Abstract: The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.

Abstract: The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.

Abstract: The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.

Abstract: Methods of combustion include metering a substantially explosible powder into an oxidizing gas using a positive displacement powder dispersion device to suspend the powder in the gas and directing the powder in the gas to form a controlled stream of a moving explosible powder dispersion. In some embodiments, the method further includes igniting the dispersion with an ignition source to produce a stationary deflagrating combustion wave and sustaining combustion by continuing to meter the powder into the gas. In other embodiments, the method further includes adjusting a nozzle velocity of the dispersion to reflect properties of the dispersion to create a sustainable flame and igniting the dispersion to produce a stationary deflagrating wave of the dispersion. In other embodiments, the method further includes igniting the dispersion in a combustion area to produce a stationary deflagrating wave such that a conductive heat transfer from combustion brings the powder to combustion temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an explosible powder suitable for combustion in an oxidizing gas. This method involves providing a biomass feedstock material and drying the biomass feedstock material to a moisture level of less than or equal to 10%. The dried biomass feedstock material is milled to form an explosible powder suitable for combustion when dispersed in an oxidizing gas. A system for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an explosible powder suitable for combustion in an oxidizing gas. This method involves providing a biomass feedstock material and drying the biomass feedstock material to a moisture level of less than or equal to 10%. The dried biomass feedstock material is milled to form an explosible powder suitable for combustion when dispersed in an oxidizing gas. A system for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An engine includes at least one cylinder, an intake valve, a conduit, a positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device, and an oxidizing gas source supplying an oxidizing gas to the conduit. The cylinder is defined by a cylinder block having a bore, a cylinder head coupled to the top of the cylinder block, and a piston received in the bore of the cylinder block. The intake valve is communicatively coupled with the cylinder head. The conduit is communicatively coupled with the intake valve. The positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device is communicatively coupled with the conduit. The positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device meters a supply of a powdered fuel including a substantially explosible powder such that the intake valve admits a powdered fuel dispersion including the substantially explosible powder dispersed in the oxidizing gas at an explosible ratio such that the powdered fuel dispersion is explosible.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices convert biomass from the field to provide heat, motive working gas, electrical energy, or fuel such that the biomass directly replaces or supplements liquid fossil fuels wherever these fuels may be used. The methods include procedures for harvesting the biomass, reducing it to a transportable form, purifying it and blending additives as necessary, and finally reducing the refined biomass to an explosible particle size distribution generally finer than 80 mesh for heating applications or 200 mesh for application in internal or external combustion engines. The present invention preferably includes transportation of the finished powder to storage units at the end user site, where the fuel is used by continuous delivery, metering, and dispersal in air to produce a continuous supply of an explosible fluid dispersion for direct energy conversion. Systems of automatic production for a variety of applications are also described.

Abstract: The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.

Abstract: A powdered fuel includes a powder including a material consisting of particles having a particle size distribution median and other statistical characteristics such that less than about 5% of the particles by weight have a size larger than an explosibility size limit for the material. The particle size distribution median and other statistical characteristics are selected based on the use of the powder as a substantially explosible fuel. In one embodiment the material is biomass. In other embodiments, the material is a metal material, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, a plastic material, or a hydrocarbon-bearing solid. A powdered fuel dispersion includes an oxidizing gas and a powdered fuel dispersed in the oxidizing gas at a ratio such that the powdered fuel dispersion is explosible. Proper control of the moving dispersion produces a stationary deflagrating wave that substantially consumes the fuel to produce energy.

Abstract: An engine includes at least one cylinder, an intake valve, a conduit, a positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device, and an oxidizing gas source supplying an oxidizing gas to the conduit. The cylinder is defined by a cylinder block having a bore, a cylinder head coupled to the top of the cylinder block, and a piston received in the bore of the cylinder block. The intake valve is communicatively coupled with the cylinder head. The conduit is communicatively coupled with the intake valve. The positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device is communicatively coupled with the conduit. The positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device meters a supply of a powdered fuel including a substantially explosible powder such that the intake valve admits a powdered fuel dispersion including the substantially explosible powder dispersed in the oxidizing gas at an explosible ratio such that the powdered fuel dispersion is explosible.

Abstract: Methods of combustion include metering a substantially explosible powder into an oxidizing gas using a positive displacement powder dispersion device to suspend the powder in the gas and directing the powder in the gas to form a controlled stream of a moving explosible powder dispersion. In some embodiments, the method further includes igniting the dispersion with an ignition source to produce a stationary deflagrating combustion wave and sustaining combustion by continuing to meter the powder into the gas. In other embodiments, the method further includes adjusting a nozzle velocity of the dispersion to reflect properties of the dispersion to create a sustainable flame and igniting the dispersion to produce a stationary deflagrating wave of the dispersion. In other embodiments, the method further includes igniting the dispersion in a combustion area to produce a stationary deflagrating wave such that a conductive heat transfer from combustion brings the powder to combustion temperature.