US2008216396A1PendingUtilityA1

Fuel pellet and method of producing fuel pellet

32
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 7, 2007Filed: Mar 7, 2007Published: Sep 11, 2008
Est. expiryMar 7, 2027(~0.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Lloyd G. Bier
C10L 5/44C10L 5/363Y02E50/10Y02E50/30C10L 5/366
32
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A processed fuel pellet is disclosed, and contains a ground corn product mixed with other commodities that establish the framework for an alternative fuel source burned in pellet stoves and corn stoves. The composition is comprised preferably of about 50% ground shelled corn, about 25% wheat midds as an igniting agent, about 20% soy hulls as a bonding agent and about 5% pulverized limestone as an anti-caking agent. Said ground shelled corn can be varied in alternative embodiments up to a maximum of 75% of the corn component, and other ingredients are adjusted accordingly to provide useful compositions. The pellet produced is a more efficient, hotter burning fuel source that has a low soot output, is economical to produce and environmentally friendly, and a perfect fuel to be used in home heating. A method for producing said fuel pellet is also disclosed which will ensure proper composition and structure.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A fuel pellet comprising:
 (a) Ground shelled corn, wherein the ground shelled corn has a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight;   (b) A bonding agent;   (c) An igniting agent; and   (d) An anti-caking agent.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the corn has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (a) Ground shelled corn is grade 2 ground shelled corn; and   (b) Ground shelled corn has a coarseness of at most about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         3 . The fuel pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-caking agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Pulverized limestone;   (b) Dehydrated phosphorus; and   (c) Crushed egg shells.   
     
     
         4 . The fuel pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Soy hulls;   (b) Any type of dried distiller grain; and   (c) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         5 . The fuel pellet of  claim 1 , wherein the igniting agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Wheat midds;   (b) Barley;   (c) Oats;   (d) Wheat;   (e) Any type of dried distiller grain;   (f) Speltz; and   (g) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         6 . A fuel pellet comprising:
 (a) At least about 50% by weight ground shelled corn, wherein the ground shelled corn has a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight;   (b) At most about 20% by weight bonding agent;   (c) At most about 25% by weight igniting agent; and   (d) The balance, or at most about 5% by weight, anti-caking agent.   
     
     
         7 . The fuel pellet of  claim 6 , wherein the corn has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (a) Ground shelled corn is grade 2 ground shelled corn; and   (b) Ground shelled corn has a coarseness of at most about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         8 . The fuel pellet of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-caking agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Pulverized limestone;   (b) Dehydrated phosphorus; and   (c) Crushed egg shells.   
     
     
         9 . The fuel pellet of  claim 6 , wherein the bonding agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Soy hulls;   (b) Any type of dried distiller grain; and   (c) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel pellet of  claim 6 , wherein the igniting agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Wheat midds;   (b) Barley;   (c) Oats;   (d) Wheat;   (e) Any type of dried distiller grain;   (f) Speltz; and   (g) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         11 . A fuel pellet comprising:
 (a) At most about 75% by weight ground shelled corn, wherein the ground shelled corn has a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight;   (b) At least about 12.5% by weight bonding agent;   (c) At least about 12.5% by weight igniting agent; and   (d) The balance, or at most about 5% by weight, anti-caking agent.   
     
     
         12 . The fuel pellet of  claim 11 , wherein the corn has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (a) Ground shelled corn is grade 2 ground shelled corn; and   (b) Ground shelled corn has a coarseness of at most about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         13 . The fuel pellet of  claim 11 , wherein the anti-caking agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Pulverized limestone;   (b) Dehydrated phosphorus; and   (c) Crushed egg shells.   
     
     
         14 . The fuel pellet of  claim 11 , wherein the bonding agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Soy hulls;   (b) Any type of dried distiller grain; and   (c) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         15 . The fuel pellet of  claim 11 , wherein the igniting agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Wheat midds;   (b) Barley;   (c) Oats;   (d) Wheat;   (e) Any type of dried distiller grain;   (f) Speltz; and   (g) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         16 . A fuel pellet comprising:
 (a) At least 50% by weight ground shelled corn, wherein the ground shelled corn has a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight;   (b) At most 20% by weight bonding agent;   (c) 25% by weight igniting agent; and   (d) The balance, or at most 5% by weight, anti-caking agent.   
     
     
         17 . The fuel pellet of  claim 16 , wherein the corn has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (a) Ground shelled corn is grade 2 ground shelled corn; and   (b) Ground shelled corn has a coarseness of at most about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         18 . The fuel pellet of  claim 16 , wherein the anti-caking agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Pulverized limestone;   (b) Dehydrated phosphorus; and   (c) Crushed egg shells.   
     
     
         19 . The fuel pellet of  claim 16 , wherein the bonding agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Soy hulls;   (b) Any type of dried distiller grain; and   (c) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         20 . The fuel pellet of  claim 16 , wherein the igniting agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Wheat midds;   (b) Barley;   (c) Oats;   (d) Wheat;   (e) Any type of dried distiller grain;   (f) Speltz; and   (g) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         21 . A fuel pellet comprising:
 (a) At least 50% by weight ground shelled corn, wherein the ground shelled corn has a moisture content of not more than about 15% by weight;   (b) 20% by weight bonding agent;   (c) At most 25% by weight igniting agent; and   (d) The balance, or at most 5% by weight, anti-caking agent.   
     
     
         22 . The fuel pellet of  claim 21 , wherein the corn has one or more of the following characteristics:
 (a) Ground shelled corn is grade 2 ground shelled corn; and   (b) Ground shelled corn has a coarseness of at most about 3.1 mm.   
     
     
         23 . The fuel pellet of  claim 21 , wherein the anti-caking agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Pulverized limestone;   (b) Dehydrated phosphorus; and   (c) Crushed egg shells.   
     
     
         24 . The fuel pellet of  claim 21 , wherein the bonding agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Soy hulls;   (b) Any type of dried distiller grain; and   (c) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         25 . The fuel pellet of  claim 21 , wherein the igniting agent comprises one of the following ingredients:
 (a) Wheat midds;   (b) Barley;   (c) Oats;   (d) Wheat;   (e) Any type of dried distiller grain;   (f) Any type of dried distiller grain;   (g) Speltz; and   (h) Milo, also known as grain sorghum.   
     
     
         26 . A method for making fuel pellet, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) Following order by customer, transporting stored shelled corn to moisture tester, said shelled corn comprising less than 15% by weight of water;   (b) Transporting said shelled corn to the hammer mill for grinding to reduce the size to not greater than 3.1 mm;   (c) Transport ground shelled corn and other ingredients to grain mixer;   (d) Mix ingredients to ensure uniform consistency;   (e) Transport mixed ingredients to pellet mill;   (f) Mixture pressed through die at pellet mill to form said fuel pellets; and   (g) Bag and ship said fuel pellets.   
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 26 , where said die in step (f) has a size of about 1.5 mm to about 3.1 mm. 
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 26 , where temperature in said pressing step using die can be varied from about 125° F. to about 225° F.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2008216396A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.