The Biochar Workshop Part 1, How to Make Biochar, covers a lot of ground regarding four goals the presenters aim to achieve with biochar production, such as creating a profitable process and reducing emissions. Throughout the video, the presenters provide various methods to make biochar, such as using a can, two barrels, and pallet wood. Viewers can learn how to balance fuel gas and air to minimize smoke production as well as process energy to ensure a clean burn and efficiency. Furthermore, the audience can learn about biochar’s ability to clean up polluted areas as it is a carbon filter. Finally, the presenters discuss the advantage and disadvantage of removing the water when making biochar, depending on one’s perspective.
00:00:00 a lot to cover in this section of the video, but the main focus is on the four goals that the presenters are trying to achieve with their biochar production. These goals include making high-quality biochar, using as much of the process energy as possible, reducing emissions, and creating a profitable process for everyone involved. They begin by explaining how to make biochar in a simple 55-gallon drum and 30-gallon drum setup, which they call the Tin Man. Despite the simplicity of this setup, the presenters emphasize the importance of making good biochar, which can be determined by various indicators such as its appearance and brittleness. They also stress the importance of utilizing the energy released in the process of making biochar, while inspiring viewers to experiment with their own creative ways of using biochar.
00:05:00 In this section, the instructor explains four important rules when making biochar. The first is to sequester carbon into a stable form in the soil to help mitigate climate change. Secondly, biochar can be used as a source of energy so that we can offset the use of fossil fuels, killing two birds with one stone. Thirdly, the process should avoid pollution or other environmental damages. Lastly, biochar should be profitable, not necessarily in monetary terms, but it has to give some benefit like helping the environment or the community. The video shows how to make biochar starting with a 30-gallon drum drilled with half-inch holes that serves as the inner retort chamber, where feedstock is filled, and another drum that serves as the outer drum that covers the inner drum with feedstock.
00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the process of using two barrels to make biochar and the importance of selecting dry, chemical-free feedstock. They emphasize the benefits of using waste products to make biochar, including eliminating waste and reducing the amount of methane produced from decaying organic materials. The process involves starting a fire on top of the stacked barrels, which slowly cooks the wood and produces flammable gases. The key to making biochar is limiting the amount of oxygen that gets to the charge, so the gas is burned as fuel instead of burning all the way to ash.
00:15:00 In this section, the speaker explains the process of making biochar using a can, which is a simple and efficient design. The can is filled with wood, lit on fire, and then covered with a lid to self-regulate. The process takes a few hours and produces a can of biochar which needs to be cooled and wetted down for safety. The can has secondary air holes to burn residual gas and ensure complete burning. Throughout the process, the goal is to balance the fuel gas and the air mixture to minimize smoke production.
00:20:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of using the right amount of heat to achieve a clean burn and efficiency. He also suggests using an insulated chimney to prevent any loss of heat and using the extra energy produced by the biochar kiln. The speaker emphasizes that making biochar produces less pollution than simply burning wood or using a can with holes. He also notes that making biochar is possible using any biological material, but the amount of biochar produced depends on the weight of the original source. The speaker concludes by saying that using a pile of waste wood in the yard can be a good source of carbon for making biochar.
00:25:00 In this section of the Biochar Workshop Part 1, the speaker shows the audience how to make biochar and highlights the importance of having good feed stock. He explains that pallet wood is a great source of waste wood that is usually a hardwood and usually pretty dry, perfect for creating good char. However, users should be careful about checking what was carried on pallets, such as chemicals, plastic or paint. The presenter also points out that using nails may be a risk in some cases, as it can puncture tires, feet or shoes. He also discusses the profitability of biochar and how the cost of making the char compares to how much it is worth when it is done. Additionally, he talks about the size limits of the burner, underscoring the importance of using the correct size of wood blocks or chips to avoid getting a big lump in the middle that doesn’t char at all.
00:30:00 In this section of the video, the speaker responds to various questions from viewers. He explains that an unevenly burning fire could affect the performance of the chimney, as it needs to burn all the way around to burn down evenly. The feedstock on the outside does not become biochar at any point, it is just used to cook the inside. The ash left from the wood burning can be used for acidic soil, compost, or put somewhere else if the soil is alkaline. The maximum cross-sectional area of the feedstock depends on the moisture content, species, and whether or not it has bark on it, and making biochar is a craft that requires learning all the pieces. The char chunks can be processed with different equipment, and it can be a great option to use in weather disasters to burn debris and create energy from the wood waste that’s all around.
00:35:00 In this section, the speaker explains that biochar can be used to clean up polluted areas due to its carbon filter properties. It is commonly used in remediation for oil and chemical spills because it soaks up the pollutants. The biochar can then be burned to use the energy absorbed or left in the ground where the biology that comes with it will continue to break down pollutants like fuel oil. The speaker introduces a Rocket Avila Stove that is similar to the biochar stove they are using but has the ability to feed starting fuel from the bottom and has holes in its inner chamber for gas to be forced into the center tube and lit with air. This allows them to cook lunch while making biochar at the same time.
00:40:00 In this section, the speaker explains that making biochar involves removing the volatiles from the feedstock, usually a piece of wood, leaving behind only the solid carbon. The first stage in this process is removing the water, which requires a lot of energy to accomplish. This can be seen either as an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the perspective of the viewer.
