ASTM E2618-13

5.1 The measurement of particulate matter emission rates is an important test method widely used in the practice of air pollution control.

5.2 Measurement of heating efficiency provides a uniform basis for comparison of product performance that is useful to the consumer. It is also required to relate emissions produced to the useful heat production.

5.3 This is a laboratory method and is not intended to be fully representative of all actual field use. It is recognized that users of hand-fired wood burning equipment have a great deal of influence over the performance of any wood-burning appliance. Some compromises in realism have been made in the interest of providing a reliable and repeatable test method.

1.1 This test method applies to wood-fired or automatically fed biomass burning hydronic heating appliances. These appliances transfer heat to the indoor environment through circulation of a liquid heat exchange media such as water or a water-antifreeze mixture.

1.2 The test method simulates hand loading of seasoned cordwood or fueling with a specified biomass fuel and measures particulate emissions and delivered heating efficiency at specified heat output rates based on the appliance’s rated heating capacity.

1.3 Particulate emissions are measured by the dilution tunnel method as specified in Test Method E2515. Delivered efficiency is determined by measurement of the usable heat output (determined through measurement of the flow rate and temperature change of water circulated through a heat exchanger external to the appliance) and the heat input (determined from the mass of dry fuel burned and its higher heating value). Delivered efficiency does not attempt to account for pipeline loss.

1.4 Products covered by this test method include both pressurized and non-pressurized heating appliances intended to be fired with wood or automatically fed biomass fuels. These products are hydronic heating appliances which the manufacturer specifies for outdoor or indoor installation. They are often connected to a heat exchanger by insulated pipes and normally include a pump to circulate heated liquid. They are used to heat structures such as homes, barns, and greenhouses and can heat domestic hot water, spas, or swimming pools.