Efficient combustion

[independentenergy]

Hi
I do not own measurement instruments for gases, therefore, I would like to know if there is an empirical way to judge whether the combustion quality.
Amount of residual ash, heat generated ...
In short, there is a way to evaluate?
thanks

[morticcio]

I've noticed during a very hot burn the rocket noise is loud - very loud - and after the firebox is white - no soot deposits at all. When there is a cooler burn the rocket noise is subdued and after the firebox is black.

I've yet to test if these are indicators of an efficient/inefficient burn but I'm guessing not bad as a rule of thumb.

[peterberg]

When the combustion efficiency is high, there will be no visible smoke. The smell of the exhaust is like a laundry or something like wet charcoal at the most. At somewhat lower ambient temperatures clouds of water vapour will exiting the chimney and dissolve within a couple of yards. This last effect will only be the case when the exhaust temperature is low, about 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

[independentenergy]

Thanks to all
I would like to know also if the presence of the bell can improve or worsen the quality of combustion ?
In a J tube combustion chamber must be black ?

[morticcio]

A way of assessing smoke emission is by using the Ringelmann Smoke Chart. Here is a link to a PDF version with instructions which you can print out.

It is in English so would need translating.

[independentenergy]

thanks morticcio, it is very interesting ...
I can not wait to try it, though for now I'm still developing the firebox