straw logs

[haybaggerman]

Hi All,

Brilliant site this, lots and lots of fascinating info.

My question is about straw logs. We have an abundance of cleanings taken from our dust extractor, its all from barley straw and is very dry and short (basicaly chaff). Rather than give it away as bedding material I would like to compact it and use it to burn in an ordinary log burner. Is this possible? I have spare hydraulic rams and stuff for compressing the material but the question is....

Do I need to put something with it to bind it together and help it to burn?

Thanks in advance for your help

Paul

[Stonebrain]

Hi Paul,

I think if you moist a bit the mass and have

enough pressure you don't need any additifs.

Well that's what I think,Any way if you have to

mix something in the mass(uniformly) gives too much

processing.I would just try it without anything.

The challenge is the press.Maybe in a pipe so you can push

it out with your hydrolics.The summum would be a continuous

process,something like the old hay presses.

Try!

cheers,

stonebrain

[Stonebrain]

couldn't withhold myself from drawing of schematics

of a log press made from an haybaling press.

c

just for fun

cheers,

stonebrain

[thefinis]

I think stonebrain is right and that you will need to add water to make it all bind together. As it is in small pieces, dust and chaff I think that it will want to fall apart if you just compress it due to lack of fiber length. I would try spraying differing amounts of water per pound giving the log time to dry and see how well it stays together much like a pellet mill.

It is in a form now that works well with other types of fuel feed systems like an auger feed. You may find that it will make more than normal ash due to the dust in it. Stonebrain may know how the straw and chaff are for ash production vs reg wood.

Finis

[fishfarm]

A previous discussion about sawdust logs may give you some ideas.

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/10/31/44342/588

[haybaggerman]

Thanks guys,

Good feedback I thought.

I'm going to try manure first becuase its free, lets face it, I'll post and let you know. If any more thoughts come to mind please let me know

Cheers

Paul

[maker of toys]

how are alfalfa pellets made?  seems that the same process would wor here. . . .

-Dan

[gale]

We actually discussed this about a year ago.  The process is similar to the pellet making process, just bigger.  About 4 years ago on ebay I saw a straw log making machine for sale,  Sold like $7000. original price was $250,000.

All you have to do is grind the straw to small pieces, then press the dickens out of it(think like 30,000 psi).  As you press the temperature of the material will rise to about 300 degrees.  melting the natural wax.  as it cools the wax rehardens and holds the log together.

The major problem with a straw log is that you have a log made of straw.  You do a lot of work to make something to burn , that does not burn any better, but is 25% smaller in mass.  The logs burn way too fast, produce little heat, and has plenty of ash.  It would be just easier to burn the straw.