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

[Ron Larson]

Stovers (cc Adam U, Elsen K)


1.  Yesterday, Adam U said:
........................................
> 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!

RWL-1:   This description sounds different from what Elsen has been doing - 
and I think we can all agree what you describe should be outlawed when 
unhealthy (and bad for climate reasons as well).   But what Elsen is doing 
sounds healthy enough and I am sure he is emitting mostly CO2.
    So to Adam I ask if you are sure that the KPCU approach utilized a tall 
chimney and downdraft - as does Elsen?
    And to Elsen, what do you know about the KPCU approach?

2.  Adam further said:

> 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.

RWL2 -  You have a nice site and a great background in this topic. You were 
ahead of your tiime.
    Here's hoping you can find the funds to test the "CCS-lite" approach.