DOE OSTI · 3377225
Draft Impacts: Modeling and Lab Validation (CRADA Final Report)
Abstract
Chimney draft is a significant source of variability in real-world wood heater performance, yet laboratory tests conducted for certification do not capture this variability. Because draft varies with climate, chimney height, and home conditions, a heater that performs well in the lab can perform quite differently when installed in a home. Until now, wood heater manufacturers and installers have lacked the tools needed to anticipate how draft will vary across real installations or to advise on corrective measures when draft is too low or too high. The goal of this project was to develop and validate an open-source draft prediction tool for cordwood heater chimney systems. Over 18 months, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) collaborated to build a physics-based, Python tool that predicts how chimney draft evolves during operation, from ignition through steady burning. HPBA convened a stakeholder group of manufacturers and venting experts who provided feedback throughout development. LBNL validated the tool against laboratory measurements from a catalytic and a non-catalytic cordwood heater operated across a range of chimney heights and room-pressure conditions.
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Rapp, Vi [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)], Tolleson, Jason [Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, Arlington, VA (United States)]. 2026-05-31. Draft Impacts: Modeling and Lab Validation (CRADA Final Report). https://doi.org/10.2172/3377225
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