SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HEATING WATER USING BIOFUEL
First Claim
1. A biofuel heating system for converting biofuel to heat energy to be delivered to a load, comprising:
- a combustion chamber defining a combustion zone, an under-fire zone, and an over-fire zone, wherethe combustion zone is adapted to receive the biofuel,the under-fire zone is below the combustion zone, andthe over-fire zone is above the combustion zone;
a plurality of under-fire ports arranged adjacent to the under-fire zone of the combustion chamber;
a plurality of over-fire ports arranged adjacent to the over-fire zone of the combustion chamber;
a burn-out chamber;
a burn-out port arranged to allow fluid to flow out of the over-fire zone of the combustion chamber and into the burn-out chamber;
a heat exchange chamber;
a heat exchange port arranged to allow fluid to flow out of the burn-out chamber and into the heat exchange chamber;
an exhaust port arranged to allow fluid to flow out of the heat exchange chamber,a heat exchange system arranged at least partly within the heat exchange chamber, where a working fluid is circulated between the heat exchange system and the load;
an under-fire damper configurable to inhibit flow of fluid through the under-fire ports;
an over-fire damper configurable to inhibit flow of fluid through the over-fire ports;
a fan arranged to cause fluid to flow out of the heat exchange chamber through the exhaust port;
at least one sensor configured to sense an operating parameter;
a controller for operating at least one of the fan, the under-fire damper, and the over-fire damper based on the operating parameter such that air flows along a flow path extending from at least one of the under-fire port and the over-fire port, through the combustion chamber, through burn-out port, through the burn-out chamber, through the heat exchange port, through the heat exchange chamber, and out of the exhaust port; and
the heat exchange system transfers heat energy from air flowing through the heat exchange chamber to the working fluid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention may be embodied as a biofuel heating system for converting biofuel to heat energy to be delivered to a load comprising a combustion chamber defining a combustion zone, an under-fire zone, and an over-fire zone. A controller operates at least one of a fan, an under-fire damper, and an over-fire damper based on at least one operating parameter such that air flows along a flow path extending from at least one of an under-fire port and an over-fire port, through the combustion chamber, through a burn-out port, through a burn-out chamber, through a heat exchange port, through a heat exchange chamber, and out of an exhaust port. The heat exchange system transfers heat energy from air flowing through the heat exchange chamber to the working fluid.
19 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A biofuel heating system for converting biofuel to heat energy to be delivered to a load, comprising:
-
a combustion chamber defining a combustion zone, an under-fire zone, and an over-fire zone, where the combustion zone is adapted to receive the biofuel, the under-fire zone is below the combustion zone, and the over-fire zone is above the combustion zone; a plurality of under-fire ports arranged adjacent to the under-fire zone of the combustion chamber; a plurality of over-fire ports arranged adjacent to the over-fire zone of the combustion chamber; a burn-out chamber; a burn-out port arranged to allow fluid to flow out of the over-fire zone of the combustion chamber and into the burn-out chamber; a heat exchange chamber; a heat exchange port arranged to allow fluid to flow out of the burn-out chamber and into the heat exchange chamber; an exhaust port arranged to allow fluid to flow out of the heat exchange chamber, a heat exchange system arranged at least partly within the heat exchange chamber, where a working fluid is circulated between the heat exchange system and the load; an under-fire damper configurable to inhibit flow of fluid through the under-fire ports; an over-fire damper configurable to inhibit flow of fluid through the over-fire ports; a fan arranged to cause fluid to flow out of the heat exchange chamber through the exhaust port; at least one sensor configured to sense an operating parameter; a controller for operating at least one of the fan, the under-fire damper, and the over-fire damper based on the operating parameter such that air flows along a flow path extending from at least one of the under-fire port and the over-fire port, through the combustion chamber, through burn-out port, through the burn-out chamber, through the heat exchange port, through the heat exchange chamber, and out of the exhaust port; and the heat exchange system transfers heat energy from air flowing through the heat exchange chamber to the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of converting biofuel to heat energy to be delivered to a load, comprising:
-
providing a combustion chamber defining a combustion zone, an under-fire zone, and an over-fire zone, where the under-fire zone is below the combustion zone and the over-fire zone is above the combustion zone; arranging a plurality of under-fire ports adjacent to the under-fire zone of the combustion chamber; arranging a plurality of over-fire ports adjacent to the over-fire zone of the combustion chamber; arranging a burn-out port to allow fluid to flow out of the over-fire zone of the combustion chamber and into a burn-out chamber; arranging a heat exchange port to allow fluid to flow out of the burn-out chamber and into a heat exchange chamber; arranging an exhaust port to allow fluid to flow out of the heat exchange chamber; circulating a working fluid through the load; arranging an under-fire damper to inhibit flow of fluid through the under-fire ports; arranging an over-fire damper to inhibit flow of fluid through the over-fire ports; arranging a fan to cause fluid to flow out of the heat exchange chamber through the exhaust port; arranging the biofuel in the combustion zone; igniting the biofuel; sensing at least one operating parameter; operating at least one of the fan, the under-fire damper, and the over-fire damper based on the operating parameter such that air flows along a flow path extending from at least one of the under-fire port and the over-fire port, through the combustion chamber, through burn-out port, through the burn-out chamber, through the heat exchange port, through the heat exchange chamber, and out of the exhaust port; and transferring heat energy from air flowing through the heat exchange chamber to the working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification