Corn Usage in Outdoor Furnaces

The fuel for corn-burning furnaces comes from shelled field corn.

Outdoor furnaces that burn shelled corn are often used for heating workshops, garages and other exterior buildings. Some homeowners link an outdoor corn furnace to their home’s heating and water system, eliminating the need for hot water heaters and other sources of heat. The use of corn as a source of fuel may provide a way to deal with the high cost of fossil fuel and wood.

Environmental

As a natural source, corn can be renewed in about 180 days, unlike wood and fossil fuels. According to Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, when corn is burned in an outdoor furnace, it puts less environmental pollution into the air than fossil fuels. Corn grown on local farms require fewer energy sources to harvest and transport the fuel than the energy required of fossil fuels to get them into the hands of consumers.

Efficiency

Outdoor corn-burning furnaces are about 99 percent efficient. When you burn 100 lb. of shelled corn, about one lb. of ash is leftover -- less than the amount left behind after burning wood. Some people spread the leftover corn ash on their gardens as a fertilizer. A bushel of corn weighs approximately 52 lb. and lasts about seven hours when the heat it turned to high on a smaller stove. If you set the furnace to its lowest setting, the amount of heat generated lasts for twice as long. Most of the more efficient, smaller furnaces burn about a pound of fuel per hour.

High Capacity Hoppers

Some outdoor furnaces use high capacity hoppers that hold enough corn to keep the fire going for days. Some of large hoppers hold up to 11 bushels, or 600 lb. of corn, although a few hoppers hold up to 43 bushels. The hoppers rely on augers to gradually move a set amount of corn into the firebox. Once the hopper is empty, you must add more corn to keep the furnace going.

Best Corn

The best type of corn to burn in an outdoor furnace should contain 15 percent or less moisture. Corn harvested and shelled from local fields requires testing to meet the proper moisture content, or it won’t burn efficiently. Some furnace owners buy shelled corn directly from the farmer, then clean it themselves to remove dust gathered in the field. Before installing an outdoor corn-burning furnace, locate a reliable supplier to provide all the shelled corn you need.

Storage

Corn requires proper storage in a clean, dry environment, preferably not on a concrete or dirt floor where moisture may get in. Your storage area must be safe from rodents, birds and other wildlife. Corn stored in containers should not be sealed shut since good airflow is required to keep the corn dry.

References

• John Deere: Renewable Energy Source
• PennState College of Agricultural Sciences: Storage Requirements of Shelled Corn
• Pure Energy Systems: Corn Stoves: An Interim Technology on a Crumbling Foundation?
• Professional Heating Systems, Inc.: Maxim
• PennState College of Agricultural Sciences: Burning Shelled Corn--A Renewable Fuel Source
• Corn Flame Energy: Why Use Corn as a Fuel Source?