Chemicals
based Technologies-Charcoal
From Agro-Waste
Scientists from the Agricultural Engineering College of
Jabalpur, India, have developed a simple and inexpensive
technology for converting agricultural and urban wastes
into charcoal pellets through pyrolysis.
Charcoal is produced by burning raw
material within a confined place under controlled conditions
well enough to be carbonised but not so much that they
are reduced to ashes.
About 7 kgs of charcoal can be obtained
from 10 kg raw material with the charcoal having a calorific
value of 4,500 to 5,000 k cal per kg. Longer-lasting
pellets with lower calorific value can be obtained by
mixing charcoal with clay.
Areas of Application: This charcoal
can be used as a fuel in different industries for generating
heat.
Inputs Required:
To produce charcoal, the following
equipment required are:
Ten leaf collectors which are
mainly bamboo or mild steel rakes.
Five leaf crushers or lightweight
(15 kg) manually operated machines for compacting
leaves.
Two municipal waste cleaners which
manually operate perforated inclined cylinders made
of expanded metal.
75 waste pyrolisers having a maximum
capacity of 10 kg for transforming cellulosic material
into charcoal powder. These pyrolisers are ordinary
mild steel drums with holes and lids on the drum's
periphery. A detachable chimeny is located at the
top of the drum.
Two extruder-type pellestising machines with 7.5 HP
motors. Charcoal pellets are 2.5 cm in diameter and
7.5 to 12.5 cm in length.
Stage of Development: Commercialised.
Economic Data: Investment for a small
unit producing three tons of fuel pellets per day is
estimated at 3,900 USD, excluding land and building
costs.
For more information,
contact:
The Managing Director
National Research Development Corp.
Anusandhan Vikas,
20-22 Zamroodpur Community Centre,
Kailash Colony Extension,
New Delhi 110048, India
Tel : 26417821; 26432121
