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

[Richard Stanley]

Paul, et al, 
How about including Kuni za Leo, Huni Itsva, Eco lena, Nkuni za makono,..for your declention of "larger low density briquettes": It sounds so much richer in the Bantu and Latin tongues, don't you think ?
Richard Stanley
www.legacyfound.org


On Jan 10, 2014, at 12:54 PM, Paul Anderson wrote:

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
> 952-220-6814
> 

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