Abstract: A pellet mill is disclosed having a ring die and a powered extrusion roll with external bearings. The ring die may be powered or free rotating. Pressure and temperature at the pinch gap between the die and roll may be monitored and the mill rotation drives and the pinch gap size may be adjusted during operation. The operational parameters may be monitored and controlled by a computer based system in real time.

Abstract: An atmospheric water heating system is presented, where hot gasses from a burner are introduced directly to water. The water is exposed to the burner exhaust gasses as a film upon a series of rotating discs partially submerged in a reservoir. The water vaporizes and then re-condenses on subsequent discs, cooling the exhaust gas and heating the reservoir water. The heated reservoir water may be used to heat space heating water with a water-to-water heat exchanger. The water vapor may be used to heat environmental forced hot air with a vapor-to-air heat exchanger.

Abstract: A solid fuel gravity feed combustion device, system and method are presented. The device includes a chute having an inlet and outlet, such that the chute inlet is configured to receive multiple pellets. A floor is disposed substantially below the chute inlet, and adjacent to the chute outlet. The chute outlet is configured to accommodate a pellet pile including at least a portion of the multiple pellets disposed upon the floor, where the pile surface is oriented substantially at a pellet angle of repose.

Abstract: A solid fuel conveying system is presented. The system includes a low power agitating grate. The grate has a surface for burning solid fuel in a burner, such as a downdraft burner. The grate includes a rotating camshaft and a plurality of movable grate elements. Each movable grate element has a cam end and a slide end. A cam bore passes through the grate element cam end, and a slide bore passes through the grate element slide end. A slide pin passes through each movable grate slide bore. A plurality of cams are disposed along the rotating camshaft, with each cam disposed within a cam bore in one of the plurality of movable grates elements. A camshaft drive rotates the camshaft, thereby moving each grate element in accordance with the orientation of the cam passing through the corresponding cam bore of that grate element.

Abstract: A gas-to-liquid heat exchanger is presented, where a gas is introduced directly to liquid. The liquid is exposed to the gas as a liquid film upon a series of rotating heat exchange surfaces partially submerged in a liquid reservoir. The liquid vaporizes and then re-condenses on subsequent heat exchange surfaces, such that heat is exchanged between the gas and the liquid. Particulates within the gas coalesce into the vaporized liquid and collect into the liquid reservoir as the vapor re-condenses.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an extrusion die is presented. A die housing having an exterior surface and an inner interface surface is formed. A die insert having an outer interface surface and an extrusion surface is formed. The die housing is configured to removably receive the die insert so that the outer interface surface is adjacent to the inner interface surface. The inner interface surface is configured to substantially enclose the outer interface surface.