[Terrapreta] Strong warning against "simple" charcoal kilns

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Kurt,

I'm sorry about the verbiage that I have so generously trimmed for you now.  You people want to over-simplify this issue, I think.  The Methane-CH4 ejecting from a charcoal forming pyrolysis reaction does not necessarily all burn up, as you suggest.  It can't.  "Open-air" reduction of H2 and CO in the "producer gas" will use as much as 5 times the amount of oxygen as the CH4 will BEFORE the CH4 will reduce.

When the ignition temperature for CO and H2 has been reached AND there is a steady supply of enough Oxygen, then ...

10CO + 10H2 + 10O2 => 10CO2 + 10H2O, first!

Then, AFTER THIS, if there is any oxygen is left and if the temperature is high enough

CH4 + 2O2 => CO2 + 2H2O

The likelihood of there being enough oxygen at 19% concentration in air and at atmospheric pressures, is, I think, quite low after the CO and H2 burn (FIRST!).

Regards,

SKB
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