The Prairie Star: Montana Ag Newspaper

RICHEY, Mont. - Living in a county rich with oil, Bob Candee thinks he may have the answer to the nation's energy problems. This Richey farmer believes wheat flour can be used as an alternative source of fuel.

Candee has had the idea to use flour, or grain dust, as an energy source for nearly 40 years. Now, he has a patent pending on this alternative to power an internal combustion engine.

“The fuel particles when combined with the proper amount of air can be atomized into a combustible substance,” he explained. “The resulting combustion will power a special made piston engine with a large bore. A gas vapor is used only for the ignition enhancer as the power comes from the fuel air mixture. The fuel is plain old wheat flour.”

Grain dust is a highly flammable substance. Candee said he was inspired to get going on his idea when the grain elevator at Circle, Mont., burned. In fact, grain dust is responsible for as many as 10 grain-elevator explosions a year in the U.S.

Although he said “plain old wheat flour” could be used as fuel, Candee further explained to The Prairie Star the flour would actually have to be processed to another degree of fineness than what can be purchased at the local grocery store.

Candee said the grain dust would be 99 percent perpetual in creating electricity. He also believes it could run an engine 300 miles to the gallon, or 10 miles per cup of fumes.

Currently working on an engine that would run on this fuel, Candee is secretive about the details. However, he did say he would like to set it up on an electrical generator and that the engine would require an inner air heater as this is important to ignite the grain dust. At this point, it is just a detailed sketch and some components he has yet to assemble. He plans to build the large bore engine and begin some experimentation.

But, Candee has to make a living and has little time to work on his idea. He is considering applying for research funds to supplement his limited resources for his project.

Candee said it is possible to test his theory by placing flour in a six-inch by six-inch cardboard box, shaking it up and then putting a match in it. “That doesn't really prove anything other than what we know - that it is highly explosive,” he added.

Dr. Robert Schoeff, professor emeritus from Kansas State University, is a grain dust explosion expert. He is a bit skeptical about Candee's idea. He has been studying these devastating explosions for more than 40 years through KSU's Grain and Science Industry department.

Although grain elevators do generate a certain amount of dust and cause deadly explosions he is not sure grain dust could be used as a motor fuel. However, he said he does not know of anybody who has ever tried to use grain dust to run an engine.

Schoeff said his team at KSU has done research using grain dust as a substitute for coal dust in an electric power plant. Although it did work, he said there was no way they could supply the power plant with a consistent amount of the dust. “There is good heat thermal units in the grain dust,” said Schoeff, noting he does not know of any practical way to introduce the dust as a fuel source.

He said grain dust is quite powerful and quite explosive, but any organic will explode under the right conditions. The right mixture of dust and oxygen is a good ignition source, so Candee would need to introduce a precise amount of dust inside the cylinder of an engine.

Schoeff is still skeptical about grain dust running 300 miles to the gallon. “These kinds of things come up - some actually work out, others don't,” he said. “ I frankly have never read any research - never seen anything like this.”

Regardless, Candee has taken the steps to patent his project.

Kyle Howell of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Inventors Assistance Center said although an “idea” cannot be patented, the fact that Candee included a detailed sketch with his application will increase his chances of patenting his plan. “The method has to be disclosed,” he explained. “A description, drawings will allow someone to be able to make and use the invention.”

Candee now falls under the scrutiny of one of 5,000 examiners who review patent applications. A highly classified system, patents are reviewed by one examiner who is an expert in the field into which the invention falls.

Howell explained that the USPTO has no scientists or laboratories. The examiner who is an expert in that small area will form an opinion based on Candee's sketch. If it is questionable, the examiner will contact Candee and question the utility and ask him to give a scientific explanation. This process takes nearly three years, so Candee will have plenty of time to build his engine.

“I have selfish reasons for this grain dust deal being a farmer,” said Candee.

He said he believes if grain dust can be used to generate electricity and eventually power vehicles there would no longer be emission problems and it would be a good source of revenue for Montana. “Maybe we could solve some of this global warming,” concluded Candee.

Comments »

Doug wrote on Jun 22, 2009 11:54 PM:

" Mr. Candee: Build the **** thing. See if it works. You'll never know unless you try. Even if it works half-***, engineers, scientists and machanics may take interest in the apperatus and make improvements for its success. The steam locomotive is a perfect example. So is the automobile and airplane. This is how progress ismade.
When the wright bros flew their first powered airplane in 1903, who'd ever thought by the end of a lifetime, 300 people can fly across the world at 600 miles per hour.
Mr. Candee deserves a lot of credit "

pantagruel wrote on Dec 9, 2007 1:38 PM:

" This guy is a little too late. The whole idea has already been 'refined' to a higher degree! It's the oil in the flour that's igniting. The patent should belong to Rudolph Diesel. He discovered that oil in flour would combust if compressed at the right air ratio. Besides,the burning of the flour would leave too much unburned residue to even operate to todays standards. And just how would refueling go? "

Jeanine wrote on Aug 8, 2006 1:54 PM:

" I think Angela is a great writer. Keep up the good work. "

raju kumar wrote on Jul 6, 2006 3:31 AM:

" what is the patent application number? is it published? "

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