The story of GREENPOWER Company

In 1998, the company was founded under the name “Vіdpochinok” – (“Rest” in English). From the beginning of activities the company specialized in the sale of charcoal and various products for the barbecue.

In 2000, our charcoal production was organized.  Charcoal was produced in the most primitive way: with the help of the simplest charcoal kilns, which were made in-house from used fuel containers.  The charcoal was of poor quality, the working conditions left much to be desired, the production base required modernization.

 In 2001, our first independently developed charcoal kiln was commissioned.  It was a primitive steel vertical charcoal kiln with internal heat carrier supply, in which all charring processes took place (drying, pyrolysis, cooling).  The following year appeared UP-2 “Alenka” and UP-3 “Alenka”.

Thanks to the well-chosen overall dimensions, the charcoal produced at Alenka was of much better quality than the coal produced on the analogues of our kiln.  In addition, the furnace is easily repaired and disassembled for transportation.  UE “Alenka” interested many producers of charcoal in Ukraine and neighboring countries, which led to the need to organize a site for the production of charcoal kilns.

 From 2003 to 2006 inclusive, more than one hundred charcoal kilns of the UP-2 Alenka type were produced.  Some of them work to this day throughout the territory of Ukraine and abroad.  From that time, the type of these kilns was called “Alenka” or “Rocket”, “Pan”, “Barrel”, etc.

Charcoal areas were constantly subject to checks of all kinds of “authorities”, and charcoal kilns were produced without a single coordination and design document, i.e.  in fact, they were a “pile of scrap metal.”  As a result, we have decided to produce charcoal kilns that will meet all the requirements of regulatory and legal documentation.  From 2002 to the present, all the equipment of GreenPower Company is being developed in accordance with the requirements of state and international standards and is undergoing voluntary certification.

As is known, all charcoal producers are striving to reduce the amount of fines, increase the mechanical strength of charcoal, as well as to use the waste of the woodworking industry as a raw material.  In addition, when using furnaces such as “Alenka” the following problems occurred:

  •  A huge amount of emissions
  •  The quality of charcoal depends on the size of the kiln, the professional skills of charcoal burner, weather conditions, etc.
  •  Burned and unburned charcoal are present
  •  Coal is obtained low mechanical strength and with a large volume of dust
  •  Small pieces of wood or joiner trim are not used
  •  It is not possible to use soft wood as a raw material.

 In 2003, we began to develop a new charcoal kiln, the design of which was to solve all the above problems.  The charcoal kiln CKP-5, developed by Soviet scientists in 1958, was taken as a basis.  The design of the CKP-5 was metal-intensive and time-consuming, as a result – a very high price.

The new charcoal kiln CK-1 “Bezzolnaya” went on sale in early 2004, it was called “Bezzolnaya”, because in the process of producing charcoal there was no ash and the percentage of small fraction was low.  The charcoal produced at CK Bezzolnaya received the name “Restaurant” in wide circles.  The design of the stove is so much liked by the “folk craftsmen” that many of them are trying to copy our stoves to this day, using the available containers for making them.

During the manufacture of the original design of the kiln was greatly changed.  At the moment, we offer three upgraded modifications of “Bezzolnoye” CK-1, CK-2 and CK-3 “Ugolkov” – with the lower unloading of charcoal.  From 2004 to 2011, more than 300 kilns of this type were manufactured and sold.

In 2006we started the development and manufacture of a series of environmentally friendly charcoal kilns of mobile and stationary execution.

CK “Vuglinka” is a small mobile kiln, designed specifically for enterprises that, as a result of their activities, form woodworking waste, with the purpose of their utilization (processing into charcoal).  Mobility and small dimensions of the kiln allow you to install it directly on the production and logging sites.

In the same year, the stationary charcoal kiln CK “Kudesnitsa”, an analogue of the St. Petersburg “Ecolon”, was developed.  Such kilns are produced throughout the territory of the Russian Federation.  This model is not widely spread on the territory of Ukraine for several reasons: high cost, stationary construction, the use of expensive lifting mechanisms, etc.

Sorting and packaging of charcoal in many enterprises of this industry is a time-consuming and lengthy process.  In order to facilitate and reduce the cost of this process, in 2006, an installation for mechanized sorting and packing of charcoal FSU-1 was developed and put into operation.  Later this installation became part of a comprehensive line for sorting and packing charcoal.

Nowadays, we offer a complete set of equipment for civilized charcoal packaging.

In 2007, we started the development of a fundamentally new ENVIRONMENTALLY-CLEAN pyrolysis furnace CK “EURO”.  In this charcoal kiln our specialists introduced a series of “KNOW-HOW”.  It was the world’s first “vertical” pyrolysis kiln, in which it was not necessary to move the raw materials from the “drying” chamber to the “pyrolysis” chamber.  The change of the mode “DRYING” to “PYROLYSIS” and back, occurred due to the change of the position of the slide gate valves, while it became possible to control the process of gas evolution during pyrolysis, which made it possible to get charcoal with very high quality characteristics.

In early 2008, we began testing CK “EURO”. After numerous design changes as a result of our work, we gained a positive result.

In March 2009, was produced the first serial CK”EURO”. During the production of kiln design have been many times upgraded and improved.

By the end of 2012, more than 140 charcoal kilns of the CK EURO were launched, which were put into operation by our specialists in different parts of the globe.  We have gained invaluable experience and, as a result, a modern charcoal kiln meeting world standards of the 21st century.

2013 Developed, updated version of “EURO” received the prefix CK-2.  New firebox, full mechanization of management, modern refractory and insulating materials – this is a brief description of CK-2 “EURO”.

2013-2014  A new charcoal kiln CK-3 “EURO” has been designed and manufactured.  The main advantage is the global elimination of all structural defects of the first and second generations of EURO type furnaces.

In 2014 the company opened a sales office of GreenPower in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

The new types of equipment were produced by GreenPower company:

  • Complexes for thermocatalytic neutralization of waste
  • Complexes for plant waste briquetting
  • Complexes for fast drying firewood and technical wood
  • Multicyclones and battery cyclones
  • Bag and carbon filters
  • Heat generator

Also this year, the Company has departments: design, material-technical support and logistics, sales and quality control, as well as experimental production. The production department covers an area of ​​more than 3000 square meters.

In 2015 the first serial charcoal kiln CK-3 “EURO-m” was produced. Throughout the year, completion of charcoal kiln construction during operation was carried out. Our company conducted work on the development and manufacturing of multicyclones, which are part of a group of mechanical cleaners with dry cleaning process and high efficiency. Efficiency of cleaning from the particles sized of 5-10 μm is 90%, while from particles greater than this size is 99%.

We pay great attention to quality. Quality control is carried out at all production stages, when a product is transferred from one site to another, the finished product is checked by the technical department, shop manager, chief engineer, and after the sales manager.

All our products are guaranteed from 12 to 24 months.  At the same time, we are actually fulfilling the guarantee obligations undertaken, we delve into the essence of the current situation, we find the optimal way out, and we assist in eliminating non-warranty cases.  Permanent reserves of spare parts and flexible communication with suppliers, provide an opportunity to carry out high-quality service.  Also, the company has a post-warranty service system.

Our motto is: QUALITY PRODUCTS – WEIGHTING ARGUMENT

In 2016, we began testing a new charcoal kiln series – EKKO, which was to replace the series of kilns. The main Tasks that were set when developing the new model:

  • Low price and high performance
  • Maintainability
  • The mobility of the kiln and suitability for transport
  • Maximum automation of process control
  • The possibility of quick start and fast stop of the kiln
  • 100% environmental safety of the process operation of the kiln

Experimental CK-1 EKKO, Kharkov, GreenPower production site

As a result of the CK-1 EKKO tests made in 2016, a new charcoal kiln CK-4 EURO appeared, compared to the CK-3 EURO, the new kiln has acquired:

  •  New combustion device
  •  Sealed heat resistant steam and gas valve
  •  Afterburner, which ensured the absence of harmful emissions

 In 2017, we continued to test the new charcoal kiln, since all of the assigned tasks were not completed.

The results of 2017 was introduced to the new charcoal kiln CK-1 EKKO:

  • New furnace device (concept), in which the flue gases from the process are sent to the chimney, in front of which is installed afterburner, this factor provides 100% environmental safety of the process
  • A new material for the drying/pyrolysis chamber, which allowed to reach high temperatures >800®C

Also in 2017, was developed the concept of a new charcoal kiln BIO KILN.

In early 2018, the first experimental charcoal kiln was released – BIO-KILN, it received its name due to the ability to produce high-quality BIO-CHAR, as well as charcoal from various types of nut shells, the main feature of the kiln is stable charcoal production with a non-volatile indicator  carbon> 92%.

 In the middle of 2018, after long experiments, upgrades, rationalizations and rework of the structure, we obtained a high result, which is expressed in stable production without harming the environment with minimal human factor.  Among the main advantages of the BIO KILN, it is worth noting:

  • Continuous production, from above raw materials – from below charcoal.
  • Mobile performance, possible transportation over distances
  • Minimal human factor
  • High performance
  • Durable, robust design
  • High quality and quantitative indicators of charcoal
  • Environmental Safety

In July 2018, after 9 years of sales of the EURO series and the release of more than 500 pieces of equipment that operate worldwide, the charcoal kilns of the EURO series were removed from production, and the new EKKO series was supplied to replace it.  The final chain of charcoal kilns of the EURO series was the new model of the CK-7 EURO, which is a “hybrid” of the 2 EKKO-EURO models.

Also, 2018 was marked by the release of a serial charcoal furnace BIO-KILN, which has high prospects throughout the world.

The main objective of GreenPower is to make the World cleaner – to protect our nature from the “immense” human impact, by avoiding traditional energy sources and replacing outdated “dirty technologies” with modern ones – environmentally friendly technologies.

2018 – 2020 GreenPower continues to improve and optimize its range of charcoal kilns. As a result of the modernization, a new improved model EKKO-2 was released. The EKKO-2 furnace is fully automated and safe for the environment.

The equipment has the ability to remotely monitor and control, each of our ovens can be connected to the Internet, which allows you to record data on the operation of the furnace in memory and provides control of its operation anywhere in the world from the main office of the company. It also provides for the automation of the production process in the event of emergency operation if the operating rules are not followed.

The high level of efficiency of EKKO-2 is achieved through the use of modern heat-resistant insulating materials for the walls of the drying and pyrolysis chambers and the furnace, which makes it possible to quickly switch to operating mode and significantly reduce the production cycle. The kiln is unique in the absence of “thermal ballast” materials such as sheet metal and refractory bricks, which are the basis of almost all coal-fired furnaces. In addition, high efficiency is achieved through the use of “chamber steam”, that is, carrying out the processes of drying raw materials due to “excess heat” released during the pyrolysis process.

Reliability and maintainability of EKKO-4 is due to the experience of GreenPower (since 2001) in the production of coal furnaces, which made it possible to develop the most reliable and maintainable design with a minimum service life of 10 years.

2021-2022 Implemented full automation and improved reliability of the continuous carbonization furnace BIO-KILN for carbonization of bulk materials.Now it is possible to load raw materials into the storage hopper using a conveyor, from where automatic unloading and simultaneous separation of raw materials is carried out in order to separate garbage – ash. The raw material is automatically loaded into the furnace bunker, from where, under the influence of gravity, it enters the carbonization zone. Ready charcoal is automatically unloaded into the bunker for cooling the finished charcoal. After cooling the charcoal in the cooling bunker or filling the bunker, the charcoal is automatically unloaded from the bunker. Charcoal is unloaded to a screw conveyor, where a fine fraction is separated with simultaneous stabilization of charcoal by atmospheric air (see video). The chimney of the furnace is made of refractory materials. It became possible to use excess heat from the BIO-KILN for various purposes.

Together with partners, GreenPower started the production and sale of charcoal briquetting lines.

The charcoal briquetting line is used to produce charcoal briquettes for BBQ and hookah.

Due to the excellent characteristics of the charcoal produced using the BIO-KILN, it is possible to produce briquetted coal with high non-volatile carbon characteristics >85%. The resulting briquette burns for a very long time and is close in quality to charcoals from hard exotic woods.

Increased level of automated process control system for EKKO-2 furnaces. That allows you to significantly increase productivity with a minimum number of personnel. Now there is no need to monitor the furnace during the carbonization process, the furnace is controlled fully automatically, including the changeover from drying to pyrolysis. 

The furnace indicates what mode it is in, notifies the operator about the performance of any actions.

Each EKKO-2 can be updated to the latest version, warranty furnaces are updated free of charge.

The level of reliability of the elements of the EKKO-2 furnace has been increased: 

  • The chimney is made of refractory materials;
  • New steam valve eliminates the need to replace sealing cord;
  • Modernization of the hatch of the control chamber, allows you to 100% eliminate the possibility of condensation;
  • Increased fire resistance of the chamber thermal channel;
  • The heat accumulator in the combustion chamber allows to reduce the consumption of combustion wood to a minimum, as well as additional protection against ash.

New experimental production of GreenPower Company.

During 2019-2022, a new production plant of GreenPower was built in Ukraine. On the territory of the plant there is a production of charcoal, which allows long-term testing of all equipment manufactured by GreenPower.

Also on the territory of the factory there is a mini-hotel for staff and guests of the factory.

GreenPower is always open to new Friends and Partners.

GreenPower is a cohesive team of like-minded people – we make the World cleaner and protect the Earth from the “immeasurable” human impact, by avoiding traditional energy sources and replacing outdated “dirty technologies” with modern ones – environmentally friendly technologies