Bamboo briquette charcoal and biomass pellet production units in Zhejiang, China

Bamboo for smallholder income and energy security

Jin Wei & Xuan TaotaoJuly 2020/INBAR Webinar Session 2.4

Part I Bamboo Briquette Charcoal Production

1. Product characteristics

• Smoke-free:• High calorific value: ~

8000 kcal/kg.• Efficient: Burn for 4

hours• Better than wood

charcoal due to uniformity

2. Processing of briquette charcoal

2.1 Raw materials• Processing

residues from pre-processing factories

• Cut pieces and poor quality bamboo

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Those secondary grade culms harvested from managed bamboo forests for timber purposes, can also be used as raw materials for

charcoal making.

Processing flowBamboo crushing and smashing → Qualified bamboo

powder (after grinding and screening) → drying → shaping (semi-products)→ carbonizing → checking →

selecting → packaging → storage → sale

Crushing and smashing

Processing flow

Qualified bamboo powder

Drying & drying facility

dried bamboo powder

Processing flowShaping and shaping facilities

Bamboo powder is made using an extruding machine with a screw.

Processing flowCarbonizing in brick kilns

Brick kilns are usually preferred for higher quality of products and profitable returns.

Processing flowCooling

Processing flowSelecting and packaging

Processing flowLoading for transportation (export)

Production equipment requirements:

• a mill • screening equipment• drying equipment• shaping equipment• carbonization equipment• an auxiliary product recovery device• by-product (bamboo vinegar) recycling devices.

Equiment requirements

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Cost and profits

Taking a factory in Anji, China for example (data collected in 2015):

Annual output: 3000 tons of charcoal Raw material: final product = 6:1 (with around 10% of vinegar) Raw material requirement per annum: 18,000 tons Equipment investment: around CNY 2,100,000 (not including costs

for land, buildings, and organizations) 40 employees (including 2 administrative staff and 4 charcoal

technicians, 4 facility maintenance technicians, 1 driver) Total Sales Revenue and Profit: CNY 13,200,000; CNY 1,275,200 Total recovery period is 6.23 years.

Part II Biomass Pellet Production Unit

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The merits of biomass pellet

Carbon Neutral high calorific value: ~4500

Kcal/Kg No additives Low Sulphur (0.08%) and ash:

Suitable for boiler and furnace (no stoker required).

Could be the best alternative for coal.

It can even use existing coal furnaces with slight modifications

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Processing flow

Preparing raw materialsPulverizing Drying (modulation) Forming into pellets Cooling down Package.

Processing flow

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Processing flow

Filter and dry the smashed bamboo particles

Processing flow

Transport of the prepared raw material for pelleting

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan Processing flow

Pelleting

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No photo for 5. Cooling down and 6. Package.

These pictures are for Storage.Processing flow

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Processing flowTransportation

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Establishing Enterprise / factoryGetting sufficient quantities of raw materials can be a challenge in areas where the bamboo industry is not already well developed. Therefore, determination of the size of a factory is often dependent on raw material availability and affordability. .

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan Discussion

At early stage, local bamboo resources, and existing processing industry and market conditions should be investigated.

Project plan / feasibility study should be well elaboratedAt initial stage of implementation, training for technical and

management personnel should be carried out. Technical consultancy on machinery procurement,

installation and plant construction should be carried out by professionals.

During trial production period, professionals should be engaged for debugging and problem resolution.

Thank you!