[Terrapreta] Larry Williams' Wood Vinegar and Charcoal Project

[Jeff Davis]

Dear Larry,

You may find this book of some interest:
http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/bchar/index.html


Jeff

P.S. I think it's the Riche retort, if I recall correctly.




> Gerald-------Thanks for the website, I was unable to open anything
> ("not found on this server") to better understand how they handle
> wood vinegar. I feel that we are children playing with charcoal
> compared to what is taking place in Asia. It's a feeling that I need
> to just live with. It seems true based on the articles that I read.
>
> Richard and I are funding these activities and we have to consider
> how to accomplish our goals with very limited resources. Of course,
> we find as much fun out of the process as possible. At the same time,
> we both agree that our own well-being will be improved if we achieve
> an effective burning technique that captures off-gasses and greatly
> reduces the release of greenhouse gases.
>
> At no point in the retort burn did the released (vented) gases
> sustain a flame. Only by using a propane torch were the gases flared.
> What can be do to have a continuous flame? See: http://www.flickr.com/
> photos/rchaard/sets/72157600696136152/ . In this burn I was dismayed
> by the lost of heat and smoke from the fire under the retort. Next
> time I will use a propane torch and a loose lid on the 55 gallon drum
> (the outer container). Even with the 3" (7.6 cm) adapter on the
> retort lid venting and contained by the lid of the larger drum, a
> propane torch should be able to heat the retort much faster than that
> of a wood fire. I am right that this is not an explosive situation---
> right? I have ask this question many times to others and believe that
> being safe wins the day. By putting a untighten lid on the larger
> drum have the conditions changed to create an explosion given that
> there is some O2 in the retort initially?
>
> We both enjoyed the bamboo explosions within the 55 gallon drum and
> agreed that there were likely some silica in the wood splinters to
> not expose ourselves to. At some point, I would like to load the
> retort with pieces of bamboo for a firing. It might be quite a sound
> event if the bamboo isn't dry. We could split the culms. Well, not in
> the center of the retort. Bamboo in the Bellingham area is usually
> less than 2" (5 cm) in diameter
>
> A 3" automotive exhaust pipe bolted to the lid of the retort carries
> the venting gasses away from the retort. During this firing it
> received a 90 degree piece of exhaust pipe to carry the heated gases
> horizontally to the side of the 55 gallon drum, then down and back to
> the firebox under the retort. Since I didn't have a good way to hold
> these pieces of pipe together and with hot liquid dripping down the
> second 90 degree piece of pipe, we had to much trouble holding the
> pipe together. So we left the disassembled pipe apart till the next
> firing. I will likely use nails to pin the pipe. Again, we are like
> kids playing in their sand box.
>
> We are looking for the simplest design for making charcoal, for
> collecting part of the gasses and for flaring the remainder. Any
> suggestions would be appreciated-------Larry


-- 
Jeff Davis

Some where 20 miles south of Lake Erie, USA