Gravity fed pellet burner

Hi, 

This is my gravity fed pellet burner.

The air intake and the feeding rate can be adjusted depending on the intensity of heat needed.

Set to the minimum feeding rate,  i get over 8 hrs of heat with a 40 pound bag of wood pellets.

Together the rocket stove and the burner work better then i expected,  

Wood pellet are cheap and easy to find.  

Since wood pellets are made from recycled wood, i guess this is somme kind of green way to heat my garage..


 

Step 1 The perforated plate is the key to success

- Pellets will fall on the perforated plate, slide down and form a pile. Fire wil waken the pile and make it crash.  This will allow other pellets to fall into the burner.  This process will continue as long as there are pellets in the container.

- The angle of the perforated plate is about 45 degres.  The holes act in two ways, they allow air to feed the fire and hold the pellets as they fall.  After a few minutes of burning the plate is red hot and every pellet that comes in contact with it quickly ignite.   

- The space between the plate and the interior side of the square tube il about 1/4 inche so air can get in at all time. 

You  can see it work there:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEosHNLZJek&feature=g-upl&context=G2e8c2daAUAAAAAAAAAA

This burner could be install on different kind of heat exchanger device, it could just be an extension of the square tube ending to a chimney.  



Any questions???

Comments

[achong0]

Hey, how have you managed to get the flow of the gravity fed pellets to be off to one side? in your pictures it looks like the pipe you are filling with the pellets is directly above the burning chamber. Does this not just burn the whole lot at one go?

I am not quite sure how you have managed to get the burning and the ventilation separate from the feed tube.

Thanks

[kretzlord]

awesome idea!!! One question, how do you adjust the flow of pellets? From what i see, it seems like you move the grate in or out to change the flow rate. Is this correct?

[Seniortrader]

Hi, thank you!

Yes this is the way to ajust the flow of pellets. When closed all the way, it is still burning but at the minimum rate. This is the setting i use for long time burning.

I also use the front door to ajust the air flow...

Cheers!

[jimvoth]

may i ask, is the air convection or pushed mechanically? and... how does one start this heater? :)

love it... i want to learn more.

[Seniortrader]

Hi, Before lighting the fire, I heat the chimney with a propane torch for about 10 seconds. This induces a movement of air in the stove to the outside. Then I light the fire in the burner with a small amount of wood. It's always best to use small stick of wood than larger blocks. When i use the gravity pellet burner, after heating the chimney i place a small piece of fire starter juste below the burner and let it start by it self. There must be a much better scientific explanation for this phenomenon ...

I used this stove all winter in my garage with the pellet burner and I'll do it again the next winter.

Cheers!!

ST

[canucksgirl]

I see how this project would work very well with your other instructable for the "Rocket Stove Mass Heater".

Very cleaver design. :)

[Seniortrader]

HI! After two week of testing and great heat in the garage, i have decided to make another one for my hunting camp. This time, the gravity pellet burner will be made directly on the heat chamber. Winter is here with day temps down to -20C and i get all the heat i need to work in the garage.

In the coming days I will show the stove to the local fire department. I hope to get there approval and maybe convince others to convert there oil or electric furnace to a gravity pellet stove...

Cheers!

[Seniortrader]

Already had an answer from the local fire department. All heating device have to meet CSA standards. Otherwise, the stove must be installed with a clearance of more than 48 inches. This standard applies to Quebec and probably all Canada. If you decide to fab one you should first talk to your local fire department. This heating device could void your home insurance.

Well, i had a lot of fun makin it and share it with Instructables members, now i have to take the decision to get it out or to keep it in and move it to à 48 inches clearance in my 16 X 24 feet working space!!!!

[canucksgirl]

When you had mentioned you were going to speak to the Fire Dept. I had my suspicions... I understand the rule, but if the design is done properly (or some safety measures were put in place), I think this could still be a safe and effective design.

I found what you created very interesting (that and the Rocket Stove Mass Heater) and will share the projects with my father. He has a hunting cabin as well, and although they have a heater in the main cabin, they may be interested in this.

Thanks for sharing your work!