Total Time:

4 hours

Objectives:

* To identify the advantages and disadvantages of briquetting

* To discuss the feasibility of small-scale briquetting

* To make briquettes

* To practice group problem-solving

Resources;

* Attachment 18-A, "Simple Techniques for Bio-Fuels"

* Attachment 18-B, "Briquetting as a Cottage Industry: A Case Study"

* Attachment 18-C, "Bamako Briquettes"

* Attachment 18-D, "Binders for Charcoal Briquettes"

Materials:

Charcoal from the training kilns; mortar and pestle, two rocks, commercial grinder, etc., for powdering charcoal; binders (see Attachment 18-D "Binders for Charcoal Briquettes"); fire, water, pots, and containers for cooking and mixing; materials for construction of briquetting presses (see Attachments "Bamako Briquettes" and "Simple Techniques for Basic Bio-Fuels"); tools for construction of the presses.

Trainer Notes

Listed above are a number of possible materials for making, briquettes. To encourage resourcefulness and creativity, only items which can be obtained locally should be provided for the activity.

Trainer Notes

Some advantages and disadvantages include:

Advantages

- can be made from agricultural "wastes", e.g., powdery dust from kilns, small brush, coffee husks, peanut shells

- can be made from soft woods unsuitable for regular charcoal

- 30-40% extended burning time from increased density

- slower, steadier heat release from increased density

- easier to calculate amount of heat in a given number of briquettes

- more energy per weight and bulk in transport

- easy to sell in small, standard lots

- custom design by mixing types of wood and additives

Disadvantages

- more expensive

- manufacture requires more time, steps, and equipment

- greater potential for increased costs and/or price-fixing by distributors

- requires "big business" skills and techniques in production and marketing, e.g., stockpiling, distributing, etc.

- usually dependent on specialized market

- high potential as export product; technology could be abused, resulting in greater fuelwood shortages

- briquettes are a new and unfamiliar fuel form to many people

- certain binders may be culturally rejected

- binder may a food source

- depending on the binder, briquette may need curing or baking

Trainer Notes

Explain the following:

* The participants will form small work groups and make briquettes.

* The activity is one of problem-solving. Each group will have to design a method for crushing the charcoal, to select and prepare a binder, construct a press, and combine all the parts to make a finished product.

* The work groups will need to organize themselves efficiently to perform all of the tasks in the required time.

* The two resource attachments describe the procedures involved in briquette-making.

Trainer Notes

Stimulate discussion by asking the groups to describe:

- how they approached the task.

- what problems were encountered with the grinder, binder, press, etc.

- how the problems were solved

- any suggestions for improving the method

- potential application of the method at their sites