Rock Solid

The 'Rock Solid' burner (TLUD meets Rocket) designed for stick feedstock 'Outback', or any other place in the bush when it's safe and legal to light a fire. Sticks can be fed in from the front, between the top of the bottom bucket and chimney flue. The bottom bucket serves as a heat shield and wind proofs the fire with an easy soil quench. Much less bushfire risk than using an open fire.  'Solid state' engineering (no moving parts or electronics) and it rocks - if it works. Need to test on May 1.

Chuck it in the back of an electric 4WD (with Carbon-based 'perovskite' flexible PV cells at 40% efficiency - flexible, low thermal degradation and UV resistant - integrated with the hemp biocomposite panels - the 'Holy Grail' in my opinion) and explore!

Rock Solid V1

Boiled water for 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene' (WASH) - best to get that sorted first
Boiled water for 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene' (WASH) - best to get that sorted first

Rock Solid Oil Drum V1

Here's a simpler version of the Rock Solid which I call the 'Rock Solid Oil Drum'
Here's a simpler version of the Rock Solid which I call the 'Rock Solid Oil Drum'
Here's all the kit needed for a simple cooking and WASH system
Here's all the kit needed for a simple cooking and WASH system

Parts:

  • upcycled 20L oil drum with 4 large grinded air hole Vs at base (windproofed fire with plenty of primary air flow). Potentially, say 12 small air hole Vs equally spaced around the base would provide a more even primary air flow with more efficient wood combustion and less smoke.
  • 304 woven mesh top, 1.6mm thick with 5mm aperture grinded to a square (pan/pot stability, even flame distribution and heat radiation)
  • standard steel wok ring (pot stand and flame distributor/concentrator)
  • 3L billy (or a larger steel pot/stainless steel bucket for water boiling)
  • large Carbon steel saucepan (awesome)
  • foldable entrenchment tool for soil quenching after a burn (and other uses eg. bogged vehicle)

 

Once again, this is not a TLUD but does use primary and secondary air. This is not a smokeless fire and will only yield a small amount of biochar but more convenient for using environmental fuel and larger cookware compared to smaller and more portable TLUD stoves, some which require biomass pellets to operate efficiently.

This should be perfect for sticks and small branches, which can be cut with a Silky Gomboy medium toothed bush saw. Being a Charista, I can say with confidence this is a great investment.

Enjoy!

 

Rock Solid Oil Drum V2 TLUD

The Rock Solid Oil Drum V2. Suitable for soil quench and 2 upcycled 20L oil drums with the same specialty parts as V1 except the secondary air spacer uses a 1 inch 1m long galv square tube cut in half
The Rock Solid Oil Drum V2. Suitable for soil quench and 2 upcycled 20L oil drums with the same specialty parts as V1 except the secondary air spacer uses a 1 inch 1m long galv square tube cut in half

Rock Solid Oil Drum V3 TLUD

More stable than the Rock Solid Oil Drum V2 with 3 pathways for tertiary air updraft. Small feedstock in the lower drum with a soil quench using a shovel. Fabricated with a standard powered grinder!
More stable than the Rock Solid Oil Drum V2 with 3 pathways for tertiary air updraft. Small feedstock in the lower drum with a soil quench using a shovel. Fabricated with a standard powered grinder!
Different primary air hole pattern for the Rock Solid Oil Drum V3
Different primary air hole pattern for the Rock Solid Oil Drum V3

Total cost ~AUD$75

  • $0 for 2 upcycled 20L oil drums
  • $20 for 1"/25mm wide, 2.5mm thick, 1 metre long galvanised square tube
  • $10 for mesh (but may need to buy a larger mesh sheet/panel and grind a section off)
  • $10 wok ring
  • $35 20L stainless steel bucket

 

As the late James Lovelock said to effect, with a smaller budget he was more efficient and designed more technological breakthroughs. Startup pre-seed funding for green/appropriate tech, from idea to prototype, with a business plan, would be a breakthrough from the Federal Gov or any Gov eg.15k per grant.

What hope can be promised to the next generation of designers, fabricators/manufacturers and business people?

A change of mindset and a new future direction is needed:

'Degrowth of a linear mindset and regrowth of a circular mindset'.  
Or to translate it economically and politically, a 'Just green transition' (which can now be planned for with some certainty in Oz if the ALP wants to), with fossil Carbon phase out, to a largely Carbon negative and circular bioeconomy. Plants are the key.