Rocket Stove Fire Pit

[ppeg34]

First things first... You guys are inspirational. Thank you for paving the way for the Rocket Stove Revolution.

I have been trolling here for a few days now and have been mulling over the idea of a Rocket Stove Fire Pit for a few weeks now. Although this idea may go against the grain of the heart behind the Rocket Stove, wood-saving benefits, high efficiency, etc., I think it still has some great applications.

What I envision is an enormous underground rocket stove with the heat riser terminating at ground level or close to it. It would allow you to burn large brush, etc. completely as opposed to having open fires that are emission nightmares. I assume it would also have the advantage of burning brush rather quickly.

In my mind, perhaps not in the minds of everyone, it doesn't get much better than having some beers with friends around a fire pit. Some of the less enjoyable aspects to some are having smoke in your face and to leave smelling like a campfire. I would think the rocket stove would solve these issues (I think its part of the fun, though).

What do you guys think?

[matthewwalker]

I have been building outdoor rocket fire pits for a while now. After living with them, I have a real hard time sitting around a normal fire pit anymore. I used to love it, now the smoke and all the wood they eats drives me nuts, since I know there is a better way. My designs are different that what you are proposing, although your concept would be visually awesome. It might not give much heat to the people, which might be a plus depending on your location. Here, it's always cold at night, even in the height of summer, so a fire pit that warms the seats is always a plus. I love having a rack of ribs smoking away on top at 225°F while the fire roars. The barrel gives off a ton of heat, and the seats are warm.

[ppeg34]

I have been admiring some of your designs as I have seen a few of your builds throughout the forum. I especially love the windows in which you can see the flame. You also answered one of my questions without my having to ask it. I was wondering if a barrel actually gave off enough heat in an outdoor environment to be effective.



This is along the lines of what I am envisioning. Much of it could just be dug out of the dirt and the heat riser could have insulation material packed around it.

Thanks for your reply.

[satamax]

PPEG34, i was thinking about the same for my future workshop. An insulated slab, with the pipes through. A flush feed tube, in which i can brush away the offcuts, dust and chips. Of course insulated burn tunel. But the barrel, unlike you've done, above the ground level. You can do it, cut a hole for the heat riser and insulation, in the bottom of the barrel. Use a barrel with a removable top, in your case, so you can transform it into a barbecue I mean, put the heat riser in the barrel , but with a bigger gap than usual. Put a metalic grid/grate in the barrel, some four inches below the top, and lava rocks, like in the gas barbecues, on top of the grid. Then you have the barrel top which can be removed or not, depending what you want to do. You could even put two barrels on top of each other, as a big bell, to heat yourself and your friends better.

[hpmer]

The heat riser will have to be taller in relation to the feed tube. I think 2:1 is the recommended minimum, but 3:1 would be better. Otherwise it won't draw properly and not be as clean a burn etc.

Cool idea though.

[ppeg34]

I have seen that and thought of that. Can anybody explain, with physics, why the heat riser needs to be at that 3:1 ratio? I have seen the data that points to that guideline, but I haven't understood the physics behind it and I am not completely convinced that this principle is necessarily scalable to larger systems.