Beehive burner

Summary

A wood waste burner, known as a teepee burner or wigwam burner in the United States and a beehive burner in Canada, is a free-standing conical steel structure usually ranging from 30 to 60 feet in height. They are named for their resemblance to beehives, teepees or wigwams. A sawdust burner is cylindrical. They have an opening at the top that is covered with a steel grill or mesh to keep sparks and glowing embers from escaping. Sawdust and wood scraps are delivered to an opening near the top of the cone by means of a conveyor belt or Archimedes' screw, where they fall onto the fire near the center of the structure.

Beehive burner in Canada

Teepee or beehive burners are used to dispose of waste wood in logging yards and sawdust from sawmills by incineration. As a result, they produce a large quantity of smoke and ash, which is vented directly into the atmosphere without filtering, contributing to poor air quality. The burners are considered to be a major source of air pollution and have been phased out in most areas. There are a few beehive burners remaining in Western Canada.

Teepee burners went out of general use in the Northwestern United States by the mid 1970s, and are prohibited from operation in Oregon,[1] as well as southwestern Washington State.[2] The majority of wood waste is now recycled and used as a component in various forest products, such as pellet fuel, particle board and mulch.

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Oregon Administrative Rules: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality: Division 234: Emission Standards for Wood Products Industries". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  2. ^ "SWCAA 400, General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources" (PDF). Southwest Clean Air Agency, Washington State. 2009-11-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2022-03-18.

External links edit

  • Keefer, Bob (May 4, 2003). "A Burner Obsession". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Retrieved 2008-05-28 – via The Free Library.
  • Historic images of teepee burners in Oregon from the Salem, Oregon, Public Library
  • Rusty Relics: Teepee Burners