Resistance heater based air heating device

Abstract

Featured is a resistance heater air heating device that includes a low thermal conductivity enclosure and an electric resistance heater that is disposed within such an enclosure. In more particular embodiments, such an enclosure is configured so as to provide a high surface area which in combination with the heater heats the air passing through the enclosure. In more particular embodiments, the ceramic enclosure is configured and arranged so as to include a through aperture in which is disposed the electric resistance heater and through which the air flows along the length of the through aperture.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61 / 192,641 filed Sep. 18, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to devices and structures for igniting the biomass within a furnace and methods related thereto.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Biomass is one of the oldest fuels known to man and is vegetation or fuel from plants, agricultural waste products or the like. During photosynthesis, plants combine carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground to form carbohydrates that are the building blocks of biomass. Burning biomass efficiently extracts the energy stored in the chemical bonds and produces carbon dioxide and water. Generating energy and heat by burning biomass displaces more polluting forms of energy generation and also provides other environmental benefits, such as reducing acid rain, soil erosion, water pollution and pressure on landfills. Additional envir...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention features a heating device comprising an electric resistance heater that is disposed within a low thermal conductivity enclosure or an enclosure having low thermal diffusivity. In more particular embodiments, such an enclosure is configured so as to provide a high surface area which in combination with the heater heats the air passing through the enclosure. In more particular embodiments, such an enclosure is configured and arranged so as to include a through aperture in which is disposed the electric resistance heater and through which the air flows along the length of the through aperture. An enclosure having low thermal conductivity or low thermal diffusivity is particularly advantageous as the heat energy being developed by the electric resistance heater is maintained in a location where it can be picked up by the air flowing through the through aperture / heating device.

[0014]The heating device of the present invention also is adaptable by increasing the size of the electric resistance heater, increasing the number of such resistance heaters within an enclosure, and increasing the number of enclosures and / or electric resistance heaters per enclosure so as to meet the heating requirements for a given application. For example, for larger size wood pellet (biomass) furnaces, one could configure a heating device to include two enclosures, each including an electric resistance heater, so as to provide sufficient heat energy to heat up the incoming air to the desired temperature within a desired period of time.

Problems solved by technology

Stoves or furnaces for burning biomass fuel to produce energy are not new.

There are many stoves and furnaces for burning biomass fuel, however, there currently is not widespread acceptance of these furnaces or stoves by consumers.

One main area of inconvenience is starting and running the furnace.

These wound resistive element in combination with the tubular member under certain conditions takes an extremely long time to heat the biomass fuel to the point of ignition.

Images