Sometimes I have so many different ideas running around my head that something gets lost for a while.
So, now that I have the major part of the solarium up, it struck me to incorporate more active solar heating into the design. Not able to do it yet due to cost but another plan for the future. This one is affordable and achievable.
The idea involves using large black PVC pipe at the top of the solarium with reflectors under them to capture and concentrate heat. Then add a low powered fan to draw the heat down to ground level, perhaps even to ducting under the floors. (Just going for inside the solarium at first and see how much heat I gain. from it). If nothing else, it should help further increase the heat gain for the thermal mass of the back wall. That would make it more realistic to extend the growing season inside the solarium.
I also ran across something which I think is complete genius. It's called a rocket stove mass heater and can been seen here: http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp
It is a highly efficient wood burning stove, nearly 100 percent efficient and retains heat from one burn for up to three days. The fire actually burns sideways because of the air drawn into the system by natural convection. It does require a lot of mass for heat retention but I have the materials for the major framework available. I plan on building one inside the solarium as a test. If that works as I would hope, I will later build one in the main living room. The design seems completely rational to me.
So, now that I have the major part of the solarium up, it struck me to incorporate more active solar heating into the design. Not able to do it yet due to cost but another plan for the future. This one is affordable and achievable.
The idea involves using large black PVC pipe at the top of the solarium with reflectors under them to capture and concentrate heat. Then add a low powered fan to draw the heat down to ground level, perhaps even to ducting under the floors. (Just going for inside the solarium at first and see how much heat I gain. from it). If nothing else, it should help further increase the heat gain for the thermal mass of the back wall. That would make it more realistic to extend the growing season inside the solarium.
I also ran across something which I think is complete genius. It's called a rocket stove mass heater and can been seen here: http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp
It is a highly efficient wood burning stove, nearly 100 percent efficient and retains heat from one burn for up to three days. The fire actually burns sideways because of the air drawn into the system by natural convection. It does require a lot of mass for heat retention but I have the materials for the major framework available. I plan on building one inside the solarium as a test. If that works as I would hope, I will later build one in the main living room. The design seems completely rational to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment