[Gasification] CHAB unit .. was Re: [Stoves] Natural draft TLUD turn-down

[Lloyd Helferty]

Paul,

  I did understand that what I was describing was very similar to what I 
observed Chip Energy factory site during CHAB Camp, and so I have been 
thinking of something similar ~ yet not /exactly/ the same, because we 
don't necessarily need a "full big system", although one important 
aspect would be to have the "heat exchanger/water pump, etc.", which 
(incidentally) I never saw in operation while I was there in 2010.

  Since you say that the unit "it is not a 'plug and play' system" (I 
did fully understand that it is a "project", and certainly not just "a 
turn-key product"), and that it would require "support including some 
R&D for the specific application/location", this is in fact what I 
should be able to provide -- as an "engineering technologist", this is 
what I do best -- and given my background in factory automation and more 
recently in supporting the bioenergy and biochar industries over these 
last few years, I believe that (given a bit more training... and time on 
the system getting familiar with its nuances) I could easily provide 
this type of project ans system support [and training] for this 
particular client (as well as for any future systems as they are 
deployed in cities and towns across Ontario/Canada or elsewhere ~ once 
the 'core technologies' for this specific application -- and/or other 
similar applications -- have been developed and fine-tuned, in 
cooperation with both the client and the technology provider).

  Note: In my communications with the client I have made it clear, and 
they do understand, that there would be some expense in terms of initial 
R&D since these types of specific systems [applications] that they are 
asking for have (as far as I know) not been "commercialized" (as yet).  
They do seem to be quite willing to "break some ground" on this however, 
and seem to have some funds (and enthusiasm) that may allow us to move 
forward with something (however small or crude the system might be, 
initially).
  [Your experience with chipping/grinding waste feedstocks like pallets 
sounds like it would be quite useful as well, to help prevent repeating 
any 'mis-steps' that might have already been overcome by others.]

P.S. I rarely ever change the Subject line... although I know that I 
probably /should/. (To me it's the /least/ important part of the message 
and I rarely pay any attention to it.)

P.P.S. The only other "candidate (technology)" for this particular 
project that has been discussed (so far) was the suggestion made by 
Crispin to use the "Wood burning BLDD 6" system from the SeTAR Centre In 
Johannesburg, although I am not certain [it was not made clear] whether 
that system can easily extract the biochar.
Note: We are also _not_ looking to make a "Cookstove", but rather, are 
seeking ways to heat water and/or use the system for "roasting" their 
specific ingredients (@ ~140 Celsius max.).

Regards,

   Lloyd Helferty, Engineering Technologist
   Principal, Biochar Consulting (Canada)
   www.biochar-consulting.ca
   48 Suncrest Blvd, Thornhill, ON, Canada
   905-707-8754
   CELL: 647-886-8754
      Skype: lloyd.helferty
   Steering Committee coordinator
   Canadian Biochar Initiative (CBI)
   CURRENTS, A working group of Science for Peace
   http://www.scienceforpeace.ca/currents/
   President, Co-founder & CBI Liaison, Biochar-Ontario
   National Office, Canadian Carbon Farming Initiative (CCFI)
   Organizing team member, 2013 N/A Biochar Symposium:
     www.carbon-negative.us/symposium
   Member of the Don Watershed Regeneration Council (DWRC)
   Manager, Biochar Offsets Group:
            http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475
    Advisory Committee Member, IBI
   http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717
   http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675
   http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario
   http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/
   http://www.biocharontario.ca
    www.biochar.ca

"Producing twice as much food with diminishing resources, without further loss of natural habitats and biodiversity and in a changing climate may be the greatest challenge facing humanity."
    - Lloyd Helferty

On 2014-05-21 10:39 AM, Paul Anderson wrote:
> Lloyd,
>
> 1.  You should change the Subject line to reflect the topic.
>
> 2.  I think Crispin is not subscribed to the Gasification Listserv, so 
> I am sending my reply plus your message to him.
>
> 3.  What you describe (including making biochar) is most closely met 
> by the Chip Energy Biomass Furnace.    See www.chipenergy.com The 
> realities are:
>
> a.   $50,000 for the full big system;   To fit on a pallet-size 
> footprint, the $15,000 for the stripped system is without heat 
> exchanger/water pump, etc.
> b.  With 4 units commercially made, we know that it works. However, it 
> is a unit that should have support including some R&D for the specific 
> application/location; it is not a "plug and play" system.
> c.  Your expectations about using a wide variety of dry biomass fuels 
> would require R&D at the expense of the operator. Fuel from  shipping 
> pallets sounds easy, but the metal nails and bolts prohibit "chipping" 
> and require a grinder with magnet to extract the metal (significant 
> effort/investment).
>
> Chip Energy is interested in such a project, but it is a project, not 
> just a turn-key product.   Contact me for further details. 
> psanders at ilstu.edu
>
> Please let us know if there are other candidates for that project.
>
> Paul
> Doc  /  Dr TLUD  /  Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD
> Email:psanders at ilstu.edu    
> Skype: paultlud      Phone: +1-309-452-7072
> Website:www.drtlud.com
> On 5/20/2014 2:14 PM, Lloyd Helferty wrote:
>> Crispin (and all),  [CC; gasification list]
>>
>>   This is a very interesting conversation regarding ND TLUD power 
>> (heat) variability and its implications, and (as you know) I do have 
>> a keen interest in this topic since being introduced to the TLUD 
>> 'stove' concept back several years ago (by Dr. Anderson, when he came 
>> to Ontario to demonstrate his small "Champion" stove and similar 
>> devices at the Laepple farm in June 2009), especially since the TLUD 
>> is one of the few simple technologies that can produce biochar 
>> cleanly at a small (or possibly at a medium) scale for local use ~ 
>> while producing (hopefully) useful amounts of energy (heat).
>>
>>   What I am working on right now here in Toronto might interest you 
>> or others on this list.
>>  I have been approached by a business in Toronto that would like to 
>> be able to implement a small-scale char-making technology at their 
>> manufacturing site in the Toronto area (GTA) that would utilize the 
>> (dry) 'residuals' from their food production process in order to make 
>> heat energy that could lower their (fossil) energy use [natural gas 
>> costs] while also turning their (dry) 'food waste' into a biochar 
>> (and/or high-char ash) that could be re-integrated back into a (wet) 
>> food composting system (vermicompost) that is already being 
>> implemented onsite at their operations here in the city.
>>
>>  The primary use of the heat would be to heat up water, but it would 
>> also be welcome if it could be used in the preparation of the 'raw' 
>> food (drying, roasting certain products to a certain temperature -- 
>> i.e. an 'oven') that goes into their recipes, which includes 
>> 'fair-trade' sourced (temperate and tropical) foodstuffs that have 
>> been either grown or imported into Canada in bulk, and which are 
>> prepared on-site (including de-hulling etc. of several of the key 
>> ingredients).
>>   Essentially, this company would like to know if it might be 
>> possible to come up with either a "customized" or an "off-the-shelf" 
>> system that has a fairly small footprint (about the size of a 
>> shipping pallet <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallet#Dimensions>, or 
>> ~16 sq. ft = 40" × 48", as commonly used in the food industry) that 
>> would be able to meet the following requirements:
>>
>>   * Provides space heating and/or hot water heating (for their
>>     kitchen), with the possibility also for using the heat for
>>     "roasting" their ingredients (@ ~140 Celsius max. -- possibly
>>     using a heat exchanger, if necessary).
>>   * something flexible and rugged
>>   * can accept multiple fuel inputs (different sized feedstocks,
>>     different moisture/energy content -- not just woodchips)
>>   * no smoky emissions (after-burner, if necessary) so that it can
>>     meet local emissions regs
>>
>>
>>   Of course they are interested also in custom of "commercial" 
>> gasifiers [as well], but small systems (stoves) that could do the job 
>> they are seeking might suffice, although they probably want the 
>> system to be as automated (hands off) as possible to that the minimum 
>> amount of human intervention is required... although it would need to 
>> be as low-cost as possible (almost a "DIY" system -- they could 
>> actually make it themselves since they do have some expertise, 
>> including a machinist & a "master builder" who has built and operated 
>> a series of gassifier stoves for several years and "who is more than 
>> capable of manufacturing" something -- if they had the 'plans' for an 
>> open-source system/design that could do the job).
>>
>>  Ideally this company would be interested in seeing 2 or 3 designs 
>> that might work for them (a few devices that they could initially 
>> assess)... so that they could work with the designers to get more 
>> details.  They would then choose a final design that they would then 
>> incorporate into their head office (operations), but then possibly 
>> also into a "franchise system" that they are designing (and that 
>> would operate like a "food truck" would in /any/ city ~ except 
>> instead of the truck being electricity or natural gas or 
>> propane-powered, the 'portable' food production/processing system 
>> would operate partially off of its own 'waste'... and/or wood chips 
>> [or pellets] that could be produced or supplied locally ~ possibly 
>> even from chipped shipping pallets that have /only/ transported food 
>> products -- i.e. clean, 'food-grade' "green waste" like the type that 
>> can be found at the back of nearly every supermarket in the 
>> country... including all the broken ones.)
>>
>> <pallets pic>
>>
>> Regards,
>>    Lloyd Helferty
<snip>
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