[Stoves] Inverted funnel and IAP

[frank]

David and stovers,
You got me thinking about the inverted funnel. The Native Americans 
lived in tepees with a small fire in the center of the floor. Heat and 
smoke rise and go up to the roof and the roof of a tepee is very tall 
and well above the height of a person standing. But being it is a point 
there is very little volume that need be pre-heated before the heat 
lowers to people level. The smoke is  controlled with buffalo flaps at 
the point. The sides are angled such that they reflect the heat onto the 
backs of people around the fire. Improvements could be that the side are 
made of a white or reflective surface to aid in reflecting the heat back 
onto people and the room better lighted from the glow of the fire. Also; 
I am thinking trenches could be dug like wagon wheel spokes from the 
fire to the outside and covered with a boards. Then the side of the 
tepee sealed to the ground all around.  Cold, fresh air for the fire 
would be drawn directly to the fire via the trenches and a cool draft on 
the backs of the inhabitants would be prevented. This results in a safer 
environment from the possibility of CO buildup. 

So I wonder how much the shape of the room and window locations 
contributes to IAP.

Frank
 





David G. LeVine wrote:

> At 12:51 PM 9/28/2007, you wrote:
>
>> Then work on a better 'three stone fire' in the family room that
>> does all that the three stone fire does now - but safer and more fuel
>> efficient.  Perhaps a smoke  stack with a cone to reflect the heat down
>> to those sitting around it  and the use of  specialty fuels.
>
>
> Back in the 1960's there was a fireplace that looked like an inverted 
> funnel.  The advantage was that it drew all the smoke out, the 
> disadvantage was that very little heat came out.
>
> The chiminea (SP?) design looks pretty good -- simple, cheap and the 
> walls reflect the heat into the area or reradiate it.  It does keep 
> the products of combustion from the room, but still draws a lot of air.
>
> Maybe a model based on the chiminea with a door (like the venerable 
> "pot bellied" stove) would be a better choice.  Back in the 1950's my 
> father had one and it threw a lot of heat from construction scrap.
>
> A look at http://www.outdoor-fireplace.com/ will give you an idea of 
> the kind of thing I am suggesting, possibly with a "Rocket Stove" 
> inside...
>
> David G. LeVine
> Nashua, NH  03060
>
>
>

-- 
Frank Shields
Soil Control Lab
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