Diseño de un horno kon tiki para producción de biochar a partir de residuos agrícolas

Abstract

CONDITION FOR PUBLICATION OF PROJECT. The open burning of agricultural waste in rural areas generates polluting emissions and loss of nutrients in the soil. A sustainable alternative is biochar production using Kon-Tiki kilns. However, their manual operation depends largely on user experience, resulting in variability in product quality, thermal instability, and inconsistent emissions. This project aimed to design a Kon-Tiki kiln that incorporates embedded control to reduce operator dependence and standardize the pyrolysis process. Simulation results confirmed that the design meets the stated objectives: stable mechanical structure, adequate ventilation to sustain the flame curtain, and stable thermal control around 700°C ±50°C. It is concluded that, in the simulation phase, the designed kiln constitutes a viable, replicable, and environmentally sustainable alternative. Keywords: Biochar, Kon-Tiki kiln, Pyrolysis, PID control.