Energy Write is a Resource for Residential Do-It-Your-Self Energy Reduction.
Energy Reduction How to Article ...
Energy Saver: Cooking Techniques
(continued ...) and eventually throughout your house. Come to think of it, conventional stoves haven't evolved much since the invention of a camp fire. Cooking that steak or veggies over an open flame sure does taste good though!
If you happen to be using natural gas (methane) or propane, a good portion of the combustion byproducts is steam (water vapor). Let's look at the stoichiometrics. Ouch, that word hurt. Hold up whilst I tell you about stoichiometry. This is studied mainly in chemistry. Stoichiometrics is a ten-dollar word to describe the theoretical and ideal relationship (formula) between elements and/or molecules in a chemical reaction. In its simplest form for combustion you would have:
fuel + air + ignition -> (yields) heat + byproducts.
For hydrocarbon combustion, some examples would be:
Propane: C3H8 + 5O2N2 + ignition -> heat + 3CO2 + 4H2O + 5N2
Methane: CH4 + 2O2N2 + ignition -> heat + CO2 + 2H2O + 2N2
Do you recall that I previously used the words theoretical and ideal? In reality, those equations mostly happen but other combinations of byproducts happen as well. Air is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen but there are other trace ingredients too. Sometimes carbon monoxide (CO) is left over. Some of the H, N and O combine to make nitric acid (HNO3). Then add to that complication, other 'things' are added to the fuel products that we buy including mercaptan (CH4S) to give it that bad smell. CH4 and C3H8 are normally odorless but CH4S is that unmistakable nasty rotten egg smell. CH4S is put in with the natural gas and propane to notify ...