Patent ID: 8712787
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: F23G,G06Q,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for managing excess above-ground corn residue and for generating steam, the method comprising: identifying a site location within a predetermined proximity to a high density of high-yield corn-on-corn acres; building a corn residue combustion and steam generation facility at the site location; contracting with corn growers within a service area of the site location for the right to harvest above-ground corn residue on the corn growers behalf, wherein the corn growers are growers of high yield corn-on-corn acres of corn; contracting with the corn growers for the right to store baled above-ground corn residue on the corn growers property; contracting with the corn growers to require the corn growers to provide notification of expected corn grain harvest dates and measured corn moisture contents; harvesting the above-ground corn residue on the corn growers behalf after the corn growers have harvested the corn grain, the above-ground corn residue being harvested when the above-ground corn residue has a moisture content in the range of 10 to 15 percent, and the harvesting including baling the above-ground corn residue in rectangular bales; storing bales on the corn grower's property; transporting the bales from the corn grower's property to a pre-processing station of the corn residue combustion and steam generation facility, wherein the bales are reduced at the pre-processing station to form reduced corn residue; combusting the reduced corn residue in a furnace at the corn residue combustion and steam generation facility to produce heat; and using the heat from the furnace to generate steam in a boiler.