LARGE open fireplace design for LARGE ROOM

double-sided
four feet wide
2 feet deep
adjustable height (needs to be set)
16 inch flue
20-25 foot tall flue
116' x 30' room w fireplace centered dividing the long room

This is fgor a charity who has an endless supply of wood

Are there double-sided inserts that would fit this scenario?

I think this old preist is mostly concerend with smoke in the building, which is a very valid concern with 8 foot wide dooras and windows, and a double-sided fireplace, asking for wind to blow straight through. Add the fact that the 16 inch x 20 foot chimney might as well be a hole in the ceiling. This is probably a good time of year to test it as the 46-64 degree temps will probably make the temperature and pressure higher outside at many times of day.

I think I'm going to suggest he get some ceramic glass for both sides to prevent an air tunnel. Maybe he could even do somehting wild to make air-tight doors.

Right now, he's basically got a big hood above the fireplace, with no possible secondary burn. I'd like to see if there's any potential to create some chambers for a secondary burn and less smoke. That might be a ridiculous dream, huh? Too big of a space I assume.

The camp is basically a metal scrap ground and everything is welded together out there. I assume that if anyone can create the air chambers required for a secondary burn, this old preist could do it. I just need to get him a decent design. Too bad I'm coming into this project too late. This thing doesn't appear to be designed for the "smaller, hotter fire".

It's a cool challenge, and if I only had more time, I'd try to make sure he's making the best possible design. Unfortunately asthetics are a primary concern, and my time is limited. The priest is 96 too, so this can't be a year long project.

Very cool old preist has built so many things in our town, and can get almost anything done in the catholic church... but he just wants to weld. Pretty wild! I'd like to help him out with this project if possible.

Nice thread fellas. Thank You! I talked to the guy who did the HVAC (not yet sure of the source for the heat, but it does have heat and AC). I think there is no plumbing in the building yet, if there ever will be. This is like a rec-center or something with two like like 55' x 30' rooms. Now I understand that the immediate concern is to determine the height of the hood (which I still believe has no damper). The base is apparently fixed with some steel plates that have channels for air to be blown underneath them, apparently with the concept of collecting SOME heat to be blown into the rooms. So that's apparently not going to move, and is 3 feet off the ground. There is at least 12" of play to move the hood up and down.

The HVAC dude an I agree that he's got to have some closable glass or something, at least to get the fire started. Otherwise, he's going to get smoke blowing through with cool fires. I'm beginning to think that everyone understands that this fireplace is not going to provide any heat to the room. Maybe a good idea would be to make the height high enought to fit an insert in there in the future. 4 feet wide, 2 feet deep, but how high?

Anyone have an ideal height they'd use in making a fireplace to assure you'd be able to fit an insert in there in the future?

The HVAC dude and I are going to do everything we can to convince the old Italian priest to make at least one side closable, whether it's with ceramic glass, or just some of the scrap steel he lokves to use.

Oh... Thank God they have an outside air intake on this thing. The HVAC guy thinks there should be an outside air intake at not only the bottom of the fireplace, but the top (for the draft) too. I have yet to understand what he's talking about. I would think that would just cool the flue too much.

I'm finally going to try to schedule some time out there to see this thing soon. Looks like I missed my window today. Darn work.

Thanks everyone!

I posted a picture in the original post at the top. The flue is 16-18 inches round. One interesting thing is that the intake air is not for compbustion, but to warm the outside air before it enters the room. There are channels under the fireplace plate. The system was designed in Italy. I will post that photo in a minute. I also have photos of the air intake, the flue, the air chambers, etc. I believe i've convinced that there should be doors on both sides to be able to close the fireplace. I believe we are in agreement that this fireplace is not likely to make the room warmer. It seems that the goal is to not mkae the room colder. Oh.. one other thing. They plan to have another outside air intake going into the bottom of the hood, I believe the concept here is to make the chimney not suck too much air from the room, but to be able to suck some outside air instead of all air coming from the room. Forget about secondary burn. The photo posted here is a photo of the fireplace that started this whole idea.