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Makeing fuel for heat
By harley1782000, Section Heat Posted on Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 08:48:42 PM MST
Not sure

Ok, I have search the board for my fuel question but not sure what I am looking for so I am going to ask since I didn't find what I was looking for. What I am asking is I grow field corn, I want to make fuel out of it to run a small furnace to heat a green house. Has anyone tried this or am I just barking up a very tall tree. I know I would have to make corn alcohol, not really sure on how to do that. Then I would have to convert a oil furnace to burn it. Has anyone tried this at all??? I would love all the input that I can get on it.
Thanks
Jim

Makeing fuel for heat | 11 comments (11 topical)

Just burn the corn itself... (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by TomW on Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 03:26:08 PM MST

While I think it is wrong on many levels to burn food for fuel, if I had to use corn for fuel I would just burn corn as is, stalks and cobs included. Less processing, etc. Designs are available to build shell corn burners and you can buy them. In fact, here in corn country lots of folks burn shell corn.

Tom

Ignarus can exsisto rememdium. Sardus est forever

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by kurt on Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 03:38:46 PM MST

you can buy a corn stove that will burn feed corn at your local fireplace/wood stove store here they used to be popular before the price of corn went up now everyone burns wood pellets in them because all the corn stoves i have seen can burn either one..... but you can buy a pellet stove that is not rated for corn....

http://www.reresource.org/

IRC

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by richhagen on Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 05:00:52 PM MST

If anything, I would burn the stalks, and return the ash to the field. I would tend to think that corn would have higher value than as a fireplace fuel. Turning it into ethanol and then burning that adds another layer of complexity (and regulations here) in addition to having higher value uses than as a fuel for heat only. Rich
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by 12AX7 on Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 06:37:23 PM MST

Hello!

Yes, I think the tree your barking up is very tall!
Your idea would make up a couple of different projects, in addition to growing and harvesting the corn.

Drying it
Storing it
Feeding the furnace
Control of the burn/heat
Intake/exhaust
Dealing with the ash

Not to mention the furnace, permits and insurance issues.

I've kicked around the idea of making a pellet/biomass burner and have been collecting possible parts for it.

Not knowing your plans for your greenhouse or the weather in your area.
Fresh Veggies in true winter conditions.. ect ect.

I think shelled corn takes more effort but lends its self to a easier "automatic" system, as well as storing it. (no one likes mice/rats)

If you haven't already looked, I'd suggest looking at a pellet/biomass stove.
Yes you could build one, if you have the proper skills and equipment. But there are plenty of devils in the details!

Also take note that a "pellet stove" isn't set up to burn corn.

If you are going through all the effort and have plenty of corn available I'd suggest looking into heating your home with a corn furnace.

good luck!
ax7
Mark

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by BigBreaker on Thu Apr 23, 2009 at 07:21:58 AM MST

You can avoid almost all of those problems by gasifying the silage first. I'd recommend googling wood gasifier and bio-mass gasifier for a starting point.

All solid fuels have handling problems, but assuming you are happy with batch runs in the gasifier stage (which you can start and stop) the fuel comes to your burner as a gas that can be metered within some bounds.

I'd use exhaust and/or waste heat from the gasifier/burner to dry the silage. It would start out a bit moist for the process.

[ Parent ]

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by GaryGary on Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 06:57:55 PM MST

Hi,
You can burn dried corn.

Have a look at: www.IburnCorn.com -- this is a good forum on corn burning.
and more here: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/BioFuel/biofuels.htm#Corn

The furnaces can be pretty automatic due to the uniformity of the corn.
But, you are at the mercy of corn price variations, which can be extreme.

You can check on the price of corn per ton, and use this calculator to see how it compares with other fuels on price:
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Calculators/Fuels/FuelCompare.htm

Here is a little clip from the IBurnCorn site:
---
Six Dollar Corn
Thursday, 10 April 2008

Much has changed over the four years I have been burning corn. When I first started, the market price, the price the farmer was getting paid for #2 grade corn, was $1.43/bu. Though at that time, various service charges brought the delivered price, at a corn burner's door, to $2.20/bu. I remember at the time, being quite grumbly about the fact I was being chiseled by my local grain co-op for eighty cents. I would dearly love to be paying those prices now. What a difference time makes, eh?
---

I have to agree with some of the other comments that it seems somehow wrong to be burning food.

Gary
Gary gary@BuildItSolar.com www.BuildItSolar.com

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by scottsAI on Thu Apr 23, 2009 at 01:46:26 PM MST

GaryGary,

$2.2 represents a 54% markup, I would go directly to farmers.
Maybe they have some less than #2 grade they need to get rid of... might save some cash.
Farmers are business men, they too are looking for the best deal. Bartering...

"that it seems somehow wrong to be burning food."
Understand the thoughts, yet if the land was growing trees would you feel the same? Still growing something!

Heating I would chose solar heat and more insulation. Yet backup heating is needed, nice to use a renewable resource. Its all about the money, which is cheaper short term and long term, always balancing out what you have to what you need to what you like/want.

Have fun,
Scott.

[ Parent ]

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by mbeland on Wed May 20, 2009 at 08:16:09 AM MST

Cutting trees usually mean maintaining a forest habitat. If you grow trees, at least you run the chance of creating some habitat that has much more value to biodiversity (and to you: mushrooms, windbreaks, gaming, water protection, fruits, taking a walk, etc.) than a corn field. It usually doesn't grow as fast as corn but you can harvest far more in one shot so less trouble. Wood is an overall winner in many respects. Usually, farmers have some land still wooded. Better to produce your fuel from that. Use the excess corn to feed something or ultimately if it is no good, return to the field to fertilize.

My 2 cents

Martin
Eau, soleil, le vent
[ Parent ]

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by harley1782000 on Thu Apr 23, 2009 at 01:00:17 PM MST

Well with the links you guys all gave me, Thank you very much. I think that I will just use a small little coal stove that I have and burn the corn on the cob. I can not justifie buying a corn burner since my green house is only 10 foot long by 8 feet wide. Nothing huge. I have installed pex tubing in the concrete so I can heat the floor. I thought about rapping the chimmney pipe with some half inch copper tubeing and then just run a slow pump just to move the liguid in the pipe and have a small 5 gallon reserve tank, But thank you for all that replied!!!

Thanks again,
Jim

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by zeusmorg on Wed May 20, 2009 at 08:51:41 AM MST

You have to watch "robbing" heat from a chimney, It can lower the temperatures too low, and allow the chimney to become coated with combustible material, which can cause a chimney fire at some point.
If you really want to use alcohol as a fuel, there are many sites on the net that deal with alcohol production, It's really not that hard to do. I had built a small setup to power a bugeye sprite, I even used a solar still to distill the alcohol, thereby lowering fuel use. Of course, my fuel needs in that car weren't as great as heating would be.

I do agree with several statements posted above burning corn as fuel directly would probably increase efficiency,also burning potential food as fuel, to me seems wasteful.
I made my alcohol out of waste products, mainly doughnuts and trashed baked goods from several bakeries nearby.
What you need to look at is what waste products, and resources are available to you for producing heat. If you live near a large town ask the tree trimmers what they do with their waste. I have a friend that is a tree trimmer, and he dumps cut logs for me ready to burn. Usually two or three loads fulfills my supplemental heat needs for a winter! ( i use a small potbelly stove in the basement and have a natural gas furnace to provide additional heat when needed.) Check craigslist I see a lot of "free firewood" ads locally.

[ Parent ]

Re: Makeing fuel for heat (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by Bruce S on Thu May 21, 2009 at 11:48:16 AM MST

You could go a compeletly different route. You did mention an oil burner.
Do you already have one? if so go locate a resturaunt or two and ask to haul the used oil away, let it sit for a couple weeks were it can stay warm and keep it covered.
Burn the top clear stuff instead of oil.
Pepa, has done this, even built his own. The old oil burner he has setup in his barn runs directly off the old oil that has settled for weeks on end. It'll run ya out of the barn if left too high. Nearly nuthin in the bottom with regards to ashes.

RANT:
In as far as making Alky, I do hope soon , people get off the corn bandwagon.
Using ruined corn or spoiled corn "stuff" is perfect for not waisting, but corn is not even close to being ideal for making Alky.
I call it Alky instead of Alcohol , the later is for human consumption.
Alky is for fuel.
Feed corn when processed for fuel can then be fed to animals. It's called two names, wet & dry feedstock. Both are good as feed as it's now concentrated protein feed, think leaner meat, pork, etc.

Using prime corn for fuel is nonsense IMO, unless there's an over abundance and I don't have my BBQ grill close enough to roast it :)
END RANT:

I agree with Z, there's tons of other stuff out there to make Alky with.

Keep Smiling;
Bruce S

Makeing fuel for heat | 11 comments (11 topical)

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