This spring I'll be pouring an insulated slab foundation for a 14 by 64 mobile home I've purchased.
I want build into that a 6 ft wide Mass that will eventually go to a RMH that I will build into an attached mudroom. Question is what should I be telling the concrete company to get this done? Should I have them attach an insulated trough that I'll fill in with something else? Or maybe just some rebar that I'll use as attachment points and build on top of it.
While I'm at it should I do anything to the trailer while I'm not living in it?
I appreciate any spoon feeding on the subject thank you.
8" thick slab for the heater. Reinforced with 0.5" rebar grid 8" OC on the top and the bottom of the slab.
It will last. I would not make it thinner, even if it seems strong enough, or with less rebar, even if it seems strong enough. I saw bad foundations too many times, too thin and without proper reinforcement.
Would a rocket stove work with a 40-60 ft mass? Most pipes don't seem to go more than 20 ft.
I'll be making the slab this week. I've decided to double the width the slab. I'll be putting a concrete wall against the trailer and building the mass at the base of that. With a single pipe going to to a vertical chimney. if budget allows I might be building a 20 foot greenhouse/sunroom on one end. so a diverter to have an optionally heated mass in that room as well.
Piped mass "went out of fashion" . It's better to build a low bell bench - easier to clean and gases will do the job in a less restricted and natural free movement way. If you share your planned layout on the home plan, we will help.
To be honest, I'm winging it. I'm going to design the addition around the mass. But that won't be for a week or two when I get a breather from getting this mobile home moved.
But I have the heavy equipment this week so it is what it is.
The mass was going to be a brick frame 5 ft high with perlite layered on the bottom and a straight pipe going at an angle from one end to the other. Filled in with Cobb. Then capped with something. The floor of the addition might be 1-2ft off the base of the slab.
From what I imagine it sounds like very little heat exchange surface (inside of the pipe) to a lot of thermal mass. That would mean the mass never gets hot.
There’s definitely a maximum of pressure loss (that translates to a maximum length of pipe and number of turns). But it depends also on what rocket you want to build.
I'll have more time than I thought and discussing it with my builder. I'll be building two smaller 7inch systems instead of trying to make one huge one. I'll be able to find a plan to my liking that fits that. I'll update as I go.
Cristobal Cristo
Posts: 938
Location: Sierra Nevada foothills, 350 m, USDA 8b, sunset zone 7