Low emission, wood fueled hydronic heater

Abstract

A wood burning hydronic heater comprises a primary firebox into which the wood is loaded and wherein initial combustion occurs. The heater also includes a secondary combustion chamber below the primary firebox into which the combustible gases from the primary firebox are forced and into which a fresh air stream is passed to burn the gases. A primary heat exchanger downstream of the secondary combustion chamber is adapted to reduce the temperature of the exhaust exiting from the secondary combustion chamber. A catalytic combustor, located in a chamber downstream of the secondary combustion chamber and primary heat exchanger, completes combustion and reduces emissions.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]Applicants hereby claim the priority benefits under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119(e), basing said claim of priority on related provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61 / 588,723, filed on Jan. 20, 2012.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to wood fueled hydronic heaters and more particularly to a low emission, wood fueled hydronic heater incorporating a catalytic convertor.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Wood burning furnaces, and particularly hydronic heaters (also called outdoor wood heaters or outdoor wood boilers), are increasingly being used in a multiple of residential and commercial applications. Specifically, wood burning hydronic heaters are used in place of natural gas, oil, propane, and other fossil fuel burning applications, particularly for furnaces that are used to heat water. Water is circulated through a heat exchanger in the furnace and piped to a nearby building, providing both heat and hot water to the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a wood burning hydronic heater with high combustion efficiency and reduced smoke emissions. The heater includes a primary firebox, a secondary combustion chamber, a primary heat exchanger, a catalytic combustor, and a final heat exchanger. The method involves directing the combusted gases to the primary heat exchanger to reduce the temperature, then to the catalytic combustor for reducing particulate matter and improving the combustion process, and finally to the final heat exchanger for extracting heat from the exhaust gases. This results in a high-temperature exhaust gas stream that is suitable for use with downstream equipment, such as a heat exchanger. Overall, the invention provides improved performance and efficiency with reduced emissions of smoke and other harmful substances.

Problems solved by technology

However, the water jacket surrounding the fire tends to lower the temperature within the firebox, thus interfering with the ability to obtain a relative hot fire and improving the efficiency of the combustion process.

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