Fast lighting charcoal briquet

Abstract

Solid fuel briquets, such as a charcoal briquets for cooking, which displays an ashover time of less than ten minutes and a cooking time of over 90 minutes over a variety of shapes are provided. The briquet is defined by an ashover phase of less than about 10 minutes, preferably less than about 6 minutes and a burn phase of greater than about 90 minutes, preferably two hours and above, with respect to any desired briquet shape. The briquet comprises coal, charcoal, coke, and oxidizer formulations.

1 . A briquet or other solid fuel composition for cooking, comprising: coal, charcoal, and oxidizer, wherein the briquet is characterized as having an ashover time of less than ten minutes and a cooking time of more than ninety minutes.  
   
   
       2 . The briquet of  claim 1  further comprising coke.  
   
   
       3 . The briquet of  claim 1  having an ashover time of less than six minutes.  
   
   
       4 . The briquet of  claim 1  having an ashover time of less than five minutes.  
   
   
       5 . The briquet of  claim 2  having a cooking time of over two hours.  
   
   
       6 . The briquet of  claim 2  having an ashover time of less than five minutes and a cooking time of over two hours.  
   
   
       7 . The briquet of  claim 2  wherein the coal, charcoal and coke have a combined weight representing from 55 to 85 percent of the total weight of the briquet; and where the coal represents from 50 to 75 percent of the combined weight; and the coke is present in an amount of 2-5 percent of the combined weight; and wherein the oxidizer represents at least fifteen percent of at least one alkali metal nitrate.  
   
   
       8 . The briquet of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer comprises at least two alkali metal nitrates and is present in an amount of twenty percent or higher by weight of the total briquet composition.  
   
   
       9 . A briquet or other solid fuel composition for cooking, comprising: 
 coal having a fixed carbon of 65 percent or more; charcoal; coke; and    oxidizer comprising at least two different alkali metal nitrates;    wherein the briquet is characterized as having an ashover time of less than ten minutes and a cooking time of more than ninety minutes.    
   
   
       10 . The briquet of  claim 9  wherein the coal, charcoal and coke have a combined weight representing from 55 to 85 percent of the total weight of the briquet; and where the coal represents from 50 to 75 percent of the combined weight; and the coke is present in an amount of 2-5 percent of the combined weight; and wherein the oxidizer represents at least fifteen percent.  
   
   
       11 . The briquet of  claim 9  wherein a first alkali metal nitrate is selected from the group consisting of strontium and barium nitrates and combinations thereof, and wherein a second alkali metal nitrate is selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium nitrates and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The briquet of  claim 9  wherein the first alkali nitrate is present in greater amounts than the second alkali metal nitrate.  
   
   
       13 . The briquette of  claim 9  wherein the oxidizer is present in amounts equal to or greater than twenty percent.  
   
   
       14 . The briquette of  claim 9  wherein the oxidizer is present in amounts equal to or greater than twenty five percent.  
   
   
       15 . A briquet or other solid fuel composition, comprising: 
 coal having a fixed carbon of 65 percent or more, charcoal, and coke, wherein the coal, charcoal and coke have a combined weight representing from 55 to 90 percent of the total weight of the briquet; and where the coal represents from 50 to 75 percent of the combined weight; and the coke is present in an amount of 2-5 percent of the combined weight; and    at least ten percent of at least one alkali metal nitrate,    wherein the briquet is characterized as having an ashover time of less than ten minutes and a cooking time of more than ninety minutes.    
   
   
       16 . A briquet or other solid fuel composition system for cooking, comprising: 
 briquets comprising coal, charcoal, coke and two alkali metal nitrates; and    an alcohol based gel ignition aid;    wherein the system is characterized as having a starting time of less than one minute, an ashover time of less than five minutes and a cooking time of more than two hours.    
   
   
       17 . A briquet or other solid fuel composition, comprising: 
 from 35 to 45 percent by weight coal having a fixed carbon of 65 percent or more,    from 16 to 20 percent by weight charcoal,    from 4 to 6 percent by weight by weight coke,    from 25 to 30 percent by weight barium nitrate,    from 4 to 6 percent by weight sodium nitrate, and    from 3 to 5 percent by weight starch.