Furnace Turns Wood Into Gas

Furnace Turns Wood Into Gas ENERGY Wood Burners (65) 21-1-34 "It's the next generation of wood stoves - virtually smoke free with almost no ash. What's more, it burns as much as 50 per-cent less wood yet puts out the same amount of heat," says Howard Johnson of Johnson Manufacturing about the company's patented new wood-fired "Energy Converter" furnace. The new wood-burner has a unique burnfrom-the-bottom firebox that "charcoalizes" wood and then gasifies it. The gas is then burned in a heat exchanger chamber. "Very litle smoke comes out of the chimney and the flue temperature is only 150? to 200? which is fine because there's virtu-ally no creosote," says Johnson. "This furnace generates so few emissions that it can be used in residential areas where other outside wood furnaces have been banned." The Energy Converter can be installed inside or outside and adapts to virtually any new or existing heating system. Hot water running through tubes in the heat exchanger is pumped directly to the building or buildings to be heated. Can be adapted to forced air furnaces, boilers, baseboard heaters, and floor heating, or it can be used to heat domestic hot water. Wood chunks up to 26 in. long are stacked in the fire chamber on the front side. A fire is started down below and rises up through the wood, turning it to charcoal. When a thermostatically-controlled turbo draft fan on back of the furnace kicks in, it draws heat and combustible smoke gases down through the burning charcoal fire at the bottom of the stove. All smoke, creosote and visible emissions are burned up as fuel, creating temperatures up to 2,000?. The super heated air is drawn into the heat exchanger at the back of the furnace, making nine passes around heavy-gauge water tubes that extend into the chamber in a maze-like fashion. There's 80 sq. ft. of heat transfer area in the heat exchange chamber. "The Energy Converter is built to last and requires minimal maintenance. The water system is sealed to keep out oxygen, which prevents rust. Burn time is 12 to 36 hours, depending on the season," says Johnson. The furnace weighs 1,650 lbs. and measures 71 in. high, 23 in. wide, and 61 in. long. It holds 180 gal. of water, and is rated to heat up to 5,000 sq. ft. Sells for $3,995. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Johnson Mfg. & Sales, Inc., N5499 Cty E, Ogdensburg, Wis. 54962 (ph 414 244-7581). In Canada, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Johnson Mfg. & Sales, Box 267, Atikokan, Ont. P0T 1C0 Canada (ph 807 929-1129).

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