Converting a Gas Fireplace to Corn

If this is a traditional fireplace you will need an insert that fits inside. I know that these are commercially available. I suspect for these systems to work properly they have to run lean and air control must be controlled closely. I'm no help after that.

Good Luck

We did this last fall. The insert fits into the fireplace slot and vents through the chimney. The major decision was to either use a feed tube from a large bin to the insert for the corn or to have the corn go into a smaller feed tray on the stove. The feed tube would require much less loading of the corn (less work). It holds about 200 lbs of corn vs ~ 5 lb in the stove's tray. We settled for the tray as this was supplimental heat.

Today corn is $0.08 cents a pound or $4.00 a bushel were I sell it. Buying there would be a dime. In the last month corn has gone up 16% and wheat has gone up 25%. They aren't the cheap sources of energy they once were. Corn has doubled in price in the last 2 years from $2.00 a bushel to $4.00 and the USDA predicts we have 77 cents left for corn to go up this year.

The world has used more grain than it grew for the last 5 years and Asia with more the 50% of the wolds population is eating 5 to 10% more meat a year and using a lot more grain to grow it as most of it in the form of hogs. It takes 2 to 12 pounds of grain per pound of pork you eat depending on how much slop and pasture they get per pound of meat on the table. I expect it is about 5 or 6. I have an ethical problem making what could be food into fuel over the long run. We don't have fuel shortage and we do have food and water shortage.

Burning four dollar is the same a Propane at 1.48 if I burn my corn and get the same efficiency. You usually don't. A lot less if I burn the cobs and shucks. Natural Gas would do the job at $15.50/1000 cf. and no one can eat either one and you can't feed to pigs, cattle or chickens to make something to eat.

This page is a good source for comparisons among fuels & stoves http://ces.ca.uky.edu/energy/biofuels/index.htm

http://ces.ca.uky.edu/energy/calculators/fuel_price_comparison/index.htm

Gordon

There's another CR4 user that should be able to help you, his user name is Cornstoves. He can probably help you, but I haven't seen him post anything for a while now. Create an account and you can easily send a message to people on the CR4 network.

Good luck, we've wanted to try teh same thing with a wood stove for our barn. Our neighbors are farmers and grow tons of corn so we could get it for real cheap. I wish I knew how to help.

Nick