[Terrapreta] Farm/compost biochar

[MFH]

James Kater in the UK is well-advanced on the use of shipping containers.
These use a high-quality steel, and on a volume-basis are relatively cheap.

 

A logistic argument is that flat surfaces will tend to distort more than
cylindrical ones. However that depends to some extent on the rate of heating
and cooling, and the uniformity of each over the surface area.

 

With regard to comments on loading, lots of bulk material is loaded into
containers by standing them on their backside. Open the doors, gravity feed
until full, then tip down again. Fairly simple engineering exercise but
maybe a little tricky in a domestic backyard.

 

M

 

 

  _____  

From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Dick Gallien
Sent: Monday, 23 June 2008 1:47 PM
To: terra pretta group
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Farm/compost biochar

 

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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