[Terrapreta] Net Present Value et al.

[Mark Ludlow]

Dear Bakary,

Thank you for your post which provides a wonderful example of how individual
initiative trumps abstract argumentation, every time.

Best wishes to you and your sensible approach to good living.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of bakaryjatta
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 4:09 PM
To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Net Present Value and Ney Future Value of
TPBenefits

Dear list members,

At great cost of telephone bills andISP charges I tried to keep up with the
postings, hoping to find something practical beyond what I am doing myself
right now.

Unfortunately I see long repetitions of previous posts and stuff that does
not edify matters in the least, but rather confused what appeared to be a
straight forward thing.

My retort is in my back yard. It is a drum with a fairly tight lid and a
piece of pipe letting volatile gasses take over the initial firing in the
firebox underneath. The drum is enclosed in a rock and soil and lime plaster
wall. For a quick start I surrounded the drum with small branches or crop
waste before covering the top with a scrap iron sheet with a gap for smoke
to escape in the beginning. The drum costs money, the rest is labor.

The biomass is crop waste and or tree trimmings. Some material is up to 50
mm thick and still chars all through. Like was stated on the list, the char
appears to be about 40 %. After initial smoke, the volatiles take over and
burn with a roaring sound. Sorry, no analysis of the off gasses, but I trust
I am not a poluter beyond the normal CO2. With adequate investment the
excess gas or heat can be utilized, not likely an easy option for most third
world farmers.