Okay, I'm ready to start asking questions now. My goal is for the feed opening to be level with the ground and the burn chamber undeground. Please don't take my measurements as EXACTLY literal, that will be refined later when all the kinks have been uncovered and addressed, the measurements are just to help our imaginations draw a picture: I'd dig about 20 inches down by 20 inches wide and about 12 ft total length. I'd build the system in this area using brick, ceramic fiber board, and sand and other most suitable materials eventually topping it with a layer of brick or pavers. The only part I want to be above the ground is the riser and the barrel. I would like the barrel to be surrounded by a latticed brick cube (or cylinder shape if I get crazy) hopefully it would get warm to pretty hot, but not REALLY HOT. I would like to use this cube/cylinder as a table off center in the Tipi. I have small children so my goal is for nothing REALLY HOT to be touchable (with the exception of the feed opening that l'll probably step in....ugh). I plan to then put a granite or marble slab on top the cube/cylinder to even further lessen the top surface heat. This is hard to type while keeping my fingers crossed that this is even possible....
I would like to build a stove core out of Ceramic Fiber Board and FireBricks very similar to what Luke at Rocketstovecores.com has created. And then support that with brick and then backfill with sand so everything is comfy cozy undeground.
I want to go with the smallest size functional, my desire is for the top of the table (riser + barrel + surround brick cube/cylinder) to be 3ft or less ABOVE ground. I'm thinking this part might be where my wishes cause problems
The lattice structure of the surrounding brick cube/cylinder would hopefully allow lots of heat to escape and lots of airflow around the barrel as I'm thinking that's important to keep the barrel from getting too hot and therefore reducing the effectiveness of the draft. Some science about temperature differences between upflow in heat riser and down flow in barrel from what I understand.
Then the exhaust would go undeground and either chimney up outside the Tipi if the extra draft is needed or it can go straight out like in the terrible drawing as I do have a small ledge there.
Please tell me if this seems possible and what considerations I should make?
Thank you all! I promise to take lots of really nice pictures when the build begins. And also have tons of questions as I go along.
SERIOUS THANKS in advanced, I've already learned so much from all of your contributions on here.
UPDATE: I think I'll aim for a 30 gallon barrel, that will allow ample room for the brick surround to be distant enough that it doesn't get too hot.
Also to note: the fire would never be burning for prolonged periods of time, I assume that eventually the bricks would get VERY hot but the longest the fire would burn is a couple hours to kick the cold at night or in the morning if it's terribly cold out.
