Coal fired heating system

Abstract

Portable or temporary heating is provided by locating a container adjacent an area to be heated in which the container comprises a portable building including a coal storage compartment and a heating compartment therein. A heating apparatus, for example a boiler, is provided in the heating compartment which consumes coal. The coal storage compartment includes a transfer mechanism for transferring the coal stored therein to the heating apparatus responsive to fuel demands of the apparatus. Ambient heat from the heating apparatus is used to maintain coal in the coat storage compartment above freezing to prevent bridging thereof.

1 . A heating system comprising: 
 an enclosed container including a heating compartment and a coal storage compartment for storing coal therein;    a heating apparatus supported in the heating compartment which consumes the coal for producing heat; and    a coal transfer mechanism connected between the coal storage compartment and the heating compartment for transferring coal from the coal storage compartment to the heating compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the coal transfer mechanism is automatically operated responsive to fuel demands of the heating apparatus.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the heating appliance includes a stoker and the coal transfer mechanism includes a transfer auger extending from the coal storage compartment to the stoker.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the transfer auger of the coal transfer mechanism is operative responsive to level of coal within the stoker falling below a prescribed lower limit.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the stoker automatically feeds coal to the heating apparatus responsive to temperature of the heating apparatus falling below a prescribed lower limit.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the coal storage compartment includes a hopper bottom formed therein.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6  wherein the hopper is heated from below by the heating apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the heating apparatus includes an automated ash removal mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein a partition between the heating compartment and the coal storage compartment is non-insulated.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the container comprises a rectangular metal construction which is portable and configured for transporting on a flat deck truck.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the heating apparatus comprises a boiler and wherein the container is provided with selectively separable electrical and water connectors for connection to a building to be heated.  
   
   
       12 . A method of heating a building site, the method comprising: 
 locating a heating system adjacent the building, the system comprising an enclosed container including a coal storage compartment and a heating compartment;    storing coal in the coal storage compartment;    periodically transferring coal from the coal storage compartment to the heating compartment;    combusting the transferred coal in the heating compartment to produce heat; and    transferring the heat of combustion externally from the container to the building site.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  including maintaining temperature in the coal storage area above freezing.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12  including automatically transferring coal fro the coal storage compartment to the heating compartment responsive to fuel demands of a heating apparatus which combusts the coal within the heating compartment.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein there is provided a heating apparatus in the heating compartment for combusting the coal which includes a stoker and wherein coal is transferred from the coal storage compartment to the heating apparatus by a transfer auger.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the auger is automated for operation responsive to the level of coal within the stoker falling below a prescribed lower limit.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the stoker feeds coal to the heating apparatus automatically response temperature in the heating apparatus falling below a prescribed lower limit.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 12  including providing a hopper in the coal storage compartment upon which the coal is stored.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  including heating the coal in the coal storage compartment from below the hopper.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein a boiler is provided in the heating compartment for combusting the coal to produce heat and wherein the method includes selectively connecting electrical and water connections between the boiler and the building site to be heated.