Here is one of the first looks at the new Navajo stove. Not the final version for sure but they are busy trying to make this idea work. Hopefully "Woodstock can make this work out. For those who do not know, the Navajo Nation does not have much wood for burning but they do have a large coal mine and this is what most use to heat and cook with. It is a dirty coal they use so if someone can come up with an efficient and clean burning heat and cook stove it could help these people a lot. In addition, who knows where this could go from here? From Tom Morrissey "Basically, a couple things came together at once. EPA asked if we were interested in designing a stove for use in the Navajo nation, which would have to pass all of the current EPA woodstove regulations, but also burn sub-bituminous coal as cleanly as possible. Separately, we are working with a non-profit from Oregon (Aprovecho) to develop a cooking AND heating stove (with TEG power) to be used in third world countries. This second project is financed in part with an EPA grant to Aprovecho, and we are involved as co-investigators. The focus of both projects is small, durable, clean and inexpensive heating and cooking stoves. In addition to the twin projects, a lot of people walking through the lab have expressed interest (for camps, workshops, etc). So, this has expanded rapidly."
I am excited to hear more about this. I was born and raised in the anthracite coal belt, come from a family and area of mining, & have an affinity for the original black gold. Of course anthracite burns much differently than it's soft coal brother, but this is intriguing none the less. I wonder if it will have air induced from the bottom?? Most coal stoves do, but most coal stoves are not built with EPA standards and new technology in mind. I can't think of a better company to figure things out! Perhaps this will make a good addition to my Ideal Steel.
Posted: 04 Apr 2018 09:52 AM PDT News Update -Woodstock Soapstone-Navajo Stove Project Below is a brief video interview with our Navajo Beta tester Robert Owen, from mid March, 2018. Robert is one of our Navajo beta testers whose stove was installed this January, 2018. We also posted on his installation before. It’s a little bit unclear in the video, but in the six weeks between his installation and this interview he saved two truckloads of wood, which means his fuel consumption was cut in half. This is what we like to hear. He also comments that the heat is more even, and his indoor air quality is better: “I can breathe.” We especially like his comment “I feel like the stove found me.” Woodstock Soapstone Co. Blog.
