Hybrid guys, Has anybody thought about blocking off the secondary air supply to get more low end cat burn? I've been thinking about this for a while now... it just won't get cold so I can try it.
Sounds like something I'd at least try...........if I had a hybrid. I've exhausted just about all tinkering on the NC30.
I'm kind of thinking all I would have to do is put a magnet over the secondary inlet channel. Maybe not even cover it completely.
Aluminum tape works well, and is removable. Cover the hole, then peel back a little at a time.........tinker.
A catalyst requires excess air (oxygen) and a minimum temperature to function. Probably not a good idea to restrict air supply.
I am interested to see what results from your tinkering. It sure appears that WS is heading down the hybrid/steel path. While I understand their reasons, I'm still hoping for a cat only soapstone stove in the 2.75 size range some time in the future. Also hoping they will copy the BK auto-damper mechanism; seems like such a simple mechanism with clear benefits to achieving more even and longer burns.
That secondary air is probably what feeds the cat along with the secondary combustion. I wonder if it branches off to each and you could cut off one or the other? This is something I wish WS would incorporate into these stoves. Have a switch where you could run full cat mode, full non cat mode or both together.
Interesting idea. I like the way that the IS has the 3 separate intake ports (sort of) accessable on the outer shell - cat air (bimetal flapper), primary air (slider bottom left) & secondary air (other slider bottom left). That would make this an easy experiment. Don't know if the EPA field operatives (black suites, sunglasses & red flashy thingy) would visit your place or not for doing such a field retrofit.... Seems to me that the secondary air is integral to getting the load ignited enough for cat liftoff. Maybe a hinged closer on the secondary plate so the secondary air can be used for starts & reloads, then closed after cat launch?
Innovator- the IS has a separate 'cat air' intake & channel independant of the others. It is automatic, controlled by a thermostat bi-metal vavle.
Another thing to think about is the size of the cat and if it could handle the whole load without help from the secondary burn. Isn't the cat the same one that is used for the Fireview? If so its pretty small for a cat stove of that size if you compare it to other similar sized cat stoves.
