Cronin B. Vining's observation is astute.

It would be nice if it were real but...

I suspect that the published specification for the Jade Mountain 5 kW
thermoelectric generator is wrong. It would make more sense if the
LP usage were 1 gallon or 6 pounds of LP per hour. (instead of the
1 pound, 6 gallons as published) This would still be a 14% efficiency,
about double what is commonly available. I'm still waiting for
Jade Mountain to start delivering the generator.

Even if the Jade Mountain generator is real, a 5 kW diesel generator
with an engine from China Diesel is reported to use 0.08 gallons
of diesel fuel per hour making it a much preferred power source.

"Cronin B. Vining" wrote
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From Art Krenzel [mailtophoenix@transport.com]
>>Sent Monday, January 04, 1999 1154 PM
>>To ztnews@zts.com
>>Subject Re 5 kw thermoelectric generator for real?
>>
>>
>>Is anyone going to do the math on this generator or are we blind?
>
>The answer, I think, is that we are blind and can't do math .
>
>>A 5 KWhr generator represents 17,070 BTU per hour output. At one lb of
>>propane per hour, only 20,000 to 21,400 BTU per hour are being
>>input. Does
>>an instaneous 85% conversion efficiency by some "unknown
>>production source"
>>sound a bit high when all the professionals in the thermoionic industry
>>have been trying for 25 years to break 5% thermal efficiency? If you
>>believe that pile of aeromatic, fully digested horse feed, I
>>have a bridge
>>in Brooklyn I could make available for a small fee. I can
>>take VISA if you
>>prefer.
>>
>
>
>
>ZU,
> Cronin
>
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