[Stoves] Drawing down the dung pile

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Doctor Dung

 

The offer is welcome. Perhaps the answer is to briquette it then, using the
process to wash it. Leach, I can see, standing in a perforated container.

 

Water is often a simultaneous constraint but there will be places where dung
and water are available, which means a market.

 

Remember that in this region the stoves will all have a chimney because
space heating is desperately required. Leakage will be a more important
consideration than emissions (though obviously I favour reducing emissions
as well).

 

Thanks

Crispin

 

 

From: stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Kevin
Sent: 07 December 2010 01:22
To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Drawing down the dung pile

 

Dear Crispin

 

Years and years ago, I started a thread about using dung fuels and interest
in it was very conspicuous by its absence. From what I can understand, dung
fuels are about the worst possible fuel, "as is", because of moisture and
chlorides. Moisture makes for difficult burning, and chlorides make dioxins.
Also, the very people who are so desperate as to need to burn dung for fuels
are usually the same people who are equivalently desperate for fertilizer. I
understand also that blindness is very common with Indian Women who have
been using dung fuels.

 

I advocated washing the dung, to extract the solubles, and then using the
water extract as a liquid fertilizer. Then dry the residue, for use as a
fuel. It should then be a superior fuel to wood, in that it would have a
higher percentage of lignin, which has a higher heating value per pound than
cellulostic biomass.

 

Leaching the solubles from the "raw dung" should remove the chlorides, and
should virtually eliminate the creation of dioxins, while at the same time,
produce an excellent fertilizer solution, containing Ca, P, K, and organics
beneficial to plant growth.... hormones, proteins, and nitrogen compounds.

 

I'd be glad to work with you, in developing a "dung washing system.". I
think it could help with both fuel and fertilizer needs

 

Best wishes,

 

Kevin Chisholm, aka "Doctor Dung." :-)

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