Their stoves utilies the FMG (Free movment of Gases) that utilise chambers or bells if you like in stead of only channels. This is developed by I. S. Podgorodnikov and later Igor Kuznetsov. This tradition of masonry stoves are brought to the west by builders like Ekonomka.se (Peter and Tatyana Östberg) and Stovemaster.com (Alex Chernov) and a few others.

The stoves Ekonomka make are tested with effeciency level 95%, that is close to a theoretical maximum!!  They arrange workshops so that this technology can benefit as many as possible. And I would say profit is not their only bottomline, they have a true passion for the art of their work and also concider the benefits it has for the environment and peoples wellbeing as a part of their motivation to do what they are doing.

We builded two stoves in a home at one of his klients. So it was a work that had to be done throughly, because it was not just for the workshop , and than to be tared down again. I personally found it very motivating that we where actually building something that would keep someone warm through the winter! Peter himself offcource checked up on us and made shure that everything was according to his standards. On the course it was a mix of skilled masons and just normal handy people with a burning interest for stoves.

As for my self I learned many things in general about brick-stoves that are relevant for our project here in Azerbaijan, and specially about firebox-designs and how that could be done in a good and simple way.

We have talked about hosting a workshop with them here in Azerbaijan, translated to Azeri/russian, time will tell if that will be possible.

I rebuilded the firebox four times, and there is some critical things to consider. The airgap in the back of the burn chamber should be thin enough to shoot the air as a laminar flow along the back edge of the chamber for secondary burn of the gases up in the tube. (Thanks to both Alex Chernov and Ekonomka for learning more about that) Thats why it doesnt work as well having the exit at the front or middle position over the chamber. This setup showed in the movie works ok, but I think it will work better if I make the chamber deaper and have the wood laying dow keaping the airgap in the back clear through the whole burn. The burn dosent nead a lot of air to maintain combustion. Ratio 1/3 or 1/4  compared to firebox exit seams ok including gaps around door.

Cleaning it is also an issue. The best way seams to be knocking on the barrel now and then and vacuming at the flue exit. But probably once a year it is good to take out the rocks and clean it throughly. That means that constructing it with a removeable lid seams  necessary.

Compared to the rocket mass heater we here have a stove that dosent nead to be constructed permanently in a house. And it dosent nead a special foundation. It will work with a standard 4″ flue that they use here. It burns down the wood in one go with minimal maintainance of the fire. It burns almost as clean as the RMH? It gives a very hot cooking surface.Its total cost for a selfbuilder is about 20$!
On the down side it “only” retains heat for about 8 hours after the burn. Other negatives??

Some questions to be answered. Will it be sufficient to heat a livingroom space throught the winter in this climate? Will it give the fuel savings that we are hoping for?

I will have this construction tested through winter to heat a friends livingroom, and come back with some reports on its performance.

If you ever do this construction yourself, I would love to hear about your experience with it.