Comments on: Microwave Pyrolysis Claims Challenged http://www.re-char.com/2009/03/28/microwave-pyrolysis-claims-challenged/ Innovative Pyrolysis Technologies Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:11:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Graham Knight http://www.re-char.com/2009/03/28/microwave-pyrolysis-claims-challenged/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Graham Knight Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:19:08 +0000 http://www.re-char.com/?p=29#comment-14 Although I share the doubts of many that microwaving can be viable for making biochar I must correct an erroneous statement above. While it may be true that, "...an average microwave is typically only 64% efficient, compared to an electric heater which is generally 100% efficient at converting electricity to heat", that is not a fair comparison. The energy of a microwave is concentrated inside the vessel while heat placed under a vessel (or your saucepan) is mostly lost! But the original energy usually comes from a fossil fuel and has lost 70% of its energy on the way - as electricity. Although I share the doubts of many that microwaving can be viable for making biochar I must correct an erroneous statement above.

While it may be true that, “…an average microwave is typically only 64% efficient, compared to an electric heater which is generally 100% efficient at converting electricity to heat”, that is not a fair comparison.
The energy of a microwave is concentrated inside the vessel while heat placed under a vessel (or your saucepan) is mostly lost!

But the original energy usually comes from a fossil fuel and has lost 70% of its energy on the way – as electricity.

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