Bulk curing with solid fuel

Abstract

Apparatus for bulk curing tobacco comprising a barn having a heat exchanger therein defining interior flow paths for heated water and exterior heat exchange surfaces disposed within the curing air flow path within the barn, hot water storage tank unit, a power operated pump for circulating hot water between the hot water storage tank unit and the heat exchanger, a hot water heating unit and a power driven pump for continuously circulating water between the hot water heating unit and the hot water storage unit. The hot water heating unit comprises an inner casing structure defining an interior combustion chamber, an outer casing structure extending over a portion of the exterior of the inner casing structure and defining therewith a water circulating space communicating with the continuous circulating pump, a grate assembly within the combustion chamber for supporting solid fuel for combustion therein, a forced draft blower for establishing a forced flow of combustion air into the combustion chamber, an induced draft blower for inducing a flow of combusted gases from the combustion chamber, and the operation of the blower being controlled to control the combustion rate of the supplied solid fuel and hence the amount of heat added to the water circulating in the water circulating space.