History charcoal production
Charcoal making is the simplest and oldest form of carbonisation or pyrolysis. It has already been done over 6.000 years and is still being produced until the present day, predominantly however in development countries where charcoal is the main fuel for cooking in cities, whereas in rural areas mainly firewood is used. This all leads to severe deforestation issues in many of these countries and besides to heavy air pollution and severe health issues with the char coalers.
Traditional kilns in Africa with the hazardous smell around and above it
If kiln efficiencies could be improved and also non-wood fuels could be used in the same manner as wood is used today, the whole world would profit in terms of less deforestation, re-use of what today is mainly unused waste materials and prevention of air pollution and health issues in producing cooking coal would be a benefit at the same time.
Most charcoal production takes place in development countries and again mostly in a traditional way; the production process is characterised by low investments cost, use of local construction materials, very low or no maintenance cost. Manpower is of no concern as unemployment rates are regularly high and thus should any new development in this ancient technology take these boundary conditions into account to be potentially successful on the market which does not dispose of many capital but does have a great work force and a lot of unemployment.
Improved traditional kilns in Rwanda using a chimney for better efficiency and less hazards
With these premises in mind and based on local experiences CharcoTec has designed a new kiln according to the same principles as the traditional kilns, but for the disadvantages as stated above. The kiln has no harmful emissions and it can be worked on without any danger to the health of the workers, it is affordable and has a high yield, and it can be produced locally for over 90%. It makes use of the produced harmful gases, which serve as an energy source to the process, which is explained in more detail below.
Charcoal is a market product and still plays an important role in the energy consumption structures of most developing countries. With the new kiln of CharcoTec the production cost will go down, the work force will be needed as before and harmful emissions and danger to the health of the workers will be prevented. The whole world will profit from this development which also will contribute to the local economics in terms of local production and maintaining of work without a need for huge investments.
Metal kilns in Africa also using chimneys with improved efficiencies
There are also traditional kilns in use in Europe, on the Balkan and in many Eastern European countries; examples are the concrete kilns in Bosnia; and in all these countries the char is sold in similar white bags:
Char is sold alongside principal roads and in town