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BURNING SHELLED CORN AS FUEL

Girl loading corn burnerBurning shelled corn as a fuel can be a feasible way of dealing with the high prices of more conventional fuels such as fuel oil, propane, natural gas, coal, and firewood. Utilizing corn as a fuel does not compete with the food supply needed for nourishment throughout the world. While it is recognized that malnutrition is a serious global problem, the world is not experiencing a food production problem. Instead the world faces political challenges associated with providing infrastructure systems for food distribution and storage.

Contemporary agricultural systems can produce sufficient quality and quantity of food for the world’s population, with additional resources available so that agricultural products can be used as fuel, pharmaceuticals, and chemical feedstocks. Shelled corn is a fuel that can be produced within 180 days, compared to the millennia needed to produce fossil fuels.

Heat Energy Content of Shelled Corn — The combustion energy content of shelled corn is a critical factor in making energy comparisons of fuels.

Corn Energy Equivalents — This table provides a method of calculating how much shelled corn would be required to replace the fuel currently being used for heating.

EnergySelector — EnergySelector is a user-friendly decision-aide to easily compare the heating values available from any two energy sources.

Shopping for a Corn-Burning Stove? — Questions to ask when considering the purchase of a corn-burning stove.

Locating a Supplier of Shelled Corn — Do not purchase a corn-burning stove without first identifying a reliable supplier of shelled corn.

Quality of Shelled Corn — For best results, the quality of shelled corn burned in a corn-burning stove must be specified.

Storage Requirements of Shelled Corn — Proper storage of shelled corn is important for good performance of a corn-burning stove.

Disposal of Corn Ash — A plan for the proper disposal of corn ash needs to be developed before purchasing a corn-burning stove.

LISTING OF MANUFACTURERS OF CORN BURNING STOVES AND BOILERS:
Click on the desired image below:
Residential Applications
Commercial Applications Commercial Applications
Industrial Applications Industrial Applications
Note:   The inclusion of a manufacturer on these lists does not constitute an endorsement nor does the omission of a manufacturer from the lists constitute a lack of endorsement.

For more information please contact:

Dennis Buffington
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Penn State University
Email: dbuffington@psu.edu
814-865-2971 (Voice)
814-863-1031 (FAX)


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Last Update: December 15, 2006