[Gasification] [Stoves] Karve connecting Biochar and Biogas

[Alex English]

Ron, AD,
When I visited Cornell U. in 2008 they told me that work in Australia 
had shown a significant increase in the rate of biogas production when 
biochar was added to manure based digesters. It was attributed to 
Stephen Joseph. At least the information was, and perhaps more:) I was 
unable to find anything else to back it up.

Alex

On 10/5/2011 11:04 PM, rongretlarson at comcast.net wrote:
> AD (cc four lists):
>
> I have not previously seen the connection between Biochar and Biogas
> that you described (below) today on the gasification list. In
> particular, you say you "../filled the digester/
> with charcoal, my system accepted three times the normal daily input
> and produced three times as much gas."
> I think what you describe can be a very powerful push for both Biochar
> and Biogas. Can you describe what you have learned a little more?
>
> I know too little of digesters, so this is not clear. I think I know
> your kitchen-sized inverted "barrel" gas chamber and think I understand
> the last part - of getting three times as much gas in the next 24 hours
> or less (and 3X is a huge change!). Does the idea of accepting three
> times more mean essentially the same thing? I would think you could
> "jam" any amount in; what limits acceptance?
>
> Do you agree that this is very important new information? Do you agree
> this information could help speed up both technologies? I believe there
> is wide agreement that Biochar benefits from added biological material
> (that would not be long-lived from a sequestration perspective). Is
> there any reason to think that the traditional use of digester effluent
> for ag improvements will be in any way harmed if it is continued through
> the addition of carbon-negative Biochar? Should this not promote sales
> of your charcoal-making stoves?
>
> If I haven't asked quite the right question - please answer the right
> one. And congratulations on learning and reporting this.
>
> Ron
>
>
>
>
>
> The remainder from AD Karve today on the gasification list:
>
> There are a lot of very simple ideas that need to be tested. I am
> currently working on increasing the efficiency of biogas digesters and
> feel that it might be possible to reduce the size and the capital
> expense of a biogas system. For instance, when I filled the digester
> with charcoal, my system accepted three times the normal daily input
> and produced three times as much gas.
> < snip>
> Yours
> A.D.Karve
> *******************************************
>
>
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