Summary
This Technical Note describes a process of charcoal production using a system with 4 steel kilns.
A single kiln charge was 1.11 green tonnes or 0.65 oven dry tonnes, producing 120 kg of charcoal worth £98. The process also produced 16 kg of fines and 176 kg of uncarbonised logs. The labour time relating to production from 1 single ring kiln was 764 Standard Minutes (SM). These figures are taken from a moderately successful burn. A good burn would produce more charcoal and leave fewer uncarbonised logs.
 The 4 kiln working system studied would yield an income from the 6 month production season of £1181, net of costs and with certain assumptions.
As part of a series of projects for Cumbria Broadleaves, Technical Development Branch (TDB) carried out a case study on a charcoal production operation.
The objective was:
- To record working methods, costs and outputs associated with the production of charcoal from a multiple kiln system in Cumbria.
The operation was based on the concurrent use of 4 steel kilns on a semi permanent woodland site.
There is a wide range of opinion on the 'correct' method of producing charcoal. Different methods are quoted even when applied to the same type of kiln. The method studied in this case was presented by the owner/operator as his interpretation of the requirements of a full time 6 month commercial operation. The report records the methods used and assesses the commercial viability.
Forestry Commission (1995). *Technical Development Branch Report 4/95, Charcoal Production: A 2 Tier Steel Kiln Case Study. See www.forestry.gov.uk for more details. This is a priced publication and we regret that we are unable to provide copies.
*TDB may undertake commission for work from private sector organisations
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