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Post by Vortex on May 19, 2024 12:44:08 GMT -8
I am back experimenting at the moment, in my own case. based on the 4” design, which is largely based on hot plate cooking. The large volume top box makes a huge difference for my purpose, not only offering easy and fast start up but controlling the burn, evening out the heat across the hot plate. I have gone up to 300mm high but 200mm seems to work well so far. However I am only just beginning the test! I have also been testing different sources of secondary air but my main experiments are based around the later stages of the burn and either removing the coals or burning them off as quick as possible. I made a removable tray that fits in the bottom of the fire box and is loaded in the normal way but it can be lifted to a higher position about mid way up and is fed air from underneath. Just by moving the tray up 100mm keeps the vortex going for another 20 minutes. My main bugbear has always been a smoky viewing glass at the beginning and end of the burn so I will be working on that aspect too…. I have taken some video, not in huge detail so far but I will publish my results when ready…… Marcios, I would also like to see some pictures (or video) of your design? I wonder if you put it on a contraflow mass would it still work well with the high top chamber. On mine I have to maintain the 1.5 SA:V (surface are to volume ratio), which means a wide and low top chamber, but the length seems to be quite flexible. Are you shutting off the primary when you lift the coals and give it air from below? Trev |
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Post by martyn on May 19, 2024 13:19:12 GMT -8
We are using the stove for different goals but I will try a counterflow when I find the time.
I have only just made a new core a few days ago, starting to test over the next few weeks.
I plan to give the coals full air from underneath vis a perforated base and work back from there.
What I did today was lift the tray to mid point after about 40 minutes of burn time, that worked really well but I had to leave the door open until I work out the perforated base and air control.
Unfortunately things have to go slowly as I have been unwell and still recovering from surgery but I am becoming more mobile and positive at last!
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Post by Vortex on May 20, 2024 0:45:47 GMT -8
martyn, Hope you get well soon. Good luck with your experiments, I look forward to seeing your next video. Trev
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Post by marcios on May 21, 2024 5:29:40 GMT -8
 some pictures: (does this link work?.... Trev, could you upload it to your server?) |
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Post by Vortex on May 21, 2024 8:13:50 GMT -8
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Post by marcios on May 22, 2024 7:42:44 GMT -8
Trev ... so is it better to insert new pictures in another way? What do you recommend?
Martyn ...great idea to lift the tray when the wood level drops. Looking forward to your photos/videos,
and thinking ahead about how it could be without having to open the door.
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Post by Vortex on May 22, 2024 8:48:40 GMT -8
Hi Marcios, If you can get the pictures to embed like I did then best to do that. If you're making an air supply up from below the V grate like on mine, then you get the same effect by just shutting off the primary and opening the bottom air at the start of the coaling phase.
Trev
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Post by martyn on May 22, 2024 10:37:34 GMT -8
Martyn ...great idea to lift the tray when the wood level drops. Looking forward to your photos/videos, and thinking ahead about how it could be without having to open the door. My stove runs fine with the door wide open so opening it up to move the tray up is not an issue. Moving the fire to the higher position rejuvenates the vortex flame really well but so far, at this early stage of testing, I am getting my old enemy back… with a smokey glass. I have bought a stainless steel perforated plate that I am going to fit in the bottom of the tray. If I cant find any success with fast burning the coals, and as the coaling stage is not much use to me, then I will resort to removing the tray and dumping them. One step at a time though……… |
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Post by marcios on May 24, 2024 9:43:31 GMT -8
Hi Marcios, If you can get the pictures to embed like I did then best to do that. If you're making an air supply up from below the V grate like on mine, then you get the same effect by just shutting off the primary and opening the bottom air at the start of the coaling phase. Trev
Hi trev,
sorry, I didn't express myself well, I was referring to another good server for uploading pictures without that limitation of imgur.
The main thing might be to take advantage of the preheated air in all phases (which passes through the frame tubes after coming directly from outside the house), but I haven't figured out all the details yet. So, in principle, there will be no air supply from the ashbox.
Apart from that, I was fascinated by the idea of gradually lifting the grate (keeping the wood close to the port, something like an inverted gasifier), but as it would take a lot of time to make a mechanical system for this, it's been postponed... perhaps forever.
Yesterday, from scrap, I brought a 19mm thick iron plate with the appropriate dimensions for the hotplate (480 x 600mm). Is that too thick?
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Post by Vortex on May 24, 2024 12:52:56 GMT -8
Don't know of a better picture hosting site, they nearly all try to block you from embedding the images these days. Did that trick not work for you? For me it was a simple right click, and click 'image info', which shows the actual url to use to post the image here. I can upload them to my server for you, but I'm very busy this time of year so it might be a few days before I get around to it.
19mm hotplate is perfect, I would have used some that thick if I could have got it.
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Post by marcios on May 24, 2024 14:28:51 GMT -8
Don't know of a better picture hosting site, they nearly all try to block you from embedding the images these days. Did that trick not work for you? For me it was a simple right click, and click 'image info', which shows the actual url to use to post the image here. I can upload them to my server for you, but I'm very busy this time of year so it might be a few days before I get around to it. 19mm hotplate is perfect, I would have used some that thick if I could have got it.
ok, I'll do that for the next pictures - haven't tried it yet.
thanks, nice to know I'm on the right track.
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Post by fruitbat on May 26, 2024 8:47:38 GMT -8
Vortex Afternoon Trev, a quick question- how are the storage heater bricks holding up in your stove? I'm planning a very small mass heater (no doubt pushing the boundaries but I'll give it my best!) for a caravan for this winter, and was wondering about lining a steel bell with them. Do you think they equate to normal firebrick, or not quite as durable? It only needs to last a winter....
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Post by Vortex on May 26, 2024 12:41:41 GMT -8
Hey Fruitbat, They're still as good as new, but I've never used them anywhere where they were in contact with flame. I hear that if you use them in the firebox they break up after a while.
Trev
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Post by fruitbat on May 26, 2024 13:15:38 GMT -8
Thanks for that, I'll give them a try as a bell lining, I'm sure they'll be adequate.
As an aside, huge thanks for the continued updates and answers to questions- I am sure there are many more like me who haven't been involved in the discussion but plan to build a vortex at some point and eagerly lap up any and all info!
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Post by martyn on May 27, 2024 0:51:19 GMT -8
Here is a very short video I filmed a few weeks ago.
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