Black is Green
Mobile conversion of green waste to fuel and bio-char
QSEIF funding: $69,000
Project date: 2009
Project details
Black is Green (BiG) have developed a mobile charcoal production plant which efficiently converts green waste into fuel and bio-char.
About the technology
BiG sought funding assistance through the QSEIF program to develop a commercial prototype capable of processing 1.2 tonnes/hour of greenwaste into charcoal.
The heart of the system is a cylindrical reactor into which biomass is fed at the top. The biomass is initially dried and then heated to high temperature by an updraft of hot gases (produced by partial combustion of carbonised biomass reaching the bottom). As biomass passes downwards through the reactor, cellulose and other organic content is broken down by progressively higher temperatures, giving off tars and gases, leaving solid charcoal (or bio-char) consisting primarily of carbon.
Project status
Since developing the prototype, BiG has gone on to develop a fixed bio-char unit and electrical co-generation add-ons to capture energy (being emitted as heat) from the flue.
Last updated 28 October 2011