Electrostatic precipitators

[Norman Baker]

​All;

Sometimes you come across something that really gets your attention. The links below are something that really surprised me. Many current "technologically intensive" methods for making biochar are extensions or adaptations from current technologies to see if making the biochar can be efficient, capture and use the heat, capture and use the 70% of synoils in wood and, at the same time have emissions that are remarkably clean and do not endanger our health with ultra fine particulate matter.

Occasionally, someone has a very creative idea and this seems to be one of those ideas. Auto thermal pyrolysis means the feedstock is providing its own heat for pyrolysis and, with appropriate existing technologies, we will be able to commercially or municipally make biochar and other renewable energy products in the future. Those of you with a sense of vision for the future economy and culture, especially for an industrialized economy and culture, where there is environmental sensitivity, renewable energy, and carbon sequestration, read the following three links.

https://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/research/thermochemical/autothermal/ 

https://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/files/2017/09/bei_flyer_autothermal_2017.pdf

https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2018/03/07/autothermal

As far as I can tell, these people are headed in exactly the right direction. Obviously there are many research avenues and a lot of details to be more clearly defined and identified, but this research is exactly what is needed for a sustainable future. One aspect of their technology is the use of an electrostatic precipitator. Does anyone know anything about these? It seems to me these might be the answer for particulate emissions for democratized biochar kilns - especially a TLUD that was continuous feed. If I am ever in Iowa again, you can bet your booties I will stop and talk to these people.

If we go to Wikipedia and look for electrostatic precipitator's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_precipitator ), there is a reasonably well done article. They present for graphs comparing electrical resistivity of a variety of ash products, or particulates, as a function of temperature. Notice that the range of centigrade temperatures encountered in TLUDs and flame cap kilns seem to say electrostatic precipitators might be a very good way to control particulate emissions in democratized biochar kilns. Frankly, I have no idea if my interpretation is correct or not, since I do not have the expertise to follow up on electrostatic precipitators, but I'm hoping someone does.

Norm

[Francesco Tortorici]

Norm,

This appears to be the future in regard to emerging methods for producing biochar.  Electrostatic precipitators have been used for a long time.  They get better with development of new controls, etc.  

Olympic Biochar ( https://www.olympicbiochar.com/ ) is sourced from a steam boiler that had an electrostatic precipitator installed several years ago to meet current air quality standards.

Francesco

We know more about the stars overhead than the soil underfoot.

Leonardo Da Vinci

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