Solid fuel gravity feed combustion device, system and method

Abstract

A solid fuel gravity feed combustion device, system and method are presented. The device includes a chute having an inlet and outlet, such that the chute inlet is configured to receive multiple pellets. A floor is disposed substantially below the chute inlet, and adjacent to the chute outlet. The chute outlet is configured to accommodate a pellet pile including at least a portion of the multiple pellets disposed upon the floor, where the pile surface is oriented substantially at a pellet angle of repose.

1 . A gravity feed pellet feeder comprising:
 a chute further comprising a chute inlet configured to receive multiple pellets and a chute outlet comprising an outlet opening with an opening top and an opening bottom; and   a floor disposed substantially below said chute inlet, and further disposed adjacent to said chute outlet,   wherein said chute outlet is configured to accommodate a pile comprising at least a portion of said multiple pellets disposed upon said floor, said pile comprising a pile surface oriented substantially at a pellet angle of repose from said outlet chute opening top to the opening bottom.   
     
     
         2 . The pellet feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said chute inlet receives said multiple pellets from a pellet hopper. 
     
     
         3 . The pellet feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said floor comprises a burner grate. 
     
     
         4 . The pellet feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said chute outlet is disposed adjacent to a burner grate. 
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The pellet feeder of  claim 1 , wherein said chute inlet comprises an airlock. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method for conveying pellets to a pellet destination, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a chute comprising a chute inlet, a chute outlet and a floor, said chute outlet disposed at said pellet destination; wherein said chute outlet is configured to accommodate a pile comprising multiple pellets disposed upon said floor, said pile comprising a pile surface oriented substantially at a pellet angle of repose;   receiving said multiple pellets into said chute inlet; and   at said chute outlet, removing a plurality of said multiple pellets from said pellet pile.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving said multiple pellets into said chute inlet further comprises orienting said chute inlet adjacent to a hopper further comprising a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding a plurality of pellets to said pellet hopper through said hopper inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein removing a plurality of said pellets further comprises burning said plurality of pellets. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein removing said plurality of pellets further comprises the step of conveying said plurality of pellets away from said pellet pile. 
     
     
         14 . A method for feeding pellets to a burner, comprising the steps of:
 configuring said chute to accommodate a pellet pile within said chute, wherein said pile comprises a surface oriented substantially at a pellet angle of repose; and   adding pellets to said chute through said chute inlet.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of adding pellets is performed by a hopper comprising a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet, wherein said chute inlet is connected to said hopper outlet and adding pellets to said chute comprises receiving pellets from said hopper outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of removing pellets substantially at said chute outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of removing pellets substantially at the chute outlet comprises burning said pellets in said pellet burner. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of removing pellets at said chute outlet further comprises clearing ash produced from spent pellets from the pellet burner. 
     
     
         19 . A pellet transport system comprising:
 a pellet feeder comprising:
 a chute further comprising a chute inlet configured to receive multiple pellets and a chute outlet comprising an outlet opening with an opening top and an opening bottom; and 
 a floor disposed substantially below said chute inlet, and further disposed adjacent to said chute outlet, 
 wherein said chute outlet is configured to accommodate a pile comprising at least a portion of said multiple pellets disposed upon said floor, said pile comprising a pile surface oriented substantially at a pellet angle of repose from said outlet chute opening top to the opening bottom; and 
   a conveyer configured to convey said plurality of pellets between a pellet repository and said pellet feeder.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said conveyer further comprises:
 a sensor configured to sense available capacity of said pellet feeder to receive additional pellets in said chute; and   a sensor output configured to alert said conveyer to convey more pellets.