[Greenbuilding] Barra system

[Laren Corie]

 From: Keith Winston <keith at earthsunenergy.com>

> I think any system that has your house air flowing
> through an uncleanable and uninspectable is flawed.

Hi Keith;

 I had that concern with my early 'pancake' radiant underfloor storages,
which used stone (ala Doug Balcomb's house), as well as quite a few
practical problems that cropped up doing many projects.   The use of
concrete blocks solves only some of them, but added considrably to the
cost, while reducing the storage capacity. My solution, by 1982 was to
use standard HDPE corrugated (non-perforated) drain tubing, running
through a foot of sand, on one foot centers. There was never any reason
to worry about condensation, and inspections of the most critical areas
of the tubes was possible, through the large floor vents and plenums,
and never showed any signs. Most ducting, in most houses, never gets
inspected or cleaned, and is often far more exposed to the large temp
differences that can cause condensation.  The temperatures in the heat
store are very stabile, compared to the living space.   The chance of a
situation such as condensation, to create pooling, then warmth to pro-
-mote the growth of something like legenella, is so improbable as to be
insignificant.   I am totally satisfied, that there is no reason to be able 
to
inspect, or even clean every foot of a system that is well sealed, every-
where except at its very inspectable ends.

>From "raymond pokorny"

>> remember the basics folks.   one cubic foot of water holds the same
>> amount of heat as one thousand cubic feet of air.  both are fluids.

Actually, it is about 3500 ft³ of air.

-Laren Corie-
Natural Solar Building Design Since 1975
www.LarenCorie.com

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