Exciting new biochar research findings

Researchers discover high-def electron pathways in soil

The new article linked above is driving a lot of interesting chatter in the biochar world.

Kon-Tiki & biochar production in Philippines

Paul Olivier in Vietnam - gasifier dome

Paul Olivier has shared some of his stove development work... great looking photos of his stoves...

​---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Olivier
Date: 1 April 2017 at 20:09
Subject: nichrome wire mesh dome
To: Paul Olivier

I took a long time for the nichrome wire mesh to arrive from China.

And it took a long time for the shop to make the mold to make the dome.

The dome in operation with a pot (100 gasifier) looks like this:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/029.JPG

Here you see it without the pot:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/031.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/032.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/033.JPG

After a burn, there is no smell.

The pot does not blacken.

The dome does not change color after a burn.

Here you see the dome after 5 burns:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/030.JPG

It looks like it was never used.

Ordinary 304 stainless steel changes color after one burn.

Nichrome stays the same.

Nichrome is special.

Nichrome does not change shape and keeps its original form.

The wire diameter is 0.20 mm.
The wire openings are 0.64 mm.
The open area of the wire mesh is greater than 58%.

Tomorrow Truc Duong will do some more tests.

Thanks.

Paul Olivier

--

Paul A. Olivier PhD
26/5 Phu Dong Thien Vuong
Dalat
Vietnam

Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)
Mobile: 090-694-1573 (in Vietnam)
Skype address: Xpolivier
http://www.epwt.net/

Climate change, developed world v. developing world and biochar

Climate change, developed world v. developing world and biochar [link to article]

Dr. D. Michael Shafer

Director, Warm Heart Foundation, A.Phrao, Chiang Mai

"Because we are among the world’s 1.2 billion rich people and not its 5.4 billion poor, it is easy to think about the climate crisis, solutions to the climate crisis and sustainability in terms of developed world actions and initiatives. Given the focus of diplomatic, media, policy, and scientific attention, this is entirely understandable. It is also entirely wrongheaded. If you ask, Where can we most easily improve environmental outcomes? Achieve sustainability? Reverse climate change? To say nothing of where can we alleviate the most suffering and promote the greatest good? The answers are all found in the developing world. Environmental action in the developing world by and for the 2.54 billion of the world’s poorest people, very small farmers, can do more right now and at less cost to advance our shared interest in global sustainability than anything else imaginable.

What is to be done? Train billions of small farmers in the developing world to turn their crop wastes into biochar instead of burning it. ..."

Conclusion

"The conclusions that follow from this extended argument should be encouraging for the developed world reader not attempting to commercialize biochar. Stated a boldly as possible: (1) Because the climate change calamity falls largely on the developing world, it must mobilize to solve the problem, not merely postpone it. (2) Unlike the developed world, where much depends on intergovernmental and even inter-nongovernmental organization coordination – a huge task – the remedy required in the developing world requires no coordination and little government action. (3) Developed world efforts to reverse climate change are nascent and decades from ramp up, the technology and project required to remove billions of tons of CO 2 from the atmosphere is ready and waiting in developing world. (4) The developed world winces at the cost of development assistance, but two critical details recommend the proposed program: it clearly serves the interest of the developed world and it will reduce future spending on such financial black hole programs as health and food aid. (5) Finally, because the proposed program works by creating incentives for the world’s poorest to help themselves, it is an investment in reducing climate change’s most salient political challenge: how to manage the hordes of hunger refugees who will storm the borders of the developed world?"