[Stoves] Aside on coconut husk

[Paul S. Anderson]

Michael and all Stovers,

If the dry coconut husks yield a smokey traditional fire, that is of little
consequence for the TLUD gasifier usage of husks.  TLUDs as gasifiers are
constructed to produce smoke and then SEPARATELY burn the smoke.  More smoke
yields more flame.

The gasifier flames are NOT at low temperatures, so Michael's comments 
about the
advantages of the low temperature husk burning will not be available via the
gasifiers (except that the cook can move the pots, etc away from the direct
flames).  We will need to experiment to determine how much "turn down ratio"
can be achieved in a TLUD that has coconut husks as fuel.

Michael wrote:
> As for moisture content in husk, it is highly variable. It is nearly dry in
> relatively fresh unhusked nuts.

I have seen dry, very brown coconuts.  Are you referring to these nuts? 
  And are
those the nuts that are desired for harvest and processing?  To me, the dry
brown husks are hard to cut.  Am I correct about this and about the next
paragraph?

In contrast, when the un-cut nuts have high moisture and greenish appearance,
the large knife can cut the husk easily, giving nice pieces that will dry and
be correctly sized fuel for the TLUD gasifiers.

A TLUD gasifier specifically for coconut husks will probably have a 
diameter of
8 or more inches (20 or more cm).  Therefore, the fuel size can be larger
chunks than for the smaller diameter TLUDs that are burning wood chips or
coconut shell pieces.  The husk pieces could be in sizes between 1 inch cubes
to 3 inch cubes, or any irregular sizes that have no measurement 
greater than 4
inches.  These should be easy to make with a machete.

What is the common practice in the Marshall Islands for cutting off the husks,
and how many days of drying?

Paul


-- 
Paul S. Anderson, Ph.D., Geography professor - Emeritus
Telephone:  USA-309-452-7072 (residence and office)
Internet site:  www.ilstu.edu/~psanders
For my gasifier stoves info, go to:
http://bioenergylists.org/contributors#Paul_Anderson


Quoting Michael N Trevor <mtrevor at ntamar.net>:

> Coire are the fibers in the husk. Industrially today in general husks are
> mechanically beaten
> and pounded to release the fibers and pith from each other. The fibers are
> combed to separate
> the pith. The fibers have many uses and the pith can be recycled into a
> masonite like press board.
> Even Mercedes Benz was making use of coconut husk materials. Here in the
> Marshall Islands
> retting was carried out to obtain the coire fibers to hand twist the ropes
> and twine needed to
> construct and sail the traditional canoes.
>
> As for moisture content in husk, it is highly variable. It is nearly dry in
> relatively fresh unhusked nuts.
> Once coconuts are husked and the interior exposed they can reach 100%
> saturation.  Therefore after
> husking the sun drying of split pieces of husk as fuel is common. The
> picking up, hauling,  drying, and storing
> requires considerable time and effort on the part of women and girls.
> However, discounting labor it costs
> little.  While it is low in heat value, its plentiful nature and being
> essentially "free" make it a preferred fuel.for
> many here. In spite of its volumous smoke output,  dry,  it is actually is
> good fuel for certain uses: its low temperature makes
> it good for not burning rice soups and stews. Roasting breadfruit is best
> done on husk too, wood coals and charcoal
> are too hot. This results in a quick burning of the outside while not
> allowing enough heat to penitrate and cook through
> into the center portions.
>
> Culturally it is interesting to note how people have adapted and used their
> resources and the "3 stone fire" to take advantage
> of what they have available. As we proceed working on better stoves, which
> certainly have myriads of good uses and benefits
> there maybe local practices that need to be considered as well to facilitate
> adoption.
>
> Michael N Trevor
> Enemanit.
> Marshall Islands
>
>
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