Energy Strategies

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BURNING SHELLED CORN AS FUEL

Burning shelled corn as a fuel can be a feasible way of dealing withthe 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 120 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.

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.

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

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.

LISTING OF MANUFACTURERS OF CORN BURNING STOVES AND BOILERS:
Commercial Applications
Residential 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
208 Agricultural Engineering Building
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
Ph: 814-865-2971
Email: dbuffington@psu.edu


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Last Update: July 22, 2003