Biochar is part of the “third way”

Zoologist/author Tim Flannery from Australia sees a “third way” to manage atmospheric CO2: reduce emissions, geoengineering, and “absorb CO2 in a benign manner from the atmosphere and convert it into a mineralized form of carbon that can be taken out of commission for thousands of years.”

Among these benign technologies, he asserts, is biochar. Others include planting trees, growing seaweed, and stimulating the natural weathering of rocks that absorb CO2.

Flannery outlines his ideas in his new book, Atmosphere of Hope: Solutions to the Climate Crisis.

You may recall his 2005 book The Weather Makers, a contribution that was translated into 23 languages and sold millions.

Here's an interview with Flannery you can read now:
http://www.greenbiz.com/article/how-third-way-technologies-can-help-turn-tide-climate

- From Jim Long

Oregon Kiln in the Woods!

On Dec. 4 we got some kilns out in the woods to burn slash piles that are normally incinerated to ash. Thanks to Grayback Forestry and Sean Hendrix for inviting us to bring the kilns to see what they could do. Each kiln consumed about 6-8 burn piles and made close to a cubic yard of char. It rained steadily all morning, but we were still able to make char. We lit up at 9 am and quenched at 12:30. I was pleased to see it took less than 50 gallons of water to completely quench one kiln. Took a lunch break and dumped the kilns and loaded them back on the trailer. Went pretty smooth, really.

Some of the Forest Service fire people were there and they said that 7 piles corresponds to about 40 feet of roadside thinning. So if you could unload 20 kilns along 800 feet of roadside, you could treat all the slash and make 20 cubic yards of biochar in 6 hours of work. If the feedstock is well-staged and you don't have to pull apart piles and move it long distances, one worker (a young, strong one) could feed 4 kilns continuously. So a crew of 6 could do it. You'd need a flatbed to transport the kilns and 1000 gal water truck to quench.


Click here for web album

Willow Witt Ranch Char Day

Here's an album of pictures from the first burn of the Oregon Kiln that took place at Willow Witt Ranch on Nov 27, 2015. Thanks to Suzanne and Lanita of Willow Witt Ranch and helper Micah. Thanks also to Vicklund & Son for fabricating the kilns and mounting the jib crane to the trailer. The Oregon Kiln was designed by Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar Associates (wilsonbiochar.com). The Oregon Kiln is a Flame Cap Biochar Kiln intended for use with forest slash and other kinds of waste wood commonly found in the forested regions of Oregon and elsewhere.


Web Album:  https://goo.gl/photos/H1bBQ1mZQwukipAp9

I was impressed with the efficiency of the kiln. We had some big chunks - 4"x4" and even a little bigger that charred nicely. And it did not take all day. I showed up at 10 am and we lit the rick at about 11 am. Quenched at around 5 pm. So the burn was only 6 hours long. Compare to my 4 foot diameter, 4 foot tall tube kiln that took 11 hours to fill. Total volume is almost the same. The Oregon kiln dimensions are 4' square bottom base, 5' square top base and about 25" elevation (sides are 26" wide).

Here is a simple description of how the kiln works:

You have to think of the Flame Cap Kiln as a retort that is made of steel on the bottom and of a stable gas vortex (actually a collection of vortices) on the top. Both function to exclude air, hold in heat, and char the feedstock.

Next task is to design some better wind screens - I'm thinking of something modular that can be moved around the kiln as needed.

Master Gardeners Biochar Website

Douglas County Master Gardeners' Discovery Garden at River Forks Park, Roseburg, Oregon has a website that documents biochar plots at the garden. Check it out here:

dcmgbiochar.blogspot.com/

Adding Biochar to Duchess Plots

On November 18 UBET volunteers Mike, Steve, Scott and Don came out to the Duchess Sanctuary to apply additional biochar to the plots.

Weighing the biochar

Applying the biochar

Nice video on soil carbon.

Scot McKain's Wigwam kiln

Scott based this design on the wigwam burners used at timber mills for disposal of wood waste. Here is his report on lessons learned from his first demo:

• The walls were 450-500 C. The steel was loosing structural strength towards the end. I will try to stiffen with rebar next time. 
• The sloped walls were effective in reflecting radiation downward.
• Not much air reaching the bottom so char was preserved. The sand seal on the bottom edge lost effectiveness as it dried. Will try bentonite. 
• The side vents worked well. Tangental vents would be an improvement. I closed them when the char reached that level. 
• I will try a top lit, batch burn next time. 
• A floor is necessary to char from radiant heat. 
• The char is good quality with little ash. Conversion efficiency seems quite good. 
• I am going to build a small stainless model to test different style side vents. We can use it for demos later.

Scott McKain's Wigwam Kiln

Sealed bottom of the Wigwam Kiln

Sides of the Wigwam Kiln