give prizes for the most efficient, the cleanest, the most innovative, or another category, if they feel that a stove really stood out on one of the criteria.

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