The Oil Drum

37 comments on Another book for the shelf

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MicroHydro on December 12, 2005 - 1:48pm

People living in cold places should consider a catlytic LPG space heater. LPG is cheap, energy dense, keeps well, and the new heaters have automatic shutoff for low oxygen or tilt.

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Everett on December 12, 2005 - 3:59pm

I have purchased (on eBay) a 10,000 BTU/hr radiant kerosene heater as a backup to electric heat. I think the cost of kerosene is comparable to LPG, it has an even greater energy density, doesn't require a pressurized tank, keeps well, and can even be burned in a diesel engine or fuel oil furnace if necessary.

I don't know about LPG, but a properly adjusted kerosene heater doesn't produce carbon monoxide, just CO2 and water. For both types of heaters, you have to be very careful about the CO2 displacing the O2 in a room, even with a low oxygen sensor. It is possible for the CO2 to settle in locations that are low relative to the heater. Some minimal ventilation is a necessity to disperse the several hundred liters of CO2 generated per hour.