Medium-fired CEB: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:44_cebfab.jpg |500px|thumb|Idea: fire the [[Compressed Earth Blocks|CEB]] at low to medium temperatures for (maybe) added strength and durability. ]] | [[Image:44_cebfab.jpg |500px|thumb|Idea: fire the [[Compressed Earth Blocks|CEB]] at low to medium temperatures for (maybe) added strength and durability. ]] | ||
This is a rather speculative idea but if workable, could potentially have very high impact. The idea is to '''fire a [[Compressed Earth Blocks|CEB]]''' | This is a rather speculative idea but if workable, could potentially have very high impact. The idea is to '''fire a [[Compressed Earth Blocks|CEB]]''' but at lower temperatures than a typical fired brick. This could potentially achieve some of the properties of a proper fired brick (water resistance, stability, etc.). | ||
A brief background search did not reveal whether this had been attempted. If possible, a system similar to the [[Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln|VSBK]] could be devised but would only have conduct the heat, and not require active firing. This | A conventional fired brick typically requires temperatures of about 900-1000°C and therefore has high [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_energy embodied energy], even when an efficient system such as the [[Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln|VSBK]] is used. | ||
Now if a '''CEB''' is used instead of an uncompressed (i.e. “green”) brick, how would that affect the properties of the finished brick? And could the lower temperature achieve some of the same properties of a high-fired brick? Temperatures of about 500-600°C are available as “waste heat” from some thermal biomass processes, such as from [[biochar]] production. | |||
A brief background search did not reveal whether this had been attempted. If possible, a system similar to the [[Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln|VSBK]] could be devised but would only have conduct the heat, and not require active firing. This could make things much simpler. Such a system would have lower requirements for the lining of the kiln. It would likely be somewhat cheaper. The largest benefit is that waste heat would be used (co-production). | |||
==Outlines a Research Project== | ==Outlines a Research Project== | ||
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* [[The Biochar Economy]] | * [[The Biochar Economy]] | ||
* [[Compressed Earth Blocks]] | * [[Compressed Earth Blocks]] | ||
* [[Kon-Tiki Kiln]] | |||
[[Category:Housing and construction]] | [[Category:Housing and construction]] | ||
[[Category:Materials]] | [[Category:Materials]] | ||
Revision as of 20:38, 15 July 2016
This is a rather speculative idea but if workable, could potentially have very high impact. The idea is to fire a CEB but at lower temperatures than a typical fired brick. This could potentially achieve some of the properties of a proper fired brick (water resistance, stability, etc.).
A conventional fired brick typically requires temperatures of about 900-1000°C and therefore has high embodied energy, even when an efficient system such as the VSBK is used.
Now if a CEB is used instead of an uncompressed (i.e. “green”) brick, how would that affect the properties of the finished brick? And could the lower temperature achieve some of the same properties of a high-fired brick? Temperatures of about 500-600°C are available as “waste heat” from some thermal biomass processes, such as from biochar production.
A brief background search did not reveal whether this had been attempted. If possible, a system similar to the VSBK could be devised but would only have conduct the heat, and not require active firing. This could make things much simpler. Such a system would have lower requirements for the lining of the kiln. It would likely be somewhat cheaper. The largest benefit is that waste heat would be used (co-production).
Outlines a Research Project
- needed: CEBs (should not contain any organic matter!)
- “bake” at different temperatures, with different time courses (length of firing).
- evaluate properties of bricks (strenght, durability, etc.)
- publish findings