<div dir="ltr">Thanks very much for this, Ray!<br><br>Lori<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 5:32 PM, Ray Menke <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ray.menke@gmail.com" target="_blank">ray.menke@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Lori, I looked at your answers to Kevin's questions. I am assuming<br>
that wood CHIPS are your intended source for making biochar. I had<br>
six dump truck loads of chips delivered to my composting area, and<br>
immediately mixed them with cow manure, grass clippings, chicken and<br>
duck manure, etc, and started two giant compost piles. The green<br>
chips as delivered by the road crews will not be usable in gasifiers<br>
or biochar retorts until they are bone dry, and even then, I never was<br>
able to add more than a couple of 5 gallon plastic buckets of them to<br>
the retort to fill in some of the gaps. After several years, when you<br>
screen the compost, there will be some chips and shards of wood that,<br>
after they are dried, can be added to your retort. Due to years of<br>
drought, we have lots of dead trees that have been falling down or<br>
have been blown over. I use those for the charcoal making process,<br>
and can include heavy duty stalks from other plants such as rattlebox,<br>
corn, okra, and lambsquarters, and even the stalks from thistles. Any<br>
wood you place in a TLUD device, whether it be a cookstove or a 55<br>
gallon retort must be really dry. (No green wood!) I sometimes use<br>
knots, "Y's" or other non-splittable wood in the retort, but it<br>
usually needs to be run through twice. It is possible to place<br>
another retort in the afterburner (or chimney) so it can utilize the<br>
heat from the lower retort. Once you start the retort, and if you see<br>
flames shooting out of the top barrel, you might get away with adding<br>
a shovel or two of chips, but too many and you will have a real smoke<br>
maker. I try to make no smoke..<br>
You will need to make some drying racks. I use several large screens<br>
up on saw horses. The fuel must be dry.<br>
<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br>
On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 2:32 PM, Lori Heath <<a href="mailto:rootconnection@gmail.com">rootconnection@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> Thank you Ray!<br>
><br>
> Lori<br>
><br>
><br>
> On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 4:51 PM, Ray Menke <<a href="mailto:ray.menke@gmail.com">ray.menke@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> Lori,<br>
>> Here is a link to a 36 page paper discussing biochars.<br>
>><br>
>> <<a href="http://www.biochar-international.org/sites/default/files/All-Biochars--Version2--Oct2009.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.biochar-international.org/sites/default/files/All-Biochars--Version2--Oct2009.pdf</a>><br>
>> In my own personal garden, the use of biochar mixed into my compost<br>
>> has greatly increased the yield of onions, peppers, and potatoes, but<br>
>> seems to have stunted my okra and blackberries. (The grass around the<br>
>> biochar making area is extremely lush, and my cows love it..) I know<br>
>> blackberries like a pH around 5.5, and the ash that I added to the<br>
>> compost raised that pH. Ray<br>
>><br>
>> On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 2:03 PM, Lori Heath <<a href="mailto:rootconnection@gmail.com">rootconnection@gmail.com</a>><br>
>> wrote:<br>
>> > Thanks for posting this, Erin. Do you know if the biochar produced by<br>
>> > this<br>
>> > method is suitable for biochar?<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Lori<br>
>> ><br>
>> ><br>
>> > On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Erin Rasmussen <<a href="mailto:erin@trmiles.com">erin@trmiles.com</a>><br>
>> > wrote:<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Hi All,<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> I've assembled the Gary Gilmore's Charcoal making instructions from<br>
>> >> Jeff<br>
>> >> along with Mr. Gilmore's youtube videos and posted them on the biochar<br>
>> >> site<br>
>> >> for anyone that's interested.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> The Gary Gilmore Charcoal Drum<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> <a href="http://www.biochar.bioenergylists.org/Gilmore-Charcoal-Drum" target="_blank">http://www.biochar.bioenergylists.org/Gilmore-Charcoal-Drum</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> He does a great job of describing a top lit updraft charcoal making<br>
>> >> technique using a couple of steel drums and controlling airflow by<br>
>> >> selectively piling dirt up to block off the air holes.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Kind regards,<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Erin Rasmussen<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc. <a href="http://www.trmiles.com/" target="_blank">http://www.trmiles.com/</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> and BioEnergy Discussion Lists <a href="http://www.bioenergylists.org/" target="_blank">http://www.bioenergylists.org/</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> <a href="mailto:erin@trmiles.com">erin@trmiles.com</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> From: Gasification<br>
>> >> [mailto:<a href="mailto:gasification-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>]<br>
>> >> On Behalf Of Jeffrey Davis<br>
>> >> Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 10:43 AM<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification<br>
>> >> Subject: Re: [Gasification] Looking for contact info for Jeff Davis<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> I think you wanted Gary's document that has been sent to you but maybe<br>
>> >> your thinking of the gasifier that produced charcoal.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> I have no idea if any of these designs will produce biochar but they<br>
>> >> will<br>
>> >> produce charcoal.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Jeff<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> ________________________________<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> From: "Lori Heath" <<a href="mailto:rootconnection@gmail.com">rootconnection@gmail.com</a>><br>
>> >> To: "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification"<br>
>> >> <<a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>><br>
>> >> Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 1:33:47 PM<br>
>> >> Subject: Re: [Gasification] Looking for contact info for Jeff Davis<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Hello there Jeff,<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Thanks for your reply...Could you tell me if the design that you had<br>
>> >> for a<br>
>> >> biochar retort at your puffergas site is available elsewhere online?<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> All the best,<br>
>> >> Lori Heath<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 2:59 PM, Jeffrey Davis <<a href="mailto:jeff0124@hughes.net">jeff0124@hughes.net</a>><br>
>> >> wrote:<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Copy sent to Lori.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Jeff<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> ________________________________<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> From: "Tom Miles" <<a href="mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com">tmiles@trmiles.com</a>><br>
>> >> To: "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification"<br>
>> >> <<a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>><br>
>> >> Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 10:46:44 AM<br>
>> >> Subject: Re: [Gasification] Looking for contact info for Jeff Davis<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Lori,<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Jeff Davis closed his puffergas website and we transferred much of his<br>
>> >> information to the bioenergylists website. We’ll check to see if we<br>
>> >> have<br>
>> >> that file online.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Thnks<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Tom Miles<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Owner<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Bioenergylists.org<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> <a href="mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com">tmiles@trmiles.com</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> <a href="http://www.gasifiers.bioenergylists.org" target="_blank">www.gasifiers.bioenergylists.org</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> From: Gasification<br>
>> >> [mailto:<a href="mailto:gasification-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>]<br>
>> >> On Behalf Of Lori Heath<br>
>> >> Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 5:56 AM<br>
>> >> To: <a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</a><br>
>> >> Subject: [Gasification] Looking for contact info for Jeff Davis<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Hello,<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> I am looking for the biochar retort design that used to be featured at<br>
>> >> the<br>
>> >> following website address...<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> <a href="http://www.puffergas.com/historic/rules/rules.html" target="_blank">http://www.puffergas.com/historic/rules/rules.html</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> However, now when I click on this address, it redirects to Jeff Davis's<br>
>> >> site on Bioenergy Lists.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Does anyone know where I could find the design I am looking for, and/or<br>
>> >> the contact information for the designer?<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Best regards,<br>
>> >> Lori Heath<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> _______________________________________________<br>
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>> >> <a href="http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org" target="_blank">http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:<br>
>> >> <a href="http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/" target="_blank">http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/</a><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
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>> >><br>
>> >> for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:<br>
>> >> <a href="http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/" target="_blank">http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/</a><br>
>> >><br>
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>> >><br>
>> >><br>
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>> >><br>
>> >> for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:<br>
>> >> <a href="http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/" target="_blank">http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/</a><br>
>> >><br>
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>> >><br>
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>> >><br>
>> >> for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:<br>
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>> >><br>
>> ><br>
>> ><br>
>> > _______________________________________________<br>
>> > Gasification mailing list<br>
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>> > to Send a Message to the list, use the email address<br>
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>> ><br>
>> > for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:<br>
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>> ><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> --<br>
>> Ray Menke<br>
>><br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
>> Gasification mailing list<br>
>><br>
>> to Send a Message to the list, use the email address<br>
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>><br>
>> for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:<br>
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><br>
><br>
><br>
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><br>
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><br>
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<br>
--<br>
Ray Menke<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>