Mobile Biochar Maker Processes On-Site

Mobile Biochar Maker Processes On-Site COMBINES Miscellaneous Char Energy›s mobile gasifier makes biochar on-site from multiple feedstocks and for multiple uses The processor is like no other on the market It is so different that it sailed through the patenting process without a hitch “We were told patenting would be expensive and take years ” says Curtis Borchert Char Energy LLC “It took only 18 months and less than $1 000 Our attorney said it went so fast because nobody contested a single claim ” Borchert Brian Borgen and Noah Storslee developed their prototype unit using parts from an old wood furnace and a combine The Char Energy gasifier augers biomass through horizontal tubes in a heat chamber that bakes the biomass As the biomass passes through biochar and syngass are produced The syngas is fed back through the machine to help fuel the process “We can use the syngas in the gasifier or pull it off for use as an energy source ” says Borchert “We even use the syngas to fuel the process ” They were warned that oil and tar from raw wood gas could plug up motors but they’ve had no such problems with theirs Borchert suspects it’s because the biochar filters the gas as it is drawn off “We have used the syngas to run a 3 500-watt generator for 12 hrs ” he says “We just took the carburetor off and put a butterfly valve on it Once it started it ran beautifully ” He also notes that the process eliminates a problem with most gassifers that are unable to produce uniform biochar due to varying temperatures and humidity levels “We bank ours set the temperature at 750 degrees and control it precisely regardless of moisture content or outdoor temperatures ” says Borchert “If the temperature dips the augers stop until the temperature recovers We get a very uniform product ” Borchert admits the process is slower than other systems However those systems consume up to a third of the biomass as it burns Their baking process produces an equal volume of biochar for each unit of biomass that enters “The biochar that comes out is 75 percent carbon with most of the remainder silicate ” says Borchert “It can be used like coal ” He estimates their mobile 9-tube gassifer could process up to 900 lbs of biochar per hour It would be priced at about $40 000 The process is size neutral and could be upsized significantly in a permanent facility “We designed the mobile unit so it could be set up in a field where the biochar would be spread ” says Borchert “It could be moved from field to field as well as farm to farm ” Borchert admits that the prototype is rough and without any insulation As it is burning a single wood pallet every half hour will keep the process at 750 degrees “If we insulated it the syngas alone would likely be enough to keep it at temperature ” says Borchert Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Char Energy LLC 2852 170th Ave Ada Minn 56510 ph 218 784-3104; www char-energy com

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