Rocket stove fumes INSIDE greenhouse....

Aug 30, 2014 12:47:37

Hey fellow Permies. First post here. I live in Victoria, BC (Canada) and I am looking for alternative ways to heat my greenhouse. Being a somewhat mediterranean climate, I am only worried about the temperatures for maybe 2-2.5 months of the year (Dec-Jan). I could run an extension cord and put a space heater in it, but that's not why we're here, is it?

So my thoughts turned to rocket stoves. Unfortunately, space around the greenhouse is spoken for so I can use any of the designs that have the stoves outside the unit. So essentially my question is, can a rocket stove operate completely within the greenhouse? Will it get too smokey? Will my Basil taste like ash?

Thoughts?

Aug 30, 2014 13:32:12

I think a rocket mass heater could work completely within a greenhouse that is not air-tight. At the end of one of Paul Wheaton's Youtube videos on rocket mass heaters, Marci Anderson sticks her face at the end of a rocket mass heater's exhaust pipe to demonstrate how cleanly a rmh can burn:

If everything is running properly, I do not think the basil will taste like ash. More information can be found at Paul's richsoil article on rocket mass heaters.

This may not be exactly what you are thinking of, though Paul also has a video about building a rocket mass heater to go under a greenhouse:

May you elaborate on what you mean by "in the greenhouse"? Like actually inside the building? Or is under the greenhouse an option?

Aug 30, 2014 14:27:19

Thanks Dave, great info.

Unfortunately, getting under the greenhouse will now be impossible. A concrete pad has been poured and the greenhouse is permanently fixed to a foundation (this sucker is BUILT!).

Good to know its possible to burn entirely inside....I guess I'll experiment with a simple 24-brick tester stove and if that works, I'll pour a proper mould for a more efficient unit.

Thanks!

Aug 30, 2014 14:40:43

I strongly recommend a chimney pipe. The burn is clean in the middle; but sometimes getting it going or when it is dying down, you might have some smoke or some tasteless, odorless CO which could kill you.

Aug 30, 2014 19:05:31

Hi Jeff; I agree with cindy , you will get smoke on startup, after its hot it should be clean , better to vent thru an end wall and be safe! Have you considered taking a raised bed , removing the dirt and replacing it with a mass ,then you can set start trays on top and they grow like crazy & stay toasty warm on cold nights . That is how I fit a RMH in our greenhouse and it works great !

Sep 10, 2014 03:29:22

Hey guys, thanks for the answers! So I'm looking into ways to vent the fumes.....

In the summer, I have a couple passive turbine roof vents running (these ones: http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Heating-Ventilation-Cooling-Home-Comfort/Ventilation/Venting/Roof-Turbines/14-Mill-Aluminum-Turbine-Vent/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I2670639?Ntt=Roof+Turbines)....in the colder months, what do you all think of attaching the stove vent pipe to one of these to get rid of the exhaust? IF so, these are 16 feet off the ground.....how tall can I make the vent pipe and still have an effective stove?

Sep 10, 2014 07:49:22

Jeff; Once your pipe goes vertical as long as it stays the same dia. you will be able to go up as far as you need to. The turbine cap that you have, may .. work just fine but... it may restrict the flow or even worse, could blow back into the mass. I would try it both ways , with the turbine or with a regular open cap and see. After your pipe leaves the mass and goes vertical the surface temps of the pipe will be in the 100 F. range and you can locate it very close to walls and roof without fear of fire. I've included a photo of my chimney pipe which almost touches the rafters and is only inches away from the solex walls and roof. (creosote stain on the roof is from the previous wood hog stove )

Sep 10, 2014 08:55:56

Jeff : A late Welcome to Permies.com -You are thinking outside the box

(your greenhouse-literally

) !
Can i suggest another look ! With Your Rocket Mass Heater RMH in the green house you automatically have brand new heated raised beds!
Don't be afraid to make them tall, your back will thank you!

Your vertical chimney should only give you problems if it is too short, always locate your vertical chimney on the lee side of the structure,
these are the two most common things to forget and make trouble for yourself !

There is an entire Forum Thread on Rocket Mass Heaters in Greenhouses, near the top right of this page is the Permies Toolbox, here you
can find and click on the Search Link, enter a specific topic "Rocket Mass Heaters in greenhouses'' then select all forums and check
to make sure you are doing a google search within Permies !

Also in the Toolbox is the my profile link please click on this and update you information next to your name ! Who knows, you may
find a Permies member with RMH experience w/ greenhouses is a near neighbor ! hope this is timely and helps !

Think like Fire! flow Like a Gas! Don't be the Marshmallow! As always your questions, and comments are solicited and welcome Big AL

Oct 07, 2014 14:51:11

Hey guys, thanks for the tips! Greenhouse is essentially built (just in time), just leveling benches and raised beds inside. Once that's done, all efforts will be focused on the RMH.

I want one that's not permanent. I want to be able to disassemble it every spring. I'll only be running it from November to March so for 8 months, it'll just be in the way. My thoughts are bricks as they are easy to stack and easy to store. Any ideas on design? Greenhouse is 14x14 and I'd like to keep it at 70F at night.

Oct 07, 2014 14:51:45

Great pic by the way Thomas

Oct 07, 2014 14:54:06

Here's an outside pic of the greenhouse last week as I was finishing the trim :

Oct 07, 2014 14:58:25

And here's an early inside view of the Aloe beds and a couple Jalapeno beds being built :

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