Biochar Crusher: Difference between revisions
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[[File:CharcoalPowder01.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Fine powdery biochar may be needed for some applications, and would require a crusher or grinder. Injection of biochar into subsoil will also likely require powdery texture.]] | [[File:CharcoalPowder01.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Fine powdery biochar may be needed for some applications, and would require a crusher or grinder. Injection of biochar into subsoil will also likely require powdery texture.]] | ||
=Problem Statement= | |||
[[Biochar]] comes out of [[pyrolysis]] in larger chunks, so it may need to be processed into smaller pieces or even into a powder before further uses. There is an ongoing debate in the [[biochar]] community as to how far down in size these pieces need to be crushed, and whether it is really necessary to further grind them down to a fine powder. Some people think this is not necessary, and that it is fine to use the pieces when applying to soil. Natural processes, such as the freeze-thaw cycle, and plant root intrusion may already break down the pieces over time. | |||
Some biochar processing steps after pyrolysis may include crushing, screening, adding liquids (such as fertilizer, e.g. urine and microbes, e.g. from compost tea). The Crusher could be an important technology for [[The Biochar Economy]], although it remains to be seen how important. | |||
=Proposed Solution: Open Source Biochar Crusher= | |||
(Alternative names: pulverizer, grinder). Possible technical approaches are: | |||
*shredder-type (see first video below) | *shredder-type (see first video below) | ||
*meatgrinder-type (see second video below) | *meatgrinder-type (see second video below) | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
*roller mill (counter-rotating drums that crush the pieces between them) | *roller mill (counter-rotating drums that crush the pieces between them) | ||
=Important Design Considerations= | |||
* Charcoal dust, when mixed with air, can lead to a flammable gas-like mixture | * Charcoal dust, when mixed with air, can lead to a flammable gas-like mixture, which can potentially result in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion "coal dust explosion"] (!), especially when moving steel surfaces are involved. This can be avoided by wetting the biochar before it goes into the crusher, although this may necessitate changes in the design of the machine. | ||
* | * most types of biochar are soft and easy to crush. However, consistency will vary with feedstock: char made from dense wood or nut hulls will have different properties than char made from straw. | ||
* Biochar may be somewhat abrasive. | * Biochar may be somewhat abrasive. | ||
* Char dust exposure is a problem for human health, and good machine design should minimize it. | * Char dust exposure is a problem for human health, and good machine design should minimize it. | ||
=Video collection= | |||
<html> | <html> | ||
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2YH1UOI8ulg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> | <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2YH1UOI8ulg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
</html> | </html> | ||
== | =See Also= | ||
*[[Open Source Fuels Construction Set]] | |||
=Useful Links= | |||
* The Walden Effect: [http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Do_I__need_to_crush_biochar__63__/ "To crush or not?"] | * The Walden Effect: [http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Do_I__need_to_crush_biochar__63__/ "To crush or not?"] | ||
* Appropedia: [http://www.appropedia.org/Corn_Cob_Charcoal_Crusher Corn Cob Charcoal Crusher] | * Appropedia: [http://www.appropedia.org/Corn_Cob_Charcoal_Crusher Corn Cob Charcoal Crusher] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:13, 14 May 2026
Problem Statement
Biochar comes out of pyrolysis in larger chunks, so it may need to be processed into smaller pieces or even into a powder before further uses. There is an ongoing debate in the biochar community as to how far down in size these pieces need to be crushed, and whether it is really necessary to further grind them down to a fine powder. Some people think this is not necessary, and that it is fine to use the pieces when applying to soil. Natural processes, such as the freeze-thaw cycle, and plant root intrusion may already break down the pieces over time.
Some biochar processing steps after pyrolysis may include crushing, screening, adding liquids (such as fertilizer, e.g. urine and microbes, e.g. from compost tea). The Crusher could be an important technology for The Biochar Economy, although it remains to be seen how important.
Proposed Solution: Open Source Biochar Crusher
(Alternative names: pulverizer, grinder). Possible technical approaches are:
- shredder-type (see first video below)
- meatgrinder-type (see second video below)
- tamper
- ball mill
- roller mill (counter-rotating drums that crush the pieces between them)
Important Design Considerations
- Charcoal dust, when mixed with air, can lead to a flammable gas-like mixture, which can potentially result in a "coal dust explosion" (!), especially when moving steel surfaces are involved. This can be avoided by wetting the biochar before it goes into the crusher, although this may necessitate changes in the design of the machine.
- most types of biochar are soft and easy to crush. However, consistency will vary with feedstock: char made from dense wood or nut hulls will have different properties than char made from straw.
- Biochar may be somewhat abrasive.
- Char dust exposure is a problem for human health, and good machine design should minimize it.
Video collection
See Also
Useful Links
- The Walden Effect: "To crush or not?"
- Appropedia: Corn Cob Charcoal Crusher
- Biocharproject: "Biochar grinder – We call it the Carbonator..."
- Huckins Forge: BioChar Grinder (rotating drums)