Fire grate for enhanced combustion

Abstract

An improved fire grate may provide fresh oxygen rich air to a secondary combustion zone, created by the improved fire grate, of a combustion chamber where a combustion gas stream is typically oxygen starved assisting in the burning process of incompletely burned particulates and reducing other harmful emissions. A baffle plate may be introduced in the secondary combustion zone to increase a combustion chamber temperature, encourage mixing of oxygen starved air with oxygen rich air and increase a residence time of the combustion gas within the combustion chamber. These aspects of the baffle plate promote more efficient burning of the biomass/fuel. Additionally, log lighter(s) may be disposed in the secondary combustion zone to increase a temperature of the combustion chamber for the purposes of reducing harmful emissions.

1 . An apparatus for promoting a cleaner burn of fuel within a combustion chamber of a fireplace, the apparatus comprising:
 a baffle plate horizontally disposable above the fuel to be burned in the combustion chamber for interrupting a flame path of the burning fuel;   a frame disposable within the combustion chamber for supporting the baffle plate above the fuel to be burned in the horizontal position;   wherein the baffle plate interrupts reduces a speed of the combustion gas stream, induces turbulence within the combustion gas stream and redirects the combustion has stream for the purposes of reducing harmful emissions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the baffle plate is tilted in the forward direction and has a plurality of horizontal grooves formed in a lower surface of the baffle plate for redirecting a partion of the combustion gas stream toward sides of the baffle plate. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the baffle plate has a plurality of holes formed in a generally vertical direction for removing harmful particulate in the combustion gas stream. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame has tubular construction. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for promoting a cleaner burn of fuel within a combustion chamber of a fireplace, the apparatus comprising:
 a hollow tubular conduit defining a first end portion in fluid communication with an air source and a second end portion with a plurality of air apertures, the second end portion disposable in a secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber of the fireplace; and   a means for flowing air through the hollow tubular conduit from the first end portion to the second end portion through the air apertures for introducing oxygen to the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber which has oxygen starved air to encourage complete combustion and reduction of harmful emissions.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the means for flowing air through the hollow conduit is a blower. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the air apertures of the second end portion of the hollow tubular conduit are directed downwardly toward a primary combustion zone of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the air apertures of the second end portion of the hollow tubular conduit are directed outwardly from an upper frame disposed in the secondary combustion zone and formed by the hollow tubular conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the second end portion of the hollow tubular conduit defines an upper frame having first, second, third and fourth hollow tubes in fluid communication with each other, the first and third tubes being generally parallel with each other and aligned to a fireplace opening, the second and fourth hollow tubes being splayed such that the upper frame substantially fills the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber of the fireplace. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the upper frame has an adjustable width to fit a range of combustion chamber sizes. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first end portion of the hollow tubular conduit is routed from a fresh air source through the primary combustion zone of the combustion chamber and to the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber for preheating the fresh air. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a baffle plate disposed in an upper region of the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber, the baffle plate having a plurality of channels formed on a lower surface of the baffle plate for disturbing rising combustion gas and incompletely burned particulates. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a baffle plate disposed in the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber and routes rising combustion gas to the fresh air introduced into the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber via the second end portion of the hollow tubular conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the channels are routed toward an outer periphery of the baffle plate. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the baffle plate has a plurality of holes extending from a lower surface of the baffle plate to an upper surface of the baffle plate. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a log lighter in the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber for promoting burning of incompletely burned particulates. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the log lighter comprises:
 an elongate tube connected to a flammable gas source, the elongate tube having a plurality of holes for directing flames in a direction of the plurality of holes, the direction of the plurality of holes being directed toward walls of the combustion chamber. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a log lighter in the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber wherein the log lighter is positioned in the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber with the flames of the log lighter directed into the combustion gas rerouted by the baffle plate.