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Inflatable tent comes with floor that has built-in hydronic piping for radiant floor heating. That piping can be connected to a thermal siphon attached to some heat source - a wood stove, or oil heater, or propane heater, etc - so that when heat source is activated, it will drive the thermal siphon to
circulate the heated water through the piping, thus heating the entire floor of the tent. That floor will have a suitably insulated bottom layer, to minimize heat loss from below while allowing the heated floor to radiate its heat upwards into the tent.
heated_20sofa
[pocmloc, Sep 01 2024]
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Is the deflated floor about the same size as the inflated one, or have you thought a way of allowing the hydronic pipes to collapse during deflation without developing leaks? |
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On the one hand, I was thinking of copper-nickel-steel tubing, like the kind which has been used in refrigerators. It's flexible yet solid enough that it can't be crushed underfoot. |
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On the other hand, I was also considering a softer flexible plastic piping - but that could be more at risk of rupture or leakage, as you've mentioned. After unfurling the floor, an additional layer of interlocking solid tiles would be manually placed on top to protect the soft flexible piping in the layer beneath. |
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I would imagine a floor hot enough to radiate significant heat upwards may well be too hot to stand or sit on. |
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It's called "radiant floor heating" but I think it's mainly convecting its heat upwards. Since heat always rises, the best way to distribute it is from the bottom upward. |
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Just make the floor and the pipes out of the same stuff they use for cheap air mattresses. It will leak after a few uses, but then they buy a new one. Fill with fresh water when assembling. Drain before packing. The deluxe model comes with an extra layer on top so when the pipes rupture, your sleeping bag doesn't get wet unless you happened to puncture the top layer at the same time. |
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I would think that a water temperature under 104 degrees will keep things safe and should provide plenty of heat since there is only a tin layer between the water and living area, and the pipes can be closely spaced. With my home having pipes spaced at 8 inches with 3/4" wood, carpet pad and carpet, I only need 110 degrees. |
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[sanman] I know, we have warm water convection heaters here but they are called "radiators" anyway. Its not your use of the common naming system "Radiant Floor Heating" that I am objecting to, but when you say in your own words as part of your prose description "...while allowing the heated floor to radiate its heat upwards..." |
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Unless you can convince me that you were thinking of the small amount of black-body radiation that every object emits unless it is at absolute zero. In which case I would like to see your calculation of what percentage of the heat output of the system is from radiation, convection and conduction respectively. |
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Come to think of it, maybe an inflatable air mattress with the hydronic heating could be a useful alternative. Or maybe even a large quilt / sleeping bag. That would have to use the softer flexible piping, since hard metal tubing would be too uncomfortable to sleep on. |
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Another related concept I was thinking about is some novel parabolic heater/reflector to keep you warm while sleeping in your tent. The main problem with sleeping in a tent in cold weather is that your face is vulnerable to the cold, since you typically have to keep it uncovered for breathing. The problem with keeping your face covered while asleep is that you both get the stifling feeling of breathing your own CO2, and plus you get moisture buildup from your breath. |
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Perhaps the parabolic dish could unfold like a fan. Some kind of small slow-burning heat source (candle? oil lamp?) would be mounted near the center of the dish, which would reflect and focus that heat onto a single point, which you'd aim at your face to keep it warm at night while asleep. So it would probably need some kind of swiveling mount which can be aimed. |
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That should perhaps be its own separate submission, tho |
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The word "glamping' sets my teeth on edge and I don't know why. |
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@ Voice: maybe because it's a portmanteau of "glamming" and "camping"? Sort of the antithesis of "roughing it" in the wild. It's perhaps more about being seen, or indulging in what was once a basic survival activity, but in a convenient unencumbered way, devoid of traditionally-required skills? |
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Further research shows that Electric Radiant Floor Heating is supposed to be the most advanced and convenient way to do heated flooring (electric heating elements under the floor instead of the hydronic approach). |
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That would require a substantial electric power supply for camping tent situation. |
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You could have your //wood stove, or oil heater, or propane heater, etc// heat a flash steam boiler, which runs a turbine connected to a generator. Then you could plug the electric elements in to the generator, so you wouldn't need to be restricted to camp sites with electric hook up points. |
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