Biochar/Brick Co-production System

Analogous to the Biochar/Lime Co-Production System, this concept is for the co-production of biochar and fired bricks.

Idea to couple the production of biochar with the production of fired bricks. The pyrolysis gas generated during char production is not flared off but used to fire bricks. The process is carbon-negative. This type of production needs relatively close ('round the clock) monitoring but there is potential for automation.

Heat is another co-product that could be used for space heating, greenhouses, etc.

• see: (Chinese) Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln

Development Proposal

• proposal: carbon-negative VSBK fired with pyrolysis gas (with biochar as a co-product)
• The typical VSBK is coal-fired, mostly using low-quality coal fines. As shown in the (Vimeo) animation above, pieces of coal are scattered onto the bricks from the top. The brick kiln could be re-designed as part of a pyrolysis system to run on the pyro-gas (similar to a proposed Biochar/Brick Co-production System). If so, what would it look like? How can firing of the central/all bricks be assured if gas enters from the sides?
• This gas-fired kiln would have cleaner emissions than the coal-fired one (less soot, heavy metals, organic pollutants, etc.). The off-gas could conceivably be used for CO2 enrichment in a greenhouse or garden/field (this may require a biofilter step first).
• Co-products in addition to bricks: biochar, heat, CO2-rich gas for greenhouses.