Monday, October 22, 2007

Masonry Heaters

This old-world heating technology is extremely efficient without needing to use new-world technology. The gist is to take a large thermal mass (e.g., limestone blocks) and burn fuel at a very high temperature in a short time to get complete combustion (CO2, trace mineral ash, and trace incomplete combustion products). The thermal mass stays at a temperature that's warm to the touch and radiantly releases the heat over an entire day.

Radiant heat does not dry the air nor does it cause problems with dust circulation as does convection heat (furnaces). A properly designed masonry heater can heat a 2000 sq. ft. area for an entire day at comfortable temperatures with only six pounds of dry wood. These heaters produce very little soot and are significantly safer than pellet or wood stoves. With simple maintenance, these heaters can last for generations.

My own interest is partly in their sheer simplicity. The materials and tools are easy to acquire, and the construction should be straightforward with minimal masonry experience. My other interests are in using it effectively as a valued part of my non-waste home. I've been considering using the heater's CO2 output as input to algae tanks or a greenhouse. I'm also excited by the prospect of using excess glycerine from biodiesel production as a fuel input for the heater too.

2 comments:

David said...

Not to rain on your parade, but what little I have read about masonry heaters suggests that beginner skills won't cut it. The internal system of airways is quite complex and precise, so the construction requires expert skills (increasingly hard to come by). I'd love to be proven wrong, though, b/c the technology looks great.

Best,
David
parkidavid@gmail.com

Dale Asberry said...

Hi David

I've seen a few very simple designs (such as the ONIL stove) that are less efficient than, say, the Tulikivi stoves, yet are very simple to make. This gives me hope that I can bootstrap my own masonry skills and eventually build the more sophisticated and efficient masonry heaters.