Wood stove top fans (heat powered)

[CobyRupert]

I just started using one of these fans this year. My understanding is these use different metals, that when subjected to a heat differential, create a voltage that powers the fan (I.e. a Peltier device).
My wood stove top surface is about 20” x 30”

Question / shower thought: Where is best place to set fan on stove top? Middle, front edge (drawing hot from stove and blowing away from stove), or back edge (drawing cooler air and blowing across stove top)?

Assumption #1: Let’s assume surface top is uniform heat and fan will generate same voltage to motor no matter location.

At back edge: Does blowing cold dense air across stove move more air? But does it take more torque and fan is slower? So air volume is same? And does heated cold air now just rise and circulate the same as it would without fan?

At front edge: Fan might spin faster (as there’s less hot air resistance), and air may be pushed laterally as desired, but does fan move as much hot air?

 

[Snobdds]

well they put blowers on the back of the stove to blow the radiant heat off the stove.

Don't over think this...

 

[Doughknob]

…to blow the radiant heat off the stove....

u are joking right?

 

[Doughknob]

OP, maybe a pic would help. I only know of stove-top fans that work by heat convective flow and have NO electric parts.

 

[Snobdds]

u are joking right?

You've never seen a blower mounted on the back of a stove?

I have yet to see a front mounted blower on a stove.

 

[Oaktree]

You've never seen a blower mounted on the back of a stove?

I have yet to see a front mounted blower on a stove.

But is that because it works better or just because it's easier to mount on the back? I wouldn't think it would make much difference.

 

[Snobdds]

But is that because it works better or just because it's easier to mount on the back? I wouldn't think it would make much difference.

The question was, is it better to push air or pull air. Blowers on the back push air...

There is your answer.

 

[Doofy]

I bought one of the heat powered fans and it is more of a novelty than a useful tool. I can break more wind than those produce.

 

[MossRoad]

I bought one of the heat powered fans and it is more of a novelty than a useful tool. I can break more wind than those produce.

That is what I've read on many reviews when we bought our woodstove back in the 90's (less gas comparison).

Ours is in the basement. I ended up putting a small computer case fan in between the joists on the ceiling and opening up that channel to the other half of the basement. It's on a thermostat that comes on at 78 and shuts off at 76. That also controls an in-line duct booster fan that I have connected to an intake over the stove and ends up in the living room on the 1st floor. Together they don't pull an amp. The computer fan moves enough air to heat the next room over, and send heat up the stairs to our kitchen area.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Yeah I agree with Doofy above you put a cigarette in front of these heat powered fan and just to say they disturbed the smoke do. As far as your question air behave like a liquid fans are a pump what goes in must get out so it doesn't matter whether it push or pull ... I would place the fan were the stove generate the most heat.