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Biomass charcoal briquettes

Biomass charcoal briquettes

Agricultural waste materials are carbonized in a kiln made from a 55-gallon oil drum. The carbonized material is then crushed and formed into briquettes using a small press and a binder. The process takes a few hours and requires only simple devices that can be made using local materials and production methods.

Copyright © Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Biomass charcoal briquettes
  • Biomass charcoal briquettes
  • Biomass charcoal briquettes
  • Biomass charcoal briquettes
  • Biomass charcoal briquettes
  • Biomass charcoal briquettes

Description

This project is a very low-cost device for forming charcoal briquettes. It is composed of three welded metal parts and a wooden block. To make it, you will use a band saw, a sander, a drill press, the OMAX water jet cutter and several hand tools. You will need to do some basic welding.

  • 1/2” Steel Pipe
  • Bagasse & materials to make charcoal 55 gallon oil drum
  • 4”x4” Wood (or a piece of bamboo)
  • 1/8” Steel Plate
  • 2” Steel Pipe
  • Water Jet Cutter
  • Hacksaw or Bandsaw
  • Welder
  • Files (round and flat)
  • Ruler
  • Calipers
  • Drill Press and Bits (15/16”)
  • Belt Sander
  • 1
    Cut the pipe. Then cut the wood block (or you can use a piece of bamboo instead).
  • 2
    Cut the end plates. Weld the parts.
  • 3
    Fill the oil drum with bagasse and burn it.
  • 4
    Seal up the drum with mud/sand to cut off the oxygen flow and stop combustion. The heat from the combustion will continue to liberate the organic matter from the straw and husk, leaving behind only carbon (charcoal).
  • 5
    Crush carbonized bagasse into a powder, then mix with binder and water to make charcoal mixture.
  • 6
    Use charcoal maker to press into briquettes.
  • 7
    Dry briquettes in the sun.

Some DIY technologies require specialized materials or special training. If your organization is interested in this technology, you are what we call a ‘technology seeker’, and funding for materials or training for this DIY technology may be available through Kopernik.

Technology seekers interested in becoming part of Kopernik can do so by filling out the registration and proposal form downloadable here. Once the registration form is submitted, Kopernik will review the application and conduct due diligence to determine whether the organization meets the requirements of Kopernik. For more information click here.