With the first Wood Stove Decathlon
only a few months away, we are doing weekly blog posts to showcase the
Decathlon teams and the innovative technology they are developing.
The SmartStoveTM control
system was developed to introduce very affordable, modern technology to
wood-burning products that seem locked in the past. SmartstoveTM uses a thermocouple,
microprocessor, and controller to automate airflow throughout the combustion
cycle of the stove. Thus, stoves are not allowed to smolder, not to overfire, but
rather to operate at optimal temperatures.
In 1998, Dan McFarland, an electrical engineer, began
heating his home with an EPA certified fireplace insert. After six years
of what began feeling like babysitting the stove, he searched the web for a
control system product to take over for him. After discovering it did not
exist, he began formulating a method to develop his own. In 2005, the first
functioning proof-of-concept prototype exceeded his expectations, reliably
managing the draft control for him, keeping the fire burning clean and
maximizing the burn time. As Plato stated, “necessity is the mother of
invention.”
With the encouragement of some close friends, McFarland
continued the self-funded development of what evolved into the intelligent and
versatile SmartStoveTM control
system, a powerful device the size of a regular thermostat.
By the winter of 2006, he developed an upgraded system
that added proportional control of the insert’s blowers, enabling the
system to efficiently manage a fire and also optimize heat
transfer into the home, reducing the need for backup heat on cold nights.
The next year, SmartStoveTM made
its first public appearance at the HPB Expo in Reno, Nev. While some expo
attendees and fellow exhibitors could not imagine computerized controls on a
wood stove, others were excited by the project and encouraged McFarland to
continue.
The following year, after developing upgraded system
architecture, a stove manufacturer requested to evaluate the system on one of
their new stove designs. After delivering a stove fully retrofitted
with SmartStoveTM,
and excitement by the manufacturer about the success of the project, the
subprime economic crisis stalled development as stove manufacturers moved to
protect their finances. SmartStoveTM system
was upgraded again in 2010 to add a radio link between the User Interface wall
panel and the stove.
SmartStoveTM system is now shipped to
individuals who are searching, much like McFarland was, for a control system to
integrate into their own stoves.
SmartStoveTM will
be hosting an open house and fundraiser, including demonstrations of the
system, on Saturday, Oct. 12. Further information and updates about the system
and event will be available on the Inven Inc. website, Twitter, and Facebook.
We are looking
forward to seeing SmartStove in action at the Wood Stove Decathlon
November 16-19, 2013. Vote for your favorite stove at Popular Mechanics.
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