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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Dear Stovers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The production of briquettes from coconut husk needs a binder.
We did look at the possibility of using starch, from Tapioca (cassava), that
was even more expensive. We ended up using clay. In Mombasa the clay is also
not cheap and very difficult to come by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Musungu<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>
Stoves [mailto:stoves-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Crispin
Pembert-Pigott<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 15 April 2014 17:23<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Stoves] Char from coir Re: Biochar Inquiry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Preaching to the Coir<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>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 lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Crispin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:whitesmoke'><b><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
lang=EN-CA 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 lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span
lang=EN-CA 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 lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span
lang=EN-CA 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 lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Cc:</span></b><span
lang=EN-CA 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 lang=EN-CA
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span
lang=EN-CA 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 lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span lang=EN-CA
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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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