Thoughts on a pellet stove for a large shop

[Williy]

If you want a wood burner that will last a couple of days get a
150 or 175 gal fuel tank put a smoke stack on the back top and
a door on the other end you can put logs in and it should last for
3 or 4 days build a small building on the side of your shop cut a
hole in the side of your shop put a fan in it and cut a hole in the
lower section for the return air piece a cake!!!

willy

 

[Snobdds]

Why does radiant heat take less energy to maintain the same output? Please explain.
Eric

Radiant heats the objects in the room, not the air. Every thing inside turns into a heat sink. Once everything is to temperature, you only have to maintain it which is very economical. You aren't cycling the thermal mass very much.

Convection heat needs to be above body temperature to not have a wind chill. So it has to blow hot for awhile, but not too long because nobody is comfortable at body temperature conditions. So it cycles more with longer duration causing inefficiencies.

 

[MattB4]

Radiant heats the objects in the room, not the air. Every thing inside turns into a heat sink. Once everything is to temperature, you only have to maintain it which is very economical. You aren't cycling the thermal mass very much.

Convection heat needs to be above body temperature to not have a wind chill. So it has to blow hot for awhile, but not too long because nobody is comfortable at body temperature conditions. So it cycles more with longer duration causing inefficiencies.

Your explanation sounds rational but it is wrong. Heat flows from hot to cold. To maintain it requires a set amount of BTU depending on the flow rate from the Delta T. You can not use less input heat to maintain the same heat in a space.*

Comfort level for the body is a different subject. Since the body responds based on factors such as internal heat generation and ability to cool. People feel more comfortable at a certain constant temperature and humidity. Events such as running fans can make you feel colder due to increased heat transfer.

All you are doing with a radiant ground heating is to even out the heat cycle versus a blown heat arrangement. It all adds up to the same BTUS if the room temperature is the same.

* Raising temperature up to a set level can be done quicker with a higher rate of BTU's input and then backed off once temperature is reached. Like boiling water in a pot can happen quicker with if you have a high heat source. Once boiling that heat can be turned down so that the water maintains temperature.

 

[ultrarunner]

My shop has a double 55 gallon barrel heater that the previous owner used for some trash also.

It worked well 20 years ago before the barrels and chimney disintegrated from rust… no idea how old it is.

The cast doors and fittings are in good shape.

At one time the kits were widely available but don’t see them anymore…

 

[mx842]

Why does radiant heat take less energy to maintain the same output? Please explain.
Eric

Because once you get a 70 yard slab of concrete up to temperature it takes so long for it to cool off especially if it is well insulated on the bottom and sides. By nature it will take a couple days to get to the slab up to temp but once it is there it stays that way with very little heat needed to maintain. As someone else mentioned, once it get up to temp, on a 20 degree day I could open both big doors and leave them open for a half hour or more and when you close them it's still warm and toasty in the building. You have to remember you are not only heating the floor but you are slowly heating up everything else in the building and that is a lot of mass to hold a lot of heat.

 

[ultrarunner]

This is why masonry stoves are so popular in the alpine countries.

I designed one for the cabin and it is fantastic... but does not fit easily into some modern lifestyles.

Example is when friends came to stay for vacation and said crank up the heater... my response is that will take hours plus someone needs to be here to close the airtight door when all turns to glowing coals.

Once to temp they are fired all winter... typically a morning firing and with sub temps add evening firing.

Safe, Silent, Efficient, Clean etc...

 

[etpm]

Radiant heats the objects in the room, not the air. Every thing inside turns into a heat sink. Once everything is to temperature, you only have to maintain it which is very economical. You aren't cycling the thermal mass very much.

Convection heat needs to be above body temperature to not have a wind chill. So it has to blow hot for awhile, but not too long because nobody is comfortable at body temperature conditions. So it cycles more with longer duration causing inefficiencies.

You said it takes less energy for the same output. That isn't correct.
Eric

 

[deserteagle71]

My shop has a double 55 gallon barrel heater that the previous owner used for some trash also.

It worked well 20 years ago before the barrels and chimney disintegrated from rust… no idea how old it is.

The cast doors and fittings are in good shape.

At one time the kits were widely available but don’t see them anymore…

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/us-stove-wood-stove-barrel-add-on-kit

 

[ultrarunner]

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/us-stove-wood-stove-barrel-add-on-kit

Yep… that’s the one but the fine print says it all…

This product cannot be shipped to CA,CO,OR,UT,WA

West Coast Sweep as they say…

 

[Snobdds]

You said it takes less energy for the same output. That isn't correct.
Eric

Lol.

Telling a guy they're wrong is easy. Explaining how they're wrong takes talent. Especially with a guy, with experience.

Don't take the easy route. Knock me back in my seat with your knowledge.

Also, quote my entire comment next time, there's a little more to my comment than you're portraying.