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OwnerJohn Kimberlin, Matthew B. Keelinginventors
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An apparatus, method, and system for combusting bridging fuel which includes biomass material. The apparatus includes an enclosure having a relatively thin wall defining a firebox. A combustion air manifold, and exhaust manifold, and heat exchanger are positioned along the center horizontal axis of the firebox. A fuel feed conveyor enters through the wall of the firebox and extends along the top of the firebox through a feed opening. A temperature sensor is positioned on the exterior of the wall of the firebox. A controller is operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the fuel feed conveyor. If the temperature sensor exceeds a set point, the controller automatically operates the fuel feed conveyor to refill the firebox with fuel. This can reinsulated the wall of the firebox so that fuel surrounds the combustion. Heat is extracted from the combustion by the heat exchanger while the exterior wall of the firebox is kept relatively cool by the insulating layer of fuel. The automatic fuel refill process allows combustion to be continuous instead of requiring shut-down of combustion and re-ignition after filling the firebox with fuel. In one aspect of the invention, the fuel feed conveyor can be automatically reversed after the firebox is filled to plug fuel in the feed opening to seal it and preserve a sole exhaust path through the exhaust manifold. A method according to the invention causes a refilling of fuel into a firebox upon sensing a condition indicative of a collapse of the bridging fuel in the firebox during combustion, losing its insulating effect at that location. The refilling is adapted to reinsulated the firebox with the fuel.
A method of combusting biomass that has bridging characteristics comprising:
A method of filling a combustion chamber with fuel comprising:
A method of controlling combustion in a firebox adapted to combust a bridging biomass fuel comprising:
A control system for a combustor of naturally bridging organic fuel or mixture of naturally bridging organic fuel with other materials, where the combustor includes a firebox with a wall having a top, bottom, opposite sides, and opposite ends and defining an interior and exterior, a clean out transporter motor operatively connected to a clean out transporter at or near the bottom interior, a fuel feed transporter motor operatively connected to a fuel feed transporter at or near the top interior in communication with a feed inlet into the firebox, a combustion air fan or pump motor operatively connected to a combustion air manifold extending into the firebox, a heat exchanger fan, pump, or turbine operatively connected to a heat exchanger extending into the firebox, and an exhaust chamber in fluid communication with an exhaust air manifold extending into the firebox, comprising:
A method of combusting bridgeable fuels comprising:
A method of combusting bridgeable organic fuel in a combustion zone comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.