Conventionally fire wood, electricity or LPG gas is used for cremation purpose. Indian people mostly prefer traditional product for cremation e.g. wooden logs and dried cow dung logs. Compared to fire wood and other alternatives, cremation using cow dung logs cost less. This has lead to the increased demand of cow dung logs but due to difficulty in manufacturing long logs, availability remains a problem. This opportunity of innovation inspired Shri Mansukhbhai Prajapati to develop a machine that makes long cow-dung logs with minimum human intervention.
A combination of dung and straw (or any agro waste/harvested crop residues) is fed into the hopper of the machine. Screw mechanism has been provided in the machine, which helps in mixing raw materials thoroughly, compress them and extrude them out. By using different size of die, logs of different shapes and sizes can be made easily. Produced logs are then put under the sunlight to dry out the moisture inside them, making them hard and sturdy.
There are several economic, social and environmental advantages of using cow dung logs.
- Cow Dung Logs can be used for Fuel and Manure.
- Simplifies Handling, Storage, and Transportation problem economically.
- Reduces wastage or loss of material.
- For Fuel other agro residue powder coal can be added to get improved C.V.
- Densified logs give better C.V. (Calorific Value) in comparing to patties.
- Long and small logs can be cut out as per purpose.
- Briquettes and blocks is an effective way to reduces the risk of explosion and fire of fast flammable material.
- It is easily available, unlimited and low-cost fuel
- Patties are made mixing mud + dung, so ash content is more in patties than logs as these can be made of pure dung.