RMH - Heat, Cook Generate Electricity & Heat Water? Is this combo possible...

Hi!

We're going to be building off the grid, zone 4A so long cold winters. Here is my question - Can one RMH design do these 4 things:

1. Heat the living-space,
2. Heat Water ( ideally circulated very efficiently for the home and year-round greenhouse)
3. Act as at least a part-time cookstove. I love cooking on a woodstove, yet this is not the most efficient or practical method for heating a living space. ( plus in the summer it's too hot and I'd need a propane option too)
4. And Generate electricity - this is  a favorite woodstove electricity generation design - https://www.unforgettablefirellc.com/kimberly-wood-stove/

Also, I want to build a sauna, likely a different stove altogether since the sauna will likely need to be detached from the house, but thought I'd mention it in case someone has a design that could include that too!

Would love to hear how you solve some or all these issues- via burning wood.

Hi Andy,  

The first stove that comes to mind is the masonry cookstovemasonry cookstove designed by Matt Walker.
This will definitely cover 1 & 3.
For heating water, some form of internal coil could be added.
I couldn't find anywhere on the link you gave how electricity is being produced by the Kimberly.

Also any time you ask one thing to do the job of 4 separate things, there is often going to be compromises in the quality or functionality of the outputs. Maybe they won't be a problem for you but it sure is an awful lot to ask of one appliance.

Gerry Parent wrote:Hi Andy,  

The first stove that comes to mind is the masonry cookstovemasonry cookstove designed by Matt Walker.
This will definitely cover 1 & 3.
For heating water, some form of internal coil could be added.
I couldn't find anywhere on the link you gave how electricity is being produced by the Kimberly.

Also any time you ask one thing to do the job of 4 separate things, there is often going to be compromises in the quality or functionality of the outputs. Maybe they won't be a problem for you but it sure is an awful lot to ask of one appliance.

Yes, a 4 in 1 appliance is a lot. It's mainly my wondering if... Thanks for the Walker Stove link!

Here's a link to the electricity generation -  

Andy,

There is an application that can produce some electricity directly from the RMH heat output.  The device is called a Thermal Electrical Generator.  You can find some HERE:

https://www.tegmart.com/

I will go ahead and warn you now, even the best TEG's have a pitifully low energy conversion, but it can be done.

Good luck,

Eric

TEGs are rather expensive for the amount of electricity they produce. Solar panels might be a better option unless you need very little electricity.

Mike Barkley wrote:TEGs are rather expensive for the amount of electricity they produce. Solar panels might be a better option unless you need very little electricity.

Thanks!

The Termo Electric will be winter back-up and a way to trickle charge on darker days.