# US 2014/0196637 A1 · A Combustion System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196637 A1 - Document ID: US20140196637A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/115,339 - Filed: 2012-05-04 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-04 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Inventors: Jason Joren Jens Stewart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196637A1 ## CPC - F24B 1/026: {with several combustion zones} - F23B 60/00: Combustion apparatus in which the fuel burns essentially without moving - F23B 90/04: including secondary combustion (in separate combustion chambers F23B10/02) - F23G 5/0276: {using direct heating} - F23G 5/04: drying - F23L 1/02: by discharging the air below the fire - F23L 9/02: by discharging the air above the fire - F23L 15/04: Arrangements of recuperators - F24B 1/028: {with means for regulating combustion} - Y02E 20/34: Indirect CO2mitigation, i.e. by acting on non CO2directly related matters of the process, e.g. pre-heating or heat recovery - F24B: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES FOR SOLID FUELS (for solid fuels in combination with gaseous fuels, liquid fuels or other kinds of energy supply F24C1/02); IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH STOVES OR RANGES - F23B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING ONLY SOLID FUEL (for combustion of fuels that are solid at room temperatures, but burned in melted form, e.g. candle wax, C11C5/00, F23C, F23D; using solid fuel suspended in air F23C, F23D1/00; using solid fuel suspended in liquids F23C, F23D11/00; using solid fuel together with fluid fuel or with solid fuel suspended in air, simultaneously or alternately, F23C, F23D17/00) - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - F23L: SUPPLYING AIR OR NON-COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS OR GASES TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS IN GENERAL ({air-supply arrangements for fluent fuels F23C;} firebridges with means for feeding air or steam F23M3/04; baffles or shields with air supply passages F23M9/04); VALVES OR DAMPERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLING AIR SUPPLY OR DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS {(dampers and throat restrictors for open fire-places F24; air inlet valves for open fire fronts F24)}; INDUCING DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS; TOPS FOR CHIMNEYS OR VENTILATING SHAFTS; TERMINALS FOR FLUES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract This invention relates to a combustion system. The combustion system includes a fireplace which has a fire base, a primary combustion zone for pyrolysising and/or combusting a biomass fuel, and a secondary combustion zone for combusting gases and/or particulate matter produced from the pyrolysis and/or combustion of the biomass fuel. The combustion system also includes an exhaust flue, the exhaust flue extending to a position near to, or adjacent, the secondary combustion zone and/or the fire base. The invention may be particularly suitable for use in relation to wood burners, either by retrofitting to existing wood burners or by incorporating into new wood burners. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combustion system, said combustion system including: a) a wood burner, said wood burner including: i) a firebox, ii) a fire base at, or forming, the bottom of the firebox, iii) a primary combustion zone for pyrolysising and/or combusting a biomass fuel, iv) a first air supply means for supplying air to the primary combustion zone, v) a secondary combustion zone for combusting gases and/or particulate matter produced from the pyrolysis and/or combustion of the biomass fuel, b) a second air supply means for introducing super heated air into the region of the secondary combustion zone, said second air supply means sourcing air from within the firebox, c) an exhaust flue, said exhaust flue including a lower portion, and said lower portion extending to a position near to, or adjacent, said secondary combustion zone and/or said fire base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combustion system further includes, or results in, a charcoal/reduction layer forming below the primary combustion zone, and/or between the primary combustion zone and the secondary combustion zone, the arrangement and construction being such that gases and/or particulate matter produced from the pyrolysis and/or combustion of the biomass fuel in the primary combustion zone have to pass over or through said charcoal/reduction layer prior to entering the secondary combustion zone and/or the lower portion of the exhaust flue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combustion system includes a drying zone for drying the biomass fuel and/or removing water from the biomass fuel prior to the pyrolysis and/or combustion of the fuel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first air supply means is an air damper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second air supply means includes a secondary flue partially or wholly surrounding the lower portion of the exhaust flue, with a gap being provided between the secondary flue and the lower portion of the exhaust flue, the arrangement and construction being such that air passing into and down this gap is super heated by exhausting flue gases within the lower portion of the exhaust flue on the one side, and the primary combustion zone on the other side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fire base includes a grate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said grate includes a plurality of hollow tubes, the arrangement and construction being such that these hollow tubes form part of the second air supply means for introducing super heated air into the region of the secondary combustion zone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combustion system further includes insulation means for insulating the region of the secondary combustion zone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said insulation means also serves to introduce a degree of air turbulence and/or mixing into the region of the secondary combustion zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said insulation means is in the form of a ceramic disc. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combustion system is retro-fitted to an existing wood burner. ### Claim 12 A combustion system, substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said combustion system includes a drying zone for drying the biomass fuel and/or removing water from the biomass fuel prior to the pyrolysis and/or combustion of the fuel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first air supply means is an air damper. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first air supply means is an air damper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second air supply means includes a secondary flue partially or wholly surrounding the lower portion of the exhaust flue, with a gap being provided between the secondary flue and the lower portion of the exhaust flue, the arrangement and construction being such that air passing into and down this gap is super heated by exhausting flue gases within the lower portion of the exhaust flue on the one side, and the primary combustion zone on the other side. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second air supply means includes a secondary flue partially or wholly surrounding the lower portion of the exhaust flue, with a gap being provided between the secondary flue and the lower portion of the exhaust flue, the arrangement and construction being such that air passing into and down this gap is super heated by exhausting flue gases within the lower portion of the exhaust flue on the one side, and the primary combustion zone on the other side. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second air supply means includes a secondary flue partially or wholly surrounding the lower portion of the exhaust flue, with a gap being provided between the secondary flue and the lower portion of the exhaust flue, the arrangement and construction being such that air passing into and down this gap is super heated by exhausting flue gases within the lower portion of the exhaust flue on the one side, and the primary combustion zone on the other side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the combustion system further includes insulation means for insulating the region of the secondary combustion zone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) A combustion system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the combustion system further includes insulation means for insulating the region of the secondary combustion zone.