Corn Burner Information

Corn stoves use field corn.

Corn burners offer a unique heat source that relies on shelled field corn for burning material. The burners got their start in the mid-1980s when inventors wanted to improve pellet and wood stoves.

Types

Several manufacturers make corn burners. You can get stoves with different-sized fuel hoppers, including one that holds a day's worth of burning fuel and another that holds a 10-day supply of corn. The corn burners also come as space heaters, hot air furnaces and hot water boilers. Corn-burning grills you can cook with are also available.

Description

Instead of burning wood or pellets, corn burners uses shelled field corn. After placing a bag of corn in the device, you light it, then rely on a small combustion chamber to pump air to the fuel. The heat starts building once the material burns. The corn must contain a moisture content of 15% or less to burn the best.

Requirements

Corn burners require no chimney, but you will need a vent that leads from the back of the burner to the outside to get rid of any smoke. The burner also relies on a fan to push the warm air into the room, so you need a source of electricity nearby. You'll also need to buy or otherwise access shelled corn; bags of it are often available at hardware stores.

References

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Burning Shelled Corn as a Heating Fuel

Resources

• Buckner Corn Stoves & Grills