[Terrapreta] Farm/compost biochar

[Dick Gallien]

Hi Mark,
Wish you were as close as the 11' dia.X 42' steel fuel tank I found 5 mi.
from home.  Even though it has been sitting for years, surrounded by  const.
equipment, with trees growing through and around them, it won't be easy, if
possible, to buy.

What are the dimensions and thickness of your tanks?  When you say
fiberglass lined, I think of Harvestore silos, which are bolted together.
Are these above ground?  Is the fiberglass the reason no one scraps them?

Had 7 responses to this post and all were private.  Hate to waste such
thoughtful comments on one person, especially when someone else might get a
crazy idea.

To another suggestion: I looked at shipping containers and they sure are
plentiful, but didn't think they would hold up as well to heat and they
aren't as high, for getting inside with a loader.

I mentioned the Adam retort because in my short search and from the few
photos, it gave me the idea as to how a larger horizontal retort might
work.  The price for plans is surely beyond me, but if we get this tank
going and survive, I'll gladly report the rest of the story, whether anyone
wants to hear it or not---free.

Thanks for the help,  Dick


On Sat, Jun 21, 2008 at 2:27 AM, Mark Ludlow <mark at ludlow.com> wrote:

>  Dick,
>
>
>
> Too bad! I am in WA and we have two whey tanks (I work at a former cheese
> operation) that we have been begging anyone to remove. First-come,
> first-serve. Crane: $1,200. Road permits. Trucking. Still cheap but likely
> more than you wish to pay. (They are f-glass lined but that would disappear
> after the first batch.)
>
>
>
> I love the scale of your approach!
>
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> *From:* terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:
> terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] *On Behalf Of *Dick Gallien
> *Sent:* Friday, June 20, 2008 8:28 PM
> *To:* terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> *Subject:* [Terrapreta] Farm/compost biochar
>
>
>
> Didn't get any list response when I thought about making a larger Adam
> retort, using concrete, but others said it wouldn't hold up to the heat, so
> am looking for a minimum 12' dia steel tank, 30'+ long.  Would lay it in a
> trench into a bank, half or more covered with dirt.  Could then cram brush
> in with a loader.  City people pay to dump brush at my compost site, 7 days
> a week and I'm getting buried in it.  To make rough biochar to spread on my
> farm fields is an ideal answer to tree waste disposal, which 90% in this
> area solve by torching.  I've searched the net, but if any of you in the
> Ia., Wi., Mn. area know of any tank salvage places, please tell me.  Any
> thoughts on how this tank idea might or might not work, would be
> appreciated.  Thanks,  Dick
>
>
> --
> Dick Gallien
> 22501 East Burns Valley Road
> Winona MN 55987
> dickgallien at gmail.com [507]454-3126
> www.thewinonafarm.com
>



-- 
Dick Gallien
22501 East Burns Valley Road
Winona MN 55987
dickgallien at gmail.com [507]454-3126
www.thewinonafarm.com
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