Dr. Tom Costello, an engineer with the University of Arkansas, has teamed up with Lynndale Systems Inc. of Harrison and built the prototype for such a furnace. Costello is using it at the university's broiler research farm in Savoy.

On Thursday, Costello and his team demonstrated the poultry-litter biomass furnace to a dozen or so industry representatives. Poultry litter is a combination of poultry waste and bedding such as rice hulls or wood chips.

"Finding a way to use the litter and help the farmer get the benefit as well as generating a little economic activity in our region is what first peaked my interest in this project," Costello said.

Local poultry growers attending the demonstration gave the system a nod of approval and were anxious to hear all the details.

The litter-fired furnace uses a direct combustion process that is ignited with a propane pilot. The furnace burns litter in its combustion chamber, and the heat generated is directed into the poultry house through a closed-duct system.

Source: The Morning News