Development of Commercial Charcoal Kilns Using Thermal Control Techniques for High-Quality Charcoal Production
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69650/rast.2025.262595Keywords:
Charcoal Kiln, Thermal Control, Charcoal Production, Thermal Insulation, Heat DistributionAbstract
Charcoal production at the community scale is frequently characterized by low thermal efficiency and heterogeneous product quality, primarily attributable to rudimentary kiln designs. This study evaluates the performance of a modified 200-liter charcoal kiln specifically engineered to mitigate these limitations by enhancing thermal regulation and insulation properties. A temperature control system incorporating an auxiliary regulation device was developed, and three distinct insulation materials—ceramic fiber, black rice husk, and sand—were comparatively assessed utilizing eucalyptus wood as the biomass feedstock. The conventional kiln exhibited a non-uniform temperature distribution, which led to incomplete pyrolysis and the production of charcoal with suboptimal physicochemical properties. In contrast, the modified kiln, particularly when insulated with black rice husk and integrated with the auxiliary temperature control device, demonstrated superior thermal uniformity. This configuration yielded charcoal with enhanced physicochemical properties, including a significant increase in yield (26.00 ± 0.50 %), a higher fixed carbon content (89.96%), and an improved calorific value (7,652.31 kcal/kg), alongside a substantial reduction in moisture, ash, and volatile matter content. The research transcended a mere assessment of isolated improvements, instead emphasizing the synergistic benefits derived from integrating a temperature control system with optimized insulation. The findings underscore the potential of this integrated approach within the scope of a 200-liter kiln using eucalyptus biomass to achieve efficient, high-quality, and environmentally sustainable charcoal production in rural contexts.
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