1. Sugar Brick: Charcoal Briquette Compactor
Team Blue B
October 7, 2004

2. Ratchet press model – Iteration 1
Locking Mechanism
Incremental Application of Force
Foot or Hand Operated
Batch of 5 Briquettes
Compact Size
Removeable Tray, benefit of loading one while compressing another
Large batches, use foot; small batches use hand
Mechanism locks allow you to apply force in small increments at a time, don’t need a large lever for the same distance

3. Compression forces Mechanical Advantage 10:1 Hand = 100N Foot = 400N
6 psi/brick
~2 x current capability
Foot = 400N
25 psi/brick
~5 x current capability
See extra slide for more detailed calculations if needed

4. Customization Local materials & available technologies
Variation options
Base configuration
Batch size
Briquette shape & size
Lever arm
Product is a model for local reproduction; Local materials such as wood, steel rods, scrap metal, etc.
Changing Lever Arm can improve compression ratio

5. Questions ?

6. Competing technologies
Screw extrusion machines
Japan & Europe
Pelletizer
Rollers force biomass into small holes in thick steel dies
Screw Extrusion Press with Heated Die

7. Competing technologies
Reciprocating ram/piston press
US & Europe
Hydraulic piston press
D i e g o C a t t a n e o - U n i v e r s i t y o f B r e s c i a

8. Lever press model – Tray
Removable tray with briquette molds
Ease of briquette removal
Features
End grooves for handling on upper and lower surfaces
Shorter than table length
Tray slides into compactor
22”

9. Ratchet press calculations
Hand
Apply 10 kg of force
Fg = mg = 10 kg * 10 m/s2 = 100 N
FT = 100 N * 10 = 1000 N (mechanical advantage)
FT /chamber = 200 N
Achamber = π * (1.5 in * m/in)2 = m2
Pbrick = 200N / m2 = 44 kN/ m2 = 6 psi
Foot
Fg = mg = 40 kg * 10 m/s2 = 400 N
FT = 400 N * 10 = 4000 N (mechanical advantage)
FT /chamber = 800 N
Pbrick = 800N / m2 = 175 kN/ m2 = 25 psi
EXTRA SLIDE