In the charcoal making process. The carbonization process is crucial. Usually a carbonization furnace is used to produce high quality charcoal at a specific carbonization temperature and time. The specific carbonization temperature will also depend on the type of raw material and the carbonization process.
Core temperature range for wood carbonization: 180-250°C (medium to high temperature process carbonization). In this range, the physical properties of the wood (preservative, stability) are significantly improved. And the colour becomes dark brown. Higher temperatures are needed if carbonization is completed to produce charcoal. High temperature carbonization needs to reach 400-500°C.
Pre-heating temperature is: 100-250 degrees Celsius. At this stage the temperature of the carbonising furnace is gradually increased. Water and volatiles are removed from the wood. The temperature control is gentle at this stage. It prevents the wood from drying out too quickly and causing cracks.
When the temperature reaches a specific level. The organic matter in the wood begins to decompose. At the same time, flammable gases are produced. At the same time the solid part of the wood carbonization reaction. Temperature control at this stage needs to be adjusted according to the type of wood and the desired carbonization effect. For example, the recommended carbonization temperature for coniferous wood is 200-220 degrees Celsius. For broadleaf timber, the recommended carbonization temperature is 190-210 degrees Celsius. In the case of hardwoods, a higher carbon content is required. It is necessary to increase the carbonization temperature to 400-500 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature should not be too high. Excessive temperatures can lead to excessive carbonization of the wood. This affects the combustion properties of the wood.
After the carbonization is completed, gradually reduce the carbonization temperature. The temperature of the wood is lowered to room temperature, and the temperature control in this stage is carried out slowly. This phase of temperature control is carried out slowly to avoid cracking of the charcoal due to the sudden drop in temperature.
During the wood carbonization process, the temperature can be controlled by natural convection heating, negative pressure heating or hot air circulation heating. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, need to be selected according to the specific circumstances. For example, natural convection heating can avoid overheating or scorching of the wood surface. But the heating speed is slow. If the negative pressure heating can avoid the oxidation of the wood surface. Get better carbonization effect. But need to control the heating time. Hot air circulation heating can improve the heating efficiency and temperature uniformity. But need to strictly control the carbonization temperature and heating speed.
In short, the temperature control in the process of wood carbonization is a key link. It directly affects the quality and performance of carbonised products. If you need to understand the different wood species and carbonization purpose. It is necessary to control the range of carbonization time and master effective temperature control methods. So as to produce better quality carbonised wood products