American Energy Systems Harvester - Manual (Page 13)

13
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
The Harvester Model HR-01 was designed to burn multiple types of fuel, including corn, wood pellets.
Country Flame recommends number 2 yellow shelled corn be used as fuel. This corn’s moisture content
should be limited to no more than 14% moisture content. Country Flame recommends corn fuel moisture
content be maintained somewhere in the range of 10% to 12%. USING SEED CORN AS FUEL IS
DANGEROUS TO OCCUPANTS AND BURNING SEED CORN VOIDS THE COUNTRY FLAME
WARRANTY.
If pellet fuel (wood or other solid biomass pellet fuel) is used in the Harvester, Country Flame recommends
no more than 8% moisture content. If there are any questions about fuels to be used in the Harvester, please
contact a local authorized Country Flame Dealer for assistance.
HARVESTER STARTUP
The first step in preparing the Harvester corn-burning stove is to remove it from its shipping crate. Ensure
that all materials packed in the burn chamber have been removed and that the Gold (optional) door and its
glass have been cleaned per enclosed instructions included in this manual.
NOTE:
(1) Failure to properly pre-clean the Gold (or any plated) door and the glass before lighting the
first fire could permanently damage either or both of these items.
(2) DO NOT burn seed corn as it is dangerous and voids the Country Flame warranty.
PRIMING
If this is the first time that the Harvester has been burnt or the stove has run out of corn fuel from a previous
burn, priming must be completed in order to fill the auger tube with corn fuel. The Harvester prime mode
(with the new control system) can be entered by holding the on-off button (after the initial minute of startup)
and hold it until fuel is dropping out of the auger for about 2 minutes. Once corn fuel starts dropping into the
burn pot, the system should be shut off. Once priming is completed, the next step is to prepare the Harvester
for burning.
FIRST FIRE
Country Flame recommends using wood pellets to start the Harvester Corn Stove. Pellets should be added in
layers with igniter gel or igniter bricks sandwiched between the pellets inside the burn pot. It is important that
the firebox has a hot pellet fire going before corn fuel is fed into the burn pot. This hot pellet fire is required
due to the higher combustion temperatures required for corn fuel.
Wood pellets should be layered with igniter fluid at least level with the bottom of the stir pot arm inside the
burn pot. Once the wood pellets and igniter material are layered in the burn pot, light the fuel, wait about a
minute and then close the door. Then push the on button and the system is running. Monitor the wood pellet
fire until a good blaze has been established. (see section on control board operation later in this manual)
Based on the heat setting on the control board, the Harvester will automatically turn the stir rod at a
predetermined rate to ensure turbulence and proper mixing of the fuel during the burn process. The stir rod
will ensure that “clinkers” are minimized if not completely eliminated. In addition, the stir rod ensures that
the fuel and flame are constantly agitated within the burn pot so as to ensure proper mixing with combustion
air. The Harvester burn pot has been designed to ensure maximum efficiency of burn while minimizing the
amount of ash being produced while at the same time minimizing the clinkers that can choke out a fire.
Testing by Country Flame has shown that the unit can be operated for several days to up to two weeks
without requiring cleaning depending on the type of fuel being burnt. It should be recognized that
environmental variables as well as the type of fuel can have drastic effects on the amount of ash or clinkers
formed during the burn cycle. Burn pot cleaning will depend upon the quality, quantity, and moisture content