RE: TLUD This week in Weppa?

Thank  you for the introduction to Simeon and George.   Nice to meet you!!!

Especially for George:

The main TLUD barrel has a closed bottom that has Primary Air entrance via the bottom  flat end.   I suggest cutting slots with an angle grinder.   Maybe 10 to 12 slots perhaps 10 cm long in a pattern that
does not weaken the end  of the barrel too much.  A radial pattern is good but should be without any of the slots connecting with any other slots.     We can add more slots later if needed, and / or any of the slots can be forced wider with a screwdriver or
a metal chisel and hammer.   In the center a couple of parallel slots is sufficient.

2.  this TLUD barrel will sit on 3 bricks (or something  else like metal  rods) on the ground so that air can enter underneath.   If we want LESS air, we can push some dirt to partially close the air passage
at the lower rim of the barrel.

3.  The TLUD barrel  has an open top, but keep the  upper rim on the barrel for strength.   Just cut out the disk and save it.

4.  Across the upper rim, place about 25 cm apart two parrelly rods or 2  angle irons to make a gap of 1 to 3 cm high.   NOT round rods because they can roll.   Length is about 60 to 80 cm each.   These can 
be called spacer bars.   They are creating a gap for air to enter to burn the TLUD gases so that they cannot become smoke.

5.  On top of those pieces of metal (#4), place vertically  a barrel to serve as a chimney that is open at both ends.   Nice if it has a way to be picked up and placed into position.    Best way is if two
rods (to be handles, so rebar for cement work is fine) about 1.5 to 2.0 meters long  that can slide into two pieces of pipe (of larger diameter) that are welded to the  sides (near middle of the  height) so  that when  the rods are inserted,  two workers (one
on each side) can pick up the top barrel.      DO NOT weld the  handle rods to  the  barrel because they will get very hot.   We want to be able to remove those handle rods so that they do not get hot.

THE ABOVE IS CONSTRUCTION.   Below is about usage.

1.   Fill the TLUD barrel with the dry EFB.   We will learn the best way to fill.   No need to  do much forcing,  but we will later experiment with pushing down the EFB.   Do not over fill.   Leave maybe 5
– 8 cm of empty space at the top.

2.   Place the barrel on  the bricks, and ignite the TOP of the EFB.     We want the fire to be all  over the top of the EFB, not just in  one or two places.   I am very interested to  know about how you ignite
it.    Is the EFB material dry enough that a match is sufficient?   Or you could use some paper.    Or a modest amount of combustible starter material could be used.    DO NOT pour on liquids that  will  run down into the biomass.    We are lighting the TOP.  
Will some waste palm oil assist the ignition?   

3.  Place on the two spacer bars/rods/angle-irons.   And the place the upper barrel as a sort of chimney.  

4.  Fire at the top moves slowly downward, creating  the gases (smoke) that are burned cleanly in  the upper  part.    If the gasifier barrel still has  paint on it, you can watch the downward progress.  
The burning  off of the paint  is only on the first time each barrel is used.   You can CAREFULLY check the temperature of the outside of the TLUD barrel to know approximately where the pyrolsis fire is at.  

5.   Allow the process to continue until there is no yellow / red flame at the top of the TLUD barrel. This might take 20 to 50 minutes.    That is  when  the biochar producing TLUD flame has reached the bottom
and had sufficient time there.    We want to know the time that is needed.

6.   When completed, remove the chimney barrel and the two support or gap rods.   Workers need hand protection for this.   This first batch we will  want to examine by dumping out the  biochar on the  ground. 
   Any of the BIOMASS (EFB) that is NOT already char will probably have flames or smoke or both.     The details  of what is seen will help us do the  job better the  next time.   I would like to be talking with you via WhatsApp when this ending happens, but
you can do it without me. 

7.  In future work, we will save the biochar either in  the  TLUD gasifier or in some other container.  TODAY we want to learn how to make EFB biochar.

Conclusion.   Success with this conversion of dry EFB into biochar will  be a great addition to  the Weppa business.   Please take and send to me photographs of the event.

Best wishes,

Paul