Corn Burning Furnace

Winchester · Dec 1, 2005

Wondering if anyone has ever come accross plans for either a forced air or boiler-type corn burning furnace?

Highbeam · Dec 1, 2005

I thinnk that would be like trying to build a 3/8 drill from scratch. The manufacturers of corn stoves know what they are doing.

bobodu · Dec 1, 2005

Gotta agree with HighBeam...you might build something and not be able to get insurance.

caddison · Dec 2, 2005

Most insurance companies deem home built heating units as ineligible. We have to have a picture of the UL tag on wood stoves when submitting to underwriting.

kylebosch808 · Dec 3, 2005

Hi, My dad bought a corn furnace for our house and we both looked at it and thought it might not be hard to build one its just the furnace as the computer in it to control the auger speed so it wont feed to much corn in the fire at once. But as the other people said not worth it, might burn your house down then your screwed. If you want pics of the furnace i will get them.

BobReeves · Dec 3, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hi, <snip> furnace as the computer in it to control the auger speed so it wont feed to much corn in the fire at once. )</font>

This could be done fairly easily with analog electronics, problem is knowing what speed for what temprature.

Winchester · Dec 4, 2005

Actually found some great detailed info (mechanical wise) from the patent office. As far as controls, I have a couple people available to design something.

kylebosch808 - I would appreciate some pictures of the internal workings if you have a moment.

Thanks!

Slamfire · Dec 4, 2005

What if it was outdoors?

jimgerken · Dec 5, 2005

I started one two weeks ago. Been planning for a year, but had other projects in the way. So here is the progress so-far. The trough is cut from 8.5" diameter 3/8" thick pipe. 3/16" diameter holes drilled for air inlet.

jimgerken · Dec 5, 2005

Here is the housing for the burnpot assembly. This channels the forced air inlet properly, and supports the stoker auger shafts.

jimgerken · Dec 5, 2005

And a shot of the two mocked up together.

Gatorboy · Dec 5, 2005

Just a suggestion, but if you would create an image about 600x800 through compression, you will have a much better quality image than trying to create such a large image.

jimgerken · Dec 5, 2005

Sure open to suggestions on the pic thing. When I click on the link, it opens to be about 1/3 of the screen, along the left side of the screen. And the image looks good enough to make out the details. Are you seeing something different?

srossman · Dec 5, 2005

if you're using IE, then you should be able to hold the cursor over the picture you will should see a couple of toolbars. One in the upper left corner with a print, save and some other options, and one in the lower right corner. If you click the one in the lower right corner, it should expand the picture to be a full size.

DanR67 · Dec 5, 2005

Winchester & Co -

I bought a wood pellet / corn boiler a few years back - had some fancy plans for it because we really love our wood pellet stove....but have never connected the boiler. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

For what it's worth - here's the website of the boiler manufacturer - you can also download the operator manuals (PDF files) - maybe that will give someone ideas re: controls / plumbing.

Pinnacle Stoves

Hope that helps. Really love pellet heat - check out Pellet Fuels Institute for more pellet-fuel related info.

Dan

PS I have the TPB 150 model (3 yrs old - but unused) 4 sale - if anyone interested send me a PM.

Winchester · Dec 9, 2005

jimgerken:

Have you decided on controls and drives yet?

DavidVT · Dec 11, 2005

I've been working on making a controller for my old Vermont Castings Pellet Stove. This is using an inexpensive PLC (www.tri-plc.com ). I am using the $69 E10 for my stove. If I have any success I will let you know. This might be a way to go if you are or have an electronics person with computer experience to customize and wire it up for you!
Another URL to investigate, where I got some ideas, is:
http://www.vermontficks.org/pelletd.htm

jimgerken · Dec 12, 2005

No, havent thought that far ahead. That link has some good stuff on it.
I have temporarily stalled while thinking throught the serviceability of the stoker burner. One thing I am puzzled about is the use of bearings on the stoker shafts. I have seen one design that didnt use any bearing on the ash end of the stoker auger, and I couldnt see the other end. Even if I try to isolate the bearings' mounting from the endplate, the shaft itself will conduct heat to the bearing.
When the burn pot is worked out, next it is on to the boiler vessel. THEN I would be ready to choose gearmotors for augers, fan for air, controller, solenoids, limit switches, etc. Looks like it will be next winter before I get any heat out of this thing. It really is a big project.

Winchester · Dec 19, 2005

David:

I wrote a sample RLL program for what I have in mind. Because I wanted more than two auger run times (actually would like seven) I decided to go with the H-Series PLC (T28H-Relay.)

Here's some input details:

-Eight Position Rotary Switch (0=off, 1~7=corresponding timer logic)
-Auger Drive Momentary Switch (to engage auger to fill pot)
-Combustion Blower Momentary Switch (to engage combustion blower when lighting)
-Thermostat (ordinary household thermostat, if calling for heat will allow auger and combustion blower high to run, if not calling for heat then only combustion blower low will run)
-Over Heat Protection Switch (when activated will stop auger and combustion blower but will run the plenum blower to drop temp)
-Plenum Heat Rise Switch (engages plenum blower once at a desired temp)

Here's some output details:

-Auger Drive (set for seven different on/off intervals depending on position of rotary switch, disengaged if thermostat is not calling for heat)
-Combustion Blower (2-speed, runs in low if thermostat is not calling for heat and high if thermostat is calling for heat)
-Plenum Blower (energized once heat exchanger reaches desired temp, will also energize if the Over Heat Protection Circuit is activated)

I wrote this using WinTRiLOGI 3.52 if you want to take a look and use the Simulation mode to play with the inputs and corresponding outputs. The timers are arbitrary at this point and can be easily changed. Just have to remember that the Rotary Switch can only be in one position at a time. Use the right mouse button to turn on an input indefinately and the left mouse button to turn it on momentary.

Let me know what you think...