Fuel pellet and method of producing fuel pellet
An ignitable combustible fuel pellet and a method for manufacturing an ignitable combustible fuel pellet are disclosed. The ingredients of the fuel pellet are ground shelled corn, an igniting agent for facilitating continued combustion of the fuel pellet, a bonding agent for bonding the ingredients together, and an anti-caking agent for promoting flowability of the ingredients during the manufacture of the food pellet. The method of forming the food pellet comprises the steps of grinding shelled corn in a hammer mill, mixing the shelled corn with the other ingredients in a grinding mill, and pressing the combined ingredients in a pellet mill.
This non-provision patent application is a continuation of non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/682,933, filed Mar. 7, 2007, and claims the benefit of that application and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/810,958, filed Jun. 5, 2006.
BACKGROUNDThe energy and home heating industry are dominated presently by oil. With fossil fuel prices reaching unprecedented levels world wide, many consumers are turning to alternative fuel sources to heat their homes. Gas, wood and alternative energy are a growing segment of the industry as consumers search for heating methods that are both economical and good for the environment. Manufactured fire logs and wood pellets for fireplaces and stoves are well known and widely used as a convenient heat source. In the recent past, pellets comprised of various cellulosic materials have emerged as an alternative fuel source for home heating. In Europe, where there is a significant push for environmentally safe, affordable fuel alternatives, the wood pellet has enjoyed overwhelming popularity. Despite the fact that the U.S. has been slow to catch on to this trend, indications are that the use of wood pellets is growing. According to the Pellet Fuels Institute, sales in the U.S. of pellet stoves increased by 74 percent from 2004 to 2005. While being a positive indicator for the industry, this increase spurred a nationwide pellet shortage. With much of the nation's wood pellet supply being shipped overseas, producers were unable to meet the demand on home soil. Prices of the pellets more than doubled and despite placing restrictions on the number of bags that could be purchased at one time, many retailers ran through new shipments in less than a day. Unable to get enough fuel to heat their homes, consumers were forced to resort to fossil fuels for the remainder of the winter.
Moreover, the quality of the pellets has recently been in question because of the addition of sub-grade materials and thermoplastics, which together produce fewer BTUs, more emissions, soot and ash. Most wood pellets are made from compressed sawdust, which is a by-product in the furniture making and other wood processing industries, and a wax or thermoplastic bonding agent. The addition of wax or thermoplastic in the pelleting process serves to bond the mixture together. However, when burned, this bonding agent emits harmful and/or damaging chemicals and soot into the environment.
Furthermore, new technologies are consuming more of the raw materials used to make the pellets. Even though trees are a renewable, natural resource, their slow maturation rate, combined with the nation's thriving lumber trade, will continue to present challenges to the wood pellet industry. To meet the nation's growing need for clean, affordable, accessible heating sources, the U.S. must vigilantly pursue viable alternatives.
Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,635,684, 4,236,897, 4,324,561, 4,529,407, 4,702,746, 5,342,418, 5,393,310, 5,980,595, 6,113,662, 6,635,093, 6,793,697, 6,811,759, and International Publication Numbers WO2004/015041 and WO2000/60030. However, each one of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: (1) product contains a thermoplastic bonding material, causing a less environmentally friendly output as well as increased soot build-up and emissions, (2) product has a lower overall heat output and (3) product is more expensive to produce. U.S. Pat. No. 7,318,431 is directed to the construction and operation a stove for combusting biomass materials to generate heat. However, while this patent broadly mentions some biomass materials that can be combusted in ground or pellet form in the stove, it is silent as to the details of the content and formation of fuel pellets that are capable of accomplishing the advantages of the invention set forth herein.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a more environmental friendly and efficient, cheaper and more readily available alternative fuel product that can ease the United States' dependency upon oil and satisfy the deficiency in the pellet industry.
SUMMARYThis invention is directed to a fuel pellet that will satisfy the need for a more environmental friendly and efficient, cheaper and more readily available alternative fuel product that can ease the United States' dependency upon oil. The fuel pellet having features of the present invention comprises a mixture with a majority of ground shelled corn, and further comprises a bonding agent, an igniting agent, and an anti-caking agent in certain mixtures. In an optional embodiment of the aforementioned fuel pellet, the corn may be comprised wholly of grade 2 ground shelled corn having a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight. As a further option, the bonding agent may be comprised solely, or in part, of soy hulls, milo, or any type of distiller grain, among other things. As an alternative option, the anti-caking agent may be comprised solely, or in part, of pulverized limestone, dehydrated phosphorus, or crushed egg shells, among other things. As yet another option, the igniting agent may be comprised solely, or in part, of wheat midds, speltz, milo, or any type of dried distiller grain, among other things.
It is the object of this invention to: (1) provide an efficient, cost effective, environmentally friendly fuel source with low soot output, in the form of a fuel pellet; (2) provide a fuel pellet containing a major portion of ground, shelled corn; (3) provide a fuel pellet with a high heat output; and (4) promote the production and processing of corn in the United States of America, and further support the farmers who grow and process this crop.
Furthermore, this invention provides a method for the production of this fuel pellet. This method is novel due to the novel use of ingredients in the aforementioned composition. Generally, the method involves grinding shelled corn into a fine powder, mixing this with the other ingredients and pressing them through a die to produce a novel, clean burning heating source ready for packaging and shipping. All shelled corn must have a moisture content less than 15% to ensure proper bonding of the ingredients, and to prevent caking during the grinding and pressing steps.
The drawings presented hereafter are to be used together with the description and appended claims to explain the inventive aspects of the invention, and representative examples of the embodiments herein. The drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention to only the illustrated and described embodiments.
The present invention provides both a fuel pellet and a process for its manufacture. The fuel pellet herein provides a novel combination of ingredients to provide a cleaner burning, more environmentally friendly fuel to be used in pellet stoves and/or corn stoves. This combination of ingredients is novel in that it uses ingredients from a list comprised of shelled corn along with other commodity by-products never before integrated to satisfy the overall goals of providing a mixture which is easily produced, with low soot and high temperature output. Ground shelled corn is used as the primary ingredient to produce a high heat output when burned in a corn or pellet stove for home, office or industrial heating. An igniting agent is added to the mix which enables the resulting pellet quickly combust when placed in a pellet or corn stove. A bonding agent is added to bond the material together, along with an anti-caking agent that promotes flowability when the material is pushed through the pellet die during production.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract or drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The Fuel Pellet
DESCRIPTION-PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThe preferred embodiment and best mode specifies a particular ratio of amounts of ingredients that will be passed through the method of production as described below. Generally, this invention comprises fine ground shelled corn as the primary heating source, a bonding agent, an anti-caking agent and an igniting agent. Specifically, and in the best mode, the following relative amounts of ingredients should be used: 50% by weight grade 2 fine-ground shelled corn, 20% by weight soy hulls as a bonding agent; 25% by weight wheat midds as an igniting agent, and 5% pulverized limestone as an anti-caking agent. The preferred moisture content of all ingredients must be less than or equal to 15%. This ensures proper bonding of the ingredients and flowability of the mix as it is pressed through the pellet mill die.
DESCRIPTION-ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTSAlthough the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred version thereof, other versions are possible. For example, Attached
Furthermore, while the preferred anti-caking agent is pulverized limestone, alternatively, pulverized dehydrated phosphorus, or crushed egg shells may be used. Additionally, while the preferred igniting agent is wheat midds, alternatively speltz, milo, barley, oats or wheat may be used. Finally, while the preferred bonding agent is soy hulls, alternatively milo or any type of drier distiller grain may be used.
Similarly,
The previously described versions of the present invention have many advantages, including: high heat output, clean burning and low soot output and environmentally friendly. However, the invention does not require that all advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
The Method of Production
Following the processing of the shelled corn 50, all ingredients are sent to a grain mixer to ensure uniform consistency of the mixture 52. The mixing process should occur until a uniform mixture of all ingredients is evident to those skilled in the art. Once a homogeneous mixture is obtained, the mix is then shipped to a pellet mill 54 where the pelleting process is commenced. The ingredients are loaded into the pellet mill where the mixture is heated to a temperature of between about 125.degree. F. to about 225.degree. F., although preferably at about 125.degree. F. This is accomplished to ensure flowability through the die. The pellet mill presses the mixture through a die of diameter ranging from about 1.5 mm to about 12.8 mm 56. This process involves using a pellet mill instead of an extrusion process, through the scope of the appended claims should be construed broadly enough to support any system capable of pelletizing the aforementioned mixture of ingredients. The final product is then ready to be bagged for shipment to the customer 58.
Claims
1. An ignitable combustible fuel pellet for generating heat in a pellet-burning stove or the like, said fuel pellet comprising the following ingredients:
- (a) ground shelled corn having a moisture content of not more than 15 percent by weight of said ground shelled corn and comprising a range of from about 50 percent to about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) an igniting agent for facilitating continuing combustion of said fuel pellet when said fuel pellet is combusted in a pellet stove or the like;
- (c) a bonding agent for bonding said ingredients together to form said fuel pellet; and
- (d) an anti-caking agent for promoting flowability of said ingredients during the making of said fuel pellet.
2. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent is selected from a group comprising wheat midds, barley, oats, wheat, dried distiller grain, speltz, and milo;
- (b) said bonding agent is selected from a group comprising soy hulls, dried distiller grain, and milo; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent is selected from a group comprising pulverized limestone, dehydrated phosphorous, and crushed egg shells.
3. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises at most about 25 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises at most about 20 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises the balance of said weight of said fuel pellet and at most 5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
4. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises at least about 12.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises at least about 12.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises the balance of said weight of said fuel pellet and at most about 5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
5. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 4 wherein said ground shelled corn comprises particles of size not to exceed about 3.1 mm in any dimension.
6. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises about 25 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises at most about 20 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises the balance of said weight of said fuel pellet and at most 5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
7. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises at most about 25 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises about 20 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises the balance of said weight of said fuel pellet and at most about 5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
8. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises about 25 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and remains substantially constant as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises a range of about 20 percent to about 0 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and decreases in a substantially linear fashion from said about 20 percent to said about 0 percent over a major portion of said range of said ground shelled corn as said percent of ground shelled corn is increased substantially in a linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises a range of about 7.5 percent to about 0 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and remains substantially constant over a major portion of said range of said ground shelled corn as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet, said percent of said anti-caking agent decreasing in a substantially linear fashion to said 0 percent beyond said major portion.
9. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 8 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent is selected from a group comprising wheat midds, barley, oats, wheat, dried distiller grain, speltz, and milo;
- (b) said bonding agent is selected from a group comprising soy hulls, dried distiller grain, and milo; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent is selected from a group comprising pulverized limestone, dehydrated phosphorous, and crushed egg shells.
10. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises a range of about 25 percent to about 0 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and decreases in a substantially linear fashion from said about 25 percent to said about 0 percent as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased substantially in a linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises about 20 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and remains substantially constant as said percent of ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises about 7.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and remains substantially constant as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
11. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 10 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent is selected from a group comprising wheat midds, barley, oats, wheat, dried distiller grain, speltz, and milo;
- (b) said bonding agent is selected from a group comprising soy hulls, dried distiller grain, and milo; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent is selected from a group comprising pulverized limestone, dehydrated phosphorous, and crushed egg shells.
12. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises a range of about 25 percent to about 12.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and decreases in a substantially linear fashion from said about 25 percent to said about 12.5 percent as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises a range of about 25 percent to about 12.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and decreases in a substantially linear fashion from said about 25 percent to said about 12.5 percent as said percent of ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises about 0 percent by weight of said fuel pellet as said percent of ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
13. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 12 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent is selected from a group comprising wheat midds, barley, oats, wheat, dried distiller grain, speltz, and milo;
- (b) said bonding agent is selected from a group comprising soy hulls, dried distiller grain, and milo; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent is selected from a group comprising pulverized limestone, dehydrated phosphorous, and crushed egg shells.
14. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent comprises a range of about 25 percent to about 12.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and decreases in a substantially linear fashion from said about 25 percent to said about 12.5 percent as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) said bonding agent comprises a range of about 20 percent to about 7.5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and decreases in a substantially linear fashion from said about 20 percent to said about 7.5 percent as said percent of ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent comprises about 5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet and remains substantially constant as said percent of said ground shelled corn is increased in a substantially linear fashion from said about 50 percent to said about 75 percent by weight Of said fuel pellet.
15. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 14 wherein:
- (a) said igniting agent is selected from a group comprising wheat midds, barley, oats, wheat, dried distiller grain, speltz, and milo;
- (b) said bonding agent is selected from a group comprising soy hulls, dried distiller grain, and milo; and
- (c) said anti-caking agent is selected from a group comprising pulverized limestone, dehydrated phosphorous, and crushed egg shells.
16. An ignitable combustible fuel pellet for generating heat in a pellet-burning stove or the like, said fuel pellet comprising the following ingredients:
- (a) grade 2 fine ground shelled corn having a moisture content of not more than about 15 percent by weight and comprising about 50 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (b) soy hulls as an igniting agent for facilitating continuing combustion of said fuel pellet when said fuel pellet is combusted in a pellet stove or the like, said soy hulls comprising about 20 percent by weight of said fuel pellet;
- (c) wheat midds as a bonding agent for bonding said ingredients together to form said fuel pellet, said wheat midds comprising about 25 percent by weight of said fuel pellet; and
- (d) pulverized limestone as an anti-caking agent for promoting flowability of said ingredients during the making of said fuel pellet, said anti-caking agent comprising about 5 percent by weight of said fuel pellet.
17. The ignitable combustible fuel pellet of claim 16 wherein said ground shelled corn comprises particles of size not to exceed about 3.1 mm in any dimension.
18. A method for forming ignitable combustible fuel pellets for generating heat in a pellet-burning stove or the like, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) grinding in a hammer mill shelled corn having a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight;
- (b) mixing said shelled corn ground in said grinding mill with other ingredients in a grain mixer to provide a ground shelled corn mixture wherein said shelled corn comprises a range of from about 50 percent to about 75 percent by weight of said ground shelled corn mixture; and
- (c) pressing said ground shelled corn mixture in a pellet mill having a die of size in the range of about 1.5 mm to about 12.8 mm at a temperature in the range of about 125 degrees Fahrenheit to about 225 degrees Fahrenheit to form said combustible fuel pellets.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said pressing step is accomplished at a temperature of about 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein said shelled corn is ground in said hammer mill into particles of size not to exceed about 3.1 mm in any dimension.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 23, 2010
Inventor: Lloyd G. Bier (Shippensburg, PA)
Application Number: 12/806,881
International Classification: C10L 5/44 (20060101);