Chinese greenhouse warming method - GIF

[ToolTalkBot]

Chinese greenhouse warming method.




Previously:

Flipping a greenhouse structural frame element - GIF
Greenhouse cover roller - GIF
Greenhouse roof cleaner - photo and video
Tractor clearing a greenhouse - GIF

[Karl_H]

I would think that the snow clearing is an added benefit of the heater, but the real reason for the fire is warmth for the plants.

[albertq]

There must surely be a fan on the far end of the heating pipes to pull the hot air through. I assume the exhaust could thus be called a "Greenhouse Gas"

[Floradawg]

Just a smokestack would pull it through the pipe.

[nova_robotics]

That exhaust pipe is really long. Too long. The heat transfer efficiency must be nearly perfect given the length, but that's going to be a problem. After some (probably short) distance the temperatures will be low enough that creosote will condense out and cause major problems with that pipe. It's flanged, so that's nice, but it's still going to be a high maintenance item.

Creosote is a big problem and it's counter-intuitive, but you have to keep your temps up or it will cake out on the worst places possible. You should try to keep every point of your chimney above 250F or creosote will condense out and burn your house down.

[Floradawg]

I know pine is one of the worst woods for creosote buildup. Are any woods not a problem in that respect?

[nova_robotics]

I know pine is one of the worst woods for creosote buildup. Are any woods not a problem in that respect?

I'm certainly no expert, but pine is not very dense and burns fast. So it heats up, then cools right back down again. That makes it difficult to keep your chimney up to temperature. Also there's a lot of resin in pine. They make rosin and turpentine out of the stuff, so there's probably a lot more volatile organics to vaporize than other woods.