Thank you for responding!
I think I will try the clay/perlite mix under the burn chamber. It seems like the most accessible option for me. I would prefer to avoid the dust bunnies if I can. I have 2 dogs, 5 cats and 3 bunny-bunnies in a ~950 square foot, 2 floor house. I'll have to add some safety features for them. maybe a convection shroud and chicken wire dome over the stove fan?
"Next, leave at least a one-inch air gap to the outside wall, you can not allow your RMH to attempt to heat the ground (wall).... the ground wins every time!"
This was my first instinct (1ft) but I have started second guessing myself with the project coming up so soon. Is laying the mass directly on the floor okay? I had the idea to lift it slightly with semi loose bricks and flat pavers to prevent heat loss to the floor.
"You started out mentioning a bell, but now it sounds like you are thinking of building a piped mass.
Two completely different designs."
I think I am confused at this point. The attached images are pretty close to where my inspiration comes from or have features I want to incorporate into my design.
I have 2, 55 gallon drums set aside for this project. 1 is for what I'm calling the bell and the other will be cut in half to make the manifold, headspace permitting. I would be willing to shorten the whole thing and make the manifold and bell a 2-in-one type deal if I need to but it's ~8 feet from the floor to the ceiling (floor joists above) and I plan to use a metal sheet above as a heat shield, if necessary. Also a stove fan but I doubt that will help with safety.
I know that the fewer bends, the better the flow. but I intend to make a "sectional couch" similar to the one in the picture. I think I see some design flaws there. It looks to me like the mass pipes are angled incorrectly(or it's the camera angle). And I will bring the flue all the way back to the bell so it can pick up some more heat just to help the draft.
I want the mass to be big enough to lay flat or sit on( ...well, both. I want to sit multiple people. I'm 6'2 being generous for the design's sake) with the feed tube towards the user so I can sit comfortably while working it and watch tv or something.
"You should also plan on installing a bypass in your system to assist with cold start-ups."
I had actually scrapped this from my design for simplicity. My next idea was to put a clean out under the window and burn some newspaper in there. Now, having typed it out, I feel like it's a dumb idea. I made a prototype in my chicken coop with... tactically acquired... cinder blocks from the neighbors yard I cleaned up and a $15, 55 gallon drum. All the flue work is cobbled together from half cinders, pavers and mud to seal it. I'm pretty proud of it considering the lack of resources I had at the time.
My concern is that it will be forgotten and left open for a full burn cycle; as what Paul Wheaton described when talking about his pebble style rocket mass heater of science. I tried to think up an arm/lever with a feed tube cover on the end. When you place the cover over the feed tube that is what opens the bypass. and when you push it to the side, that closes the bypass. I mean fully divert from one to the other.
Are there pre-made bypass parts or will I need to fabricate my own?
Is sealing the flues with aluminum tape a go or no-go?
