Description

What is a rocket stove?

To understand better, here is a little detailed illustration of the Rocket Stove composition (clic to enlarge) :

To sum up, it is a mass stove with a semi open firebox composed of :

• Fuel magazine allowing air to get in and the introduction of fuel (wood) ;
• an insulated combustion chamber  ;
• an outflow chimney.

It is the insulation that is responsible of the excellent wood conbustion. This combustion being complete, there is very few smokes.

On a side note : the Rocket Stove takes its name after the sound it makes during combustion, which sounds like a rocket.

Why consider the rocket stove as a serious option?

In 5 shock-arguments:

• Costs are light (about $600).
• Poor wood consumption for a great energy efficiency.
• Reduction of the emissions of carbon monoxyd (very few smoke).
• Attractive and adaptable to (almost) everyone tastes.
• 3-in-1 : heating, hot water, cooking.

Out of salvage?

The Rocket Stove can be entirely auto-build out of salvage, or inexpensive :

• The admission barrel : a barrel or a gaz bottle.
• The combustion tunnel : built with refractory brick.
• The heating column : a stove-pipe.
• The insulation container : a drum or a slab of steel.
• The exposed barrel : a drum, bigger than the first one.
• The insulation : vermiculite.
• The draught key : pretty cheap at the hardware store.
• The outflow pipe : at the scrap metal merchant.
• The “banc de chaleur” (the heating bench): “bauge” (clay + straw + stones)

How to make it?

Well, look at the illustration above :) !

There are still few things to know :

• The heating column has to be between 2 and 4 ft.
• The outoflow pipe has to present a light slop.
• Use clay to stick bricks among themselves and insure the seals between pipings.
• The whole of the installation must be installed on a refractory bricks bed.
• Warning : don’t use galvanized iron (produce toxic vapors!).
• Build a test outside to check the combustion, the supplying, the ventilation and the shape.
• Do not forget, if necessary, to sand the barrel.

And for hot water?

Roll a copper wire up around the heating column and connect it to the water tank.

Click here for an excellent illustrated example.

Conviced?

The realization of a Rocket Stove is quite easy but we advice you to check few examples first.

Here are some video examples :

Seen at

Name		Type of facility	Environment	Country	Swap?
	Escape 3 Points - Paradise in Ghana	Hotels & guest houses	rural, mer, zone-chaude	Ghana	Yes
	Escape 3 Points - Paradise in Ghana	Hôtels et chambres d'hôtes	rural, mer, zone-chaude	Ghana	Yes
	Escape 3 Points - Paraíso en Ghana	Hoteles y habitaciones	rural, mer, zone-chaude	Ghana	Yes

Learn more

The Rocket Stove is traditionnaly used as a heating system but it can also :

• Heat a water tank,
• Be used as a baking tray.

Furthermore, it is auto-build, that means (almost) everything is possible in terms of shape so it fits better in its environment.