Biochar/Brick Co-production System

The idea is to couple the production of biochar with the production of fired bricks, analogous to the Biochar/Lime Co-Production System. The pyrolysis gas generated during biochar production is not flared off but used to fire the clay bricks. The process is thus 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.
• 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.