Heat Powered Fan: Get Expert Advice Here

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Creating a heat-powered fan for a wood stove can be a valuable home project, especially for circulating warm air. While some users have found Ecofans ineffective for air movement, others suggest exploring steam engines or simple turbine designs as alternatives. The potential for a heat-driven fan to provide around 100 CFM has been mentioned, but testing this claim is recommended before investing in multiple units. Ideas like integrating a small steam engine or a turbine in the chimney have been proposed, though noise could be a concern. Overall, there is a strong interest in DIY solutions for enhancing wood stove efficiency.
dawnbledsoe
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Hello I'm new to the PF? My main reason for posting was to understand how I may begin to create a heat powered fan for my wood stove? Would someone be willing to help please?
 
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What and why do you want to vent exactly? Is it to be heated by the stove itself? Just want to make sure I get this.
 
If you intend to copy an Ecofan, don't bother. We have one that was given to us, and it is pretty useless for moving air. It's main value is as a visible indicator that the stove's surface temperature is falling. Other than that, it's a conversation piece at best.
 
Are the "heat driven fans" in question driven by stirling engines?
 
turbo-1 said:
If you intend to copy an Ecofan, don't bother. We have one that was given to us, and it is pretty useless for moving air. It's main value is as a visible indicator that the stove's surface temperature is falling. Other than that, it's a conversation piece at best.

I just checked these out, and they can apparently provide around 100 CFM. If so, then having a half-dozen of these on the stove should be more than enough to make a noticeable difference.
 
Dr Lots-o'watts said:
I just checked these out, and they can apparently provide around 100 CFM. If so, then having a half-dozen of these on the stove should be more than enough to make a noticeable difference.
Buy one and test the 100 cfm claim. You won't buy more.
 
turbo-1 said:
Buy one and test the 100 cfm claim. You won't buy more.

Thanks for the review!
 
russ_watters said:
You can buy little steam engines...

It would be interesting to compare with peltier devices.
 
  • #10
Well thank you for all the replies. My wood stove is in the living room and straight in front of the hallway I was looking to circulate the warm air down that hallway. But I want to take on a home project instead of buying one.
 
  • #11
dawnbledsoe said:
Hello I'm new to the PF? My main reason for posting was to understand how I may begin to create a heat powered fan for my wood stove? Would someone be willing to help please?

i also face this problem...

untill now i not know how to get heat my wood stove easily.
 
  • #12
I like Russ' idea. You could build a small steam engine on or beside the stove, with a coil of tubing or a tank inside the stove as a boiler. (With the bonus that the exhaust would be a small-scale humidifier. :biggrin:) It might be too noisy, though.
My own first thought was to put a turbine (just a simple pinwheel type) in the chimney with a driveshaft going to the fan, but I can't see that producing a lot of breeze.
 
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