Biomass Fuel Furnance System And Related Methods

Abstract

A furnace system for heating a poultry brooder house includes a firebox for burning biomass fuel, and a grate within the firebox for burning the biomass fuel thereon. A distributor assembly may positioned within the firebox and is located directly above the grate. The distributor assembly includes a distributor plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a distributor arm above the distributor plate that is movable relative to the distributor plate to cause biomass fuel supported on the plate to pass through the apertures and fall onto the grate. The furnace system may include a hopper assembly that defines a well for receiving a volume of biomass fuel for delivery to the grate or to the distributor plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for heating a poultry brooder house, the method comprising:
 supporting biomass fuel on a grate within a firebox;   burning the biomass fuel on the grate;   sensing one of a temperature within the firebox or a height of the biomass fuel on the grate;   feeding biomass fuel into the firebox in response to the sensed temperature or sensed height; and   using heat generated from combustion of the biomass fuel to heat the poultry brooder house.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing combustion air to the firebox; and   varying the rate of providing combustion air based on the sensed temperature or sensed height.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 feeding biomass fuel into the firebox so as to maintain the height of the biomass fuel on the grate in the range of about 0.5 inch to about 4 inches.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 feeding biomass fuel into the firebox so as to maintain the height of the biomass fuel on the grate in the range of about 0.5 inch to about 1 inch.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the firebox includes an inlet for feeding the biomass fuel into the firebox, the method further comprising:
 maintaining a predetermined amount of biomass fuel at the inlet so as to substantially block heat loss therethrough.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a predetermined temperature in the firebox so as to permit self-ignition of the biomass fuel supplied onto the grate.   
     
     
         7 . A furnace system for heating a poultry brooder house, the furnace comprising:
 a firebox for burning biomass fuel;   a grate within said firebox for burning the biomass fuel thereon; and   a leveling arm above said grate and being movable relative to said grate to spread biomass fuel supported on said grate into a substantially uniform layer over said grate.   
     
     
         8 . The furnace system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fingers extending from said leveling arm and toward said grate, said fingers spaced and arranged to rake through biomass fuel supported on said grate as said leveling arm is moved relative to said grate.