TECH SPECS

Parts

• bucket
  • OTS 'Queen' 20L SS bucket
    • 32cm high, 33cm top diameter, 25cm bottom diameter
    • 5 in 1
      • bucket (with a modded handle attached)
      • heat shield
      • wind shield
      • quench receptacle
      • stovetop support
    • multifunctional and cheaper than a fabricated stovetop
    • more compact and modular than the 'Navigator Kitchen' stovetop but ?less stable
    • handle removed and tabs bent downwards for a stable stovetop
• base
  • 2 rectangular blocks
  • 304 5x5x1.6 woven mesh 160x160 mesh square (cut out of the mesh stovetop) (grinded)
    • sits on top of blocks
• burner
  • 304 4" chimney flue (grinded)
  • • 10,20 primary air slots
    • 210,220 secondary air slots
    • 290 height
• stovetop
• • 304 5x5x1.6 woven mesh: octagon with 160x160 square central hole cut out (used for the base) (grinded)
  • OTS ss small wok ring, modded with lateral air slots (grinded)

OPERATION

• assemble the plates, bottom mesh, burner in the bucket then add the stovetop mesh and wok ring on top
• fill burner with biomass pellets from a water jug (with pre-weighed pellets) eg. 800g wood pellets up to 7cm below secondary air slots, which will provide good updraft and 'flame cap'
• add firelighter gel in blobs on top of pellets
• light end of a wooden skewer (with small blob of gel on end) then light gel on top of pellets
• wait 5 minutes to start the burn then place cookware on top of grill
• ready to pasteurize or cook!

Quench

• when the flame goes out and smokes, pour 1 litre of water from a water jug/bottle into the burner from the top (mind the steam). Maybe need a couple of half pours to completely stop the smoke
• put on a gardening glove
• remove the stovetop (top mesh and wok ring)
• use a C clamp on the top edge of the burner and lift up, tap on the inside of the bucket to completely remove the Biochar pellets, put aside
• stir all the Biochar pellets into the water
• in 10m, pour bucket contents onto a bucket with mesh top
• remove the plates and bottom mesh and put aside
• Reassemble parts for next burn!

Finally

• do what you want with the Biochar eg. Water filtration->sanitation->compost->growing systems
• the collected water in the bucket is now 'smoke water' and can be used for promoting seedling growth

TESTING

800g wood pellets

Burn 2

• 140 fuel height, 13degsC ambient temperature, 1h39m burn time, 100% Biochar recovery, good flame cap, a little unstable flame, a little smoke near the end of the burn
  • water pasteurization (7L, in a 7.6L 'Anko' stockpot)
    • initial water temperature: 15degsC
    • time to 71degsC: 49m