STOVE. A receptacle for the combus tion of fuel for the purpose of heating houses, &e. The closed fire-grate for the combustion of coal, with its various appendages, is generally called a stove— hence register stoves, Bath. stoves, are often, and indeed generally, very unscientifically constructed, and calculated to consume a large quantity of fuel, with a proportionate waste of heat. They are generally intended to diffuse warmth principally or entirely by radia tion, and should be placed as near the floor as possible ; while the different parts, into the contact of which the burn ing fuel is brought, should be of fire brick, or some similar composition, which is a bad conductor, but a good radiator of heat. It is manifest that in open fire places the enormous volume of hot air which passes up the chimney is not available as a source of heat ; hence, in colder climates, such as that of the Northern States, and where greater econ omy of fuel is studied, the fireplace is frequently closed in, and contained in an iron box which projects into the room, while the heated air before it finally enters the chimney is made to circulate through tubes or pipes, to which it com municates much of its excess of heat, and these again impart it to the surrounding air. What are termed in Europe German stoves, are usually made upon such prin ciples ; and in them the fuel is often in troduced, and the air required for the support of its combustion admitted, on the outside of the room in which the stove with its flues and heating surfaces is placed.
In Arnott's stoves the heat is similar, but more scientifically economized. There is only enough air admitted to keep up the slow combustion of the fuel, and the heat is communicated to the radiating surfaces of the stove ; so that before the air, which has .passed through the fuel, finally enters the chimney, it has been deprived of the greater part of its availa ble heat. These stoves are also so con structed as, by means of thermometric or self-acting registers, to adjust with much nicety the supply of air, so that neither more nor less may enter than is required to maintain the combustion of a given quantity of fuel.
In Feetham's air-stoves the common open fire is retained ; hut the heat is to a certain extent economized by causing the hot air before it enters the chimney, to communicate a portion of its heat to an iron box, over which a current of air passes and is sent warm into the room. It is manifest that open fires must act as powerful ventilators, and that the large quantity of air which is driven up the chimney must be supplied in some way or other through the apartment in which the fire is burning. This supply of air is generally left to chance, and Ands its way into the room by crevices in the door-ways and window-sashes, or between the boards of the floor, or any similar accidental passage through which it can make its way ; and as, in London at least, the air always abounds in fuliginous par ticles, these are carried in along with it, and show its track by the blacks which it deposits. If this supply of air is inad equate, and it generally is so in new and well-built houses, in consequence of the tightness of the doors, windows and floors, the chimney of necessity smokes, and the door or window requires to be left open to prevent suC In effect. This evil may usu
ally be eff.....tually prevented by admitting fresh air from without through some pro per and adequate channel, and various ornamental or concealed apertures may be contrived for the purpose ; in the best arrangement of which, however, much practical as well as theoretical skill is often essential.
When rooms are warmed by German or Arnott'a stoves, the ventilating powers of which are very inferior to the open grate, ventilation requires to be strictly attended to. Where buildings are warmed by currents of hot air sent up from stoves on the basement story, great attention should also be paid to ventilation ; and in such cases the leading object should be to send in a large volume of air very mod erately heated (to about 100°), rather than a small quantity of very of air ; the latter does not readily mix with the sur rounding cold air, but forms a distinct and rapidly ascending column, which does not diffuse itself where most want ed ; and is apt to have a disagreeable or burned odor, arising from the charring of the particles of organic dust, which are earned with the air over the too highly heated surfaces of the stove or flues. A little aqueous vapor, sent in along with the warm air by placing a saucer of water in some convenient situation, is often effectual in preventing the disagreeable sensation occasioned by respiring too dry an atmosphere.
The common Dutch stove is an iron box, of an oblong square form, intended to stand in the middle of a room. The air is admitted to the fire, through a small opening in the door, and the smoke passes off through a narrow funnel. - Being in sulated, and detached from the walls of the room, a greater part of the heat pro duced by the combustion is saved, and the radiated heat being thrown into the walls of the stove, they become hot, and, in their turn, radiate heat on all sides to the room. The conducted heat is also received by successive portions of the air of the room, which pass in contact with the stove.
The Swedish and Russian stoves are small furnaces, with a very circuitous smoke flue. In principle, they resemble a common stove, with a funnel bent round and round, until it has performed a great number of turns or revolutions, before it enters the chimney. It differs, however, in being wholly inclosed in a large box of stone or brick-work, which is inter sected with air-pipes. In operation, it communicates heat more slowly, being longer in becoming hot, and also slower in becoming cold, than the common stove.
Russian stoves are usually provided with a dais per, or valve, at top, which is used to close the funnel or passage, when the smoke has ceased to ascend. Its op eration, however, is highly pernicious, since burning coals, when they are fully ignited, always give out carbonic acid in large quantities which renders the air of the room unfit for respiration.
The forms of stoves patented, and in use in this country, are so numerous, that it has been thought unnecessary to do more than advert to the general principles which should regulate their use.