MadModder

The Breakroom => The Water Cooler => Topic started by: doubleboost on December 04, 2011, 05:18:00 PM

Title: Eco Fan
Post by: doubleboost on December 04, 2011, 05:18:00 PM
Hi
I have recently installed a wood burning stove
Has anyone got experience with Eco fans
I can feel a sterling build coming
John
Title: Re: Eco Fan
Post by: mklotz on December 04, 2011, 05:55:27 PM
Note that most of the commercial fans do not use Stirling engines.  Rather they use the Seebeck effect to generate electricity which is then  used to drive a small DC motor that operates the fan.
Title: Re: Eco Fan
Post by: AdeV on December 04, 2011, 07:27:33 PM
Presumably, because most (all?) stirling engines are not self-starting?

Also, far cheaper to manufacture I'd guess.

I too have plans to build a wood-burning stove-top stirling engine powered fan - but I only have 8" of vertical height to play with (so no commercial fan will fit).

I always wanted to build something a bit like this:



Without the tealights, and with a fan on the front, I reckon that'd only take up about 8", stopping it safely might be quite interesting though, and it would have to be very low maintenance (self-oiling or greased-for-life somehow), as it would be my old Mum's stove it lived on top of.
Title: Re: Eco Fan
Post by: daz on December 05, 2011, 11:17:54 AM
I am at this very time doing exactly the same thing. I looked at the price of the eco fans and thought "hmmmm, I could make one of them" After some hints on here I found the eco fans were indeed powered by electrics  So far it has been pretty simple but I have left the hard parts for last!!! There are a few mods I am making for mine to hopefully make it a wee bit better for its intended use. I started a thread in the projects forum showing the build and I have more photos to add later on tonight hopefully.

daz