A
rocket mass heater is an innovative and highly efficient space heating
system, which is popular among natural building DIYers since its invention in 1970s. A number of engineers who are interested in rocket stove design
have used
our Energy2D software to visualize the thermal physics involved.
Martin Karl Waldenburg from Germany has designed a series of simplified rocket stove simulations. With his permission, we have published his simulations on
our Energy2D website. This blog post provides links to three of his simulations. Another one was created by Pinhead of the
Rocket Stove Forum (who also gave us permission to publish his simulation).
Since Energy2D hasn't supported chemical reactions yet, in all these simulations, burning is simulated using a heater with a fan to approximate the driving pressure due to combustion.
We will continue to work on Energy2D's computational engine and improve its graphical user interface. Currently, we are plowing through the math needed to model thermal radiation, chemical reactions, and phase changes. Once these features are added, we hope more people will find it useful, educational, and entertaining.
