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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Preaching to the Coir<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>It may be work mentioning (maybe not) that I gave burning coir a shot in 2003 using the only materials available – which required bringing coconut husks from Mozambique as Swaziland only has one palm tree.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>What I found was that the ‘particle size’ was pretty important at any fixed scale. This means that the number of chunks in the combustion chamber is sort of fixed, and that means about 4 pieces across the diameter to get a burn at all, and probably my universal number of <6 is better to get a reliable burn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Observations at the time are that the outer husk is the major source of energy driving the burn, and that there is a lot of gas produced which burns well provided several things are ‘on track’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The environment has to be hot (not open) and there is a clear two-stage burn taking place. This means it is inherently a char-making fire even if it is bottom lit. This, Paul, may impact your interpretation of what is possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The outer hard bit burns pretty well though with a lot of long chain particle smoke, and the soft bits which are often pretty damp smoulder driven by the fire from the outer husk. The result is that the softer fibrous inner husk is pyrolysed and creates wood gas, with a clearly defined secondary burn taking place above the fuel (provided of course there is secondary air available and it is contained etc etc).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Why this happens is clearly because there are two different fuels burning: the inner and outer husk. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The conclusion I drew was that coconut husk can be burned very cleanly, that char can be produced without making it a TLUD, and that it has to be large in diameter compared with a small cooking stove. Applications would be for schools and prison cooking, dormitories and perhaps large scale water heating. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>It is likely to be suited to a hopper-fed crossdraft burner with char taken out from the ‘far side’ at the appropriate time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Because there is a huge amount of work required to make pellets from coir or to chop up the husks into small pieces, I suggest that the best use of this is for something ‘industrial’ such as process heat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>If one wanted a reliance char product (for briquetting) then it should be done in matches and the smoke burned for process heat like salt making, and the charcoal sold as a cooking fuel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Crispin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:whitesmoke'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu" title="psanders@ilstu.edu">Paul Anderson</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:whitesmoke'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Tuesday, April 15, 2014 6:33 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:whitesmoke'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:lhelferty@biochar.ca" title="lhelferty@biochar.ca">lhelferty@biochar.ca</a> ; <a href="mailto:teddykinyanjui@hotmail.com" title="teddykinyanjui@hotmail.com">teddy kinyanjui</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:whitesmoke'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Cc:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com" title="biochar@yahoogroups.com">biochar@yahoogroups.com</a> ; <a href="mailto:tswysocki@hotmail.com" title="tswysocki@hotmail.com">Ted Wysocki</a> ; <a href="mailto:johnathon.caguiat@mail.utoronto.ca" title="johnathon.caguiat@mail.utoronto.ca">Johnathon Caguiat</a> ; <a href="mailto:stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org" title="stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org">Discussion of biomass cooking stoves</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:whitesmoke'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> [Stoves] Char from coir Re: Biochar Inquiry<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Stovers and Biochar folks,<br><br>Our thanks to Teddy in Kenya for his comments below sent to Lloyd H. and a few others, and especially for the link to his blogspot (well worth seeing). It shows that he has successful creation of char from coir (coconut husk). But do note that his kiln is ignited at the bottom, and then has the coir put on top. That clearly seems to work, and I see that as mainly a "retort" style of pyrolysis, with the heat (and no oxygen) rising from the bottom to pyrolyze the coir. So, if you are only trying to make char (or biochar) from coir, consider Teddy's method. Maybe Trevor can replicate this in the Marshall Islands, or others do it wherever possible. Considering the tons and tons of coir around for free, and the need for biochar for soil improvement in the "coconut-belt" of the world, this could be quite significant.<br><br>Clearly it is not TLUD processing, so the question still remains if TLUD pyrolytic methods and temperatures can sustain the secondary flame for cooking and yield char.<br><br>Paul<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>