Traditional vs. modified approach of pine needle char beehive block production

Pine needle char beehive blocks are the alternate source of energy utilizing the abundantly available perilous pine needle biomass in the Uttarakhand state. The blocks were previously made with traditional method, which becomes obsolete. This research provides a significantly amended modified approach. The traditional approach and modified approach of pine needle char block making were evaluated based on economics, production rate and proximate analysis. The cost of each piece of char:soil block made traditionally was Rs. 8 whereas Rs. 3.20 for modified block. The modified approach has a greater capacity of 24 kg/h than the traditional approach of 7.20 kg/h. The production rate of traditional approach was 12 blocks/h, whereas modified approach has 48 blocks/h production rate. The proximate analysis shows that the modified blocks have low moisture content, ash content and high volatile matter than the traditionally prepared blocks. The calorific values of traditional blocks were in the range of 18–20 MJ/kg whereas 18.7–28.9 MJ/kg for modified blocks. The modified approach to pine needle char beehive blocks production is an advanced technique with enhanced fuel characteristics properties of blocks that will encourage rural development and self-employment in the hilly region of India.