Photo 1. As raw material for hard wood charcoal production there is used a mixture of different tree species, such as iron wood, lychee, mahogny, acacia etc. It is important to keep the bulk density of the charcoal on min 500 kg per m3 level, it is also important to keep the carbon content in the charcoal on the level of 90%.
Photo 2. Production ovens are of a traditional shape with a cupola on the top, they have thick brick walls, there is an opening in the front of each furnace through which is placed raw wood. Our supplier has in total got 200 such ovens.
Photo 3. Walls of the furnace are rather thick, they are made of 3 rows of bricks.
Photo 4. After the raw material has been put into the oven the opening is tightly closed by the bricks and on the top of the bricks the clay is being placed. Usually 8-9 days the process of pyrolysis is going practically without oxygen and the temperature in the oven reachig up to 800-900 degr C.
Photo 5. Actually inside every big oven there is a small oven. Depending on a number of factors the big or the small oven is used for the production. The big oven has a diameter of 5 m and that of the small one is 3 m. The small oven is also made of bricks and is covered with clay. Usually after 8-9 days the back of the big furnace is opened and the process goes on with oxygen coming in. On the photo the fire is seen in the small furnace and the process of making charcoal is ongoing. The total process of making charcoal in these ovens takes 14 days.
Photo 6. Ready charcoal. Later charcoal can be cut in pieces and even milled to particles of 20 mm.
Photo 7. Ready charcoal with clearly visible wood structure.