Australia may have an identity as a nation of innovators rather than inventors, but Western Australian entrepreneur, Peter Hutchison, has shown that Aussie inventions can rate among the world's best.
Mr Hutchison's invention, "SmartBurn", is designed to address the air pollution problems caused by particle emissions from domestic wood heaters. The device, a crimped steel tube resembling a spectacle case, reduces smoke particles by up to half, increases fire temperature and reduces wood consumption. It also cleans the chimney, reducing the risk of chimney fires.
Having spent 25 years as an industrial chemist testing air, coal and water quality in power stations, Mr Hutchison says his motivation behind SmartBurn is to help the environment.
"The main trigger [for the invention] was when my sister's chimney caught on fire. Residual soot and sap tends to accumulate and it is all flammable material. I worked on the invention part-time for about five years," he said.
According to the SmartBurn website, when heated, the device releases a vapour which enables the black soot and sap to be burned within the fire rather than allowing it to go up the chimney flue. This additional fuel increases the fire temperature and burning efficiency.
While the ingredients remain a patented secret, Mr Hutchison guarantees they are "safe, non-toxic and natural".
The final product was tested by the Australian Home Heating Association laboratory. Fire temperatures and sooty emissions were measured with and without the device installed.
"I was absolutely ecstatic when I got the result from the laboratory," Mr Hutchison said. "The device was confirmed to increase fire temperature by 17 per cent, aiding combustion, with the soot and sap being burned in the fire. It also reduced smoke particles by up to 50 per cent – on average 37 per cent [less] particle emission."
SmartBurn will make its second appearance on the ABC New Inventors program on Wednesday July 12. When it appeared on the program last year, SmartBurn received over 80 per cent of national viewer's votes, making it the most popular New Inventors invention ever. It was also a finalist in the 2005 Western Australian Environmental Awards, coming runner-up to BHP Billiton in the Air Quality category.
Available from over 150 retail outlets Australia-wide, SmartBurn costs around $46, with each device designed to last around three months.
For more information see: www.smartburn.com.au
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