rocket mass heater project

I'm gonna build a rocket mass heater demo soon.  I now have all the buckets.  I need to go get the barrel, some sand and some clay and then I'll be ready.  Oh, and some 2x4's (or 2x6's)

Anybody here wanna be involved?

The guys at Home Resources mentioned you were in asking about this.  They want to help.  You should contact them.  I was there on Sunday 2/21.

Paul, let me know when the fun is in the works.

I am interested in building a rocket mass heater for my shop. Am very interested in your project.

Greg,

Home ReSource set me up with some ducting.  I visited with them a bit and since they are avid supporters of mad-scientist innovations of this type, they sold me the ducting for half their normally freaky cheap price.  Unfortunately, while they have heaps of ducting, they didn't have very much of the size/type I need. 

Derek,

I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a little so we can dig clay.

boltsnwire,

Tell me more about your level of interest!  Do you, by chance, have any of the materials I seek?

What all are you seeking at this point? My interest is quite high, I  bought a house with a nice big shop but no heat, no insulation.  I used to own a second hand store. I am a very very good scrounger.

I believe I can get you a 55 gallon urethane spray insulation barrel. Probably quite toxic for first fire, but brand new more or less. 

I do need a "120 pound grease can" - a common item from any jiffy lube. 

And I could also use some fairly dry firewood.

Paul,
The weather is nice now so when are you going to preform you mad scientist experiment?  Are you going to film if for those of us who wont be there to help you?  Also did you get all the supplies that you need?

I'm down... I'm putting together a small car-camping model out of stainless mini kegs. Hopefully it will replace my wasteful Coleman stove, but it's all about getting the smaller combustion chamber hot enough to burn the gasses!

Today.  Starting at 9:30 am.  If anybody else wants in, you better email me lickitty split!

I work 'til 4:00. 

Well how did it work? You posting any vids or pics?

We got the mock up done, complete with the inner part of the combustion chamber. 

The outer frame is done. 

I'm pooped.

We're gonna do the next (last?) piece of this on wenesday at 9:30am.

We got it built, but it is ill.  I have some changes to try.

hehehe best of luck dr paul!

Immediately after the last RMH event, I got a bit under the weather. 

But I did manage to contact ernie and erica and go over what could be the root of the poor performance.  I suspect that while it was several things, I think about 70% of the problem was the interface between the burn tunnel and the heat riser. 

As I started to dream up solutions, I came up with several big changes which I detailed here:

    https://permies.com/permaculture-forums/2558_0

What I want to know is:  who wants to play?  If you wanna play, tell me when would be a good time.

The next play date is may 5.  Let me know if you want in.

next play date is tomorrow.

These RMH's are the wave of the future IMO.

How is it looking? You had mentioned that you had some problems, did you get them all figured out?  When do we get to see the final project?

The new version is better, but it just didn't get rockety enough in my opinion. 

Ernie should be back tomorrow - I'll compare notes with him.

This sounds interesting & fun, I love to be toasty warm in the cold MT winter.

How is the project coming along??

D

Will we get to see this in action here in Missoula?

Here is a video of the contraption:



I've talked to ernie and he says it is doing really good.  I just need to add some bricks to the feed tube to eliminate that tiny bit of smoke-back. 

I need some new bricks.  Old bricks are the best bricks.  Anybody have a pile of old bricks they are willing to see hauled off?

I would be glad to bring it somewhere for a demo this summer.

Wow! thanks for posting this, it is very interesting. I getting toasty warm already!

Paul,  the rocket heater is amazing, and its simplicity is the real bonus.  It has to beat the pellet stove we have.  Wish there were commercially available kits.  Would be easier to get approval from the building inspectors in NY.   

I have to say, you have an incredible voice.  The kind that can be listened to for hours. A rare and wonderful gift.  Have you considered recording CDs of your thoughts?

I just thought about the fact that I look at a pile of old bricks everyday at the building next door(old sugar beet factory) , perhaps you could see about getting some of them.

Al Loria wrote:
I have to say, you have an incredible voice.  The kind that can be listened to for hours. A rare and wonderful gift.  Have you considered recording CDs of your thoughts?

You want to buy a CD of me waxing on about my random thoughts just to hear my voice? 

I've had a few dozen people tell me that they like to hear my voice in these videos and I always thought I had a really weird voice.  And when I call people I haven't talked to for years, I start off saying "this is" and they say "paul wheaton" - so I know my voice has to be pretty unique. 

But to want to just listen to it.  That's ... odd.  I guess my voice doesn't seem that interesting to me.  And I never thought of anybody's voice sounding particularly interesting.  Well, maybe morgan freeman. 

Are you messing with me?

Dianne Keast wrote:
I just thought about the fact that I look at a pile of old bricks everyday at the building next door(old sugar beet factory) , perhaps you could see about getting some of them.

I saw that pile.  Behind a fence.  I would think that if they put a fence around it, they wanna keep those bricks.

paul wheaton wrote:
You want to buy a CD of me waxing on about my random thoughts just to hear my voice? 

I've had a few dozen people tell me that they like to hear my voice in these videos and I always thought I had a really weird voice.  And when I call people I haven't talked to for years, I start off saying "this is" and they say "paul wheaton" - so I know my voice has to be pretty unique. 

But to want to just listen to it.  That's ... odd.  I guess my voice doesn't seem that interesting to me.  And I never thought of anybody's voice sounding particularly interesting.  Well, maybe morgan freeman. 

Are you messing with me?

Weird?  Not in the least.  Folksy, and calming is what comes to mind, as is Tom Bodett, Garrison Keillor, Morgan Freeman and others - And the hours of recordings that people have sat around listening too.

At the end of your videos when you plug this site it is especially reminiscent of, and this is a compliment,  a Motel 6 commercial.

Not wanting to sound patronizing, but if you took a vote most would agree your voice is very pleasant.



Al

Well, to answer your question:  no plans to make a CD. 

Did you hear me get interviewed on the radio?  Two radio interviews an hour each. 

I was talking to somebody about the idea of doing some podcast stuff where me and a coupla other folks would visit and record it.  I suppose that might be of interest to you?

Paul, the podcast is a great idea.  I'm stuck on stupid when I said CDs.  My Permie brain is not fully developed yet.

Yes, I did listen to the full hour of the Permaculture show.  You and the guest from the Northeast provided great information.  I'm not a farmer, butI actually learned something

I figured out one reason why your voice is great for recordings.  You annunciate properly.  Never have to strain to catch any words, and your humor adds to the experience.



Al

Now that the weather is getting cold, I think it would be great to see a demonstration of the rocket mass heater!  Any chance you would be having one anytime soon, Paul?

Does anybody know of any research that has been done regarding permitting rocket mass heaters? If the emissions could rival those of pellet stoves, rocket mass heaters could be built and used in Missoula. Of course, pellet stoves have manufacture specs that permitters like EPA follow, and it would be difficult to develop a DIY consistency method for RMH, or at least a demonstration permit through the county or city.

I think it would be fun to put it all together just to demonstrate it.  (it's in pieces right now)

I would need some bricks. 

As for permitting in the missoula area:  that would require the permitting folks to become aware of the existence of rocket mass heaters!    I know that there is work being done on permitting them in portland.

I talked to an air quality guy at missoula county. 

Short burns outside with hot dogs and marshmallows are okay anywhere in the county.  Extended burns are not okay.  Several short burns a day is okay.

Inside is currently not okay in southern missoula county.  Northern missoula county is okay.

Here is an email I got the day before the presentation:

Dear Paul Wheaton,

I was informed that you were planning to do a rocket stove construction demonstration at the Missoula Public Library this Thursday.  Note that these devices cannot be installed or used in Missoula County except in the Condon area (Swan River Drainage) of northern Missoula County.  Pasted below is the Missoula County air quality home page where you can find more information.

http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/airquality/

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,




Benjamin Schmidt
MCCHD Air Quality Specialist
301 W. Alder Street
Missoula, MT 59802
406-258-3369
bschmidt@co.missoula.mt.us

So, for those that are curious, you can follow the links to get all the info.

I called Mr. Schmidt and had an excellent visit.  i explained that we weren't going to burn anything at the presentation - it was just pictures and videos. 

I then confirmed when you can and cannot fire these things up.  And he mentioned something interesting to me that I didn't know.  Apparently, you CAN build these and use these in your homes in northern missoula county!

Outside of that, you can build these outside.  And you can actually run a fire through them PROVIDED that you cook some kind of food (like hot dogs or marshmallows) and you do not do a sustained burn. 

Really excellent info.