New Stove Idea - Would This Work?

Hi All,

I have recently bought a house with a brick fireplace and chimney that was never used, and I want to build a more efficient way to garner some wood heat that will fit on the hearth and in the fireplace. I've researched like crazy on RMH's and masonry heaters, but haven't seen any fireplace adaptations that I like, yet. So, I've been kicking around ideas in my head to design my own, based on a cast J-core and modified from there. Here is what I've come up with (cross section attached, looking straight at the fireplace, with the flue exiting out the back and up the chimney). I'd like to cast the entire structure, probably out of blocks of fireclay/perlite/fire cement. I know you all are the experts, so I've come to you for assistance and comments. First, do you think this concept would work? Would making it out of that material work? How thick should the walls be?

Any other comments would be helpful. I'm not interested in a barrel and typical RMH at this point, and I don't have the masonry expertise or money to afford a proper masonry heater. Thanks in advance for your time,

Pete

Hey Pete I can't answer your questions but found this video that may help in some way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xbol_-OCxQ

Thanks John.

OK, so can anyone tell me if the 14:14:1 fire clay:perlite:fire cement material, mixed with shredded fiberglass insulation, will hold up if cast into blocks to make the walls of this heater? For example, the back wall of the heater needs to fit into my fireplace opening, so if the block is 39" x 29", how thick will it need to be to make it structurally sound? 2"? I've never worked with this material before, so I think you all can save me a lot of mistakes! I'm planning on making the J-tube and heat riser 4" thick, as seems to be common, but I assume that is for insulation moreso than structural integrity...

I would appreciate any help with this, thanks!

Pete

Even if someone could tell you if this material would work, you would still need to try it on a build outside in the open before committing to an inside build.

Thanks Roy--that would definitely be the plan.

After further research, I think my homemade material would be too crumbly, so I'm now planning to spend a bit more and use castable refractory, but keep the same basic design. I realize it won't be as efficient as a true RMH or masonry heater, but I'm hoping for vastly greater efficiency than a wood stove insert, yet still fit on my hearth. And I'm still tossing around ideas for ways to improve the baffle system to remove more heat. I might try channels of firebrick on the inside to attempt to send the exhaust zig-zagging up to the flue...

Thanks for the help thus far.

I think you could do that as long as the channels are large enough again I have no experience in this so couldn't tell ya anything but found another link with some good ideas.

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/masonry-heaters.html

There is one about half way down that I think might give you some more ideas. I certainly would go the most secure way you don't want carbon monoxide leaking into your home.

Pete Acker : My 'Mac' does not 'play well with others', and it did not want to download your sketch until I sacrificed a couple of chickens. Sorry it took so long to get
back to you. If this Fireplace is on an outside wall it is already a great heat sink, insulating it and boxing it up to protect the insulation from the weather would pay
for itself in a couple of years !

If this is an interior fireplace is it laid up Masonry, fire brick and stone ,or just a metal box kit with real or fake brick and stone veneered or appliquéd to the
surface ? Pictures would help - look out chickens! How old is your house, is it on a slab, does it have a crawl space or 1/2 or full basement ! How old is your house,
ask neighbors and check tax records !

I understand the reluctance to accept a barrel in your living room, there are many ways to make them more attractive, and as this is your first Rocket Mass Heater,
The closer to a conservative traditional RMH you come to, the easier to diagnose any problems that come up with your First build.

Location, location, location, look at your name space to the left of your Threads, and L@@K at mine ! If you go to the Permies Toolbox at the Top right of this page
you can click on -> 'My Profile' which will take you to a 2nd page where you can edit your preferences and general personal information, this puts you out there and
makes it easier to hook up with your near neighbors, some of whom may have RMH or Cob experience ! It helps us tailor good answers to your Questions too !

Membership has its privileges! From the Permies Toolbox you can click on -> "Search'' and on its 2nd page enter a search term like masonry heaters,, or bricks of Cob
and then do a search in the 100s of Thousands of Forum Threads, and Thread extensions for information !

Every time you post a new Forum Tread our Computer tries to find 'key words' to link you to Similar Threads and posts a list of its best guesses at the bottom
of that page ! Again these are all available to you 24 / 7 ! Hope this helps, come back here often, if there is a Rocket mass heater in your future will will help you find
and build it. For the Good of the Craft ! Big AL

Pete Acker : I am sure You will be interested in the Thread Extension Satamax Antone added to Kevin Prata's > 'Rocket Stove w cast riser' in the Rocket
Stoves Forum !

This is a horizontally loaded Batch Burner with a Heat Riser that exhausts directly into a " Bell", this style is a mix of Rocket mass heater and Masonry Wood Stove,
and I personally have Zero Experience with it, but it holds great promise! For The Good of The Crafts ! BIG AL