[Stoves] Secrets for slugs, pucks, high-density briquettes, large-diameter pellets, or "logs" was Re: Pellet machine

[Paul Anderson]

Michael M and all,     (James, please put this into the fuel part at the 
website after you edit it a bit.)

You refer to something with several names like slugs, pucks, 
high-density briquettes, large-diameter pellets, or "logs".
It would be nice to have a single word name, but not yet agreed upon.    
Pellets tend to be high density and small, and briquettes tend to be 
low-density and "larger" diameter, resulting from high pressure and low 
pressure production, respectively.

Anyway, I have used the slug/log stuff in TLUDs with great success, 
usually.    I have had some that would not burn well because of the 
slug/puck, not because of the TLUD.

Two key "secrets" that need to be told:

The slugger (ram pressure, not auger or screw pressure) materials are in 
layers often about a centimeter thick.   They come out as "logs" and 
break of at the end of long cooling tracks.   They come out hot, and 
when they  cool as they go along a supporting track they become harder 
and harder to separate into the individual layers.

So Secret #1 is to have the slugs separated from each  other much closer 
to the production machine while they are still hot.     For small 
quantities, it can be done manually.   For production runs of slugs or 
pucks, a little engineering will have the pucks tapped and then they 
fall off easily.   They are not cut apart.

Secret #2 is a week old, and I learned it from Sadam, my master tinsmith 
here in Uganda who has worked on TLUD stoves for several years.   He 
told me, and I have tried, with success, that the slugs/pucks should be 
placed into the TLUD standing on their edges, but not trying to recreate 
"logs".   On edge, the primary air passes between the pucks/slugs much 
more easily (favorable in this case) then when the pucks are placed in 
horizontally, thereby obstructing much of the air flow.    
SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!     If this placement is found to be useful by others, 
please remember that Sadam originated the method.      (I will tell him 
I wrote this when I see him tomorrow.   He is not even on email/, /so he 
will not see any Listserv replies.)

So, to Michael M., please let us know if any of this is helpful about 
the vetiver grasses slugs/pucks.

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 1/8/2014 3:56 PM, Michael Mahowald wrote:
> I am talking to people who made the slugger, I am most interested in 
> the pellet/slugs they have made.  I have a sample myself but do not 
> know of anyone who has used them in a TLUD.  I am wondering if they 
> burn just as well, they are 2 1/2" diameter and break off about every 
> 1" (long).
> I have videos of pellet making machines we want to get to Haiti. 
>  check it out on my web page: http://haitireconstruction.ning.com/
>
> Michael E. Mahowald
> President
> Haiti Reconstruction International <http://haitireconstruction.ning.com/>
> 952-220-6814
>

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