Split-Mold Testing for Biomass Fuel Briquettes

[HLANGEL100]

WHAT I FOUND EASIEST IS USING SPENT SEALANT TUBES LIKE SILICONE etc: AS PRESS TUBES. THEN USE THE APPLICATOR AS A PRESS.

FOR CENTER HOLES I USED 1/2 " COPPER PIPE.

SO SIMPLE & SO QUICK! ALSO BECAUSE OF THERE SMALLER SIZE THEY DRY MUCH QUICKER.:-)

[dmacosta1]

nice test

[aaronfu2]

All slurry that I have used and encountered has a better consistency with a larger amount of paper pulp than organic pulp! Around 70% Paper 30% Organic! I think you will get much better results with this mixture ratio and with 1/8" to 3/16" holes or slots! Too Big Is No Good! I'm not sayin' I'm Just Sayin"!

[LeeHiteVideo]

Yes, paper pulp makes a great binder but doesn't burn well. We try to use just enough paper to accomplish binding but not deter burning or ignition. Agree, the 1/8" holes work great and allow easy release of the briquette from the mold.

[swahili77]

In the longer form, when you unpack the briquettes, it is obvious that a couple of separators have been inserted. This was not shown when the slurry was added. Can one just pour in one scoop of slurry, put in a separator, pour in more slurry ... or does on have to push down the slurry in connection with each separator?

Are leaf briquettes as good fuel as sawdust, pound for pound?

[LeeHiteVideo]

Good question: I did not show a few steps in an effort to keep the video short. Yes, you can just pour in one scoop of slurry, put in a separator, pour in more slurry, most of the time. Make sure the slurry has enough water to flow well.

We tested briquettes made from 80% sawdust & 20% paper pulp, and briquettes from 80% leaves & 20% paper pulp. The sawdust burned longer, produced more BTU, and were more tightly packed than the leaves. The leaves were harder to ignite in the beginning.

[swahili77]

@LeeHiteVideo "more tightly packed ... more BTUs "

so that leaves producing less BTU might be just a question of harder to pack, so lighter briquettes or it might be even less BTUs/kg (Joules/kg , BTUs/oz ? :-) )

[LeeHiteVideo]

Yes, absolutely. Actually, when you measure the weight of each briquette and compare the BTU to briquette weight, there is very little difference among many of the formulations. There was a difference in ease of ignition and length of burn but the actual BTU didn't vary all that much. Leaves should work just fine.

[LeeHiteVideo]

Yes, absolutely. Actually, when you measure the weight of each briquette and compare the BTU to briquette weight, there is very little difference among many of the formulations. There was a difference in ease of ignition and length of burn but the actual BTU didn't vary all that much. Leaves should work just fine.