rocket stove mass heater - more efficient than a chimney

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

PLEASE GO TO THE SITES LISTED BELOW!

We have been asked to remove some (but not all - very gracious of them) of the author's work and we are complying. He/She does excellent work and I recommend clicking through to their site.

Below is just a taste!

http://www.ernieanderica.info/rocketstoves

http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp


rocket mass heaters in a nutshell:
heat your home with 80% to 90% less wood
exhaust is nearly pure steam and CO2 (a little smoke at the beginning)
the heat from one fire can last for days
you can build one in a day and half
folks have built them spending less than $20


the verbose details on rocket mass heaters:

This could be the cleanest and most sustainable way to heat a conventional home. Some people have reported that they heat their home with nothing more than the dead branches that fall off the trees in their yard. And they burn so clean, that a lot of sneaky people are using them illegally, in cities, without detection. When somebody first told me about rocket mass heaters, none of it made sense. The fire burns sideways? No smoke? If a conventional wood stove is 75% efficient, doesn't that mean the most wood you could possibly save is something like 25%? How do you have a big hole right over the fire and not have the house fill with smoke? I was skeptical. And then I saw one in action. The fire really does burn sideways. The exhaust is near room temperature - and very clean. The smoke doesn't come back up because a huge amount of air is getting sucked into the wood hole. Neat! I sat on one that had not had a fire in it for 24 hours - it was still hot!

how it works:

http://538357.cache1.evolutionhosting.com/images/rocket-mass-heater-diagram.png



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jfag47dRCs&feature=player_embedded


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGaGtO8MkQk&feature=player_embedded


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKHVoCY2so&feature=player_embedded

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

Unfortunately I can only include 10 vid/pic links per post! The whackness, you say!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtFvdMk3eLM&feature=player_embedded


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpCu7aG3fgI&feature=player_embedded


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMUES-34Ioc&feature=player_embedded


Discussion thread where you can read more! http://www.permies.com/t/1078/alternative-energy/rocket-stove-butt-warmer

[osoab]

Thanks TNE.

I guess the next question is how many of these chad will build.

[chad]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[chad]

just for the record, when i saw the thread title, it was like a tractor beam for me.

[Ponce]

To me it was a bulls eye that I had to hit.........keeping this in my favorites for next summer......to cold now to do anything.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

HAHAHA, mission successful in that case. This thread is my "good deed for the day" since sharing is caring!

I'm thinking how one of these would perform inside of a yurt. Apparently there are portable models, the "Greenhouse" version looks like it would take about an hour to construct with just some bricks!

Yurts are yummy . . .


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc4Wvd-opJ4&feature=g-u

[Gaillo]

I've experimented with those, and bought a book about them and their construction. Built several small versions to test the theory. It works... REALLY well. It's kind of disconcerting to see a fire burning sideways, though! ;)

[osoab]

What about the ashes?

[Gaillo]

What about the ashes?

Slide out metal drawer.

[Gaillo]

This is the book I bought, it's THE authoritative text on these things:

http://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Mass-Heaters-Superefficient-Woodstoves/dp/0966373839


I highly recommend it.

[hoarder]

What about creosote?

[osoab]

What about creosote?


Heat I believe. All is burned.

[Gaillo]

What about creosote?

Still working on the design until I like it enough to build a "permanent" version for long-term use, but I don't imagine creosote will end up being much of a problem... these things burn SUPER efficient, they produce almost ZERO smoke, and the intensity of the flame needs to be seen to be believed! :o

[Ponce]

Thanks Gaillo, they want $18.00 for a paper back.......I think that with all the drawings, photos and animations on line that I can build one.......already have five new favorites on this subjet.

[Shorty Harris]

Wow, Why Haven't I heard of this before. I know what My next project is going to be.

[Dogman]

http://www.woodstovewizard.com/thermalmassstoves.html

[hoarder]

Still working on the design until I like it enough to build a "permanent" version for long-term use, but I don't imagine creosote will end up being much of a problem... these things burn SUPER efficient, they produce almost ZERO smoke, and the intensity of the flame needs to be seen to be believed! :o
I see two categories of efficiency;
1) Efficiency at extracting maximum BTU's in the combustion chamber(s).
2) Efficiency at extracting heat from the smoke/exaust beyond the combustion chamber.

#1 is responsible for minimizing creosote, #2 traps creosote because of it's efficiency. Creosote builds up in cold pipes, not hot ones. Woodstoves have hotter pipes because they allow more heat to escape unused.

Some Indians had a tunnel system in the ground to carry smoke out of their teepees. I like the idea, but one problem is you would not be able to insure the structure you heat. Also, it seems you smoke up the house when you start the fire. How long do they burn?

[Shorty Harris]

I'm curious as to the life expectancy of the Heat riser and combustion chamber. You Know, what with all that intense heat how long before it starts warping and cracking or other wise compromising the combustion chamber?

[hoarder]

I'm curious as to the life expectancy of the Heat riser and combustion chamber. You Know, what with all that intense heat how long before it starts warping and cracking or other wise compromising the combustion chamber?I was thinking the same thing. You could get 2 pieces of 12 or 14 guage stainless steel rolled and another cut for the top and weld it together.

[chad]

you guys seriously need to stop posting stove stuff. i just walked, in pain from my surgery, to the back of the property, through snow, to check a brick pile and see if i have enough to try and fab one of these. ;D

[Dogman]

you guys seriously need to stop posting stove stuff. i just walked, in pain from my surgery, to the back of the property, through snow, to check a brick pile and see if i have enough to try and fab one of these. ;D No pain, No gain!

[Ponce]

Same here, a while ago I put on my mokey sub artic equipment, my micky mouse boots, two heav coats, a heated face mask, my snow shoes and my movile portable heater........to go 50 feet and see what kind of bricks I had in stock hahahahaahah, heyyyyyyyyyyy the temperature is of 28 degrees and I am a Cuban....... danm gringos and their cold weather.

[mightymanx]

Something else cool in the stove market (reverse pun intended)

The bonus it makes power.

http://www.biolitestove.com/HomeStove.html

[Book]

http://538357.cache1.evolutionhosting.com/images/rocket-mass-heater-300.png

CO2 is toxic in higher concentrations: 1% (10,000 ppm) will make some people feel drowsy.[7] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide#cite_note-friedman-6) Concentrations of 7% to 10% cause dizziness, headache, visual and hearing dysfunction, and unconsciousness within a few minutes to an hour.[8] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide#cite_note-7)

::) no vent to the outside?

[Dogman]

http://538357.cache1.evolutionhosting.com/images/rocket-mass-heater-300.png

CO2 is toxic in higher concentrations: 1% (10,000 ppm) will make some people feel drowsy.[7] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide#cite_note-friedman-6) Concentrations of 7% to 10% cause dizziness, headache, visual and hearing dysfunction, and unconsciousness within a few minutes to an hour.[8] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide#cite_note-7)

::) no vent to the outside?


Read the links, it is vented.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

Unit is against wall, exhaust exits outside wall

http://538357.cache1.evolutionhosting.com/images/rocket-mass-heater-diagram.png

[po boy]

you guys seriously need to stop posting stove stuff. i just walked, in pain from my surgery, to the back of the property, through snow, to check a brick pile and see if i have enough to try and fab one of these. ;D


Sorry ,but this is cheap and lightweight!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIANWSJAVGM&feature=plcp&context=C20d03UDOEgsToPDskKP0G6ghKnzHFvMauZHUlnn

[Awoke]

These are a great design. I can see seriously taking these into consideration when designing a new home or a hunting camp, but I can't see doing a retro-fit.


EDIT - Now this thread has me thinking.

So looking at this picture, I can't help but wonder, what is the purpose of the isulation on the heat riser?

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3ReOSq1TitE/Sf-Kyd_i-zI/AAAAAAAACko/dhGV7NjNZgg/s1600/4b-Erica_poster_photo.jpg

What purpose would it serve to have it insulated? I mean, itwould be so hot inside that exterior can anyways that I think the insulation is kind of a moot point, no?

[mightymanx]

I think that it is there to keep the heat from diffusing out of the heat riser area

[Spectrism]

Here are my concerns about this:

A "jet" of fire- or at least super hot air, will eventually burn through the thin steel wal of that barrel. I like cast iron for resilience in this environment- or at least a thick steel. Probably would be a good idea to make the outer wall (at least) of a thicker metal so that you don't get an unhappy catastrophe later.

Clean out of that thing can be a pain. They say it is only CO2 & steam.... well... under ideal conditions. But there are many times that soot will build up.

I like the concept and in a survival situation... or if you need to improvise, there are some good ideas here to use.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

If you guys are interested in this, please click through to their websites, they've put a lot of work into them and there is a lot of information that was too big to share here.

Spec, you could take it as a personal challenge to build a chassis which can stand up to the heat =)

[Book]

So looking at this picture, I can't help but wonder, what is the purpose of the insulation on the heat riser?



Prevent condensation?

[vacuum]

Thanks for the bump, I missed this the first time. Will watch the vids when I get home. I read about rocket stoves briefly once before, but time to take a closer look. I cringe when I see how inefficient my woodstove is....I literally have uncombusted gasses going out my chimney.

[vacuum]

I wonder if the exhaust is clean enough to run indoors inside of a large shop?

ANYWAY....I feel bad about giving away this fine gentleman's work...if anyone deserves the money he does, but his book is out of print:
http://neilorme.com/Rocket%20Mass%20Heaters.pdf

[Awoke]

It's really a great design. Thanks for posting the book. I am sure he would not want his work to go by the wayside.

[vacuum]

A real design for people in Uganda.

http://www.brockwell-bake.org.uk/Rocket_baking_oven_manual.pdf

[vacuum]

Bump. Some cinder block and wood(!) rocket stoves:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVfFDs-uRvk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcG7CHFiJos


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x71X04Q7kA

I think the wood one is the most brilliant thing I've ever seen.

[beefsteak]

I wonder if the exhaust is clean enough to run indoors inside of a large shop?

ANYWAY....I feel bad about giving away this fine gentleman's work...if anyone deserves the money he does, but his book is out of print:
http://neilorme.com/Rocket%20Mass%20Heaters.pdf

Link is not working for me. Any mirror sites?

[beefsteak]

Glad to see this topic has been bumped. Has anyone figured out how to make a DIY pelletizer machine? I've got impact mills that will dust anything I put through it. It's the press and extruder die part that has me puzzled. Don't want to mortgage the house to acquire the necessary add-ons.

Thanks.

[vacuum]

Link is not working for me. Any mirror sites?

http://www.mediafire.com/?3u6mn7768cmkfsv

[vacuum]

This guy has some great ideas and workmanship

original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJOVG71YiJI

improved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzc9rUq3Flc

[vacuum]

Here's an interesting rocket stove (not heater) made out of a propane tank. He shows you how he fabricated it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBq0L126mmM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzI3guwvfHA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huwM25Hjsdw

[vacuum]

You have included a total of 4 videos in your message. The maximum number that you may include is 3. Please correct the problem and then continue again.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1vE8g09Y24

edit:
Here's a similar stove someone made out of an old air tank:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uQ8go5-z2E

[chad]

i have a stove almost exactly like that. it is awesome. if i ever had to pick one stove to live off of, it would be that design.

[Cebu_4_2]

i have a stove almost exactly like that. it is awesome. if i ever had to pick one stove to live off of, it would be that design.


Which one?

[chad]

Which one?

like the on he built out of a propane tank in videos 1-3. only difference is mine has 3 legs instead of 4.