Charcoal Kiln

Basics

• A Kiln for making Charcoal
• If powered by fuel and not electricity, it diverges from Ceramics Kiln / Heat Treatment Oven development in that the Syngas and/or Pyrolysis Oil can be utilized (either as fuel to increase overall efficiency, or as separate products
• If going for basic charcoal, to an extent the “pit method” / a Kon Tiki system can be more effective

Types

Categorization by Dr. Paul S. Anderson et al

• Adam Retort
• "Flame Cap" Open Cavity
• Closed / Covered Cavity
• Kon-Tiki Kiln -> Open Cavity Flame Cap

Basic

• Earth Pit Kiln
• Kon-Tiki Kiln
• Paint Can Pyrolysis and a Campfire or Rocket Stove
  • MAY be able to use this to turn a Paper Brick / RDF Brick from Small Scale RDF into a Charcoal and maybe even graphite brick
  • A larger device based on 55 Gallon Drums would be more effective

Advanced

• Highly Efficient Gas Fueled Kiln
• More Bio-Refinery type designs for producing Syngas / Pyrolysis Oil
• Continuous Charcoal Kiln

Existing DIY/OS Designs

Greenhill Forge (YouTube Channel) 's Design

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Greenhill Forge" Titled "Free Off Grid Energy | Wood Gasifier Step 1: The Retort" ( ~25 Minute Watch )
• A Quite Advanced Charcoal Retort

Generic 55 Gallon Drum + Chimney Designs

• Basically a 55 Gallon Drum with a Chimney (Such as Stovepipe )
• Can be done vertically which is simpler for INITIAL setup / has less need for welded attatchments etc
• If done with the barrel Horizontal however, it is a far easier setup to use

Vertical Drum

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "BrandtCreekFarm" Titled "Charcoal Retort" ( ~4.5 Min Watch )
  • A 30 Gallon Drum INSIDE a Cut Open 55 Gallon Drum
  • About as simple as it gets, short of a Paint Can on a Bonfire
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Creative Cement" Titled "How to make charcoal from drums" ( ~10 Minute Watch )
  • Other than some metal raw materials, it seems all that was used was an Angle Grinder , a Stick Welder with a 7018 or similar rod, and measuring tools (also mud as sealant)

Horizontal Drum

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Andrew Devo" Titled "DIY charcoal kiln" ( ~20 Second Watch )
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Kevin Rodgers" Titled "Building a Charcoal Retort for Biochar | Pyrolysis Process & Tilted Barrel Method Success" ( ~2 Minute Watch )

Temporary Trash Can Section

Trailer Mounted

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "WoodlandsTV" Titled "Making Charcoal with the Exeter Retort" ( ~7 Minute Watch )
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Pressvess" Titled "Pressvess BBMR Mobile Charcoal Retort" ( ~11 Minute Watch )
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "New Leaf Nature & Wellbeing CIC" Titled "HOW OUR CHARCOAL KILN WORKS" ( ~2 Minute Watch )

Freestanding

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Heavy Iron Acres" Titled "Charcoal retort kiln" ( ~5 Minute Watch )
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Cannon Bottom Creations" Titled "How to Make A Charcoal Retort Kiln" ( ~16 Minute Watch )
• A Video by the YouTube Channel " Thrive Off Grid " Titled "DIY Charcoal Retort For BioChar and Gasification Fuel" ( ~30 Minute Watch )

Internal Links

• The Biochar Economy
• Biochar-Lime Co-production System
• Rocc Biochar Kiln
• Air Curtain Burners
  • As per This Video by the YouTube Channel "The Biochar Initiative" Titled "CharBoss Demonstration, Bandon Dunes" ( ~8 Minute Watch ), these can be adapted to at least PARTIAL Charcoal Production