Progress on our first rocket mass heater
January 25, 2021Now that we have three and a half starplate domes up and running (they don't actually run anywhere, but they are functional as buildings), we have been building a rocket mass heater for Building 3. A rocket stove is an efficient, wood-burning system that can be made of almost any kind of material; we've chosen to make it out of trash (repurposed cans found in the desert, foraged rocks, dirt from the ground, water, etc). The unique J-shaped design of a rocket stove allows a constant flow of air to run one direction through the fire, creating a perfect burn and collecting as much heat from the fire as possible. That means less fuel, more heat!
In addition to using this style of stove, we are also creating a mass from mud and rocks to collect even more heat. Because the only thing better than heat on a cold desert night is more heat. We will create a bench shape on the side of the stove that will house the exhaust pipes, thus collecting even more heat before the hot gases exit the building and storing that heat in the clay bench. The bench can stay warm for days if the stove burns hot enough, keeping the space warmer for longer without needing to add more fuel to the fire. Viola!
So far, we have created the burn chamber, the heat riser and the insulative layer for the heat riser. The insulation is a combination of dirt, concrete, perlite and water.
Coming next: we build the exhaust pipes using hundreds of cans taped together and complete a test burn! Stay tuned, stay wild and creative.
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