Combustible fuel

• US 20040045215A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael John Guilfoyle
• Original Assignee: Michael John Guilfoyle
• Inventors: Guilfoyle, Michael John
• Application Number:
  US10/237,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045215A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/577
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

The invention discloses a combustible fuel including a compressed unit of crushed maize cob, such as corn cob or white or yellow maize cob, and a method of its manufacture. The corn cob has no additional non-biomass additives and results in a residue of less than 2% by mass after complete combustion.

Claims

1. A combustible fuel including a compressed unit of crushed maize cob.

2. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, in which the maize cob is selected from a group containing a corn cob, a yellow maize cob and a white maize cob.

3. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, in which the crushed maize cob is compressed to a density of between 0.25 to 1.5 g/cm³.

4. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, which, after combustion thereof is completed, produces a residue of less than 2% by mass.

5. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, which includes suitable ignition additives.

6. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, which includes a corn starch as a binding agent.

7. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, which is adapted to fully ignite within about seven minutes.

8. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 1, which is pre-burned in an oxygen depleted atmosphere to form a charcoal.

9. A combustible fuel including a corn cob pre-burned in an oxygen depleted atmosphere to form a charcoal.

10. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 9, in which the maize cob is selected from a group containing a corn cob, a yellow maize cob and a white maize cob.

11. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 9, which, after combustion thereof is completed, produces a residue of less than 2% by mass.

12. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 9, which includes suitable ignition additives.

13. A combustible fuel as claimed in claim 9, which is adapted to fully ignite within about seven minutes.

14. A method of manufacturing a combustible fuel unit including the steps of crushing at least one maize cob;

of dry mixing the crushed maize cob(s) with a binder to produce a combustible fuel mixture; and

of compressing a volume of the combustible fuel mixture to form a combustible fuel unit.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, which includes the step of crushing the maize cob to a size of between 150 microns and 15 mm.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, which includes the step of adding a suitable ignition additive to the combustible fuel mixture.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, which includes the step of heating the combustible fuel mixture to reduce its moisture content.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, which includes the step of compressing the combustible fuel mixture under a pressure of between 35000 kPa and 176000 kPa.

19. A method as claimed in claim 14, in which includes the selection of the maize cob from a group containing a corn cob, a yellow maize cob and a white maize cob.