[Stoves] Traditonal Charcola Making Process / retort / CCS-lite

[adam u partner]

Ron Larson schrieb:
> Crispin (cc Tom, etal):
> I haven't been following as well as I might, but I like that there is a 
> terra preta (charcoal) aspect to this discussion.
>
>     I think you may find that a suitable kiln system  for your stove firing 
> can be built around the downdraft charcoaling method developed by Elsen 
> Karstad.
>
>     I visited his site (www.chardust.com ) a month ago, but it would not pop 
> up today.  Accordingly,  I am copying Elsen as well.  For others new to 
> this, there are lots of references to his down-draft design in old archives 
> of this list - and maybe Tom can cite the best.
>
>     Briefly, Elsen developed a system where bagasse or wood chips are spread 
> out on many grates, and workers keeps enough un-charred material in place so 
> that one never sees a red glow. ........................................
NEW:
I have seen this method which is called "open pit carbonization " (i 
guess?) in 1986
at KPCU (Kenyan Planters Coffee Union) in Nairobi.
It's a very unhealthy and labor intensive and unsatisfying task to spread
the coffee husks in the glowing char!
However-KPCU is still producing
the famous KAHAWA coal briquettes since that time!

To avoid this unhealthy procedure for the workers i concepted the CCS-lite,
a continuous tower on the base of 3 oil drums welded together. Coffee 
husks are
falling through the chimney into a "hot-zone".
This CCS-lit  should be very efficient- because the bio mass gets 
pre-dryed already
in the hot gases- while falling down into the system!
You can see a sketch + photos under: www.biocoal.org
I guess a prototype could be build for about 5000 Euro.
Best
Chris Adam
-- 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

adam + partner
Appropriate Technology + Industrial Design

Bahnhofstrasse 13
82467 Garmisch
G E R M A N Y 

mobile: +49-(0) 175 528 96 24
Fax: 	+49-180 5060 3488 7969
www.biocoal.org