Combustion Chamber for Burning Solid Fuels

Abstract

A combustion chamber ( 10 ) for burning solid fuels having a high volatiles content has a hollow body ( 11 ) with a cylindrical wall section ( 12 ) and a top section ( 13 ) located at end ( 14 ) of the cylindrical wall section ( 12 ). The hollow body ( 11 ) has a primary air inlet ( 20 ), a fuel inlet ( 23 ) and four volatiles outlets ( 25 ) (one shown), mounted therein. Each volatiles outlet ( 25 ) has a plurality of apertures ( 26 ) of differing sizes arranged in a plate ( 27 ). In use, the burning volatiles exit the apertures ( 26 ) in a turbulent flow resulting in efficient combustion of the volatiles. Additionally, a heat transferring surface ( 33 ) on a water jacket ( 32 ) is shaped around the combustion chamber ( 10 ) so as to define a channel ( 34 ) there between. This arrangement results in an efficient transfer of heat from the turbulent flow of volatiles, which is forced to circulate around the channel ( 34 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustion chamber for burning solid fuels having a high volatiles content, the combustion chamber comprising:
 an enclosed hollow body in which fuel is to be burned,   the body having a fuel inlet, an air inlet configured to introduce primary and secondary air of combustion to the combustion chamber, and a burning volatiles outlet mounted therein, the burning volatiles outlet having a plurality of apertures,   wherein the burning volatiles outlet is configured to rapidly turbulate a confluence of burning volatiles and secondary air of combustion as the confluence exits the combustion chamber in a rapidly turbulating flow resulting in efficient combustion of the volatiles.   
     
     
         2 . A combustion chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are of differing sizes. 
     
     
         3 . A combustion chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein the burning volatiles outlet includes means for temporarily restricting the flow of burning volatiles therethrough at reduced boiler output. 
     
     
         4 . A combustion chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet provides primary air of combustion, and a separate inlet adjacent the burning volatiles provides secondary air of combustion within the combustion chamber.