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grain-burning stove
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A stove similar to an ordinary wood stove in appearance that is designed to burn grain. Grain is a good, renewable fuel. It is also exceptionally cheap in "breadbasket" regions of the world, including Canada and the American Midwest, where the grain doesn't have to be transported far. Typically, a grain-burning stove can use all grades of hulled wheat, rye, triticale, peas, faba beans, and corn, as well as other biomass fuels, such as cherry pits and wood pellets. It's recommended that the grain be cleaned before use. Oil seeds and grains with high hull content such as barley and oats don't work well in the stoves.
As in the case of all heating appliances that use biomass fuel, check on the availability and cost of grain in your area. When deciding which particular stove to buy, look carefully at the manufacturer's recommendations and the stove's features. Make sure that the stove is designed for burning grain and similar materials.
Expect to burn up to one bushel per day in the heating season (one bushel of wheat weighs about 54lb).
Cost comparisons of burning grain and other fuels (based on Jan. 2006 rates)
| Fuel type | BTU value per unit | Units required to produce 1,000,000 BTU | Fuel price per unit (approximate) | Total cost to produce 1,000,000 BTU | Effective cost to produce 1,000,000 BTU | Additional cost of using other heat sources |
| Grain | 9400/pound | 106.4/pound =1.9 bushels | $2.00/bushel | $3.80 | @92% efficiency = $4.13 | |
| Electricity | 3413/kWh | 293/KWH | 12.06 cents/KWH | $35.35 | @100% efficiency = $35.35 | 8.6 times more |
| Natural gas | 345.94/cubic meters | 28.17 cubic meters | $52.20/cubic meters | $14.70 | @85%efficiency = $17.29 | 4.18 times more |
| Fuel oil | 37,549/liter | 26.63 litres | 83.90 cents/litre | $22.34 | @70% efficiency = $31.92 | 7.72 times more |
| Propane | 24,035/liter | 41.6 litres | 49.9 cents/litre | $20.76 | @ 70% efficiency = $29.64 | 7.18 times more |
| Wood | 16,464,000/cord | 0.0607 cords | $200/bush cord | $12.14 | @60% efficiency = $20.23 | 4.89 times more |
| Wood pellets | 7800/pound | 128 pounds (0.0651 tons) | $237.50/ton | $15.22 | @ 80% efficiency = $19.02 | 4.6 times more |
Environmental benefits of grain-burning stoves
- No creosote
- No harmful emissions
- Uses renewable/sustainable fuels
- Decreases dependence on fossil fuels
- Virtually no waste (2% ash compared with about 15% ash from a wood stove). The remaining ash contains of potash and other minerals, which can be used on gardens and flowerbeds
- Utilizes lower quality grains, including damaged crops that are useless as food
Related category
• FIRES AND FIREPLACES
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