Coal, which is mined in the mines, is also charcoal, the path of its formation is very long, it takes many millions of years until it becomes the coal we see it. Until the time when the industry began to extract coal, only charcoal was used everywhere. The first metallurgy worked on it, samovars were melted with it, and every real blacksmith knew how to make charcoal with his own hands. The technology is quite simple and interesting.
Where is charcoal used?
Today, charcoal is indispensable in some areas of production. It is used, for example, for the manufacture of: electrodes; glass and crystal products; some paints; gunpowder; a number of plastics; filters; for grinding parts; as an insulating material ... Every adult and not only knows activated carbon tablets, fertilizer is made from it and used as an additive to livestock feed. And from the resins that stand out in parallel, they make rosin, acetic acid, turpentine, solvents and methyl alcohol.
Among the population, this type of fuel has gained popularity mainly in three areas: Blacksmiths highly appreciate it (you can get better quality steel). Charcoal is an environmentally friendly way to heat a bathhouse, a summer house, and kindle a fireplace. On picnics, for grills, barbecues and fires. The taste of the food that you are going to cook on the fire completely depends on the quality of the coal used. Charcoal is ideal for campfire cooking.
Advantages 
It has many advantages in high temperature, the heat of charcoal is even, there is no smoke and open flame, and it does not ignite itself. Charcoal does not emit carbon monoxide, which makes it possible to use it indoors.
If you take a portion of coal and firewood at the same time, then it will flare up faster than firewood and will burn longer. When burned, charcoal does not emit sulfur and phosphorus. After combustion, there is practically no ash, it takes up little space during storage, and the heat transfer from one kilogram is 31 thousand kJ. Coal can only be bought by paying a lot of money, and charcoal can be obtained from ordinary branch waste (branches, roots, deadwood - that is, production waste).
Self-manufacturing
The market sells packages of charcoal, the price of them is not low. But you can make a lot of such fuel yourself, while the costs will be scanty. For cooking fuel, it is better to use hardwood (yes, I forgot coal is of grade A, B, C.) To obtain coal of grade A - birch - it gives fast heat transfer and intense heat.
Oak gives uniform heat and a long burning process, beech, elm, hornbeam, pine, fir, spruce - we get grade B. Soft wood (poplar, aspen, willow and linden .... will give grade B charcoal.
Consider two "artisanal" methods of production.
First method cooking at home charcoal is cooking in a barrel. The following requirements are imposed on it: the walls of the barrel itself must be thick enough, if you have a barrel in which petroleum products were stored, then it must be burned out, if due to pesticides, such a barrel cannot be used. To the barrel, you need to have a lid made of non-combustible materials and so that it tightly closes the container. Well, the size depends on the amount of raw materials available and on the availability of the barrel itself. What will it be. 
Sequence of work:
In order for the gas to escape from the barrel, several holes must be made in the lid, but so that they can be closed. We lay a sheet of metal on it, make a mini oven of several bricks, then put a barrel on these bricks. We fill it to the top with waste from which we will make coal, close it with a lid. We make a fire under the barrel in a mini-stove, when our barrel is very hot, gas starts to come out of the waste wood, all this lasts from 2-3 hours. This time has passed, we put out the fire and close the holes in the lid. Then we leave the barrel alone for two days. This method of producing charcoal is convenient, cheap, and difficult to control. If this mining process is done for the first time without experience, it is possible to burn or not to burn coal.
Second extraction method charcoal in the pit. This mining method is more open, which means there should be fewer errors. We choose an open place, preferably closer to the forest, where there are many branches and twigs. The dimensions of the pit: it should be cylindrical in shape and have a diameter of about 80 cm, clay 50 cm. We dug a pit, now we ram the base (bottom) well. Such a hole will give about two bags of coal. 
Sequence of work.
First, we procure raw materials, everything is cleaned of bark, and cut into logs, they should be no thicker than 7 cm and up to 30 cm long. We make a fire, a large fire, all over the bottom of the pit. Then we tightly throw the main raw material, but try to compact it so that it can still flare up. After two and a half, three hours, when the pit is full, we fall asleep on top of a layer of leaves, or green grass, and then a layer of earth. We strongly ram and leave for two days, during this period our fire, together with coal, will cool down. Remove the layer of earth, select the coal and sift.
Furnaces for the production of charcoal
The market offers special furnaces for the production of coal without oxygen. The burning process in such furnaces is carried out in several stages. First, the raw materials are tightly packed into retorts, then they are sent to the drying department, after which they are transferred to the pyrolysis compartment. The furnace is ignited, the temperature is brought to certain parameters, the pyrolysis process begins. After the end of the process, the retort is removed and cools down, and the other one is fed from the drying compartment to the pyrolysis compartment, and so on in a chain. Such a furnace does not stop, the process continues constantly as long as there is raw material and the need for further extraction of charcoal. The last, final stage is the packaging of coal. The furnace is not dependent on power supply, only the lighting of the room is needed.
In conclusion, I would like to note that as a business, charcoal mining is a troublesome and time-consuming business. For yourself, you can do it just as entertainment.
Charcoal, called charcoal, is a product of the thermal transformation of wood, which occurs without air access so that there is no ordinary combustion.
Production technology involves the use of special equipment. To make charcoal with your own hands, you need not only skill, but also a complete understanding of the essence of the process, as well as suitable units and devices.
What is charcoal
Wood charcoal, like any other, contains mainly carbon. The main characteristic of charcoal, which determines the scope of its use, is its high porosity. During a thermal reaction in an environment without oxygen or with a low content of it, a carbon skeleton is formed, to a large extent similar to the natural structure of capillaries in a tree trunk.
The presence of a large number of microscopic cavities explains the excellent absorption capacity of the product. If oxygen is present in the pores, the material burns easily with the release of heat.
The mass fraction of carbon in similar objects is:
- charcoal - 50%;
- peat - about 60%;
- hard coal - a little more than 80%;
- anthracite - about 95%.
In freshly obtained charcoal, the total content of oxygen and nitrogen reaches 44%, which is the maximum indicator when compared with coal minerals.
When stored in warm air for one hour, charcoal freshly made from wood can increase in mass by 2% due to the absorption of oxygen. If the portion volume was initially large, then spontaneous combustion reactions cannot be ruled out. Therefore, a product made from wood raw materials is first stabilized in a special mode, then packaged and stored in safe conditions.
Process technology
In ancient times, people learned to get coal mass from wood intuitively, first laying firewood in pits, then in heaps on surface areas. From above, the collected wood was covered with earth, leaving small holes. The process was called charcoal. The name has survived to the present to refer to semi-handicraft production technology or handicraft, implemented at home.
Over time, the equipment, automation of the carbonization (charring) reaction acquired a civilized form, which makes it possible to exclude air access, provide controlled heating of the reaction mass to the required temperatures, and maintain a constant thermal regime.
Note! The process of obtaining charcoal using modern technologies is called pyrolysis.
With mechanized thermal destruction, gases and liquids that form in parallel are removed from the working area. Valuable products are obtained from them or burned, using the generated heat to heat the reactor.
In connection with the differences in the technologies for obtaining charcoal by pyrolysis and charcoal burning, the standard specifies the features of the raw materials allowed for processing.
Two groups of rocks are allowed for pyrolysis:
- the first is the wood of birch, beech, ash, hornbeam, elm, oak, maple;
- the second - raw materials from aspen, alder, linden, poplar, willow.
In charcoal burning, three groups of rocks are used, the first of which is the same as for pyrolysis, the second consists of coniferous wood, the third consists of raw materials from aspen, alder, linden, poplar, and willow.
Product labeling
The difference in approaches is explained by the high content of tar-like substances in coniferous raw materials, which, if the pyrolysis reactor is sealed, will complicate the implementation of the technology.
From the pyrolysis products of the first group, coal is obtained, marked with the letter A, with a maximum carbon concentration reaching 90% and a minimum content of mineral components (2.5%).
If a mixture of raw materials of the first two groups was subjected to pyrolysis, then the maximum carbon content in charcoal, which has the marking designation B, reaches 88% at the same ash content.
If a mixture of all rocks was subjected to charcoal burning, a coal conglomerate is formed, marked with the letter B. The concentration of skeletal carbon in it reaches a maximum of 77%, mineral components - 4%, many other parameters are not standardized.
Note! Brand A products have the best characteristics, so they are used for subsequent activation in order to obtain sorbents.
Group B coal demonstrates good qualities; it and grade A products are used in industrial organic synthesis.
Acceptable properties to meet the needs of most consumers have the result of the implementation of charcoal technology in the event that the process is carried out correctly. There are many people who want to prepare a valuable product from wood. There are far fewer people who are ready to delve into the specifics of implementing an idea in practice, which can lead to unpleasant consequences with an unpredictable outcome.
How to make at home
How do they make charcoal in an artisanal way, placing production on a personal plot or summer cottage? There are two most common ways.
in the hole
You can dig a hole in the yard in a place located at a distance from the buildings. If you need to get two bags of coal, the depth of the pit should reach half a meter, the width should be 80 cm. The bottom should be well tamped with your feet or with a special device. When the recess is ready, you can kindle a fire from small branches in it, gradually throwing medium-sized firewood.
Important! Bark from trees should not be allowed to fall. When burning, it emits a lot of smoke and degrades the quality of the prepared charcoal.
A new portion should be added when the previous part burned out and significantly decreased in volume. Within a few hours, you need to completely load the pit with firewood, periodically compacting them. When the firewood burns out over the entire height of the pit, you need to cover it with fresh grass, a layer of earth from above and tamp it down again. In this form, a home-made "reactor" will cool down for a couple of days, after which you can remove the finished coal.
in a barrel
If there is a metal barrel with thick walls on the farm that does not contain residues of chemicals or oil products, you can do without digging a hole.
With a large volume of the barrel at the bottom, it makes sense to lay a layer of fire-resistant bricks, then make a fire between them and constantly add firewood, not forgetting about compaction. When the layer of bricks is completely covered, a grate is laid on top of the wood accumulation, which transmits heat and flame well. On the grate, you can immerse the next portion of firewood into the barrel until the container is full.
When the top layer ignites, the structure must be closed almost tightly with sheet metal, leaving a very small gap on the side. It is not necessary to achieve complete tightness, and it is impossible to do this. The emitted smoke at some point will begin to acquire a grayish color, at this time the sheet must be moved so that the gap closes. The charcoal can be considered completed. As soon as the barrel is completely cool, you can take out the finished product.
Another technology for making charcoal also involves the use of a barrel, bricks and a metal or any other heat-resistant lid.
The difference comes down to the fact that the fire is kindled not inside, but on the ground between the bricks on which the container is installed. To ignite the firewood inside, the fire outside must burn intensively and for a long time. In the lower part of the barrel, you must first make holes for a certain volume of air to enter. During the entire time, the barrel must be kept tightly closed, only at the end of charcoal burning, the lid can be removed and the formed coal removed.
In the oven
If the need for firewood is not very large, it is quite possible to be content with an ordinary stove. Looking into the firebox, you should wait until the firewood turns completely red, then pull it out with tongs and immerse it in a metal bucket or ceramic container, which must be quickly and tightly closed with a lid. After cooling, the coal will be ready.
To increase the resulting portion of charcoal, you can load a large amount of firewood into the furnace, wait for complete ignition, and then close the blower, doors, dampers and wait 10 minutes. At the end of this time, you can open the doors and carefully remove the pieces of coal.
Application
Charcoal is produced in small quantities on an industrial scale and at home.
A self-made product is most often used as a fuel, which releases a large amount of heat during combustion. The amount of energy is twice that of ordinary wood. Kebab lovers put such coal in the barbecue to get a stable flame that burns evenly without emitting toxic gases. An additional advantage of such fuel is that it burns to the end, leaving no ash.
Industrially produced wood charcoal is subjected to activation in order to obtain a well-known sorbent. The original coal itself demonstrates a high absorption capacity, which makes it possible to use it in filters, as a component of animal feed, and as a food additive in human food.
A significant concentration of carbon makes the pyrolysis product a strong reducing agent, which allows it to be used in metallurgy, chemical, glass, paint and varnish and electrical industries.
Today, charcoal is quite in demand - it is bought by restaurants and cafes for cooking, chemical and metallurgical plants for production processes, people for cooking barbecue and grilling. Charcoal production as a business - a great solution if you live in wooded areas. The procedure does not require serious investments and quickly pays off with the right approach. In this article, we will analyze how to start your own charcoal business and give an example of the calculation.
Introduction
Charcoal is a high-carbon material, which is obtained by pyrolysis of various types of wood with limited air intake. For its production, a special oven is required, which can be placed both in your own garage and in the open air or in a specially equipped workshop.
Charcoal is a profitable business
As of 2017, in Russia there is an average saturation of the market with these products, so any businessman can easily start production and find sales outlets for finished products. The main thing is to correctly calculate and think over everything, analyze the consumer market, think over where it is more profitable to sell products in bulk. Make a detailed business plan and stick to it as you implement your idea.
Types of coal
Many people think that all coal sold in supermarkets and gas stations is the same, but in reality there are many varieties. It can be divided into:
- Red. It is made from conifers using a special technology by soft charcoal.
- White. To create it, hardwood is used, such as oak, birch, elm, hornbeam, etc.
- Black. To create it, soft wood is used: linden, aspen, poplar, alder, willow, etc.
Many entrepreneurs make only classic black coal, but if you want to capture the market, then the range should be expanded. You should be guided by what raw materials you can get: if oak forests grow in your area, then you will have to use this particular material, etc. You should also know that there are three varieties according to GOST 7657-84 A, B and C. The higher the grade , the better the quality of coal and the more willing it will be purchased, so try to make only a quality product.
Note: a large number of entrepreneurs use various waste products from woodworking and furniture companies, as well as rotten logs and bars as raw materials. It is not recommended to do this, since the quality of coal from such raw materials will be extremely low.
Of course, you can earn more in this way. But customers will not like your products and in the end it will hit the image of a young business.
You should also consider in what packaging to sell the product. Usually it is packaged in paper bags and plastic bags with a capacity of 2 to 50 kg. The most popular among the population are bags weighing 5-10 kg, while restaurants and enterprises buy it in bags of 50 kg to reduce the cost of raw materials.
Raw Material Improvement Dryer
How is charcoal made
Next, we will analyze the technology for the production of charcoal. There is nothing complicated in it - the process is based on the principle of pyrolysis. The finished raw material is fired at a given temperature without air access and turns into coal. The production algorithm is as follows:
- Raw materials are manually loaded into the furnace.
- The furnace turns on, burning occurs.
- Coal is unloaded, cooled, packaged and sent to the warehouse.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the procedure, but safety precautions should be strictly followed during production. Be sure to follow fire safety, set an alarm and have several fire extinguishers on hand so that in case of fire it can be quickly eliminated.
The best raw material for making coal is wood in chocks, cut into pieces of 40-60 cm. If you plan to buy logs, you will have to hire a special person who will grind them to a predetermined size. The cheapest way to buy raw materials is from a supplier or at woodworking plants - they are available in almost all regions of Russia. Negotiate with them about wholesale deliveries - the cheaper you can buy raw materials, the greater the profit.
Equipment
Let's consider whatmust be purchased. Today, the market offers entrepreneurs a wide range of specialized equipment, ranging from inexpensive manual-loading furnaces to automated lines capable of producing tens of cubic meters of finished product per shift. The main equipment for manufacturing is a pyrolysis oven. We do not recommend starting a business with professional stoves - first, get a small one, master the process, find customers, and then calculate how much coal you can sell, and select a new device based on this. When choosing, consider the following factors:
- Available area. Entry-to-mid range ovens are about 40 m2, so think about whether you can place it on your site or in the workshop.
- How many raw materials can you load at one time. Keep in mind that to get 1 ton of coal you need 7-9 tons. The better the quality of the loaded wood, the better the product will be.
- duration of pyrolysis. On average, one cycle lasts about 50 hours, but it all depends on the type of wood, the selected equipment and the volume of the furnace.
- The power of the pyrolysis oven. Power is how much coal can be created in one cycle. On the market there are models with a capacity of 100 to 2000 kilograms of finished products.
Pyrolysis oven for manufacturing
What you need to get started
Next, consider charcoal production technology and equipment needed to start. The main thing in this business is the oven. The price depends on its power - in 2017, a small 100-kilogram furnace can be bought for 50,000, a full-fledged 2 tons - for 1,000,000 rubles. Thanks to this division, you can choose the option that suits you both in terms of price and performance. Many entrepreneurs start their journey with a 300-500 kg oven, after which, if necessary, they buy a second one or change it to a more powerful one. Note that not only pyrolysis, but also retort furnaces are on the market, but they are worse in quality, so they should not be considered as an alternative. To get started you will also need:
- Scales electronic 5-7 000 rubles.
- Packaging device - 100-150,000 rubles.
- Chainsaw - 10,000 rubles.
This is the minimum set of equipment to get started - it is quite enough for beginners and for small workshops. In the future, you may need separators for grinding, dryers for improving the quality of raw materials, batchers for process automation, special supply lines, etc., but usually these equipment are used in large enterprises, so you should not think about it yet. You can save even more by purchasing not a ready-made furnace, but by ordering a pyrolysis barrel from local craftsmen, but this is an option for those who have a seriously limited budget - it’s better to buy a high-quality and specialized furnace right away.
How profitable is it
Universal business plan for the production of charcoal no - it all depends on where exactly you will buy raw materials, what price it will be, how you will arrange sales, etc., but the average figures for the industry are known. We recommend not contacting retailers, in extreme cases, you can simply sell bags in the workshop without organizing your own outlets.
Quality charcoal
Look for those who will buy products in bulk:
- Supermarkets or local retail chains.
- Filling stations.
- Restaurants and cafes.
- Wholesale stores and bases.
- Various industrial enterprises that need coal for technical processes.
Practice shows that in almost any region of Russia there are places where coal from the manufacturer will be popular and can be sold in bulk. Therefore, before starting, think about where you can rent it, try to communicate with potential buyers to determine their expectations and the required volumes. It often happens that an entrepreneur works with one wholesaler, handing over to him all the products produced.
- Registration with the tax authorities - 15,000 rubles.
- Purchase of a set of equipment - 1,000,000 rubles.
- Rent of premises, repair work - 400,000 rubles per year.
- Purchase of wood for processing - 300,000 rubles.
In total, to open a business, you will need approximately 1,700,000 rubles. Note that in this case we are talking about professional equipment and a medium-sized workshop that produces about 20 tons of coal per month. If there is no such budget, then you can get by with a cheaper set of equipment and a garage - this will require investments of about 300,000 rubles with a capacity of 2 tons per month. It is also desirable to have a car for the delivery of finished products - even an inexpensive GAZelle capable of taking on board about a ton of cargo is suitable.
Next, let's calculate the profit. The selling wholesale price of birch charcoal in 2017 is 100 rubles per kilogram, while its cost is about 60, including all expenses. For 1 kilogram you earn 40 rubles, for 2 tons of sold products (home workshop) - 80 thousand rubles, for a full-fledged enterprise producing 20 tons per month - 800,000 rubles. Thus, the investments made pay off in 2-4 months, although in practice a full payback is obtained in 4-6 months (additional costs inevitably arise).
In contact with
Usually, the question of how to make charcoal for barbecue is not worth it. In stores everywhere you can find bags of charcoal for sale. It is enough to cook on the grill. And for those who want to do everything themselves, you can prepare coal at home.
Charcoal has not been used anywhere: in metallurgy, the chemical industry and medicine. But we are unlikely to start making activated charcoal or creating gunpowder. We are interested in charcoal as a fuel. Fuel for barbecues, grills and braziers with cozy warmth.
Material preparation
Charcoal is not from every piece of wood for cooking. These are fruit trees (pear, apple, cherry), deciduous trees (alder, oak, maple) and common birch. Conifers are not suitable at all. Such raw materials contain resins (this will spoil the taste of meat).
Construction scraps for the manufacture of coal for barbecues are not used: impregnations and adhesives, when burned, will leave carcinogens in the coal.
Birch is not the best option, but the tree is common. Charcoal turns out a little hotter than necessary. Although, knowing this feature, you can adapt and make a cool barbecue.
The second requirement is dry firewood. For pyrolysis, moisture is harmful. In industrial production, raw materials are dried in special ovens with gases up to 150 ° C, and when burning “for oneself”, one must either let the firewood dry or take dry land.
A rotten tree cannot be burned to coal.
The bark degrades the quality of the charcoal and should be removed from the firewood if possible.
Burnt out charcoal
The essence of the process is that the wood does not burn completely.
When raw materials are heated with limited access to oxygen, a carbon frame remains, repeating wood. This process is called pyrolysis. The working temperature of wood pyrolysis will be 350 °C. During pyrolysis, cellulose undergoes thermal degradation, which results in the formation of coal and pyrolysis gases.
A large number of pores contributes to the rapid burning of charcoal.
The mass fraction of carbon in charcoal is 50%.
Burn coal away from buildings and forest plantations. Observe fire safety regulations.
There are several ways to prepare charcoal for a barbecue.
At the stake
One of the easiest ways to make barbecue charcoal at home. All you need is an old bucket with a lid, or some other non-combustible container.
- Kindle the fire. Not using ignition aids.
- Let it burn.
- Send large smuts almost burnt to coals with a poker or tongs into a bucket and bury with a lid. At the end, collect the coals and add them to the bucket as well.
- There will not be enough air for combustion and smoldering will stop. A couple of hours is usually enough.
With experience, the amount of unburnt firewood in your corner will be less.
in the hole
This method is old, one might say historical.
- First of all, you need a hole. The volume of the pit determines the amount of coal required. To make it convenient to work, the bottom should not be less than a circle with a diameter of 0.8-1.0 meters. Another thing to consider: making a hole in a lowland is a bad idea: it will fill with water.
- So, the pit is dug, the walls and bottom are rammed.
- Light a fire in the hole. And fill the hole a third with firewood. Firewood should be of medium size.
- When firewood nearly burn out, fill the coal pit with firewood to the very brim.
- Make sure that all the firewood is taken up. And cover the pit with a sheet of iron, and sprinkle the cracks with earth.
- After a couple of days, you can remove the lid and get the coal.
Be careful at the edge of the pit: homemade charcoal isn't worth the risk of falling into a fire pit.
in a barrel
By making charcoal at home, you want to reduce the risk. And this method is just one of them.
You don't need a hole. You will replace it with a 200 liter barrel.
There are two ways: with a difference outside or inside the barrel, make a fire.
In any case, place the barrel on 4-6 bricks so that it does not touch the ground.
The first way: a fire inside the barrel.
In order for firewood to burn in the barrel at the very bottom, you need to punch several holes. Some advise attaching a hose fitting and blowing air in the first stage (for example, with a household vacuum cleaner), but this is up to you.
- You need to start with a fire in a barrel.
- When the fire flares up, fill the barrel by a third with firewood and let it burn out.
- Fill the barrel with wood completely. When all the firewood is taken, close the lid. Artificial boost, if any, should be disabled.
- When the barrel cools down, you can take out the coal.
The second way: a fire around the barrel.
- Immediately fill the barrel with firewood and close the lid.
- Light a fire under the barrel and keep it warm until the pyrolysis is over. If there is a thermometer, then the intensity of the fire should provide a temperature of 350 ° C inside. Without a thermometer, you will have to focus on the eye.
- Watch the smoke from the barrel. Blue transparent smoke indicates the end of the process. Put out the fire and let the barrel cool for 2 hours.
If everything is done correctly, then burning firewood in a 200 liter barrel will take about 12 hours.
When opening the lid, take care of your face: gases and coal dust can ignite.
In the oven
An ordinary home oven can help you make barbecue charcoal.
- Fire up the stove, load the firewood.
- Wait for the logs to flare up and turn into red firebrands.
- Transfer the smuts to a ceramic or metal container with a suitable lid.
- Close the lid and take it out of the house.
- When it cools down, you can check the quality of the coal.
Carbon monoxide comes from smoldering coals in a closed container.
As a business
The industrial production of coal for barbecue is built a little differently. This is where volumes are important. It is necessary to reduce labor intensity and it is required to prepare raw materials (mainly to dry).
The process itself can be divided into 4 stages:
- Sawing into chocks and drying the raw material at 150 ° C (the moisture content of the firewood will interfere with the process).
- Heating with a lack of oxygen up to 350 ° C - pyrolysis.
- Calcination - heating up to 500-550 ° С. Residual resins are burned out.
- Cooling and packaging.
The drying chamber and the pyrolysis oven are combined so that the gases from the oven dry the raw material for the next bookmark.
Handicraft production of equipment for the production of charcoal is not a trivial task. Here, for example, is the UVP-5B pyrolysis furnace developed by TsNIIME.
The production of charcoal, as a business, is a costly but promising direction. Demand is growing steadily and coal prices are not falling. Substandard and crumb coal can be processed into fuel briquettes or burned in the production of a new portion of coal.
It is interesting to know: do you buy charcoal for barbecue or do it yourself? The answer can be given in comments.
Charcoal is considered an ancient fuel on Earth. In a fairly short period of time, this term has become popular all over the world. Charcoal is a fuel that is made from vegetable raw materials. The main feature of this material is a small release of harmful substances into the air. It is presented in the form of a porous product in which the carbon content is increased. Stocks of charcoal are not ending. Do not forget that you need to use PR correctly so that they do not disappear.
Charcoal
Charcoal has a lot of advantages:
- It has a high calorific value of fuel.
- There is no tendency to spontaneous combustion.
- The release of hazardous substances is completely absent.
- There is a large surface for combustion.
- The fire slowly flares up.
- Pretty light and little smoke.
- Eco-friendly and clean for fuel.
The use of such coal is quite large and extensive. It is used in ordinary cases for cooking barbecue in nature, for kindling fireplaces, as well as in industry. The composition of coal is deciduous trees of strong and hard species, such as birch, oak and pine.
Many professionals determine the degree of doneness by the color of the smoke:
- If the shade is white, then steam is released.
- If the shade is yellow, then other substances in the wood begin to stand out.
- If the shade is blue, then the charring is complete.
How to make charcoal at home in a pit with your own hands
Even in ancient times, this method was used by our ancestors. Making your own charcoal is pretty easy. First you need to dig a shallow hole. Then make it in the shape of a cylinder, carefully looking behind the vertical walls. Remember the following, that if the diameter is 75-80 cm and the depth is 50 cm, then you will end up with about 2 bags of charcoal. The bottom must be pressed so that later the soil does not mix with the finished products. Then, inside the pit, you need to make a fire and gradually add thin firewood. It is necessary that the bottom of the pit is covered with firewood, which will burn well. After they flare up, we are engaged in burning coal.
Charcoal in a hole
When the firewood starts to burn out, stack the next batch on top, move them with a pole, they must be stacked very tightly. Fold so that the hole is completely filled. Remember, burning firewood in terms of the amount of time depends on its size and density, as well as on the humidity of the air. It will take you 3 hours to completely fill the hole. Once the hole is full, cover it with green grass, then sprinkle with earth and press down. Under these conditions, fully created charcoal will cool in two days, then sift and bag it. So, the coal is completely ready.
How to make charcoal at home in a barrel with your own hands
How to make charcoal yourself? There is another way to create charcoal. In this case, you will need a metal barrel. Its size depends on the amount of coal you need. There are 2 ways to make such coal. In the first, we make fire inside and, and then the process is the same as in the pit. We lay bricks vertically at the bottom, and between them make a fire and carefully add firewood. After that, put a grate on the bricks and then put firewood on the same principle. As soon as the barrel is completely filled, cover with a sheet of iron, but leave a small hole. As soon as everything cools down, remove the sheet of iron and take out the coals.
Charcoal in a barrel
In the second method, cover the barrel, which is completely filled with firewood, with a non-hot lid. We close almost tightly. It is necessary that there are small holes for the release of gases. Then we set the barrel on the surface without earth. For example, put a few bricks, and lay a sheet of durable metal on them so that it can withstand the barrel. Between the bricks it is necessary to make a fire and begin to heat the barrel. Some time passes and a combustion process is formed, gas rises. As soon as the gases have stopped coming out of the barrel, we leave it as it is. Then remove from heat and close the slot in the lid. Leave until completely cool. Your handmade charcoal is ready.
Charcoal oven
For the manufacture of charcoal, special burning furnaces with different capacities are used. The use of large furnaces brings more coal than mobile ones. But they require high performance indicators for environmental safety. Mobile stoves produce little coal. They are often used where raw materials are available or on construction sites.
