This YouTube video discusses improvements to a biochar crusher, with a focus on reducing dust and minor issues with feed input and output. The farmer has tried adding water to reduce dust, but this causes issues with sludge. The YouTuber plans to create a cylinder on top of the crusher to reduce dust and catch debris, without introducing additional mechanical components. The improvements are aimed at producing a better-quality biochar for use in soil.
00:00:00 In this section of the video, the farmer discusses the issue of too much dust and little bits of char that come out of the top of his biochar crusher. He explains that he has tried putting water on it to minimize the dust but it turns to sludge at the bottom of the crusher. He also talks about some minor issues with the feed in and feed out and discusses a few ideas to fix them, such as enclosing the rod, putting an auger, or adding a skirt around the out feed. He shares the improvements he plans to make to his crusher, including making it a little higher and fixing the tolerances. Overall, despite the dust issue, the farmer seems happy with the crushed product that is perfect for the soil.
00:05:00 In this section, the YouTuber shows the inside of the crusher, which is a standard Hammer Mill. They explain that they didn’t realize the amount of dust that would be created when they first built it. To address this, they plan to cut off the feed-in chute and create a cylinder on top that rotates and drops the charcoal into the crusher. They opt for a low-tech approach and decide not to use a motor or auger, as they believe it would add more potential problems. The cylinder will have a tight seal to reduce dust, and a shelf inside to catch any debris thrown back up. Overall, they are confident that this new design will be effective.
