Abstract: A grain tank includes a generally flat bottom that is oriented at a position that is less than the angle of repose of the grain. A conveyor mechanism conveys grain along the bottom to a cross auger for unloading. One or more sensors may be placed in the grain tank to determine a state of the grain to further determine if the conveyor mechanism should be operated to unload grain from the grain tank.

Abstract: An aseptic ice making system includes an ice making system to receive water from a water supply. The ice making system includes an ice producing subsystem to produce ice and a positive air pressure subsystem to maintain a positive air pressure environment within the ice making system.

Abstract: In order to provide a method of introducing auxiliary material into the flow path of a crude gas stream charged with wet-paint overspray before the crude gas stream passes through at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the crude gas stream, with which method an introduction of auxiliary material into the application region of a paint shop is reliably prevented even in the event of incorrect operation, a method is proposed, which comprises the following method steps: detecting whether there is an adequate crude gas flow through the at least one filter element; and blocking the introduction of auxiliary material into the flow path of the crude gas stream if it is determined that there is not an adequate crude gas flow.

Abstract: A system to provide a particulate solid material to a pressurized gasification reactor includes a low pressure storage vessel fluidly connected to the inlet of a bulk materials pump, a first part of a transport conduit directly connecting the outlet of the bulk materials pump to an inlet of a diverter valve, a second part of the transport conduit connecting an outlet of the diverter valve to a burner as present in a reactor vessel, wherein said diverter valve is provided with a second outlet connecting a recycle conduit with the low pressure storage vessel and which diverter valve is adjustable to either fluidly connect the bulk materials pump to the burner or alternatively fluidly connect the bulk materials pump to the low pressure storage vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus that are optimized for producing Group III-N (nitrogen) compound semiconductor wafers and specifically for producing GaN wafers. Specifically, the methods relate to substantially preventing the formation of unwanted materials on an isolation valve fixture within a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. In particular, the invention provides apparatus and methods for limiting deposition/condensation of GaCl3 and reaction by-products on an isolation valve that is used in the system and method for forming a monocrystalline Group III-V semiconductor material by reacting an amount of a gaseous Group III precursor as one reactant with an amount of a gaseous Group V component as another reactant in a reaction chamber.

Abstract: A steel sided double-walled bottom fed sawdust, woodchip and other particulate matter burning furnace where combustion air is pre-heated by passing around the combustion area between the double walls and further having an automatic fuel shut-off feature.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for the combustion of granular, solid fuel, for example wood-flour pellets, chips and the like, comprising a preferably horizontal combustion chamber (16), a dispensing unit (3) for feeding the fuel into the combustion chamber via a fuel feed pipe (15), air inlets (22, 23) with blower (18) for the delivery of primary air (P) to the combustion chamber via at least one air duct or air chamber (24, 25) in order to produce a flow of air through the combustion chamber and the fuel for a primary combustion of the fuel to combustion gases, and for the delivery of secondary air (S) to a secondary combustion chamber (26) via a secondary air distributor (26A) in order to roduce a secondary combustion of the combustion gases formed in the primary combustion together with a common outlet (47) for the primary air, the combustion gases and the secondary air from the secondary combustion chamber to a boiler space (12) in a boiler (2) for transmitting the heat from the said primary

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, and a process for its charging, for carrying out high-temperature recycling for heterogeneously occurring waste in compact packages. The compact packages are introduced into a heated channel for evaporation of liquids and slightly fluid materials as well as to partly decompose them. The invention is characterized by a temperature insulating mouthpiece interconnecting the reactor and the channel for limiting the conduction of heat from the reactor to the channel. Accordingly, packages may be serially forced through the channel and into the reactor while maintaining the packages in sealing engagement with the channel to prevent reduction in the predetermined cross section in response to high temperatures transmitted from the reactor.

Abstract: A biomass-fueled furnace for residential or institutional space and hot water heating. Wood chips, the preferred fuel, are purchased "green and/or wet" and are stored in a dryer/storage assembly which uses waste clean exhaust gases produced by the furnace to dry them. Wood chips are fed via gravity to the primary combustion chamber where, via pyrolysis, they are burned. A thimble combustor eliminates radiant heat loss from the primary pyrolysis zone, allowing stable pyrolysis at low burning rates. A second combustion chamber fed with pre-heated air completely oxidizes pyrolysis gases. This furnace is capable of operating continuously at extremely low fuel consumption rates so that heat release can be regulated by thermostat in the same manner as conventional gas and oil fired furnaces. A combination of fuel drying plus secondary air preheating by the secondary flame allows stable operation at extremely low or "idle" fuel rates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pellet fuel burning heating unit for burning corn or wood pellets having a balanced pressure system having a four-way split combustion intake airstream. The invention includes a combustion air blower system for providing combustion air into a firebox containing a burner under positive pressure and at the same time providing a negative pressure to remove the combustion gases from the firebox. A pressure regulator and air splitter maintains a balance between the positive and negative pressure and adjusts the air flow into the firebox and out the exhaust. The exhaust is provided through a bank of exhaust tubes running from the top of the firebox to an exhaust manifold. The blower air moves into the pressure regulator and air splitter dividing the air flow such that a portion enters the heating unit exhaust manifold to produce a negative pressure and the remaining portion enters the heating unit burner under positive pressure.

Abstract: A particulate delivery system is disclosed for particulate burners in which a hopper is provided for supplying particulate fuel to a hopper discharge opening. A rotating turntable is provided below the hopper discharge opening and includes at least one and preferably a plurality of flexible resilient vanes rotating with the turntable. A wall partially encircles the vanes and is closed on its bottom end by the upper surface of the turntable. The wall includes a lateral discharge opening that facilitates controlled discharge of the particulate fuel over the peripheral edge of the turntable. A chute receives the discharged particulate material, and drops it into a burn pot of the associated particulate burner.

Abstract: The smoke generator produces smoke from combustible matter, such as sawdust or particulated wood, under a controlled set of smoke generation parameters which can be varied over a range of operating set-points. The pyrolysis and partial combustion phases of smoke generation are physically separated and are independently controlled. A controlled rate of sawdust or other combustible matter is fed into an air-excluded pyrolysis chamber in which the pyrolysis temperature is controlled by means of an adjustable power supply to a heating element in the pyrolysis chamber. The ash remaining after pyrolysis of the combustible matter is continuously removed from the pyrolysis chamber. Pyrolytic gases generated by thermal destruction of combustible matter in the pyrolysis chamber are removed to a second chamber where a controlled rate of air is injected with the hot pyrolytic gases to achieve a desired level of partial combustion.

Abstract: A pellet fuel burning heating unit having a firebox with a burner therein connected to a combustion air duct, an exhaust pipe to remove combustion gases from the firebox, a blower to provide combustion air and a pressure regulator and air splitter to divide the air flow from the blower into the combustion air duct and into the exhaust pipe. The air flow into the combustion air duct creates a positive pressure in the burner and the air flow into the exhaust pipe creates a suction of the exhaust gases in the firebox.

Abstract: A system for burning biomass to fuel a gas turbine 10 which generally comprises a pressurized combustion chamber 54, a feeder device 14 for feeding biomass particles into the combustion chamber 54, an air compressor 82 for supplying compressed air to the combustion chamber 54, an ash extracting device 92 for removing ash from the combustion gases 75, a turbine 116 and a central controller 126 for monitoring and controlling various aspects of the system 10. The biomass is fed into the combustion chamber 54 where the particles combust and produce highly pressurized combustion gases 75. The ash extracting device 92 removes the ash in the combustion gases 75 before the combustion gases 75 enter the turbine 116. The highly pressurized combustion gases 75 enter the turbine 116 where they expand to produce work and cause the blades of the turbine 116 to rotate. The turbine 116 drives an electric generator which is linked to a power transmission line through any suitable switching gear.

Abstract: A stove for burning corn (maize) including a heat exchanger having an input chamber in which corn is burned, and an output chamber where heat from the burning corn is absorbed in air, which is directed to a conventional grain drying machine for drying the grain therein. Unique arrangements are made for optimizing the quantity of air admitted to the input chamber for combustion, and for making the flow of combustion air uniform across the entire mass of burning corn. An auger is included for feeding corn to the input chamber either from a separate supply vessel, or, in cases where corn is the grain to be dried, from the grain dryer itself.

Abstract: A pellet fuel burning apparatus which includes a housing and a display chamber defined within the housing. Window structure enables viewing of the interior of the chamber from outside the housing. Pellet fuel is burned in a zone remote from the display chamber. Flames and gaseous combustion products from the pellet fuel fire are channel upwardly into the display chamber against simulated logs.

Abstract: A pellet stove has an arrangement for improving the flow of air therethrough. Air entering the stove is split into first and second portions. The first portion is diverted upwardly through a combustion chamber, wherein pellets are burned, thereby aiding in the burning of the pellets. The first portion of air then exits from the combustion chamber. It is directed to a rear of the stove through a heat exchanger where a flue exhaust is located. The second portion of air has three parts. The second portion of air is simultaneously diverted upwardly around the hopper and auger mechanisms, whereby the mechanisms and the pellets therein are cooled. One part of the second portion of air then is received in the flue exhaust so that this one part of the second portion of air exits the stove, creating a negative pressure in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A pellet burning appliance with an improved burner is disclosed. This improved burner includes an open ended retort in communication with a feed auger at the inlet end opposite the open end. The feed auger delivers solid fuel pellets through the inlet end which results in underfeeding action and cross-flow of the combustion bed. An air hole arrangement introduces primary and secondary air for highly efficient burning. The floor of the retort is flat, and colinear with the bottom of the auger tube. The burner is inclined within the appliance at approximately 22.5.degree. from the horizontal. This design promotes efficient burning as the constantly fed fuel spreads evenly whereby it combusts over substantially the entire length of the retort. The feeding action continually pushes clinkers and other combustion inhibiting particulates, in an unobstructed manner, off the retort's terminal end.

Abstract: Burner having two coaxially mounted tubes (3,4). The outer tube (3) is provided with means to introduce both air and particulate matter in the space between both tubes. For conveying of solid matter between both tubes screw conveyor means (5) are provided. Transferring of gasses resulting from gasification of the solid material to the inner space of the inner tube 4 is provided by opening (15).

Abstract: A gravity operated burner for particulate fuel. Fuel held in a hopper drops downwardly through a fuel tube to fall on an inclined chute. The chute feeds a shelf where burning takes place in a high heat zone. Material on the shelf stops unhindered flow of fuel down the chute.

Abstract: A fuel metering bin level control for a wood chip bin feeding a boiler wherein the wood chips have a high propensity to bridge the bin when packed, the level control includes a short chute through which the chips are fed into the upper portion of the bin and a pair of doors in the chute are opened and closed by pneumatic cylinders operating through four bar linkages in response to signals from a level transmitter to maintain the level of wood chips in the fuel metering bin within a range that prevents the chips from bridging the bin and allows the feed to the bin to be continuous with excess chips being diverted to a silo for storage and future use.

Abstract: A fuel reactor particularly adopted for the efficient combustion of wood and wood-product fuels includes a core comprised of an inner fuel tube and an outer gas tube. Fuel is introduced into one end of the fuel tube and the combustion process is initiated. Perforations in the gas tube allow the combustion gas to progress down the fuel tube and combine with air in the gas tube. A high temperature is maintained on the gas tube to enhance the combustion process. In addition, high temperature-high pressure steam and air are introduced into the core to increase the reactivity rate of char products. The high temperature-high pressure steam is produced by a novel steam pump. The combustion gases are further processed through a gas dispersion chamber, including dispersion plates, and a gas expansion chamber. Heat is extracted from the combustion gases via a novel heat exchanger which includes a gas dispersion shelf, a radiating heat exchanger plate, a primary heat exchanger, and a condensing heat exchanger.

Abstract: The incinerator is made of a loading member, a burning chamber, a combustion chamber and a duct member having a restricted dimension for connecting the burning and the combustion chambers. The loading member is an upstanding cylinder for receiving the waste material and dropping it in the burning chamber. The burning chamber has a floor located at such a distance from loading cylinder so as to obtain the spreading of the waste material in a generally frusto-conical shape. A peripheral wall around the burning chamber is dimensioned to leave an air space around the frusto-conical shape. An air intake in the peripheral wall provides a circulation of air in the air space. The duct members are diametrically opposed to the air intake and funnel the hot fumes from the burning chamber to the combustion chamber. The concentration of the hot fumes in the duct members considerably raises the temperature in the duct members for a practically complete decomposition of the products in the fumes.

Abstract: This apparatus relates to stoves, to devices for heating that use sawdust, ground corn cobs and other suitable materials gravity fed through a conical truncated feeder-hopper into a firebox. The heat generated raises the temperature of a tubular cylindrical structure that contains or encloses the firebox and directs gaseous by-products along its longitudinal axis to an upturned, upwardly disposed second terminal end that effects a ninety degree elbow turn, becoming a flue extension. A variety of secondary devices may be affixed to the basic heat generator or stove to provide for a variety of applications.

Abstract: A combustible element has a defined geometrical configuration and comprises a fragmented non-consolidated content of combustible material and a combustible enclosure for the material. A plurality of such elements define in a combustion chamber a channel having a geometrically defined configuration, which provides the combustion area and access for the air utilized in the combustion of the fragmented content of the element and of combustible gases evolved during combustion of the combustible material, as well as egress means for gaseous combustion products. Apparatus for the combustion of such elements is preferably provided with a heat exchanging surface defined by a smoke chamber laterally surrounding the combustion chamber. High combustion efficiency and other advantages are stated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for burning fuel in a combustion chamber having an exhaust port. The invention includes a combustion device having a burner head for burning fuel to produce a volitilization zone of high heat. The burner head is positioned in the combustion chamber directly beneath the exhaust port to assure a substantially vertical flame. The upright flame produces a zone of volatilization that continuously contacts the fuel on the burner to vaporize or volatilize a higher percentage of the fuel than in previous combustion apparatuses.

Abstract: A particle fuel burning furnace has an upper combustion chamber holding a pile of particle fuel and burning the same from the bottom. The furnace includes a lower combustion chamber for afterburning combustible gases off by burning solid fuel in the upper chamber and replaceable refractory bricks containing a series of spaced vertically-extending passageways interconnecting the bottom of the upper chamber and the top of the lower chambers for communicating combustible gases from the upper to the lower chamber. An improved particle fuel diversion structure in the furnace includes an elongated fuel diverter block having a recessed dome-shaped cavity therein and open at a bottom side and spacer blocks disposing the diverter block in the upper chamber in spaced relationship above the bottom of the upper chamber and with its recessed cavity overlying the bricks containing the passageways. Furthermore, the bricks extend above the bottom of the upper chamber and into the recessed cavity of the diverter block.

Abstract: A particulate material fired convection heating unit including a combustion chamber, a shaped flue duct, and a fan means to draw therefrom gases and draw them through at least one convector pipe before the flue gases return and pass to a flue to be allowed to escape to atmosphere. The firebox has in association therewith a duct through which the flue gases are drawn to a free standing convector unit in which the convector pipes are situated and around which ambient air circulates to be heated to thereby heat an area in which the convector unit is situated. In an industrial, horticultural and agricultural situation the heating unit can be associated with a firebox of a particulate coal, wood, woodwaste or oil fired boiler or burner. The free standing convector unit thereof can be sited in a glasshouse or factory so that heat convected therefrom heats the ambient air in which the convector unit is sited.

Abstract: A burner for use in burning granulated solid fuel including a burner head having a combustion chamber and inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof communicated with the combustion chamber. Means is provided to deliver granulated solid fuel to the inlet opening and means is provided for delivering primary combustion air to the inlet opening. The primary combustion air is preheated by passing along the burner head prior to entry to the inlet opening and a pilot assembly in the combustion chamber maintains a constant pilot during turndown of the burner. A retention barrier in the combustion chamber retains fuel particles larger than a predetermined size in the combustion chamber to insure complete incineration thereof.

Abstract: A heat generator comprising a fuel supply chamber (7a), having at its lower end an inwardly tapered section (12), comprising at its lower end a burner plate (14) with mixing strips (33) and a combustion pipe (20), said tapered section (12) being provided with apertures (8) for primary air in its upper part, apertures (13) for secondary air at a level just above the level of the burner plate (14) and apertures (22) for tertiary air at a level just below the level of the burner plate (14) at the level of mixing strips (33). Preferably all air supplies are preheated. The combustion pipe (20) stands in closed connection with an outlet-pipe, preferably provided with an adjustable ventilator.

Abstract: A combustion system for domestic or small industrial heating needs, utilizing biomass fuels such as wood and brush chips, sawdust, logs, nut hulls, peat, leaves and other organic waste products of forestry, agriculture and industry with essentially smokeless, clean exhaust. By preheating the combustion air, insulating the combustion process and carefully controlling the fuel to air proportions and mixing parameters, essentially complete combustion with very little excess air at high temperatures is achieved even with fuels containing over half their weight in water. This water is then condensed out of the exhaust gases in uniquely designed air and water counterflow heat exchangers that can capture over 90% of the high heat value of the fuel. This invention is capable of maintaining clean combustion at high temperatures with little excess air, at burn rates much lower than the best popular "air-tight" woodstoves and is capable of higher heat outputs than most domestic heat plants.

Abstract: A furnace having a fuel hopper in communication with a combustion chamber provided with an inclined, fuel-supporting grate. A rotary, flexible feed arm composed of a helically coiled wire serves to feed fuel from the hopper on to the grate. A draft is induced through the combustion chamber and passes through the grate and fuel supported thereon.

Abstract: There is disclosed a furnace for burning wooden wastes and, more specifically, sawdust and/or barks. The furnace is provided with an oil burner required for starting the fire. The draught from the oil burner fan is directed within a perforated box, located in the combustion chamber of the furnace, and the sawdust or the barks or other wooden particles fall, according to a measured flow, over the perforated box. The sawdust is first alighted by the oil burner flame, and combustion thereafter builds up thanks to the draught from the perforated box. This box draught comprises a vertically-upwardly-oriented vector, for alighting the wood particles before the latter reach the box, and a horizontal vector extending toward the interior of the furnace to force the burning particles away from the side wall of the furnace. The system includes measured flow feeding system for the sawdust and/or the bark, and having a pair of flap-doors to prevent the escape of smoke from the furnace.

Abstract: A furnace adapted to burn wood chips and wood particles and including an inner cylinder adapted to be positioned in horizontal relation and including a primary combustion area. A funnel assembly is provided for supporting a quantity of wood particles and for funneling the wood particles into the primary combustion area of the inner cylinder. A second cylinder is also provided, the second cylinder having a length greater than that of the inner cylinder and having one end which surrounds the inner cylinder such that the inner cylinder and the second cylinder define an air space therebetween. The other end of the second cylinder defines a secondary combustion area where the combustion gases from the primary combustion area are mixed with secondary air.

Abstract: A particle fuel burning furnace has an upper combustion chamber for holding a pile of particle fuel and burning the same from the bottom thereof. The furnace also includes a lower combustion chamber for afterburning combustible gases given off by the burning of solid fuel in the upper chamber and a series of spaced apart vertically-extending passageways arranged in a row and interconnecting the upper and lower chambers for communicating the combustible gases from the upper to the lower chamber. A first improved feature relates to a particle fuel delivery control device which operates an auger for filling the upper chamber with particle fuel to a desired level. A beam of light is transmitted and reflected between a photoelectric cell and reflector respectively of the device. When the particle fuel pile has grown in height during filling to the desired level the light beam is interrupted and filling is terminated.

Abstract: A furnace using pelletized wood as a fuel and a system for controlling the operation of the furnace are described. Pelletized wood stored in a hopper is fed into the combustion chamber of the furnace from an elevated position; and combustion of the pelletized wood is controlled by microprocessor-based circuit which receives input signals representative of the interior and exterior temperatures of the building, the air flow and the level of fuel in the combustion chamber and processes this information in accordance with a predetermined program to switch the furnace into one of two modes. In the `low` mode, the exterior temperature is below a certain value for example, 0.degree. C., but the interior temperature is above it. In this case a fire is maintained in the combustion chamber in anticipation of the interior temperature falling beneath this value.

Abstract: In the combustion of granular fuels in current use the ash causes problems in fusing, in connection with combustion and ash extraction and additionally in the form of fuel lost when it becomes intermingled with the ash. In the burner according to the invention the fuel is continuously fed (1) into the combustion space (9). The combustion air is fed (4) to the space (10) between the tubular parts (2,3) and from there on through the lower holes (11) in the primary air flange (7) to the perforations (12) in the grate (5) below the combustion fuel layer. The secondary air is led through the flange (7) upper part by way of the turboelements (14) and air slits (13), as a horizontally swirling air flow through the combustion chamber (9) to the furnace, where gases are burned while flowing in at a horizontal level. The flame flowing on this horizontal axis combusts any burning fuel which may have fallen to the bottom of the furnace.

Abstract: A steam generating furnace which burns high moisture content fuel has a panel of heat absorbing tubes dividing it into two vertical interconnecting passageways: (a) a combustion chamber for burning the predried fuel and (b) a drying shaft for extracting moisture from the fuel. Wet fuel is introduced near the top of the drying shaft. As it falls it is dried by some of the hot gases diverted from the top of the combustion chamber into the top of the drying shaft. The cooling of the hot combustion gases due to evaporation of moisture from the wet fuel causes a difference in density between the gases in the two passageways, creates a natural, unidirectional circulation of part of the combustion gases from the top of the combustion chamber to the drying shaft. Predrying the wet fuel causes the fuel to burn faster and hotter thereby producing a stable and efficient combustion of the wet fuel at higher specific combustion rates.

Abstract: A furnace system for automatic, continuous and efficient burning of fragmented wood-type fuel incorporates a wood-type fuel combustion chamber, a fragmented wood-type fuel feeder or conveyor for trickle feeding fuel into the chamber at selected uniform rates, a heat exchanger or heat exchange plenum, igniter for igniting the fuel fragments supported in the combustion chamber, a flame sensor mounted relative to the combustion chamber for sensing the presence of flames from fuel supported in the combustion chamber, one or more blowers providing forced air or forced draft, and a control circuit for controlling and sequencing operation of the elements for the furnace system and for operatively coupling the flame sensor and igniter for switching off the igniter upon sensing of flames from the wood-type fuel.

Abstract: Pollution control apparatus and method are disclosed in which hot exhaust gas containing pollutants including solid particles and hydrocarbon vapors is treated by transmitting such exhaust gas through a container containing wood members, such as wood chips, which serve as a filter media for filtering out such pollutants by causing such solids to deposit and such hydrocarbon vapors to condense upon the surface of the wood members. The contaminated wood chips are discharged from the filter and further processed into chip board or other commercial wood products thereby disposing of the pollutants. Lumber may be used as the wood members of the filter in a lumber kiln by deposition of solid particles on the rough surface of such lumber. The contaminated surfaces of the lumber are removed by a planer which produces smooth finished lumber and contaminated wood chips that may be processed into chip board or other commercial wood products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a burner unit for shavings or chips. It is particularly intended for firing with raw shavings or raw chips in a boiler (1). It is provided with a stoker apparatus (2) for feeding the shavings or chips to the boiler. It has further a predesiccation chamber (11, 21, 23, 27, 28) which is built up in the combustion chamber (12) of the boiler (1).

Abstract: A burner casing having a vertical support sleeve mounted at its center forms a combustion chamber below the sleeve and an annular duct space that surrounds the sleeve. A self supporting fuel cartridge containing consolidated solid fuel particles fits slidably within the support sleeve and has one end resting upon a mandrel located in the combustion chamber. Air to support steady state combustion of the fuel particles at a surface of the cartridge is forced downwardly through the cartridge. The heat of combustion and exhaust products pass from the combustion chamber through the annular duct space and then to other furnace components.

Abstract: The furnace includes an upstanding hopper-like member having an increasing cross-sectional area from a fuel inlet at its upper end to a hollow box-like grate releasably and removably mounted within its lower end portion at an elevation slightly below the upper extremity of a gas passageway opening laterally from such member and communicating with a manifold chamber extending horizontally therefrom. The grate has elongate slot-like openings extending horizontally of and vertically through its medial portion, and preferably includes cylindrical solid rods extending longitudinally of the upper portions of such openings. An electrically-powered blower is releasably connected to the grate, for movement therewith, and during operation conducts air to the interior of the hollow sections of the grate. The latter are provided with apertures which discharge jets of air vertically upwardly and downwardly, and also angularly upwardly and downwardly, from the grate.

Abstract: Heated waste gases are directed from the tunnel of a brick kiln into a dryer for effective drying of sawdust which is then fed from the dryer into a grinder which reduces the sawdust to finely divided wood fibers and then delivers the ground sawdust to a storage hopper. Apparatus is provided for directing an airstream from a source into and through each of a plurality of burner units positioned along the tunnel of the kiln and extending into the tunnel for generating the desired heat for treatment of the brick, and further, means are provided for feeding the dried ground sawdust from the storage hopper into the airstream in each of the burner units so that the airstream induces the flow of sawdust from the storage means into each of the burner units for the sawdust thus being utilized as the fuel for the burners.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering energy from wasted coal by the steps of creating at least one channel through the wasted coal, igniting the wasted coal in said channel, subjecting said wasted coal, at least at said channel, to a negative pressure applied at a preselected point, connecting said wasted coal, at least at said channel, to a source of air remote from said preselected zone whereby air is induced through said ignited coal to burn said coal to produce hot gaseous products of combustion, and the hot gaseous products of combustion are drawn from said zone, and utilizing said hot gaseous products of combustion in a heat exchange relationship to recover the heat energy therefrom.

Abstract: A furnace system suitable for independent use and for retrofitting conventional central heating oil furnaces to permit controlled continuous and efficient combustion of fragmented wood type fuels. Wood chips or other fuel fragments are trickle fed into a refractory wood type combustion chamber. For retrofitting an oil furnace the oil burner gun is removed. A flame tube adapter couples the wood type fuel combustion chamber into the oil combustion chamber and heat exchanger plenum of the conventional furnace. The oil burner gun of the retrofitted furnace is used to ignite the wood chips or other fuel fragments during start up. A blower establishes forced draft. The furnace system includes automatic controls for sequencing operation of the elements of the retrofitting furnace system. An independent wood chip furnace system is also described.

Abstract: An improved burning system for automatically controllably charging a wood-waste burning steam boiler utilizes a fuel bin unloader having a gravity fed screw metering device for feeding fuel into the system in response to steam demand and pollution output feedback signals. The metering device deposits fuel through a rotary air lock into an air stream of a fuel injection fan having a vortex controller on the inlet side to modulate and maintain a proper fuel-air ratio for wood firing. The fan injects the fuel and air into the boiler through a controlled proportioning valve. All controls and recording devices are contained in one control unit for operating each component of the system to achieve and maintain a proper fuel-air ratio according to received steam demand and pollution output feedback signals.

Abstract: A furnace for burning particulate fuels, such as sawdust and the like, and which includes a rotating auger mounted in a rotating cylindrical hopper for feeding the sawdust to a sawdust burner. The hopper is rotatably mounted in a position adjacent a sawdust burner which is located in a housing to form a furnace enclosure. The auger is rotatably mounted in a fixedly mounted conveyor tube which is axially mounted through the hopper. Power means is provided for rotating the auger and the hopper. The hopper has an opening enclosed by a door for inserting sawdust. The hopper has paddles for agitating the sawdust and dropping it onto an open upper side of the auger which then conveys it onto a burner plate in the furnace enclosure which receives induced air for combustion purposes.

Abstract: A sawdust-burning furnace comprising an inner shell, an outer shell disposed approximately 1 inch from the inner shell, a bottom member and a cover member, an air intake from the base thereof, an exhaust aperture, means to place sawdust therein with a primary channel and inverted cone-shaped burning area, and a flame deflector having legs adapted to rest upon the sawdust while burning is taking place.

Abstract: A smoke generator and method for smoking food products such as meat, sausage and fish are provided. Smoke is produced from glowing sawdust maintained at a temperature just below the flame point in the presence of excess oxygen. The smoke produced is low in tar and carbon and the food product produced possesses outstanding smell and taste and has excellent uniformity of color.