Production of charcoal: Industrial unit against handcrafted model

Brazil responds for an approximately one third of the world´s charcoal production, with 90% is used to produce pig iron, iron alloys, among others. Surely, 70% of the charcoal is still produced by traditional handicraft method, with almost half of the firewood from the native forests. The pressure for ecologically correct and self-sustainable production has driven the search for cleaner and more efficient technologies. These can contribute to change the present charcoal production model in Brazil. This paper intends to show the research on a metallic vertical cylinder for a charcoal production unit as a model that can meet the basic requirements of being ecologically correct, socially fair, economically and then be culturally accepted to replace the traditional model. According to the sustainability pillars, this model has shown the possibility of a 25% of firewood saving, pointing out to an economical feasibility, an ecologically correct procedure and then to comply with the Brazilian labor legislation, achieving a socially fair condition for the work force. Finally it was evidenced that the process´ crucial point is to burn the dirt smoke generated during the wood´s carbonization process and the use of the generated heat for a previous drying of the firewood.