Here it is, July 1, 2019 and I haven't made a single gram of biochar in nearly 10 years.
Even though I ran a pretty good experiment and saw tremendous results on a sunflower growth rate comparison, I went on to check out other things.
I thought that others would take up the biochar at an advanced rate as a way of making the planet a better place. Some have, but not nearly enough people.
China seems to be getting on the biochar bandwagon, although their efforts are still miniscule compared to the addition of carbon dioxide they, as a whole, add to the atmosphere.
That said, in North America, there's practically no effort. Sure there are folks scattered throughout the continent doing what they can to create biochar, but when it's compared to the intense activity that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, it's very, very, very minuscule by comparison.
That has to change.
So I'm going to pick up where I left off 10 years ago.
I have $600 start-up cash, which should be plenty to get going.
I'll be using the system designed by a guy named Doug. It's a hybrid TLUD/Retort system.
The bottom part is a TLUD 55 gallon drum, filled with biomass, as well as a blower to get good heat with little smoke.
The top part is a 30/35 gallon, sealed drum filled with biomass with exhaust ports on the bottom which will exhaust the pyrolysis gases to add to the fuel required to get enough heat to fully pyrolize the biomass in the 35 gallon drum.
The 30/35 gallon drum is surrounded by a second 55 gallon drum, which acts a a heat delivery system for the retort as well as a chimney to haul the gases exhausted by the lower TLUD and pyrolysis gases from the 30/35 gallon drum.
On top of that will be a chimney to bring the combustible gases up to a safe height to prevent external flames and provide a good draft.
This system will have to do until I sell enough biochar to pay for a more intricate and efficient system.
Until I get the barrels all set up, I'll be collecting biomass in the mean time. There are 60 acres of land that have deadfall, alders, brush, and plenty of dead lower branches on the trees that are there.
I already have a ratcheting branch lopper that will do a good job gathering decent sized biomass. I'll be picking up a telescoping tree pruner from Princess Auto as well. It has a cutter and a saw. Hopefully it isn't total junk and lasts long enough until I can afford better harvesting tools.
I want to avoid using my chainsaw if possible. It shouldn't be much more work to gather these small diameter bits of with hand tools than it would be with a chain saw...in some cases, hand tools will probably be easier.
The transportation vehicle will be our 45 year old Wheel Horse with its Honda engine. We have a funky little trailer that fits behind it and should be able to hold a pretty good load of biomass from the woods to the TLUD/Retort system.
That'll do until I get enough $$ for a Tesla Semi or Tesla pickup truck 😅.
Even though I ran a pretty good experiment and saw tremendous results on a sunflower growth rate comparison, I went on to check out other things.
I thought that others would take up the biochar at an advanced rate as a way of making the planet a better place. Some have, but not nearly enough people.
China seems to be getting on the biochar bandwagon, although their efforts are still miniscule compared to the addition of carbon dioxide they, as a whole, add to the atmosphere.
That said, in North America, there's practically no effort. Sure there are folks scattered throughout the continent doing what they can to create biochar, but when it's compared to the intense activity that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, it's very, very, very minuscule by comparison.
That has to change.
So I'm going to pick up where I left off 10 years ago.
I have $600 start-up cash, which should be plenty to get going.
I'll be using the system designed by a guy named Doug. It's a hybrid TLUD/Retort system.
The bottom part is a TLUD 55 gallon drum, filled with biomass, as well as a blower to get good heat with little smoke.
The top part is a 30/35 gallon, sealed drum filled with biomass with exhaust ports on the bottom which will exhaust the pyrolysis gases to add to the fuel required to get enough heat to fully pyrolize the biomass in the 35 gallon drum.
The 30/35 gallon drum is surrounded by a second 55 gallon drum, which acts a a heat delivery system for the retort as well as a chimney to haul the gases exhausted by the lower TLUD and pyrolysis gases from the 30/35 gallon drum.
On top of that will be a chimney to bring the combustible gases up to a safe height to prevent external flames and provide a good draft.
This system will have to do until I sell enough biochar to pay for a more intricate and efficient system.
Until I get the barrels all set up, I'll be collecting biomass in the mean time. There are 60 acres of land that have deadfall, alders, brush, and plenty of dead lower branches on the trees that are there.
I already have a ratcheting branch lopper that will do a good job gathering decent sized biomass. I'll be picking up a telescoping tree pruner from Princess Auto as well. It has a cutter and a saw. Hopefully it isn't total junk and lasts long enough until I can afford better harvesting tools.
I want to avoid using my chainsaw if possible. It shouldn't be much more work to gather these small diameter bits of with hand tools than it would be with a chain saw...in some cases, hand tools will probably be easier.
The transportation vehicle will be our 45 year old Wheel Horse with its Honda engine. We have a funky little trailer that fits behind it and should be able to hold a pretty good load of biomass from the woods to the TLUD/Retort system.
That'll do until I get enough $$ for a Tesla Semi or Tesla pickup truck 😅.
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