Flax Based Fuel Pellet and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

A fuel pellet made substantially of flax stem fiber. The fuel pellet is made from waste material available at minimal cost that produces pellets that burn at a high temperature, generate little smoke and less than about 4% ash residue, and can be stored for long periods without deteriorating. Preferred fuel pellets include at least about 60% flax stem fiber; wherein at least about 60% of the particles are less than about a quarter of an inch in length. The fuel pellet is processed by first selecting or processing the flax stem fiber so that it has a moisture content of from about 5 to about 12%. The bulk flax stem fiber material is then processed in a hammermill or the like to reduce the size of the fiber particles. The processed flax is then extruded through a commercial pelletizing machine. The pellets are then cut and then dried.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to fuel pellets. Particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel pellet containing flax stem fibers in combination with a binder, preferably, vegetable oils or oilseeds, for use as an alternative heating source for pellet type residential and commercial heating appliances such as pellet stoves, pellet boilers, pellet furnaces, stoker type heating systems, furnaces, heating appliances and the like.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]In recent years, pellet burning heating appliances have increased in popularity. Such appliances generate heat for homes by burning small relatively solid pellets which are fed to the fire chamber at a predetermined rate from a storage container. To be optimally effective, the pellets should be capable of producing a significant BTU level of heat output, be clean burning, produce minimal ash residue, be capable of long term storage withou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The present invention involves making a fuel pellet having principal ingredients being flax stem fiber material and a binder, preferably a vegetable oil or oilseed lubricant material. The fuel pellet of the present invention burns at a high temperature, generates little to no smoke, ash or creosote. In addition, the fuel pellets of the present invention can be stored for long periods without rotting or deteriorating. In preferred embodiments, the fuel pellet of the present invention includes at least about 60% by wt. flax stem fiber material; wherein the flax stem fiber material includes particles of different sizes; wherein at least about 60% of the particles are less than about a quarter of an inch in length; wherein the fuel pellet, when burned, produces less than about 4% ash residue. The present fuel pellets are made from waste material generally available at minimal cost that produces pellets that burn at a high temperature, generate little smoke and less than about 4% ash residue, and can be stored for long periods without d

Problems solved by technology

The cost involved is often just the cost of bailing the unwanted flax straw and transporting the bailed flax straw to either a storage site or a processing site.

Growers are anxious to have it removed from their land as it can only be effectively disposed of by burning it, unless it is removed.

Growers have found that flax straw is so resistant to decomposition, that it cannot be satisfactorily disposed of by plowing it into the soil.

The stalk residue remaining after harvesting of the flax is a serious problem for farmers because it is exceptionally resistant to decompositio