Do you have questions about air curtain burners? Air curtain burners, also known as air curtain incinerators or air curtain destructors, are machines used to quickly, effectively, and cheaply manage large amounts of vegetative debris. Here are some of the most frequent questions people ask us about air curtain incinerators and quick answers.
This page is organized by the following topic sections:
General Questions
What You Can Burn
Transportation
Production & On-Site
Business Questions
General Questions:
Is there a difference between an air curtain incinerator, burner, and destructor?
No. Air curtain burner, air curtain incinerator, and air curtain destructor are all just different names for the same machine.
Is there a difference between a box burner and a trench burner?
Yes and no.
Why no? Because, from a scientific perspective, they burn material the exact same way. Neither has a lid or top, and both types of burners use a fast-moving curtain of air to trap sparks and smoke beneath.
Why yes? Because a box burner is similar to a dumpster with an air curtain at the top of it, which is why you can burn on top of the ground – without digging. A trench burner is only the air curtain itself; it does not have walls and you must dig a trench in the ground to use it.
For more information on this, please see this article: Box Burners vs Trench Burners
I’m burning near a highway and/or in city limits. Can I still use an air curtain incinerator?
Most likely, yes. In many cases, burning is still allowed in cities or near busy highways when an air curtain burner is used because they reduce emissions, smoke, and escaping sparks so drastically. However, at all times, you should check with local authorities to find out what is allowed in your area. Laws and regulations can change, not just from one state to another, but also from city to city, so it is impossible to give a blanket answer to this question.
To learn more about burning in high-traffic areas, see this video: How to Use Air Curtain Destructors in High Traffic Areas
My state has a burn ban. Can I burn during a burn ban with an air curtain burner?
In many cases, no, you can not burn during a burn ban with an air curtain burner. However, this is not always true and there are exceptions. For example, sometimes exceptions are made for agricultural use or storm clean-up. At all times, you should check with local authorities to find out what is allowed in your area. Laws and regulations change even from city to city and can also change for emergency response services, so it is impossible to give a blanket answer to this question.
What You Can Burn:
Can I burn stumps with an air curtain burner?
Absolutely. Some of our renters’ projects are almost entirely stump burning since many will log a majority of the woody material they have.
As always, dirt does not burn, so it is always best to get as much dirt off as possible before adding the stump to the fire.
Also, as is a general rule of thumb when burning anything, things that are more dense and large tend to burn slower, so if you have really big stumps, then it’s best to mix them in with a lot of brushy material and/or split the stumps up into smaller pieces. Often the stumps can be split with a screw attachment on your skid steer or in a like manner.
Can I burn pallets with an air curtain incinerator?
Yes, air curtain incinerators are extremely effective for safely and quickly burning pallets. Please note that if the pallets are treated with any kind of chemical or materially or are made of a material other than wood then this answer could change. Please check with your local governments before deciding whether or not to burn with an air curtain burner to ensure you are following local regulations.
Can I burn mulch and sawdust with an air curtain burner?
Using an air curtain burner, mulch and sawdust can burn very well when mixed with other materials. However, they don’t tend to burn well when burned on their own because the material can tend to compact in the bottom of the pit or box.
Can I burn housing and construction materials with an air curtain burner?
Normally you can not burn housing and construction materials with an air curtain burner since most of these products are treated with harmful materials and chemicals. Please check with your local governments before deciding whether or not to burn with an air curtain burner to ensure you are following local regulations.
Transportation:
Do I need to transport the air curtain on a trailer?
How you transport an air curtain burner depends on the type of machine you are renting/buying.
Box air curtain burners always have to be transported on a trailer when hauling it to a new place (although they are mobile on your site, see below). Box burners are very heavy and normally require a very large truck to be moved. They should be transported on a land-all or low-boy trailer.
Trench air curtain burners can be hauled on a trailer, but they don’t have to be. Trench burners are mounted on their own wheels and axles, so they operate as their own trailer and can be hauled behind a pick-up truck with the appropriate hitch and towing capacity.
Are transportation costs the same for both box burners and trench burners?
No, box burns can only be transported on larger trucks and trailers, and often they require a crane to both load and unload. These factors contribute to a higher over-all hauling cost.
Do I need to return the burner I rented with a full tank?
Actually, it’s better not to return your burner with a full tank. Don’t return it completely empty, but it is typically better to haul a burner with less fuel in it, so we would prefer if you returned your rental machine with a small to medium amount of fuel in the tank.
Production & On-Site:
What kind of production can I expect to get from an air curtain burner?
Obviously, different units with different-sized manifolds/boxes will operate at different rates, but on average, most burners (and the majority of our rental and used inventory) will burn between 9-12 tons of material every hour. This is about 65-85 cubic yards per hour, or 3-4 standard, 20 cubic yard dump truck loads every hour.
For burning on multi-acre projects, which can vary in production rates due to material size, type, and the overall density of vegetative growth, we tend to use a ratio of about 1 acre per day to estimate the burn rate for most of our units.
Would you like a more exact estimate of the time, rental cost, and fuel usage needed to complete your project? Please try out our Cost & Time Calculator.
It is hard to dig on my site. Can I still use a trench burner?
Normally, yes, you can. Here are a few cases that make it hard to dig out your trench:
A high water table: Yes, you can still burn with a trench unit. Obviously, there are limits to this. Burning with a trench unit is impossible in a flooded or swampy area. However, beyond just digging down into the ground, you can build up and create a berm.
Sandy soil: Yes, you can still burn with a trench unit. For example, have even had clients in coastal regions of Florida burn with trench units with great success and high production. Sandy soil will make it harder to build your pit and could cause the walls to not hold as well. If you are concerned about your soil being too sandy, give us a call and we can discuss it.
A rock bed or concrete: If your project is on a bed of rock (not just rocky soil) it is unlikely that you can burn with a trench burner. If your project leaves you with nowhere to burn but a concrete pad or paved area, then no, you can not burn with a trench burner. You could, however, burn with a box burner.
What kind of equipment should I use to load the box or pit with debris?
An excavator with a mechanical thumb works best for loading. The longer the reach, the better to protect the machine and operator from the heat. Typically, we recommend a machine with a reach of at least 25 feet.
How many people are needed to operate the air curtain burner?
You don’t need anyone to remain dedicated to running the burner. You will, of course, need someone to load debris into the burner’s trench or box. These machines are never fed by hand- they are ONLY fed by machine. Your excavator operator is the only person that you will need to keep the machine fed and burning.
How much fuel does an air curtain burner use?
There is some variation in usage between different sizes of machines, but on average, most burners (and the majority of our rental and used inventory) use around 3-4 gallons of diesel per hour.
Business Questions
I would like help organizing my project. Do you offer consulting services?
Yes, we do. Please give us a call to schedule consultation.
I hear you offer turn key burning services. What do they cost?
You heard correctly- we do offer turn key burning services! The cost of burning can vary greatly depending on the project. Often, an in-person estimate is required. If you would like to schedule an estimate for a turn-key burn project, please contact us for details and availability.
Do you offer training services?
Yes, we do offer training services. We can even create training videos for your organization. Let us know what you would like and we can provide you with a scope-of-work and an estimate
I have an air curtain burner already. Can I add it to your fleet while retaining ownership?
Yes, you can add your machine to our rental fleet while retaining ownership. We can even take care of all transportation and maintenance of your machine while it is on rental. Please contact us for details.
Want more information? Don’t see your questions?
Reach out to us at 678-793-8546 and we will get you an answer right away.