Combustible fuel

Abstract

The invention discloses a combustible fuel including a compressed unit of crushed maize cob, such as corn cob or white or yellow maize cob, and a method of its manufacture. The corn cob has no additional non-biomass additives and results in a residue of less than 2% by mass after complete combustion.

1 . A combustible fuel including a compressed unit of crushed maize cob.  
     
     
         2 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the maize cob is selected from a group containing a corn cob, a yellow maize cob and a white maize cob.  
     
     
         3 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the crushed maize cob is compressed to a density of between 0.25 to 1.5 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         4 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , which, after combustion thereof is completed, produces a residue of less than 2% by mass.  
     
     
         5 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes suitable ignition additives.  
     
     
         6 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a corn starch as a binding agent.  
     
     
         7 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , which is adapted to fully ignite within about seven minutes.  
     
     
         8 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 1 , which is pre-burned in an oxygen depleted atmosphere to form a charcoal.  
     
     
         9 . A combustible fuel including a corn cob pre-burned in an oxygen depleted atmosphere to form a charcoal.  
     
     
         10 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the maize cob is selected from a group containing a corn cob, a yellow maize cob and a white maize cob.  
     
     
         11 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 9 , which, after combustion thereof is completed, produces a residue of less than 2% by mass.  
     
     
         12 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 9 , which includes suitable ignition additives.  
     
     
         13 . A combustible fuel as claimed in  claim 9 , which is adapted to fully ignite within about seven minutes.  
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a combustible fuel unit including the steps of crushing at least one maize cob; of dry mixing the crushed maize cob(s) with a binder to produce a combustible fuel mixture; and of compressing a volume of the combustible fuel mixture to form a combustible fuel unit.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , which includes the step of crushing the maize cob to a size of between 150 microns and 15 mm.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , which includes the step of adding a suitable ignition additive to the combustible fuel mixture.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , which includes the step of heating the combustible fuel mixture to reduce its moisture content.  
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , which includes the step of compressing the combustible fuel mixture under a pressure of between 35000 kPa and 176000 kPa.  
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , in which includes the selection of the maize cob from a group containing a corn cob, a yellow maize cob and a white maize cob.