Norman Baker <ntbak...@gmail.com>: Dec 05 08:43AM -0800
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
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