I've occasionally gone looking for a small, charcoal-fueled heating furnace/stove, but never really have much luck digging anything up. I see several heaters that are OK to burn coal in, but I'm wondering if anyone has come across a heater designed to burn briquettes?
One issue with charcoal, that many people bring up when I've had this discussion, is the problem of carbon monoxide emissions when burning it, so I'm guessing no one is building due to the safety concerns of using the fuel. But, a well-sealed combustion chamber, and exterior air feed, maybe even a gasifying secondary burn chamber, should negate all the CO concerns, shouldn't it? Charcoal just seems like a good choice for a reasonably compact heater with potential for 8-hour burn times.
Edit Oct 31/2015
Came across Hampshire Heaters out of the UK, they manufacture a charcoal-fueled heater for sailboats. Not taking orders, as of this posting.
http://www.hampshireheaters.co.uk/index.html
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I'm fairly sure that one of Andrew Brunning's rocket stove models is capable of burning wood and briquettes.
He was at the EXPO demonstrating various components. He is even manufacturing the sealed doors for a batch heater.
Also, he sells the 3 sizes of castings for stoves. We may be meeting again soon.
Sure like the rocket stove mass heater tech, but I wouldn't consider burning charcoal in a chambers that isn't sealed - especially over night.
You mean the feed tube remaining open? Isn't there sufficient updraft by the warmed exhaust pipe to evacuate all gases until the fuel is spent?
You mean the feed tube remaining open? Isn't there sufficient updraft by the warmed exhaust pipe to evacuate all gases until the fuel is spent?
I would have to agree...
in fact, I would have no issue burning charcoal in my wood stove if I thought a good load up would last long enough.
Once the draft is started, air is pulled from your home, into the stove where it gets heated, and rises through the chimney.
My biggest concern would be heat output and burn time.
If you could try it out with an old wood stove and a shed first, I would test it out.
If the gasses are a concern, put in a CO detector and see if the gasses are escaping.
I'm certain I've read that (some) users have said their rocket stove mass heaters puff back from time to time? Perhaps that is during startup, or maybe during high wind?
I don't have one to test with, yet, so unable to try on my own. The idea of a sealed burn chamber may simply be a psychological pacifier, but it appeals to me. I think I'd still choose a sealed combustion chamber over an open one, even with the positive draft a rocket stove creates. I'd choose an external air supply as well, I think.