[Stoves] Plastic in briquettes, and potential new stove brick design. (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Paul Anderson]

Stovers and briquette folks,

I thank my infrequent correspondent Robert Haston for an exceptionally 
informative message that he allows me to share with all of you.

Biggest news (to me) is about the study of the inclusion of plastics 
(including PET water bottles) into biomass fuel briquettes!!   Link is 
given to a scientific study done in Greece.   I hope our briquette and 
emissions gurus will be making comments.

I ask Robert to please help find out from his Greek contacts about the 
testing of these briquettes in OTHER stoves.   I hope that will include 
the TLUDs.

See also the attached about making stove structures.   Reminds me of the 
low density bricks by Ken Goyer and others that come together for a 
hexagon shape, but for only one size of stove.   Robert's design is 
expandable.   Robert, please revise with your suggestion of possible 
"lockable angles" (by having specific short straight segments instead of 
smooth curve on the ends.)   I like it!!!!

Robert, thanks again for providing this info.    This could be discussed 
at Stove Camp starting 10 days from now.

If replying to Robert, note that he probably does not subscribe to the 
Stoves Listserv, so be sure to include his email address in
the recipients.            "Haston, Robert E LTCOL USAF (US)" 
<robert.e.haston.mil at mail.mil>

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



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Paper/biomass fuel, cooking fuel - terrorism link, potential 
new stove brick design. (UNCLASSIFIED)
Date: 	Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:58:40 +0000
From: 	Haston, Robert E LTCOL USAF (US) <robert.e.haston.mil at mail.mil>
To: 	psanders at ilstu.edu <psanders at ilstu.edu>



Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Dear Dr. Anderson,

You might remember me sending you an email about mixed plastic/biomass 
(i.e. waste from remote military bases) as cook stove fuel.

Since then the university of Athens expanded on the ASU Biodesign's meta 
study. They did burn tests that proved the concept.

Converting Biomass and Waste Plastic to Solid Fuel Briquettes. 
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jre/2013/360368/

Once again I am deployed overseas (Djibouti Africa). The smoke from 
poorly operated waste incinerators/open burn pits (which always seem to 
get installed upwind) is the worst I have ever experienced.

The latest twist here is this: Illegal Charcoal Trade Funding Somalia's 
Al-Shebab. http://allafrica.com/stories/201406261350.html You probably 
already know about the expanding deforestation due to the growing 
charcoal trade south of here.

Miniaturizing the waste to fuel process seems reasonable once you get 
past misplaced fears of burning plastic. The process is straightforward: 
pick the cleanest plastics, combine them in the optimal ratio, and form 
them into briquettes or pellets designed specifically for 
"mini-incinerator stoves". This sure looks cleaner than the "certified 
safe" burn pits on our bases. Instead of EPA standards, you only have to 
beat the emissions of an sheep dung fire.

I guess the next step would be to work on designing and lab testing 
custom designed fuels for different stove types. Aside from the size and 
shape, I guess the only other factor is whether it would be best to 
incorporate the plastic in the pressing or to hot coat the 
briquettes/pellets afterward.  This would increase their water resistance.

Of course getting the military behind this would require some expert 
bona fides. This is a pretty good location to field something. Our 
hanger sits right next to the Army Civil Affairs Company. KBR just got 
another 53 million dollars to run the camp. I am sure they are 
interested in ways to fix their waste stream problems and polish their 
tarnished reputation. Unlike Iraq or Afghanistan, this base is expanding.

Also, I was thinking of making an expandable cook stove -- like adding 
rocks to make a campfire bigger. I came up with a design for cove and 
bead bricks that you can strap together like barrel staves. The design 
(along with a matching pedestal brick) eliminates the need for mortar.

I attached a simple sketch of a top-down view. It would probably have a 
base molded to accept the bricks. I figure you could add some features 
(bumps, tabs, pins, etc.) to lock the bricks at 45 and 60 degree angles. 
I am probably missing something, but it looks like an extremely useful 
design to me. It would sure be cool to see it adopted.

Feel free to forward this to your cohorts.

Thank you for your consideration and all your great work.

Lt Col Robert Haston

303^rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron

Camp Lemonier, Djibouti Africa


Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE



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