Channel: desertsun02

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: heatalcoholstackhomemadefurnacesurvivalheateroff gridbioairhotethanolspacehowwarmshtfdiytobootisopropyl

Description: DIY Stack Boot Air Heater! DIY space heater! Experiments with a new design! 68F(20C) input temp. and 149F(65C) output temp! (that's about the same temp. as a natural gas furnace). this unit is based on my original stack boot air heater and shows the two main changes i made to the design (the tee pipe and the brick stand). for fuel you can use either isopropyl alcohol (70% or 91%) or ethanol/bio ethanol. i used both 70% isopropyl alcohol and an ethanol fuel made for use in indoor ventless fireplaces when filming (at 2 different times. i didn't mix them). (bio-ethanol is my new favorite fuel). burns very clean. the main parts of the unit are 4" stack boot, 4" tee pipe, 2 worm gear clamps, tuna can, an empty metal "gallon size" paint can and the bricks. bricks are 2x4x8. i used both a 120mm fan and a 4" desk fan. both are low speed and AC powered (but you could use a low speed DC fan if you want). Important note!: this unit is experimental and not fine-tuned so use extra caution if you make and use this. the main negative about this design (at the moment) is that the fan blows a lot of air down the middle duct of the tee pipe, towards the flame. this causes the flame to "flare out" or "shoot out" of the front and back (near the bottom). this can probably be fixed by just adding 2 more bricks. one idea (to try to fix the problem) would be to stand 2 bricks up on their long edges and place one in front and one behind the unit (to block the flame from shooting out). i think the flame would still get enough oxygen for it to burn just as strong. (lots of air is driven through the center duct of the tee pipe and down towards the flame). another idea to improve the unit would be to set the container that holds the fuel on a thinner brick. a 1x4x8 brick might work good. then it would be easier to slip the fuel under the unit. (or instead of using a brick as the stand that holds the fuel, you could use a cooking trivet). might work good.