[Terrapreta] Strong warning against "simple" charcoal kilns

[Greg and April]

Brian,

If the escaping gasses have to go through the burn area, and contribute their energy to producing char, then you need less fuel thus increasing efficiency in the first place correct?

Add insulation and the efficiency increases even more. 

And since they are being converted to CO2 in the process, then they are being used by the plants and not hanging around in the atmosphere correct?

A simple kiln/retort can do these things - If We Know How To Accomplish These Things.  


Greg H.



  Let me try to explain why its bad using simple terms...

  If a system is only 20% efficient, what about the other 80%? What is it and where does it go? 

  - If its CO2, then you are correct that its CO2 neutral because plants eat CO2 and that ATM CO2 is the only source of C for the system.  

  - If it is CH4 or other hydrocarbons, then the 'bad' impact of that other 80% can far outweigh the claimed 'good' impact of the 20%'s carbon sequesteration/plant growth. 

  Its an overall balance thing, or a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of the whole system or I think the new catch term is 'cradle to cradle'. 

  Ya?

  Brian
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