APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING COMBUSTOR FOR GROUND OR PARTICULATE BIOMASS

摘要

A system for combusting bridging fuel, e.g., biomass material (90). The a pparatus (10) includes enclosure (12) defining a firebox. Combustion air man ifold (20), exhaust manifold (26), and heat exchanger (24) are positioned al ong the center horizontal axis of firebox (12). Fuel feed conveyor (30) ente rs through the wall of firebox (12) and extends along the top of firebox (12 ). A temperature sensor (T2-T9) is positioned on the exterior of firebox (12 ). Controller (102) is operatively connected temperature sensor (T2-T9) and fuel feed conveyor (30). If the temperature sensor (T2-T9) exceeds a set poi nt, controller (102) automatically operates fuel feed conveyor (30) to refil l firebox (12) with fuel (90). This can reinsulate the wall of firebox (12) so that fuel (90) surrounds the combustion. Heat is extracted from the combu stion by heat exchanger (24) while the exterior wall of firebox (12) is kept relatively cool by the insulating layer of fuel (12). Automatic fuel refill allows combustion to be continuous instead of requiring shut-down of combus tion and re- ignition after filling firebox (12) with fuel (90).