Bioenergy in Agriculture 1929. not just hot air Co-production of Biochar and Heat 2008.
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Transcript of Bioenergy in Agriculture 1929. not just hot air Co-production of Biochar and Heat 2008.
Bioenergy in Agriculture1929
not just hot air
Co-production of Biochar and Heat 2008
Brian Burt and
Ruth Hayward
• Growers and Retailers of Annuals , Perennials and Shrubs • 50,000 sq. ft. of greenhouses • 40,000 sq. ft. of outdoor coverable heated beds• 6 retail garden centers from Belleville to Kingston
• Right handed hired man: Alex English• Programmer : Colin Beckingham
ing
Capabilities
We are also• Early adopters of technology from computer
systems to biological controls • Developers of new technologies (hardware
and software)• The builders or improvers of many of the
components which now make up our heating system
• not graphic artists
Were Curious about Biochar, Pyrolysis and Soil Fertility
We aim to:
• Produce char to support research in agriculture and environment
• Prove viability of co-generation of biochar and heat
• Develop a new marketable product
Lessons from the World of Top Lit Up Draft Stoves (T-LUD)or Low Tech Char Making Stoves
After Years of Working with Stovesand Combustion Analyzers
Air starved pyrolysis can be easy
1. Minimize under fuel air for Gas Qualityand an option for Char
2. Foster a flame ceiling for Low Emissions
What changes going from
Stoves to Boilers Batch to Continuous Vertical to Horizontal
Now Scale it Up with a Blue Flame Stoker : The chain grate is a 150 year old concept .
Start animation Start empty stoker film
Char Production
• Added air lock and better valves to our existing chain grate stoker to gain control of all combustion air
• Allows for air starved pyrolysis of fuel• Low velocity and particulate entrainment• Reduced Particulate Emissions ?
• Start combustion movie
Chain Grate Pyrolysis front , Gas fog , Flame curtain , Flaming
ceiling
Process Considerations
• Under fuel air or hot gas recirculation• Grate speed X 3-9, Transit Time• Char Temperature (800C +/- 100C)• Steady state operation and heat storage• Modulation and thermal “flywheels”• Control inputs?• Automated Oxygen trim for over fuel air control
and clean gas combustion (O2 8-12% in stack sample) (CO as low as 0%)
• Very low fuel moisture , auto pyrolysis?
Process Monitoring
Combustion Monitoring
Fuel or Feed stock
ok
Biochar Feed Stock
• Moisture content <20%• Particle size , fines and pile dynamics?• Contaminants , heavy metals and hardware• Dirty demolition waste• Clean construction waste? Green Buildings and Green
(Black)Roof• Crop Residues, Straw and Stover (clinker solution?)• Switchgrass and Miscanthus (self quenching ?)• Pellets, Cubes, Chopped (<4cm)• Rotary dryer
Char handling
• Play movie 1• Particle size (ultra light fines)• Air lock (water or mechanical)• Cooling (water or time) < 100C at pipe end• Wetting, Ageing, Composting• Automation (barn conveyor, sludge pump,
magnets)
Char acteristics Lehmann J 2007 Bio-energy in the black. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Char Quality (PAHs)
Char Yield and Thermal Loss
• 0-23% Char • 0~45% Thermal loss• 2X fuel cost rule for minimum char
production cost• Chips at $50 tonne =char at ~$100 tonne• @20% yield char valued @ 5X the fuel cost
covers the total fuel cost.
BioChar Saleswholesale or retail
• Bagged garden soils $2-$5 25 litre bag• Bulk $200-$600 tonne • Horticultural peat mixes ~ $400
Tonne• Calcined Clay?• Stalite (kiln expanded slate)?
Collaborators
• Dr. Paul Voroney of Guelph University• Dr. Pascale Champagne of Queens University• Scott Environmental Group, Norterra
Organics Kingston, Ontario• Local enthusiastic farmers and gardeners,
both large and small
The path to achieving sustainable agriculture involves moving from an
acceptance of the status quo to a redesign of the whole agricultural system.
Stuart Hill Ecological Agriculture Project
McGill University MacDonald College
Thank You