Ecofan

[Flyguy]

I know its a bit of an extravagance, but I bought myself one of these last year:

 

Vulcan Stove Fan (Stirling Engine Powered) - From Gyroscope.com -

 

Same idea, but powered by a sterling engine rather than an electric motor.

 

Its great to see the pistons whizing up and down and really helps get the heat round the room.

 

Definitely recommended for those who like to see some UK made engineering in action.

[brewx1]

Flyguy, what's the noise like with the Vulcan fan? It does look like an interesting thing to have sitting on top of the stove

[Flyguy]

Flyguy, what's the noise like with the Vulcan fan? It does look like an interesting thing to have sitting on top of the stove

 

Its definitely not silent and you can hear the rhythmical movement of the piston moving up and down as well as the 'wooshy' sound of the fan blades. Especially when its going at top speed.

 

But is not particularly loud or intrusive and doesnt really bother us.

 

However, as it works on the difference in temp between the top and bottom plates it does need a few mins for the bottom to warm up before it starts (and it needs a flick to get going). If the stove is running very hot or it gets too hot in the room it will also slow and eventually stop as the top plate gets hotter and is no longer cooled enough to generate the temperature difference.

[Daniël Bos]

A:

 

If I was to fashion a shelf immediately behind the burner to give that extra 1/2" clearance would the fan work at all? I'm aware that hot air convection from the top of the burner is what makes it all happen but was wondering if the loss of convection via such a device would make the exercise pointless.

 

Jon

 

 

I'd just chop down the blades a little bit, they're only thin sheet ally.

Alternatively you could make some blades yourself.

[nepia]

Thanks for the thought but for that money I don't think I'll take the chance.

 

Can someone please fetch the smelling salts for Alycidon if he's read that post?!

[Daniël Bos]

Thanks for the thought but for that money I don't think I'll take the chance.

 

Can someone please fetch the smelling salts for Alycidon if he's read that post?!

 

The blades are a one-piece construction (on my two-blade model) and just held on by the nut on the hub.

 

Undo the nut, take the blades off, put your best baked beans can effort on and see what she does on the stove top. I appreciate the need for balance, and the blades were probably the result of quite a bit of research into sound production etc. But I reckon it's going to work a heck of a lot better thn putting it o a shelf behind your fire!

 

Be bold, get the tin-snips!

[mendiplogs]

I have this 3 bladed fan in our current house and it works well but took some time to get the best location and direction for the fan. The room is 10m long with standard height ceilings. We have a Morso owl stove and it looks good with the fan.

 

In our previous house the fan spent most of the time in the box as it made no difference where it was placed although the room was a lot smaller and the stove located in a smaller fireplace.

HI we have a euro heat 16kw in a small barn 32ft x 20ft in the winter its very hot nice we use 7/9 sq mt in the winter sep/may it a good stove no need for a fan all the best jon