Catalytic Hearth Coalition

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Presenter Profile:

• Vice President of Blaze King Industri

of Walla Walla WA., 

– In business since 1977– Stove Manufacturer

• Non catalytic since 1977• Invested In Manufacturing & Perfecting

Catalytic wood stoves since 1983

– Executive Committee Member of the Ca

Hearth Coalition (CHC)

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Catalytic Hearth Coalition

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Question?

• How many of you traveled here by:

– Airplane? – Car? – Bus? 

• How many of you: 

– Had a cup of coffee this morning? – Had breakfast in a restaurant or fast foo

place?

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Catalytic Technology is Everyw

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The Catalytic Hearth Coali

• Mission Statement: – To work with all manufacturers of ca

products to continually refine and imthese products for the environment aeducate the public about the benefits catalytic technology.

• Shared Knowledge & Ideas Betwee

Members

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Catalytic Hearth Coalition

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One Way To Deal With Emiss

• Non-Catalytic 

Design

– Requires >1200oF 

to Control Emissions

• Firebox and 

Components Need to Maintain >1200oF 

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Another Way To Deal Wit

Emissions

• Catalytic Stove 

Design

– Start to Control 

Emissions at 550oF to Control Emissions, including VOC’s

– Simple To Replace 

Element Much Like A Cars Oil Filter

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Side by Side Design

• New Stainless combustors get 550 degrees in less than 15 

• This translates to cleaner emissions sooner• There is place for BOTH Catalytic or Non Catalytic Wood S

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Catalytic Advancements & Accomplish

Combustors Are More Compact & Thicker Combustors Increa

Residence Time Due To Greater Surface Area

Combustors Are Accessible & Readily Visible Not Buried In StOrientation and Position Take Exposure into Account

Therefore:

Catalytic Wood Stoves have become even more efficient, whic

important as clean burning

More Durable with Life-Spans up to 10 Years or moreLowest Average Emissions Amongst All Wood StovesLowest Burn Rates & Burn TimesHighest Average Efficiency For every Pound burnedBest “Turndown Rate” (widest range of output between high a

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Design Changes • Older designs used the catalyst as an 

on and not part of the original design

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In-Line dBypass Cin Pluggi

Rear Design Exposed the Catalyst to High Temperatures and Made it Difficult for the customer to Access

Horizontal Catalyst Place Right Above the Firebox Exposed the Catalyst to Flame Impingement and Stability Problems (Catalyst Would Fall Out)
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One Example Poor Bypass De

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Old Plat
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New Designs

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• Treat the Catalyst as Part of the Stove, Even Offe

“Hybrid” Designs Combining Thermal and CatalytCombustion Technologies

• One Manufacturer has even designed a stove tha

either catalytic or non catalytic

Catalyst is Easy to Access for 

the Consumer and Protected 

From Flame Impingement and 

Thermal Damage
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Life of a Combustor

• The Anticipated Operational Life is Up to 1• Studies were Performed Independently by 

Environmental Laboratories 

• The Omni aging study conducted in Decem

2009 Showed Limited Reduction in Activity Multiple Seasons of Use

• All Combustors In the Study had a minimu

cords burned each year
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Results – Summary

1Aged based on EPA Method 28 Guidelines

Stove A New1 Used 5.75 Years 

Particulate Mater

(5H Adjusted (g/hr))

85% 

Reduced Emissions

0.14 g/hr Increase 

from New

0.

Change of Particulate Emission in an Aged Combustor

Stove B New1 Used 5.75 Years 

Particulate Mater

(5H Adjusted (g/hr))

83% 

Reduced Emissions

1.9 g/hr Increase 

from New

1.0

Less Than 1 g/hr Average Change in Emissions Aft
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Regulations Re

Current Standards:Keeping in Mind The Original Logic Used For Sub Cat

(Dual Standards)

With An Increase of ~1 g/hr over 9 Years A Washingto

Approved Catalytic Stove will not reach the same levels as a Washington State Non-Cat Stove for 

An EPA Approved Catalytic Stove will not reach the sa

emission levels as a EPA Approved Non-Cat StoYears

Type of Device Washington State Limit EPA LimCatalytic Wood Burning Device

2.5 grams per hour 4.1 gram

Non-Catalytic Wood Burning Device

4.5 grams per hour 7.5 gram
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How Does Catalyst Work

• Definition: A catalyst is a substance which lowers the activa

for a given reaction, without being consumed by the reactio

– Catalysts create a Combustion Reaction (Also Referred to As “Oxidat

• Carbon in any compound Combines with Oxygen to form C

Dioxide and Water

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Smoke / 

VOCs

Wate

Carbo

To oxidize organic c

is the activation ene

complete the 
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Catalyst Evolution

• Catalyst Manufacturers Continue to I

the Technology From Supports...

– Ceramic

• Cordierite• Mullite• Reticulated Foam

– Steel

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Catalyst Improvements

• To Chemistry

– Higher Temperature Resistant Coatings 

Increasing Surface Area

– Alternative Catalytic Components & Me

Performance Monitoring

– Activation Supports– Thermometers

• CHC Recommend Mandatory Inclusion o

Monitoring Device

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Catalyst Opportunities

• Alternative Methods to Activate the C

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Difficulties in Advanceme

• Test Methods and Stove Categories 

Design Opportunities & New EmissioElimination Technology

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Method 28 Method 5H Method 

Method 

B415 ASTM 

E2780-10
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How It Was

• 1980’s Supply Chain Resulted in Increase

Miscommunications and Delays

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How It Works Now Encourages Mainte

• O.E.M. Direct Purchase More Affordable• Easy to Find Replacements Even For Out 

Business Stove Manufacturers

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How Wood Stoves Are Us

• How many of you heat your home wit

wood stove? 

• When you’re at work 8 hours a day a

sleeping 8 hours each night, is your sset to a high burn rate?

• How often do you use higher burn rat

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How Stoves Are Used?

COMPARE

PM (g/hr)

(Particulate Matter)

Stoves spend 80% of their 

life in this range

Low Medium Medium High 

Burn Rate (kg/hr) <0.8 0.8 to 1.25 1.25 to 1.9 

Heat Output (BTU/hr) <10,000 ~12,000 ~15,000 

AVG Washington State 

Certified NON-CAT Stove 3.45 3.85 3.05 

AVG Washington State 

Certified CAT Stove 0.29 0.83 1.24 
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Test Method Weighting

• The test and the weightings should a

reflective of how the stove is used in world.

CHC Suggests Burn Rate Values of

Low 60% Medium 30% High 10%

CHC Suggests Cord Wood Testing

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Final Notes

• Long burn times are the hallmark of our industry, th

the marketing. Manufacturers do not brag or talk of times, but rather low burn times. Because folks, lowtimes are what consumers want.

• Typically, non catalytic wood stoves burn cleanest w

operated at the highest possible burn rates and conburn less clean on the lower burn rates.

• Catalytic wood stoves typically have the inverse rela

That is, the lower they burn, catalytic wood stoves bThe higher burn rates are less clean but as mentionin the real world folks just don’t burn their wood stovall that often.

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