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<p><font face="Liberation Sans">Hi Rolf,</font></p>
<p><font face="Liberation Sans">I referred back into my files, and
see we had quite an exchange of information on this project, two
on the 27/2/15,1 on 28/2/15, and the last on 2/3/15, concluding
it appears with a SKYPE call. If you have forgotten, then please
read through it all again, as nothing has changed technically,
and you still have to start this project without $$.</font></p>
<p><font face="Liberation Sans">I reply within the text.</font><br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 07/01/17 10:54, Energies Naturals
C.B. wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20170106225421.24dcea14e57800344b4ae74a@gmx.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">How amazing!
In such a short time sooo many good ideas!
And I think Doug is right:
First step is a demo unit to learn with and to show the feasability of the project by baking a few test pieces.</pre>
</blockquote>
You showed me some small blocks on SKYPE, has Pilar not actually
made any of the larger tiles?<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20170106225421.24dcea14e57800344b4ae74a@gmx.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Second is a first upwards step towards a semi "serious" unit.Perhaps together with a professional ceramist.</pre>
</blockquote>
Isn't Pilar a qualified ceramist? She first needs protection for her
process if the test firings are satisfactory, patent applications
take time and $$.<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20170106225421.24dcea14e57800344b4ae74a@gmx.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Third would be after there is a real commercial perspective . Here comes the idea of additional charcoal production back.
A more sophisticated installation, perhaps like Roland Siemons'would be great. Know how, money, investment,and partners wanted!</pre>
</blockquote>
Given the time line of acquiring better firing experience, my guess
is that you will need 1-2 years to reach the stage of looking for
investment partners. This could be speeded up if you can get $$ in
during the first phase. Have you considered "Crowd Funding"? I see
it works for small high risk start-up ideas, but would need
expertise to ensure the Broker selection has the right credentials.<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20170106225421.24dcea14e57800344b4ae74a@gmx.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
I have just spoken to Pilar, the ceramist. She is recovering from a severe infect and not yet fully operational.
But she tells me a 150-250 l unit, 0.5 x 0.5 x 1m could do to bake the necessary standard 300x300 x 5 mm test pieces.</pre>
</blockquote>
We built a circular retort about this size back around 1983/4 and
found that the refractory of the walls need to be glowing at the
highest temperature required, before you could change from oxidizing
to reduction conditions. As the long term option is to use old brick
kilns, I suggest that you obtain bricks from an old kiln. You can
then make several kilns and continue firing while they cool
alternately. A sheet metal wrapper will hold it all in place, but I
suggest that if you can put a high temperature refractory wool
around the bricks first, then the sheet metal, it will reduce the
case from glowing red hot. A top lid just the same as Agua Das used
is all you need for loading and observing the process. Gas entry
would be best into a bottom combustion chamber with a brick grill. <br>
<br>
If you build a square kiln, you don't want a great waste of space,
as the glowing refractory plays a heating role, but get advise as it
is not within my design experience for your need.<br>
<br>
This is a call to any one who can provide some expertise to Rolf. <br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20170106225421.24dcea14e57800344b4ae74a@gmx.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
A seemingly simple Agua Das gasifier, perhaps with more sophisticated air control could perhaps work.
Brass smelts at roughly 1200 °C, quite similar to the 1300 we need.</pre>
</blockquote>
It's about as simple as you can get but needs scaling up to possibly
3-4 times as show, speeding up the heating times of the loaded kiln,
and possibly allowing a bigger kiln to be used. It does however need
compressed air for the very important injector nozzle, so Paul will
have to work out some details for you. I can tell you from
experience, that 1,300C is obtainable, because we has glass furnaces
able to get the first melt at 1,350C. As I said, measuring the
temperatures needs specialized Pyrometers.<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20170106225421.24dcea14e57800344b4ae74a@gmx.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
I guess I can find a siutable kiln and convert it to gas. I have never done this, so any hint and help is welcome!
The next step is building the right kind and size of gasifier. Next the burner(s), matching both gasifier and kiln the kiln.</pre>
</blockquote>
I think Paul will be able to supply all you need to know about the
gasifier, and as you see from the AD demonstration, no burner is
required as it burns like a jet flame, but must impinge onto the
refractory of the combustion chamber. <br>
<br>
Have you enough confidence to start, or what else will you need?<br>
<br>
Doug W.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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