17/6/2014

Rocket Mass Heaters

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Rocket Mass Heaters

A rocket mass heater is a clean burning, high performance burner usually put together
using a majority of recycled and/or natural materials, such as cob. Owners claim an 8090% reduction in wood usage compared to heating the same space with a metal wood
stove.
As opposed to the masonry heater which requires some advanced masonry skills, the
rocket mass heater can be built by any enthusiast with basic masonry and engineering
abilities. The only problem with this project is difficulty in getting a building permit,
because basically not many officials know what a rocket heater is. The exception is
Portland, Oregon, which has a building code for rocket mass heaters, thanks to Ernie and
Erica Wisner, who share some hints on how to acquire a permit on their site. Many
communities do have building codes and give permits for masonry heaters, so you might
need to treat your rocket heater as a masonry heater. Be cautioned, that without a
permit, you may void your fire insurance policy.
The rocket mass heater works on similar properties as a masonry heater. A fast, high heat
and oxygen-fed fire burn up the volatile gases and particulates, leaving very little
pollution, and turn almost all the fuel into energy. A bit of smoke is released during the
first minutes of a fire, until the temperature in the chamber is hot enough to burn the
combustion gases as well as the wood. The major difference between a masonry heater
and a rocket, is that the rocket stove has an insulated J- or L- shaped combustion
chamber that forces the fire to burn horizontally. The fire then hits a 90 degree angle at
the end of the chamber which causes a strong turbulence to rise up the insulated heat
riser, creating a strong draft that feeds the intensity of the fire. The heat riser sits inside
a barrel or larger secondary chamber which extends a couple of inches above the inner
riser, the hot rising gases hit the top of the secondary chamber, give off some of their
heat and then fall down the larger chamber's sides. The exhaust is then directed through
flue piping, usually set within a bench, which will absorb the last vestiges of
heat. Today's rocket heaters often employ cob, but there is no reason why you can't build
a masonry bench of brick, stone or tile. The final flue gas that escapes the exit is
basically water vapor. As hydrogen during combustion turns into water vapour.
Small pieces of wood, basically trimmings from one's yard, can be used to fuel the
heater. The spaces between the small pieces of wood allows more draft into the
combustion chamber, helping to fuel a fast, hot fire.

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/rocket-mass-heaters.html

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater. Leaving the drum exposed allows immediate heat to enter the
room. Covering the barrel with a natural surface of cob slows down the instant heat and
holds heat for slower release. permaculturedesign.fr

Rocket Mass Heater in a straw bale home in France by Bec Touvire. Courses given once
a year in France. Great video of the process at bottom of page here:
permaculturedesign.fr

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater, built during a Bioconstruyendo held in February, 2010 in Patagonia,
Argentina, in a straw bale and adobe cabin. www.firespeaking.com

Rocket Mass Heater by

Juured in Estonia.
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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket Mass Heater by Ernie and Erica Wisner. Plans for sale here:
ernieanderica.info/shop

The combustion chamber runs horizontally, the flames and gases hit a 90 degree angle
and then throw off a lot of strong turbulence, which helps intensify the heat and create
draft, or a rocket effect up the heat riser. The heat riser is usually a smaller pipe set
within a larger pipe, the inner heat riser needs to be insulated as that creates a heat
differential which again increases draft. This heat riser is then usually set within a 55
gallon barrel, with the top exposed to give off instant heat, but there is no reason it
could not be set within masonry. (See resource below.) The barrel's lower half is often
covered in cob, to store the stove's heat and allow the heat to radiate slowly.

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket heaters need a heat riser that is at least twice as tall as the burn tunnel is long.
From: Rocket Mass Heaters by Ianto Evans, Leslie Jackson. www.amazon.com

Rocket mass heater and cooktop in Brussels. Great design! Brick veneer and must be
a refractory cement counter top. See the inner workings here: flickriver.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater and cooktop in Brussels. Wood goes into feed to right of the sink.
Cooktop is to right of the feed. See the inner workings here: flickriver.com

Rocket mass heater by Ernie and Erica.

ernieanderica.blogspot.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater in a Shamen center in France. From "Rocket stoves, wood fires and
mass heaters" ecologie-pratique.org

Rocket Mass Heater by

Juured in Estonia.

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater in a cob cottage in Eugene, Oregon. canadiandirtbags.wordpress.com

Rocket mass heater mostly used for cooking as it is in the highlands of Guatemala.
joachim2010.blogspot.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Mass Heater by terre-et-flammes.fr

This is a masonry mass heater but looks like a nice start off point for a design of a rocket
mass heater. poeles-eco-09.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

An antique stove was surrounded in cob. The wood loads on the right side, there is a
heated bench behind. By Ernie and Erica Wisner, more photos: plus.google.com

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/rocket-mass-heaters.html

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater with a cooktop. The heat riser does not have to be a barrel, but can
be built from masonry. marquedeposee.over-blog.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Rocket mass heater by expert Kirk Donkey Mobert, sundogbuilders.net,

donkey32.proboards.com

systemed.fr

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Dragon Heater's 6" powder coated metal rocket heater. Kit includes everything but the 55
gallon barrel and the perlite. It can be operated on its own or connected to thermal mass
storage. Inside the red box is a 6" Dragon Burner. A square feed tube and 2" round air
intake. The barrel has been painted with Stove Bright Hi-temp paint in black metallic.
Available in 4 colors, textured black, copper vein, silver vein, and red. $1450.
www.dragonheaters.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

More Videos:
How to build a cast core: youtube.com
Lots of videos on this page: richsoil.com
Institutional Rocket Stoves by Aprovecho: www.youtube.com

DIY:
Very active forum: permies.com
Forum: donkey32.proboards.com
Plans: ernieanderica.info/shop
Permit/Building Code Issues: ernieanderica.info/rocketmassheaterpermit
Picture Guide: outdoorhub.com
Design Tool for measurements for stove: rocketstove.org
RMH with bread oven, step by step photos: es-cargo.qc.ca
Nice heater here: www.mayacreek.org
Interesting design: intothewild.over-blog.org
Typical exhaust system: midwestpermaculture.com
Understanding the bell: stove.ru
More on the bell design: handprintpress.com

Kits:
Dragon Heaters: dragonheaters.com

In combination with the masonry heater:

Step by step photos of a masonry rocket mass heater: www.mha-net.org
Round masonry rocket mass heater: mha-net.org

Metal Heaters:
www.iwilltry.org
streetjesus.blogspot.com

Books:
Rocket Mass Heaters: Superefficient Woodstoves YOU Can Build
by Ianto Evans, Leslie Jackson. www.amazon.com

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Stoves:
Clean rocket stoves for developing countries, yeah! www.aprovecho.org

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Post Comment

Andreas

renewable energy

lunyalalo

Reply #13 on : Thu Mar ch 27, 2014, 07:17:47

Posts: 13
cute heater, i have to try one.
Carmen

Re: Rocket Mass Heaters

Posts: 13

Reply #12 on : Sat Febr uar y 08, 2014, 15:17:44

I love rocket heaters. Right now I only have an iron parlor stove for my little cottage but one
day I want one of these. I've never seen so much eye candy on one web page before. Beautiful
heaters!
Keiren

Lauren

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Posts: 13

Reply #11 on : Fr i Febr uar y 07, 2014, 08:30:32

Hi Lauren, Or you could cover most of the barrel in cob, like the second photo from the top.
And then put some woobly piece of metal atop so the cat will quickly learn not to jump up. Or
the mesh as you say....I will keep my eye out for any examples. Best!
Lauren

saftey

Posts: 13

Reply #10 on : Thu Febr uar y 06, 2014, 21:47:51

I'm curious if there is any way to somehow add an out mesh like screen about 3-5 inches away
from the exposed barrel that would help keep kids/pets from touching it and getting burned.
with some sort of small latch door so you can still get to the barrel if need be. I have a cat
and some day would like to add kids to the mix. ..I'm just not sure if the exposed areas will
be safe enough.
Tsvar

wood heat

Tjoliski

Reply #9 on : Mon December 30, 2013, 16:11:54

Posts: 13
My mother-in-law walks naked in the house now that I finished their mass heater. The central
air just is not as warm feeling, it is dry feeling. Also it is cheaper to heat to a higher temp,
and that is why that wrinkled old bag has gone nude like in the old country.
Construction Re: Rocket Mass Heaters
Dorset

Reply #8 on : Tue December 10, 2013, 08:05:17

Posts: 13
Good write-up, I am regular visitor of ones web site, maintain up the excellent operate, and
Its going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
Sam

Space requirements

Posts: 13

Reply #7 on : Sat November 02, 2013, 17:54:13

What's the the smallest size RMH that can be used and still be efficient, I'm trying to make as
small of a square foot design or small foot print As possible. Can I make it tall and thin? In
maybe 3x4 foot area?
ed

Rocket Heaters

Posts: 13

Reply #6 on : Wed September 25, 2013, 20:53:58

You can get a core already made at dragonheaters.com Makes the building process much
easier
Rickey Bryan rocket mass heter boiler
Posts: 13

Reply #5 on : Sun September 15, 2013, 15:21:47

very encouraging and informative .planing on using some of the ideas in my 30'x90' poly
tunnel will send u pictures if u guys would love that one love
Neil Clark

Rocket heater plans

Posts: 13

Reply #4 on : Sat June 22, 2013, 13:21:53

Great site, looks like Ill be back to get some great ideas
Thanks
Neil
Neil Clark

Rocket heater plans

Posts: 13

Reply #3 on : Sat June 22, 2013, 13:07:51

Hi Guys, hello from South Africa, I looking for some help in building a rocket heater here but
cant afford the book :( Need to know a couple of details etc. Anybody out there?
Thanks
Neil
Ed

Rocket Heaters

Posts: 13

Reply #2 on : Wed May 22, 2013, 12:36:29

These designs are great! Check out www.dragonheaters.com for rocket heater cores.

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/rocket-mass-heaters.html

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Rocket Mass Heaters

Sarah

Re: Rocket Mass Heaters

Posts: 13

Reply #1 on : Tue Febr uar y 19, 2013, 08:26:57

These look so stylish! And surely they're pretty efficient as well, as gas prices are going up,
this is certainly a good alternative!

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