By michael - October, 22nd 2014

Many of the developing countries produce huge quantities of agro residues but they are used inefficiently causing extensive pollution to the environment. The major residues are rice husk, coffee husk, coir pith, jute sticks, bagasse, groundnut shells, mustard stalks and cotton stalks. Sawdust, a milling residue is also available in huge quantity. Apart from the problems of transportation, storage, and handling, the direct burning of loose biomass in conventional grates is associated with very low thermal efficiency and widespread air pollution. The conversion efficiencies are as low as 40% with particulate emissions in the flue gases in excess of 3000 mg/ Nm³ In addition, a large percentage of unburnt carbonaceous ash has to be disposed of. In the case of rice husk, this amounts to more than 40% of the feed burnt. As a typical example, about 800 tonnes of rice husk ash are generated every day in Ludhiana (Punjab) as a result of burning 2000 tonnes of husk. Briquetting of the husk could mitigate these pollution problems while at the same time making use of this important industrial/domestic energy resource.

We are dependent on fuel sources to provide power to run our homes and businesses, help us maintain our body temperatures in extreme weather and provide energy to prepare food. Emergency organizations suggest each household having an emergency supply of fuel stored away, but there is always a chance that we haven’t stored enough.

Many rely on having cords of wood to use, but those in population-dense areas may not have the availability of wood to use for fuel, or they could have been caught off guard by an emergency and were not able to get to the store to purchase charcoal briquettes or propane for their grills.

Have a Back Up For Your Fuel Supply

Learning how to make alternative fuel sources using the items you have around is an essential survival skill to learn. Biomass bricks and/or briquettes are an alternative choice to charcoal briquettes and other emergency fuel sources. …

In 2006, the U.S. produced more than 227 billion kilograms (kg) of solid waste; this equates to approximately 2.1 kg per person per day, where approximately half of this amount is in the form of paper and horticultural rubbish. Conversion of these wastes into combustible biomass briquettes would provide a means to satisfy individual energy needs while alleviating landfill use.

What Are Biomass Briquettes?

The biomass briquettes are comprised of compressed compounds containing various organic materials, including corn husks, coconut shells, grass clippings, dried leaves, saw dust, cardboard or paper. Developing countries use other materials such as rice husks, bagasse, ground nut shells, municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, or anything that contains a high nitrogen content.

Biomass fuel sources are equivalent to that of common fuel sources when burned in an oxygen-rich environment comparable to unmodified wood and wood pellet stoves, fireplaces, patio heaters and charcoal grills. This alternative fuel source could easily be used for rocket stoves, collapsible stoves and small grills.

How They Are Made

Essentially, you get your materials and cut them up into small bits or you could use a blender and add them to a large container (a 5 gallon bucket is perfect) and allow it to soak in water for three days until it’s completely saturated and broken down and have the consistency of mush. Then you form the briquettes by compacting them in a tube or container and forcing all of the water out.

Compaction is the key to achieving a successful briquette. The reason being is because compacted materials burn more efficiently. The shape of the brick or briquette can also make a difference. Studies have shown that biomass briquettes molded into a hollow-core cylindrical form exhibited energy output comparable to that of traditional fuels. There is a special lever that many use to compact the briquettes; however, some people have successfully made them from old CD or DVD cases and by poking holes in the side for the water to drain out. In the video below, he used a caulk gun.

Start thinking outside of the box in respect to preparedness. In emergency situations, we must modify our thoughts and adapt to the change itself. Chances are, if we are successful in this, we will find a way to survive.

In an attempt to overcome some of these obstacles, Mennell teamed with one of his clients, Leon Endres, founder and owner of Endres Processing LLC, a producer of high-quality livestock feed. Endres had experience in aggregating waste food products from restaurants and food manufactures and processing that material into animal feed. “I looked at the way he was collecting materials from all over, mixing them and running them through a series of processes to result in a really consistent, high-spec feed that he could sell to most of the major poultry houses as a feed ingredient,” Mennell explains. “I saw that as the recipe for what we could do on the biofuel side.”

Renewafuel was ultimately backed by four leverage capital firms including JMH Capital of Boston, to undertake a three-year research and development effort, which included processing different feedstocks, identifying their fuel characteristics and monitoring how the briquettes burn in different systems such as direct-fired units, fluidized beds and pulverized coal applications.

Please Read this Article at NaturalBlaze.com

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