Fire log made of recycled materials and a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The fire log comprises an organic fibre base that is over-saturated with vegetable cooking oil. The vegetable oil is contained and sealed therein by a casing made of the vegetable wax. More specifically, the fire log is over saturated with 65%-75% by weight of vegetable oil. The vegetable oil is used vegetable cooking oil. The organic fibre base represents about between 20%-30% by weight and consists of compressed paper-based products such as cardboard, newsprint and recyclable paper. The vegetable wax casing represents about between 1-5% of its weight. In another aspect of the present invention, the organic fibre base is made of broken fibres and interstices, and the vegetable oil is infused therein while these fibres are dilated from their natural states. In yet another aspect, the organic fibre base is formed in a perforated cylinder whereby a bark-like appearance is imprinted on its surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention pertains to artificial fire logs and other fuel elements made of organic fibrous materials mixed with vegetable oil and encased in vegetable wax. More particularly, the invention pertains to a fuel element containing an organic fibrous material that is over-saturated with vegetable oil, and to a process and an apparatus for manufacturing such fuel element. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Manufactured fire logs are normally used as substitutes for cordwood in fireplace and small wood stoves during power outages for example or simply for pleasure. Synthetic fire logs can be purchased one at the time and are generally wrapped neatly, making them more attractive than natural wood blocks to the occasional user. Their clean-burning characteristics are advantageous over natural wood, and therefore these logs are also preferred by the environment-conscious people. [0003] Fire logs currently available to consumers are dividable in two types. Th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] This method is advantageous for obtaining an organic fibrous block that has broken fibres and interstices to retain the oil component therein. Furthermore, it is believed that the heating of the solid fuel block prior to infusing the vegetable oil therein causes the fibres to dilate from their natural state, thereby causing larger surfaces and larger pores on these surfaces to which vegetable oil can adhere. It is believe that the large quantity of interstices and the porous dilated surfaces of the organic fibres are important contributing factors in increasing the oil-absorption capacity of the solid fuel block beyond the maximum oil-absorption capacity stated in the prior art.

Problems solved by technology

It is believed that the moisture content in a fire log is a first cause of pollution.

Such incomplete combustion creates emissions containing large quantities of particulate matters and carbon oxides (CO).

Also, it is known that the burning of logs containing petroleum by-products such as paraffin wax causes emissions that could contain carcinogens.

Therefore the heat content of a synthetic fire log has been limited by the fibre mass of the log, basically.

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