Stovers, It is interesting that batch fed cordwood burners have evolved to limit air flow up through the fuel. It would be useful to discuss the reasons, and see if any of them are relevant for simple continuously fed cooking stoves. I think this is an issue worth looking at more closely. Some time ago I experimented with Approvecho's Rocket stove. At first, I slid them into the stove so they extend into the stove like the fingers on your hand, forming a grate of burning sticks.
Air flows up through and in over top of the sticks.
The stove was in a vent hood and I continuously monitored CO and CO2, while also qualitatively observed the flames extending out of the top of the stove. There was no pot. I found that many small flame fingers with smoky tips was the typical result. Next, I tried folding up the sticks and tossing them into a pile on top of the ashes and coals in the stove. It was not a sustainable process as the pile just kept getting bigger.