Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) - a most energy efficient technology for brick making

Continuous Vertical shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK), the brick kiln technology that are known as a most energy saving brick making technology in theworld. Original in China from 1970s, this technology was proved the ability ofreducing the specific energy consumption from almost 2MJ/kg brick in traditional vertical kiln to about 1 MJ/kg brick. However, the original VSBK can only produce low capacity of brick with quite high breakage. Brick quality is also not so good in surface and not suitable for the clay with high shrinkage. The operation of the kiln is also difficult that need a good training for the firing master. Since those reasons, GEF/SGP have been proposing a 2 phase project in Vietnam to introducing the VSBK (from 2001 - 2003) and to completing design and dissemination of VSBK (from 2005 - 2007). Until now, there are about 400 VSBKs working in Vietnam. After the project supported by GEF/SGP Việt Nam, the project PECSME (Promoting Energy Conservation in Small and Medium Enterprise) was also supported to develop the VSBK technology further with 3 demonstration project in Vietnam. The design of the VSBK is now modified with the following terms:

• Perfecting the combustion chamber design using the suitable standard insulation and refractory materials to reduce the wall thickness, increase the heat insulation of the walls, increase the service life of the kiln and product quality.

• Improving brick unloading system using hydraulic lifting and lowering device or screw with motor to reduce labor force and to solve the problems easily.

· Using temperature measuring equipment to measure and control the operation of the kiln to obtain operational stability and reduce breakage;

· Altering the design of the kiln by replacing load-bearing walls with a system of concrete frame and floor, enhancing the industrial shape and enabling convenient operation.

· Design a fuel inserting holes at the central part of the combustion chamber to simplify start firing process and give an ability to adjust combustion inside the kiln. Design a new flue gas withdrawing system that can protect the labors health that work at the top of the kiln. The new system reduce number of stacks from 1 combustion chamber with 2 stacks to 2 combustion chamber with 1 stack; optimize the holes and tunnels system to simplify the construction and improving the gas withdrawing efficiency.

· Introduce a suitable green brick producing system that suits the capacity and operation process of VSBK technology,

With those modification the VSBK in Vietnam now have following characteristics

· The design of combustion chamber now can produce 2000 solid brick/batch and 10000 solid brick/day. For the hollow brick, the capacity could be increase double.

· The specific Energy consumption is from 0.7 – 1 MJ/kg brick with the coal consumption of 40 – 50 g coal/kg brick with the heating value of coal is 5000 kcal/kg.

· The environment of the working labor in the top of the kiln is solved completely.

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In order to disseminate VSBK technology, there are already the following tools:

- Guideline for design, construction and operation of VSBK.

- The video guide for design, construction and operation of VSBK.

In order to have more information, please send email to; quangcom@hotmail.com or nguyenserious@gmail.com