Abstract: A method of preparing fuel pellets includes the steps of providing a feedstock in the form of agricultural hull fibres. The agricultural hull fibres may be derived from all whole grains and seeds. For example, are comprised of at least one of corn bran, rye bran; oat bran, rice bran, soy bran, canola bran and wheat bran. The method may include the step of mixing the feedstock with a sequestering agent before being formed into pellets for sequestering alkali metal vapors and raising the fusion point of the inorganic elements during combustion of the pellets. The sequestering agent may be calcium carbonate added in amounts up to about 0.5% by weight. The pellets contain additives comprised of ammonium nitrate, calcium, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, barium, iron, potassium and amorphous silicate, which sequester potassium and chlorides.

Abstract: A method of preparing fuel pellets includes the steps of providing a feedstock in the form of agricultural hull fibres having a moisture content of about 10 to about 16%; and compressing and extruding the agricultural fibre feedstock through a die to obtain fuel pellets in the form of small cylinders having a diameter of about ? inch to ¾ inch or more, said pellets having an ash content of about 1.1% to about 20% by weight and a calorific value of about 7,000 BTUs per pound of fuel on a dry basis. The agricultural hull fibres may be derived from all whole grains and seeds. For example, are comprised of at least one of corn bran fibre, rye bran fibre; oat bran fibre, rice bran fibre, soy bran fibre, canola bran fibre and wheat bran fibre.

Abstract: A cyclone gasifying combustion burner and its operation is described. An exemplary burner has an inner cylindrical wall with a contour chamber feeding combustion air into the inner cylindrical wall, with an open end and a solid fuel support end where a combustible material forms a fuel bed. The inner cylindrical wall has a series of inclined air jet holes of substantially predetermined diameter and disposed at substantially predetermined locations therein to create a unidirectional cyclone within a combustion zone defined within the inner cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A burner system is described for burning granular pellets and similarly sized solid biomass heating fuel, e.g. wood pellets. It includes an air tight fire chamber having an exhaust outlet in an upper region thereof and a burner (10) in the bottom thereof for converting the solid fuel to fuel gases and ash in the presence of a limited air supply and combusting the gases formed. The burner comprises upright co-axial inner (12) and outer (11) cylindrical walls providing a confined central gasification/combustion chamber surrounded by an annular combustion air manifold (15). The annular combustion air manifold (15) is closed at the top and bottom with an air inlet (16) in the outer wall and a plurality of spaced aperatures (17) arranged in upward rows in the inner cylindrical wall providing air inlets from the combustion air manifold to the combustion zone of the chamber. A grate at the bottom of the gasification/combustion chamber holds the solid fuel while allowing ash to pass through the grate.

Abstract: A container for hydroponic culture, a hydroponic culture system using such a container and a method for making such a container are described herein. The container has a semi-cylindrical body provided with longitudinal edges, edge clips mounted to the longitudinal edges and a semi-cylindrical cover removably mounted to the edge clips. The cover includes pot receiving apertures and may easily be removed from the edge clips for cleaning operations. End caps are provided to create a waterproof container.