Sub-Sector
Biomass
Country
Nepal
Description of technology
A beehive briquette is a solid fuel made out of char obtained from the carbonization of biomass residues. It is used as a substitute for fuel wood or kerosene for cooking or space heating. The technology of making beehive briquettes involves partial carbonization of biomass wastes, mixing of char with binders followed by briquetting. For making the beehive shaped briquette from the char clay mixture, a special type of metallic mould is used which is shown in the picture below. The wastes biomass may be leaves, twigs, branches or any other types of forestry wastes and agricultural residues. This beehive also known as honeycomb, briquettes are far superior to any other shapes of briquettes. Only one briquette is used for a stove and it gives clean gaseous combustion like L.P.G. Apart from convenience, these are delightful to watch and suitable both for cooking and space heating. It is very easy to ignite and it does not produce much smoke in the kitchen expect during initial ignition. The briquette is cylindrical in shape and is 130 mm in diameter and 90 mm in height. It has 19 holes in its body and each hole is 13 mm in diameter. Because of this, it is called beehive briquette. As the beehive briquette is prepared from biomass char, it doesn’t produce smoke except during the time of ignition. A beehive briquette may be used for domestic cooking and space heating purposes. One briquette lasts for one to one and half hour and thus one briquette is enough for cooking a complete meal for a family of five people using it as a substitute for fuel wood.
Specific Features
It is used as a substitute for fuel wood or kerosene for cooking or space heating. There is a special demand for these briquettes for massaging of babies and lactating mothers.
Keywords (maximum 5)
Beehive briquette, biomass wastes, carbonization, bentonite clay, Charring Drum
Status of Technology
Laboratory Model
Benefits/Advantages
The technology is simple pollution free and eco-friendly. It provides smokeless domestic fuel easily ignitable with sustained uniform combustion. It can replace fuel wood and other imported petroleum
Areas of application/Business opportunities
Beehive briquettes can be used for domestic cooking as well as for space heating purpose. These beehive briquettes are superior to any other shape of briquettes. Only one briquette is used in a stove and it give clean gaseous combustion like LPG. The nine
List of components used
a) Vertical Drum Kiln Or Charring Drum b) Briquetting Mould c) Charcoal grinder (electrical) d) Mechanical mixer or hand mixing e) hand tools, shovel, buckets, troughs etc.
Legal protection
Others
Name of the component
Non
Materials/components
Rs. 67,000/-
Assets
Rs. 67,000/- [ N.B. 1 US$ = Nepalese Rupee 83.0 approx.]
Working Capital
Rs. 43,880/- including labor cost for I month
Already owned components
Land Shed
Labor cost
Rs. 39,000/- per month
Other costs
Rs.9480/- including depreciation of equipments
Transportation
Rs. 2,000/- per truck for the sale of briquettes.
Total investment
Rs 67,000/- and the additional cost for land , shed etc.
Technology transfer terms
Consultancy
Name of the organization
Research Centre for Applied Science & Technology (RECAST)
Address/Zip code
Research Centre for Applied Science & Technology (RECAST) Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu.
City/country
Nepal
Telephone/fax
977-1-4330348 Fax:977-1-4331303