Background of the invention
[0001] As it is evident, the sustained growth of economy in Chile has led to a permanent
increase of the energy demand. However, we know that the energy supply has been hindered
by the country's lack of self-supply; its dependence on other countries has been one
of its main problems, especially in respect of natural gas supply from Argentina.
[0002] Once the natural gas gasifying plant in Quintero starts operating, it will certainly
permit a greater energy supply, although it is known that a higher cost of the energy
will irremediably exist.
[0003] The problem inherent in the energy supply for domestic and commercial use has been
most sensitive, since it involves an important social component. The energy destined
to heating, food cooking and hot water supply certainly does not permit any interruption.
In this scenario we could think that one of the natural and logical alternatives to
be applied are renewable energies, such as firewood and biomass, which due to the
diversity of climates could represent a significant alternative, where the Chilean
central and south zones - having the greatest forest potential for wood production
- are found, in addition to the historical culture of use of firewood ranges and stoves.
As a consequence, mention is made of the problem of environmental pollution affecting
very important cities of our country, such as Santiago, Rancagua, Chillán, Temuco,
Osorno and others.
[0004] In effect, for over a decade the goodness of double combustion chamber firewood stoves
appeared to be the solution, since everything suggested that by being most efficient
they emit less contaminants into the external environment; however, everybody knows
that there is a major variable, which is difficult to control by the agencies entrusted
with environmental pollution matters, such as the need to use firewood suitable for
heating purposes that has a low humidity content (under 20%). For this reason, it
is of little advantage to have a stove manufactured according to a good technology
if the wood is very humid; therefore, an excessive rise of the environmental pollution
level is produced, since no practical regulations force the consumers to use only
wood with 20% humidity or less.
[0005] In the practice, users can buy firewood in the informal market at a lower cost, but
without its fitness for heating purposes being duly guaranteed. According to statistics
delivered by CONAMA (the National Environmental Commission), it is estimated that
during the year 2006 over 600 tons of PM 10 particulate material were discharged in
Santiago, which is attributable to the use of firewood for heating and food cooking;
these contamination levels are similar to those emitted by the industry and the overall
collective transportation system of the city.
[0006] According to CONAMA, in 2006 over 70,000 firewood stoves were installed in Santiago
and this figure would exceed one million in the country as a whole. A very strong
expansion level has been projected and it could possibly reach three million firewood
stoves by the year 2020. The reasons behind this expansion are the attraction and
coziness offered by open fire stoves, in addition to their considerable heating capacity;
however, their main attractive lies in their low operating cost; according to studies
performed by Universidad Austral de Chile, firewood heating can be up to 14 times
less expensive than electricity, 9 times cheaper than gas and almost 8 times cheaper
than oil.
[0007] Firewood represents 17% of the energy consumption in Chile.
[0008] The market for firewood appliances in Chile is as follows:
- (a) Yearly sales of double chamber combustion stoves: 70,000 units at an average unit
value of CH$150,000.-
- (b) Yearly sales of firewood ranges: 80,000 at an average value of CH$ 140,000.-
Summary of the invention
[0009] The present invention consists in contributing an appliance that uses biomass as
fuel, equipped with closed combustion chamber, which incorporates a fuel feeding system
in the form of briquets made of pressed sawdust using a high tonnage press. This fuel
has been designed for the appliance according a specific geometric shape and dimensions,
which is loaded to the stove around the combustion chamber. The fuel drops by gravity
into the lower portion of the heater; next, each briquet is raised through the side
portion of the supporting structure of the appliance by means of an internal conveyor.
[0010] The movement of the fuel (briquets) conveyor is performed by a stepper electric motor,
i.e. the motor feeds the briquets one by one into the fuel chamber according to the
heating needs of the environment by means of a thermoelectric control mechanism.
[0011] The main characteristics of the present invention are the following:
- (a) TO ESTABLISH A SINGLE AND REGULAR FUEL. The combustion chamber is closed in the
front part and the user has no direct access to it, as it is now the case with all
firewood stoves; it can be provided with a glass window that only permits to see the
fire inside the chamber. In respect of the chamber, the appliance can only operate
with a predefined fuel and not in the way the user commonly proceeds today, wherein
very humid wood can be used without controlling the size and load of the combustion
chamber.
The briquets are produced according to predefined standards of humidity, density,
dimensions and raw material involved. This fuel can be sold in the formal market inside
a suitable packing that maintains the original humidity content, preferably not higher
than 20%.
- (b) AUTONOMY OF THE APPLIANCE. The standard strove considers a briquets transportation
circuit that permits to load the unit with about 20 briquets of approximately 500
grams each, i.e., a 10 kg load inside the stove. If we consider an average consumption
of 1.5 kg per hour, this means an estimated autonomy of 6 to 7 hours. In other words,
the user can load its stove when going to bed and maintain the heating throughout
the night.
- (c) GREATER HEATING EFFICIENCY. In the use of this heating invention, the appliance
can incorporate a turbine to drive the surrounding environmental air through the hot
external part of the combustion chamber and thereby increasing the radiation efficiency
of the heater; in other words, the heating capacity is comparatively increased in
a shorter time as compared with the conventional firewood stoves equipped with single
or double combustion chamber.
- (d) VARIED APPLICATIONS. This appliance can have diverse applications; e.g., aside
from heating, it can be used in firewood ranges where the stepper motor is substituted
with a direct manual system for driving the briquets step by step inside the combustion
chamber. In this way, the food cooking speed can be controlled according to the needs
and the time availability of the user.
[0012] The stove can also be used to heat water in commercial and industrial boilers.
[0013] The appliance can be provided with a ceramic glass in its front part, so that the
user can see the intensity of the fire, although access to the stove by introducing
directly the fuel into the chamber is not possible, according to the principles already
indicated for this invention.
[0014] In view of the foregoing, the present invention means a technical and practical solution
that permits to control the fuel load to the stove, a feature that has not been contemplated
in the current units equipped with combustion chamber through radiation; in this way,
the aspect of environmental pollution can be controlled, especially in the cities
already referred to in this specification.
[0015] The client can enjoy autonomy, inasmuch as he/she is not permanently concerned with
the introduction of firewood to the heater in order to avoid its becoming extinguished.
Description of the drawings
[0016] For a better understanding of the characteristics and advantages of this invention,
by way of complement, a number of drawings are enclosed, which are of an illustrative
and not restrictive character, where:
Figure 1 illustrates a scheme of the operating principle of a traditional double combustion
chamber heater.
Figure 2 shows a scheme of the operating principle of a traditional firewood range
without a double combustion chamber.
Figure 3 describes the principle of a heater according to the present invention, namely,
every time the stepper motor is actuated, a single briquet is introduced inside the
combustion chamber.
Figures 4 and 5 show the fuel briquets loading mechanism, according to the present
invention, into the environmental loading side of the heater.
Figures 6 and 7 show a manual ignition mechanism of the heater of the invention.
Figure 8 shows, an automatic temperature control mechanism and manual "step" control,
according to the present invention.
Figures 9 and 10 show a heat transfer mechanism by natural radiation and forced convection.
Figure 11, show an ash combustion discharge mechanism, according to the present invention.
Figure 12 illustrates a traditional firewood range incorporating the feeding mechanism
with fuel side loading (briquets) according to the present invention.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention
[0017] With reference to Figure 1, it is illustrated a scheme of the operating principle
of a traditional double combustion chamber heater.
[0018] With reference to figure 2, it is illustrated a scheme of the operating principle
of a traditional firewood range without a double combustion chamber.
[0019] With reference to figure 3, it is illustrated the principle of a heater according
to the present invention, namely, every time the stepper motor is actuated, a single
briquet is introduced inside the combustion chamber. Said combustion chamber can be
made of steel and can correspond to the double or single combustion type.
[0020] Figures 4 and 5 describe the form of loading the appliance with briquets. Through
the gate (1) briquets (2) are orderly introduced into the heater, since the fuel concerned
has fixed and regular dimensions. The briquets descend by gravity to the pitch sheave
(3) that includes radial lugs, which is driven by a stepper electric motor (4). The
pitch sheave (3) permits that briquets pass one by one into the conveyor (5).
[0021] Said conveyor (5) may correspond to a chain mechanism equipped with devices for guiding
the briquets (2), being driven by toothed pinions made of steel or other heat-resistant
material; the pinions are connected by means of an axis made of steel or other suitable
material.
[0022] In the normal operating phase, once the stepper motor (4) is driven by means of a
thermoelectric signal, the following simultaneous movements are produced:
- 1. The pitch sheave (3) effects one step.
- 2. The upper rotary gate (9) opens and a briquet falls into the chamber (8).
- 3. The conveyor (5) effects one pitch movement.
[0023] Once the briquets loading inside chamber (8) is complete and the respective motor
(4) stops, the upper gate (9) closes and the pitch sheave (3) also stops.
[0024] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the initial manual ignition mechanism of the heater; this
takes place by displacing the ignition lid (6) in order to enable the introduction
of an inducer element, paper or the like, which through a match can cause the ignition
of the briquets (2) placed over the rack or grid (7) inside the combustion chamber
(8).
[0025] Said ignition lid (6) can be opened to a greater or lesser extent in order to permit
the entry of a greater or smaller air flow into the combustion chamber (8).
[0026] Figure 8 describes the fuel entry control systems into the combustion chamber. There
are two options for controlling the entry of fuel into the combustion chamber, namely:
- Automatically, through thermoelectric signals. This means that a room temperature
sensor device has been provided, either by means of a thermostatic bulb (10) or an
environment thermostat (11). These elements have been previously set for a comfortable
temperature and will transmit an energy signal to the stepper motor (4). The minimum
movement is of one pitch, i.e., the equivalent to introducing one briquet into the
combustion chamber.
- Manually: the user has the option to press the pushbutton (12), whereby the stepper
motor is actuated and one briquette enters into the combustion chamber. Every time
the motor is in standstill and the user presses the pushbutton (12) this will cause
one pitch for feeding the combustion chamber.
[0027] Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the main forms in which the appliance of the present
invention transfers heat into the environment, namely, by means of radiation through
the glass and the upper part of the heater and by forced convection through the air
flow entering by the heater rear part operated by the turbine (13), which drives the
environmental air through the heated external surface of the combustion chamber and
thereby picks up the heat generated by the combustion chamber (8). Said turbine can
be a steel fan driven by an
ad boc electric motor.
[0028] Between the combustion chamber (8) and the briquets compartment in the heater supporting
structure (16) a thermal insulation layer (17) has been installed, with the object
of avoiding an overheating in the briquets storage zone.
[0029] Figure 11 describes the form of extracting the ash generated by the briquets combustion
inside the combustion chamber. The procedure consists in opening the lid (6) and displace
it laterally and by means of the scraper (14) the ash into the rear part of the rack
is moved (7), which falls into the ashtray (15); the latter element can be extracted
by the user from the supporting structure (16) of the stove for its disposal.
[0030] Said ashtray (15) can consist of a metallic pan for retaining the ash, from which
ash can be eventually extracted by the user for its elimination.
[0031] Figure 12 illustrates a traditional firewood range incorporating the feeding mechanism
with fuel side loading (briquets) according to the present invention.
1. A heater being automatically fed with uniform geometry fuel units (2) whereby an improved
combustion is obtained and it is adequate for domestic, commercial and industrial
use; said heater comprises a supporting structure (16) and a combustion chamber (8)
being supported by said supporting structure (16); the heater is CHARACTERIZED in that the combustion chamber (8) is exclusively fed on fuel by automatic feeding means;
said automatic feeding means have an inlet region for receiving the fuel supplied
by a user and an outlet region for automatically delivering the fuel to the combustion
chamber (8).
2. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said automatic feeding means comprise a descent region and a pitch sheave (3) that
includes radial lugs; the descending region defines a passage for the fuel units (2),
which descend by gravity, being located between the inlet region and the pitch sheave
(3).
3. A heater according to Claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that said automatic feeding means comprise an ascent region defined by a conveyor (5),
said ascent region defines a passage for the fuel units between the pitch sheave (3)
and the outlet region.
4. A heater according to Claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that said automatic feeding means comprise a stepper motor (4) that mechanically drives
both the pitch sheave (3) and the conveyor (5); the lugs of said pitch sheave (3)
are conveniently arranged in order that every time the stepper motor (4) is actuated,
the pitch sheave (3) rotates one step and permits that one fuel unit passes to said
conveyor (5); likewise, the conveyor (5) is conveniently defined so that every time
that the stepper motor (4) is actuated, one fuel unit enters in said combustion chamber
(8) from the conveyor (5) and across the outlet region; said combustion chamber (8)
is provided with an upper gate (9) mechanically connected to said stepper motor (4),
in order to be opened and closed in a coordinated manner upon the entry of the fuel
units (2).
5. A heater according to Claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the heater is equipped with a control mechanism being connected with a temperature
sensor and with the stepper motor (4); said control mechanism defines the moment to
actuate the stepper motor (4) in order to feed the combustion chamber (8) with fuel
units, in such a way that the temperature measured by said temperature sensor is maintained
within a comfortable range being predefined by the user.
6. A heater according to Claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the heater comprises a control mechanism being connected to user operated pushbutton
(12) and to said stepper motor (4); the control mechanism is conveniently defined
in order to permit that the combustion chamber (8) is fed by one fuel unit every time
the pushbutton (12) is pressed by the user, provided the stepper motor (4) is not
in movement when said pushbutton (12) is pressed.
7. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the combustion chamber (8) is provided with a rack or grid (7) placed at its bottom
part, through which air can enter into the combustion chamber (8) and ash can drop
from the chamber into an ashtray (15) placed under said combustion chamber (8); the
ashtray (15) can consist of a metallic pan for retaining the ash, from which ash can
be eventually extracted by the user for its elimination.
8. A heater according to Claim 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the heater comprises a scraper (14), which when operated by the user it permits to
push the ash from inside the combustion chamber and force it to drop into the ashtray
(15).
9. A heater according to Claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that the heater comprises an ignition lid (6), which when it is opened it connects the
exterior to a cavity located under said grid (7) and above ashtray (15); the ignition
lid (6) can be opened to a greater or lesser extent in order to permit the entry of
a greater or smaller air flow into the combustion chamber (8). Said cavity also permits
to introduce ignited paper or other elements during the ignition operation of said
heater.
10. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a turbine (13) that drives the surrounding air through the external
cover of the combustion chamber (8), whereby an increase of the heat transfer through
forced convection into the environment is produced; said turbine can be a steel fan
driven by an ad boc electric motor.
11. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the uniform geometry combustion units are elaborated from mechanically pressed biomass
having a humidity content lower than or equal to 20%.
12. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said heater is included in a range or cooker of the "firewood" type, with the object
of generating the necessary heat for cooking.
13. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the heater inlet region coincides with a gate (1) that can be opened and closed by
the user and is arranged in the supporting structure (16).
14. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that a thermal insulation (17) is placed in the zone adjacent to the combustion chamber,
in order to avoid the overheating of the fuel units (2).
15. A heater according to Claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said combustion chamber is made of steel and it can correspond to the double or single
combustion type.
16. A heater according to Claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the conveyor (5) corresponds to a chain mechanism equipped with devices for guiding
the units (2), being driven by toothed pinions made of steel or other heat-resistant
material; the pinions are connected by means of an axis made of steel or other suitable
material.
17. A heater according to Claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that passages have been arranged inside the supporting structure (16).