In an aspect, data characterizing an instruction for an activation of an igniter and an operating mode of a smoke generator that includes the igniter can be received. A first amount of energy required for an ignition of a fuel source by the igniter can be determined based on the operating mode characterized by the received data. The igniter can be caused to activate based on the received data. A second amount of energy, output by the igniter over a period of time during which the igniter is activated, can be determined. A determination of whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy can be made. The igniter can be caused to deactivate in response to a determination that the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy. Related systems, apparatus, techniques, and articles are also described.

Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a lid, a cooking chamber, an engine, and one or more processors. The lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The engine is configured to output heat to the cooking chamber. The one or more processors are configured to detect a closing movement of the lid. In response to detecting the closing movement, the one or more processors are configured to command the engine to operate in an increased output mode that increases the heat output of the engine.

A biomass heating system for burning fuel in the form of pellets and/or wood chips is disclosed, the system comprising the following: a boiler with a combustion device, a heat exchanger with a plurality of boiler tubes, wherein the combustion device comprises: a combustion chamber with a rotating grate, with a primary combustion zone and with a secondary combustion zone; wherein the primary combustion zone is enclosed by a plurality of combustion chamber bricks laterally and by the rotating grate from below; wherein a plurality of secondary air nozzles is provided in the combustion chamber bricks; wherein the primary combustion zone and the secondary combustion zone are separated at the level of the secondary air nozzles; wherein the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber is fluidically connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger.

A biomass heating system for burning fuel in the form of pellets and/or wood chips is disclosed, the system comprising the following: a boiler with a combustion device, a heat exchanger with a plurality of boiler tubes, wherein the combustion device comprises: a combustion chamber with a rotating grate, with a primary combustion zone and with a secondary combustion zone; wherein the primary combustion zone is enclosed by a plurality of combustion chamber bricks laterally and by the rotating grate from below; wherein a plurality of secondary air nozzles is provided in the combustion chamber bricks; wherein the primary combustion zone and the secondary combustion zone are separated at the level of the secondary air nozzles; wherein the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber is fluidically connected to an inlet of the heat exchanger.

A rotating grate for a biomass heating system is disclosed, the grate comprising: at least one rotating grate element; at least one bearing axle, by means of which the rotating grate element is rotatably mounted; at least one cleaning device attached to one of the rotating grate elements, wherein the cleaning device comprises a mass element movable relative to the rotating grate element; wherein the cleaning device is arranged in such a way that, upon rotation of the rotating grate element, an acceleration movement of the mass element is initiated so that the cleaning device exerts a knocking effect on the rotating grate element in order to clean the rotating grate element.

A biomass heating system for firing fuel in the form of pellets and/or wood chips is disclosed, comprising: a boiler with a combustion device; a heat exchanger with an inlet and an outlet; wherein the combustion device comprises a combustion chamber with a primary combustion zone and with a secondary combustion zone provided downstream thereof; the combustion device having a rotating grate on which the fuel can be burned; the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber being fluidically connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger the primary combustion zone being laterally enclosed by a plurality of combustion chamber bricks.

Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a burn pot configured to combust pellet fuel received within the burn pot. The pellet grill further includes an auger configured to deliver the pellet fuel to the burn pot. The pellet grill further includes an auger motor operatively coupled to the auger. The pellet grill further includes one or more processors configured to determine whether a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill has been initiated. The one or more processors are further configured, in response to determining that the shutdown sequence has been initiated, to command the auger motor to reverse a direction of rotation of the auger. The reversal is to cause pellet fuel which the auger has not yet delivered to the burn pot to be purged in a direction away from the burn pot.

A pellet burner includes: a burner body having a combustion chamber and an open top; a feed opening at a sidewall of the burner body; a through port under the burner body; and a grate structure above the through port and including two tiers of supports both secured to the burner body. Supports in the first tier are lower than the adjacent supports in the second tier. The second tier of supports are staggered with the first tier. A passage is between the two tiers of supports. The passage is narrower than a diameter D of the pellet fuel. A spacing between two adjacent supports in the second tier is greater than D but smaller than 2D. The feed opening is above the grate structure by no less than 3D. The pellet fuel drops from the feed opening. Air entering via the through port disperses the burnt pellet fuel ash.

A small stove assorted with smokeless combustion of combustible solids/semisolids, a stove core and a shape of briquette are to ensure that a cylindrical briquette stack is quickly ignited in a smokeless state. A section A stove core inner ring and a flame concentrator are made of a selected high-whiteness aluminum silicate fiber with superior thermal insulation/resistance effects, and are processed for, e.g., blocking the micropores inner circumferential surface, and a stove core outer ring is made of cheaper foam glass, foam ceramic or calcium silicate modules. An underlying briquette with a concave top is designed to enable an easy, convenient and fast alignment of vent holes. The overall cross-sectional area of the vent holes is expanded by 30%-50% as compared with the area of the anthracite briquettes with the same diameter, and the inner ring vent holes are mainly expanded.

A grill apparatus includes a bottom portion, a lid portion, a firebox and an ash bucket. The lid portion is coupled to the bottom portion forming a cooking chamber. The bottom portion receives the firebox. A support structure of the firebox rests on an inner surface of the bottom portion. An inner surface of the bottom port, the support structure of the firebox and a firebox lower opening define a first air path from a lower portion of the cooking chamber to a heat chamber. The ash bucket includes an air vent extending from a base of the ash bucket base into an internal ash receptacle and has an upper vent aperture with a vent cover connected to the air vent. The cover is disposed over an upper vent aperture to further define the first air path.