Solid fuels

Details Solid fuels Solid fuels

1997-07-14

1999-01-12

McAvoy, Ellen M.

Fuel and related compositions

Fuel product having passageway for gas

Single element having aperture

44535, 44573, 44576, 44590, C10L 544

Patent

active

058580328

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to solid fuel materials and the production thereof. The products are useful as firelighters but may also be used as more conventional fuel materials.
Basically, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a solid fuel material comprises a mixture of other fatty acids or esters; the mixture having a density of from 0.94 to 1.01 gm/cc, preferably 0.95 to 1.00 gm/cc, especially about 0.96 to 0.99 gm/cc.
As noted above, the fuel materials of the first aspect of the invention are composed of two principal ingredients, namely a particulate, cellulosic combustible material and a fatty acid component which serves as binder in the product of the invention and also as a fuel. The first ingredient which may for convenience be termed a "combustible filler", may be any of a wide variety of materials. Examples of suitable organic fillers include forestry residues, sawdust, wood shavings, straw, granulated or comminuted peat, shredded paper, bagasse and like materials.
The particle size of the combustible filler may vary within wide limits and will, to some extent, depend upon the nature of the combustible filler. The particulate organic material is preferably of a particle size such that the material can pass through a 4 mm mesh sieve, preferably a 3 mm mesh sieve. As discussed in more detail below, the moisture content of the combustible filler can be of importance when a preferred method of production of the fuel is employed.
The second basic ingredient (hereinafter referred to as "the fatty acid component") of the fuel material of the first aspect of the invention is one comprising stearic and/or palmitic acid, optionally with other fatty acids or esters. By the terms "stearic acid" and "palmitic acid", we intend, of course, to refer to commercially available materials sold under these names or as "stearine" and which, in practice, comprise mixture of fatty acids in which the nominal acid predominates.
The ratio of combustible filler to fatty acid component should be such that there is sufficient fatty acid present to form a cohesive binder matrix and, to this end, the fatty acid component is preferably present in an amount such that it forms from 40 to 60%, preferably 45 to 55%, of the total weight of the finished product. In addition to serving as a binder the fatty acid component is, of course, also combustible and has been found to give good burning characteristics, especially as compared with a mineral wax.
Other components may be present in minor amounts in the fuels produced in accordance with the first aspect of the invention such as perfumes or other odoriferous agents (e.g. to impart a "pine" smell to the product) or colouring agents. In particular, it has been found that the incorporation of a small amount of a starch (e.g. corn starch) or similar particulate binder provides not only for a tough, well-bonded product but also gives rise to a product having better burning characteristics, i.e. give a fuel block which burns longer with lower flame (the proportion of fatty acid being the same) and give a coherent calcined residue. Such binder is suitably present in an amount of from 2 to 10% by weight of the total components of the fuel, especially about 5% by weight thereof.
A further useful minor component of the fuels of the first aspect of the invention comprises a fire retardant. Such fire retardants must not, of course, be present in amounts sufficient to prevent combustion of the fuel but, when present at low levels below full fire retardant amounts, it has been found that their presence increases the overall burn time without otherwise adversely affecting the performance of the product, eg. as a firelighter or fire log. In particular, it has been found that when used in combination with a binder as discussed above, fire retardants give products which burn to give glowing coals suitable for use, for example, in barbeque applications. Suitable fire retardant materials include inorganic materials such as monobasic ammonium phosp

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Smoke Authorisation Tests on ANFL Firelogs, CRE Group, Ltd., Report No. FTM 97/111; Dec. 9, 1997.
Smoke Emmission Tests on Four Sample Types of Pressed Woodchip/Vegetable Wax Logs, CRE Group, Ltd., Report No. FTM 97/74; Aug. 14, 1997.
Smoke Emission Tests on a Sample of Pressed Wood Waste Logs, CRE Group, Lt6d., Report No. FTM 96/55; Jul. 8, 1996.

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