How Does a Corn Burner Work?

Function

A corn burner is a stove that has a hopper connected to the top or side of the main compartment. The hopper is filled with loose dried corn and an auger drops the kernels in the firebox at a consistent pace. Once in the firebox, the kernels ignite and a small fan propels oxygen into the box to keep the fire burning. Another larger fan blows the heat from the furnace to the rest of the room. Most corn burners come equipped with an adjustable thermostat that monitors the temperature of the burning corn and controls how quickly the auger dumps corn into the firebox. Because corn is a clean-burning fuel, these burners require very little maintenance.

Use of Electricity

Though it requires a non-traditional fuel source, a corn burner does not operate completely independently. A corn burner requires electricity to function and, therefore, is only really effective in an area with a dependable electrical connection. Some burners can be adapted to hook to a battery or other portable power device for a limited period of time during an outage.