Terracotta space heater DIY

Very interesting..

Wonder just how far this "concept" could be taken.. might make in interesting outdoor heater if it can scale up enough.
 
Sinbad said:
Physics says wtf.
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You mean to argue this won't work as some statement that thermal dynamics and "physics" come to play here? ok. please show how this doesn't work through physics?
 
I would imagine that all it does is localize the heat around the ceramic pot it wont make the room any warmer than the candle by itself but if you huddle around the pot it will be warmer.
 
envo said:
You mean to argue this won't work as some statement that thermal dynamics and "physics" come to play here? ok. please show how this doesn't work through physics?
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Candle produces X watts of heat - a constant, pretty much.
Said heat dissipates into the room, regardless of whether there's a fancy terracotta arrangement involved or not.
Principle of conservation of energy says the room will heat up by the same amount, regardless of terracotta (in fact, slightly less due to the heat entering the terracotta not being transferred to the air immediately, as it would without the terracotta)

As beachless said, the terracotta would warm up which would mean you could get a feeling of warmth from huddling round it, but it certainly won't warm the whole room up any quicker.
 
On the face of it, it seems to imply that more heat is being produced, when in fact all it's doing is helping to trap it at a lower level instead of letting it all just escape to the top of the room. You are not changing the amount of heat; you are changing the method of dispersing it.

Edit: Oh ratz, didn't see Sinbad's response.
 
Sinbad said:
Candle produces X watts of heat - a constant, pretty much.
Said heat dissipates into the room, regardless of whether there's a fancy terracotta arrangement involved or not.
Principle of conservation of energy says the room will heat up by the same amount, regardless of terracotta (in fact, slightly less due to the heat entering the terracotta not being transferred to the air immediately, as it would without the terracotta)

As beachless said, the terracotta would warm up which would mean you could get a feeling of warmth from huddling round it, but it certainly won't warm the whole room up any quicker.
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Zigzackly Mr. Nit Picker! :p
 
bokdrol said:
:(
So in other words, it doesn't work?
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Depends on the use, as a room heater no, as something to sit by for warmth, possibly yes... as others have said, it'll only trap the heat that would otherwise have headed to top of the cold air and dispersed, i.e., you're oppressing(:)) the heat by holding it captive down below
 
ellyally said:
Depends on the use, as a room heater no, as something to sit by for warmth, possibly yes... as others have said, it'll only trap the heat that would otherwise have headed to top of the cold air and dispersed, i.e., you're oppressing(:)) the heat by holding it captive down below
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Precisely this..

Which is why I think it COULD potentially make quite an interesting outdoor heater in a way, if worked out properly... traps the heat in a smaller space so would hopefully radiate it more effectively into the area...
 
Well, in spite of you guys pee-ing on my battery :p I am going to try make one. Will let you know.
 
Last I check these make something silly like a 2-3 degree difference to a rather small room.

Not worth the fire hazard.
 
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