Micro Compound Lever Briquette Press

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$18.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Self-constructed by the end users.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Following the construction manual, the briquette press can be constructed by users with minimal skill level using either power tools or hand tools.

Intellectural Property Type

Open-source

User Provision Model

Users can build the product following the Micro Compound Lever Press construction manual.

Distributions to Date Status

The press has been built and used both in many developing countries and by many U.S. organizations as part of gardening projects. Some examples of the use of this product can be found in the Philippines and in Tokyo, Japan. Interview with representative

Design Specifications

Both versions, Brace and Notch designs, have a total of 10 parts (two front and two rear leg, two feet, two arms and a level arm, two base beam, a handle, two beam sides and a brace) mainly made by same section pieces of wood (38 x 89 mm) and with different lengths. Pieces are joined with bolts and nuts, resulting in a lightweight press structure of 12 kgs. Softwood can be used and hardwood is recommended for the high-pressure level arm.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Full instructions and photographs on how to build the press are given in the construction manual. For further details contact the designers.

Replacement Components

In locations without a supply chain for bolts and nuts, metal pipe or metal rods pined with roll-pins or even nails can be used to replace the bolts and nuts selected in the image below.  

Lifecycle

Over 10 years. ^{Interview with representative}  

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

EWB-Cincinnati's main goal is to have a flexible press design. The design allows the use of local materials and does not require specific features that might not be available in various countries. The designers aimed to have good throughput and a high amount of pressure for good compression of the briquette. The press exceeded the performance targets for pressure (see the “Vetted Performance” below). Additionally, ease of use was enhanced by offering several different types of molds to form the briquette. ^{Interview with representative}

Vetted Performance Status

With 32 kg of force on the handle, 1,800 kg of force is transmitted to the briquette located 100 mm from the end pivot point. Based on a typical biomass pressing requirement of 65 kg/in² of force, the required pressures are 400 kg for a 75 mm briquette with a 25 mm hole, 1,040 kg for a 100 mm square briquette with no hole, 1,800 kg for a 150 mm diameter briquette without the hole. The press can easily exceed those force requirements.

Safety

Potential hazards include cuts and accidents when cutting the wood pieces for the structure. During periods of non-use, EWB recommends storing the product in a dry and sun free location.

Complementary Technical Systems

EWB provides information about the self-construction of several other designs and products, such as: various biomass briquettes molds suitable for the press, a dry biomass grinder thrasher, wet-dry biomass choppers/cutters, as well as a rotatable and portable DIY biomass composer.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Evaluation methods

The improved first prototype was tested by EWB local group and several suggestions that could improve the performance of the product were accepted and implemented. EWB took the design to several villages in Rwanda where the press was built and used. EWB-Cincinnati followed the implementation of this technology with personal visits up for a period of five years. Communities in Rwanda continued to have success using the press. ^{Interview with representative}

Other Information

Video of demonstration on how to build and use the press.