[Stoves] Using a differential windlass as motive power for stove

[drew]

I don't see that we need to turn this into an either or scenario,  
electric fans, chimneys, and other solutions probably all will fill 
different needs, and so all should be discussed and *dispassionately* 
evaluated.    In my earlier posts I attempted to point out that battery 
powered fan driven stoves in some circumstances *might* cause more 
trouble than they might solve.   In doing so I am grinding an old anti 
high tech axe of mine.   To be clear I believe that there are going to 
be many circumstances where electric driven air pump systems will be the 
best solution.

In a permanent or semi permanent installation where space and material 
are available a chimney seems like the best solution,  from a thermo 
dynamic standpoint a good chimney would be the most efficent using low 
grade waste heat to pump the air needed (Kyles experiences with poor 
functioning systems aside).   However as Kyle points out most of these 
stoves are going to be moved regularly, and there many not be structures 
nearby to attach chimneys too.   In that case a fan or air pump of some 
sort may be the best solution.   Electricity is a simple solution, and 
using it allows developers to have variable flow and variable pressure 
to easily test different configurations and fuels.   Once an optimal 
stove configuration is found (like the T-LUD), and it's air volume and 
pressure drop established then it seems that producing them as developed 
is a great start.   I would think that at that time people should start 
looking for other solutions to the air pump.   That seems like where we 
are today. 
    So a simple electric fan alternative that might be explored is a fan 
based on a differential windlass.    Differential windlass systems were 
often the motive force behind grandfather clocks (taking the high torque 
low rpm energy from a slowly dropping weight and turning it into a high 
rpm low torque) .       These winches are very simple to make, and I 
suspect very efficient (as I can't see where the energy would be lost, 
other than in compressing the string as it is wrapped), much more so 
than using the same weight of falling water to power a turbine, and the 
fan could be the load that keeps the thing from freewheeling, so no 
speed regulator required.    The falling weight could be varied to 
change speed, and a small second weight could be used to reset the 
system, spinning the drum while the operator lifts the motive power 
weight.    If I recall correctly there is a neat and simple system 
inside grandfather clocks exactly for this.    Has anybody done any 
tests to see what kind of static pressure is being overcome?  
Here is a link to an image of the winch,      To use this as a fan, 
replace the handle with a fan blade.  
http://www.answers.com/topic/differential-windlass

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