Is there such a thing as a hybrid RMH?

This might be an out-there  question, but please try to hear me out.

Whenever I see RMH designs, they get increasingly better at turning a small pile of stick into a lot of heat that is stored and then gradually released over time.  GREAT!  I love the ever-increasing efficiency--this especially hits me hard as I just find it so difficult to cut down a tree.  An RMH means that I might be able to heat my house with deadfall alone.  And heat is good in the winter!


But there is a real part of me that needs to not just feel the heat from a fire, but also see the flames of a fire.  Watching fire burn (in a fireplace, woodstove, somewhere safe!) is also good for my mental health.  I find the gentle flames licking upwards soothing.  And I can remember how long the Christmas nights were at my grandparents farm in Minnesota.  Seeing fire, listening to fire, feeling its warmth drew people around and we just all talked late into the night.

So with that in mind, is there a way to construct a RMH that could let one actually see the flames?  Maybe it could be adjusted so that it had a "see fire burn" setting and a "maximum efficiency" setting?

I am sure that I am not the first person to ask this question before, but I have seen nothing about its.


Thoughts?



Eric

I am pretty sure Thomas posted a picture of one he built. Though I am not sure how big the window is.   And, I do agree with you. That is why I keep my wood burning fireplace in the LR.

Yes, fire is a nurturing phenomenon--when done safely of course.  I have a gas fireplace, and while I love the heat, convenience, and especially the way that the slow flames illuminate a dark room during a winter night, it is gas and sometimes I really miss the sound, popping, crackling and gentle smell of a wood fire burning.



Eric

Like these:



https://permies.com/t/71575/Casserole-Door-innovative-door-batch

https://permies.com/t/41957/rocket-mass-heater-glass-flame

https://permies.com/t/40007/Results-batch-box-thingy-Innovators

Hi Guys
Shorty has a 7 x 7" viewing window.
It also throws a tremendous amount of heat.
Watching Shorty casually devour her meal is a favorite pastime/ napping spot for the kitties.

The only downfall is that the show is limited, as we only burn one batch of wood at a time.
Sure is a good show though, sometimes the cats are forced to share as I want the fireside seat as well!

I feel like RMHs where the firebox is enclosed without a window are the exception, not the rule...

Oh yes there are very visual hybrid stoves, I have specialised in building visual stove for quite a few years!
Please look on my youtube channel for lots of ideas that actually work from simple J tubes with amazing vortex displays and lots of glass to the extremely visual vortex stove with hot plate.

WOW!  Thanks guys!!  That is exactly what I was looking for........


Anne-was that picture a video capture from a YouTube video?  I am certain that I have seen the casserole lid heater on a YouTube video.  And the lid was the work of genius for its pure simplicity.  Also, I just love the beauty of that stove.


Thomas--Yes exactly!  I love the way you worked a wood stove (especially the glass front) into the overall design of a mass heater.  It looks amazing.

Fox James---You might have produced the single most visually interesting rocket mass heater I have seen on any picture or video.  I love the glass front, but the glass viewport on the top--that is beyond words.  And incorporating a mirror for observation, WOW!  I would love to see that in action on a long, cold winter night.  I bet it is just a wonderful thing to see and feel in action.


Thanks everyone!!

Eric

When I was looking for a solution 10 years ago that was a cross between a rocket stove and a masonry heater I stumbled over the vortex stove.
Back then I built v1 (which you can see here: ). It still heats my hut in the alps (where I spend my winters)
But the community around this stove is still developing it. I think they are up to v 4 or something. It probably has the coolest fire window of any stove I've seen + the normal one:
http://donkey32.proboards.com/thread/703/vortex-stove (check the 4th item in the first post for the vortex window)
The community is also very helpful. I based my build (first timer in building a stove) off the free design.

Eric, you might like this one too?

Eric Hanson wrote:Anne-was that picture a video capture from a YouTube video?  I am certain that I have seen the casserole lid heater on a YouTube video.  And the lid was the work of genius for its pure simplicity.  Also, I just love the beauty of that stove.

The picture is from this thread:

https://permies.com/t/71575/Casserole-Door-innovative-door-batch

Firebox doors with glass are offered by many European manufacturers. More radiant heat can be felt with pleasant view of fire.
I would only suggest to just call this a "RMH with glass door" instead. "Hybrid RMH" implies some mix of fire devices like heater/oven/smoker/water heater/kiln, or rocket firebox installed within some not RMH dedicated bell/structure.