A system for combusting fuel comprising an apparatus that receives fuel that is characterized as comprising interstitial spacing and wherein oxidants pass through the interstitial spacing of the fuel to sustain a combustion reaction at the interface of a reaction chamber while the byproducts of combustion pass into the reaction chamber.

A mechanism for raising and lowering a cooking surface within a recessed combustion chamber is provided.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A mechanism for raising and lowering a cooking surface within a recessed combustion chamber is provided.

A mechanism for raising and lowering a cooking surface within a recessed combustion chamber is provided.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A combustion chamber has an inner wall defining an inner chamber. The inner wall is perforated to admit combustion air into the inner chamber. The combustion chamber has an outer wall defining an outer chamber. The outer wall is perforated to admit combustion air from a pressurized air plenum to the inner wall. The inner and outer wall are spaced apart such that air may flow between the inner and outer walls.

A fuel burner and optional modular heat utilizing appliances capable of exploiting heat from the fuel burner are shown and described. The burner includes a fire box including a fuel holder, a surrounding inner housing, and an outer shroud surrounding the inner housing. A plurality of air openings including flow adjusters admit air to the fire box. The inner housing and outer shroud are configured to supply air for secondary combustion of the exhaust. The burner may include a fan for forced air induction, and a fuel chute having a slidable closure for recharging the fuel holder from outside. At least one modular heat utilizing appliance may have thermal insulation for retaining heat.

A cooking grill has a firepot configured to burn pelletized fuel fed from an auger, a cooking grate above the firepot, and a double walled enclosure interposing the firepot and the cooking grate and containing and directing flow of combustion gases from the firepot up to the cooking grate.

A fire pit is disclosed that includes a burn chamber, a removable fire grate, and a removable ash pan. The burn chamber is defined by an inwardly facing surface and a bottom. The removable fire grate is positioned within the burn chamber and supports combustible fuel for burning. The removable fire includes a plurality of holes sized to permit passage of ash from the combustible fuel, and at least one grip feature sized and shaped to permit a user to remove the removable fire grate from the fire pit by lifting the removable fire grate vertically through the burn chamber. The removable ash pan is positioned within the burn chamber beneath the removable fire grate, and includes, a side wall, a bottom, and at least one grippable surface configured to permit the user to remove the removable ash pan from the fire pit by lifting the removable ash pan vertically through the burn chamber.