[Gasification] interesting cylindrical briquetting machine

[jim mason]

http://www.mit.edu/people/robot/travels/china_carbon/china_carbon.html

a friend of mine took these pictures in china of a machine making
cylindrical briquettes with holes through them.  the briquette is
about the size of a tin of hand cleaner.  they are made using a
mixture of 80% charcoal or coal, and 20% red clay for the binder.

note the stove they are burning them in at the above link.

the briquettes appear to be well sealed enough in the stove that all
burning will happen in the tubes in the briquettes.  and as such, with
air fed from the bottom, then are operating as a gasifier-  a gasifier
mechanically formed out of its very own fuel.  they are operating in
the same manner i was musing about with the sawdust stove like
gasifier a few days ago.

many other potentials for thoughfully shaped briquettes, which run
themselves, as is, as gasifiers, come to mind.

is this already being played with in the gasified stovers world?

very very interesting.

j