Update of the CT Rice Hull Carbonizer development

Although the first prototype of the rice hull carbonizer was able to perform its intended function, there were some problems encountered which called for design improvement. One of these problems is the bridging or caving in of rice hull such that mixing or stirring of the rice hull bed had to be done more often. With the first prototype, this was quite difficult to do. Moreover, I wanted to attain a much higher operating temperature since I will be using the heat generated for some applications. Hence, the second prototype of the rice hull carbonizer (with pictures above) was designed and fabricated. With this prototype, I was able to attain temperature readings within the range of 700 to 800 degrees C which is already appropriate. This prototype is much easier to operate especially in terms of stirring or agitating the rice hull bed so that the bridging or caving in of rice hull is no longer a serious problem.

Here are some of the pictures and video cuts taken during one of the test runs conducted.


Pictures taken at the top of the carbonizer before (top) and during (bottom) operation.


Video No. 1: Starting (Firing) the Carbonizer


Video No. 2: Harvesting the carbonized rice hull

The next program of activity would be the development of the heat recovery component. Watch for an update!

CleanEarth/02August2009

Rice Hull Carbonizer - Pump System

What I plan to undertake as my first project is the rice hull carbonizer-pump system

This is something that could be used as an alternative to the conventional irrigation pumps driven by gasoline or diesel engines.

The system shall have the following components: (a) a rice hull carbonizer, (b) heat recovery and steam generation component, and (c) a water pump. I choose the process of carbonization rather than complete combustion as heat source because I want this system to be more sustainable. The carbonized rice hull that would be generated as by-product of the system could be applied to the soil as organic fertilizer or soil conditioner thus making the system more sustainable and environment friendly.

I am currently working (starting just last January 2009) on the development of a continuous-type rice hull carbonizer. Its design is very simple such that it could be easily fabricated in small welding shops.

The picture shown is the first prototype of the rice hull carbonizer fabricated in January 2009. It is already able to produce carbonized rice hull. It took 3 hours to carbonize 40 kg of rice hull with this prototype. Temperature attained at the flue gas chamber ranged from 300 - 400 degrees C. I am still doing some refinements in order to come up with higher operating temperatures as well as to make its operation more convenient and safe. Watch for the result of my next test runs!

CleanEarth/17February2009

microdermabrasion machine