Dec 26, 2015
TChar StovesFor Haiti and East Africa (and beyond)
Bob Fairchild [email protected] 2012
Cut down the tree, dig out the roots
Traditional charcoal production
From a distance
What is a TChar?
• A TLUD microgasifier top “TTop” and charcoal stove or quench base bottom “TBottom”
• The TTop lifts off to drop the char into the TBottom
• The char can be used to continue cooking in a charcoal stove or quenched in a quench base for later use as cooking charcoal or biochar
Why a TChar?
• In cultures that use charcoal as a cooking fuel it may be difficult to convince them to bury it
• Allowing the char to burn to ash in a TLUD is inefficient and significantly shortens the life of the TLUD
• Most TLUD’s require lifting and dumping to get the char out – this can be awkward and dangerous
Early prototypes - East Africa
Reconceptualization- KentuckyLoose fit, lift to drop charcoal
Add base ring for stability
Add outer cylinder for stability, safety, and preheating secondary air
Drop in concentrator ring with j-bolt
Add upper ring for stability and secondary air channeling
First prototype - KentuckyTChar on charcoal jiko
Fire!
We have lift off!
Hot charcoal for continued cooking
Some alternative features
• Central secondary air inlets• Drop bottom• Quench base
Central secondary air inlets
Will it reduce black carbon?
Drop bottom and quench base
• True butterfly “valve”• Integral primary air inlets• “air tight”/ water tight container
Integral primary air
True butterfly valve
Pull rod to “open” valve
“Complete” stove Less pot support and skirtLess primary air plugs
FUELS
• Dry • Chunky• No other uses
Spanish lime seed grenn kenep (mamoncillo Sp.) Melicoccus bijugatus
semans zaman Tropical almond seed Terminalia catappa
Bamboo chunks ti moso bambu yo
Coconut shell gous kokoye
Peanut shells gous pistach yo
Other possible fuels
• Citrus peels• Coffee hulls• Wood shavings• Corn cob chunks (but often fed to pigs)• Grass bundles• 1” dia micro briquettes: paper waste, grass,
tree leaves/twigs but require shredding, forming, and drying
Challenging fuelEuphorbia lactea – thorny hedge plant with milky latex -kandelab
General design considerations
• Beyond a conventional TLUD:– Sized to fit depth of charcoal stove (adjustable?)– Sized to not exceed volume of base– Stable on base– Easily and safely removed for dropping char
For more information
• www.drtlud.com• TChar Technology Part A: Introduction• TChar Technology Part B: Construction• More coming soon
• Special thanks to Paul Anderson “Dr. TLUD” and Christa Roth