Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - [Homestead] tvo post -woodgas July '98

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Rob <becida AT comcast.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] tvo post -woodgas July '98
  • Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:39:54 -0700

Return-Path: <owner-homestead AT listserv.oit.unc.edu>
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 20:21:58 -0400
Reply-To: homestead AT listserv.oit.unc.edu
Sender: owner-homestead AT listserv.oit.unc.edu
From: tvoivozd <tvoivozd AT roanoke.infi.net>
To: homestead AT listserv.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Woodgas for Brian
References: <000f01bda5fe$430c55c0$bdd7cdcf@default>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN



Brian Bonner wrote:

> >tvoivozhd>>>cobble up a woodgas generator and put in the back end of your
> >truck, Brian. You won't have to worry about gas-lines in front of the pump
> or
> >whether there is electricity to run the pumps either. I made one back
> during
> >the Arab oil embargo. Never had to use it, but still think it is a good
> >insurance policy.
> >
>
> sounds like my kinda gizmo. got plans for it? Whats the principle of
> operation?

tvoivozhd>>>partial burning of wood---providing enough heat and limited oxygen
to convert the rest to a lot of carbon dioxide, some methane and hydrogen, as
little carbon dioxide as possible, scrub particulates and tars out of the
smoke
stream (don't worry about soot, it'll burn), cool the gases and pipe them to the
carburetor intake. The gases will burn as well as gasoline, but provide roughly
60% of normal power. So if you're feeding a high-torque old six cylinder
truck
engine, you drop down into a lower gear to pull the hills. Gets about one
mile
per pound of dry wood. You'll have to advance the spark for maximum power.

I didn't make plans for mine, and it was overly complex anyway to make it as
convenient as gasoline (unnecessary). The fire-face was in an inclined tube,
and tucked under it was a five hp wood chipper so I could scavenge wood along
the highway and feed it into the chipper. Also had a small automatic pump and
woodgas storage tank. After a cyclone-chamber, I used a spray head to scrub the
gases with water. It worked ok, but it was necessary to dry the gas in
another
chamber Would be a lot better to scrub the gas with diesel fuel, with a
filter
in the pan before the pressure pump and spray head. Wouldn't lose much to
evaporation and wouldn't have to dry the water out of the gas.

In Mother Earth News, Issue #79, Page 138, January, February 1983 there are
two
good dual-fuel carburetor designs, a two-barrel conversion for small engines,
and a four-barrel for large ones.

There is a schematic and brief description of the MEN and Wood Power Energy
Corporation of Ephrata, Pa woodgas generators in Issue #68, Page 172,
March/April, 1981. WoodPec was owned by Morton Fry of Miles W. Fry & Son
Nursery. Both of these were for operating pickup trucks.

In MEN #78, Page 158 there is a description (schematic and better pictures) of
the woodgas generator they developed to run a sawmill.

In MEN #69, Page 126, , May/June, 1981 there is a more detailed schematic of the
truck woodgas unit, with a bill of materials.

All these should be summated in plans which I am pretty sure are still available
from MEN. They used to be $15 but of course would be more now.

There are quite a few books on woodgas generators---if you can find them.
a. Wood gas generator for vehicles, by Nils Nygard.
b. How to run your car on coal or charcoal, by Jerome Ames
c. Audels Engineers and Mechanics Guide #4 (published about 1939)

A bunch available from Tom Reed, but recheck prices these are apt to be out of
date.



GAS-L: Wood gas generators and Harry
LaFontaine




Thomas B. Reed...............reedtb AT compuserve.com
The Colorado School of Mines, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
.
The Biomass Energy Foundation



Harry LaFontaine formed the Biomass Energy Foundation, a 501C3 "not for
profit" Foundation, in 1983. I was a partner and when he died he left it
to me to continue our mutual interests in biomass and biomass gasification.
I operate a small press to keep books on gasification in print, book list
attached.

Harry was a high official in the Danish Underground during World War II.
He manufactured gasifiers during the daytime to cover his underground
activities at night. I have 7 audio tapes of Harry's stories and one video
of him, vacuuming our cat on a bet, among other things. He was very funny,
very clever, and had some dedication to biomass as well as money. I have
thought of writing his biography, but his wife, Edie says he discouraged
it.

Some of the books below are quite practical and include plans for building
WWII gasifiers. Others (the larger ones) have a lot on the theory of
gasification as well. They include a lot of the work done on gasifiers in
the 1980s.

If you have any questions on gasifiers or Harry, I'd be happy to answer
them.

( ~~~~
BOOKS FROM THE BEF PRESS-E-MAIL CATALOGUE

PURPOSES OF THE BIOMASS ENERGY FOUNDATION PRESS

Biomass energy and particularly biomass gasification is a field where
publications are often difficult to find. Our aim is to make available
information on biomass at reasonable prices. We list here our newer
releases and current titles and include an order form. We will also make
available at $0.15/page other papers from our extensive library of
technical papers on gasification dating back to the turn of the century.
We also act as a clearinghouse to locate technical assistance for biomass
projects. Thomas B. Reed
HANDBOOK OF BIOMASS DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS
T. B. Reed and A. Das Over a million wood gasifiers were used to power
cars and trucks during World War II. Recent concern about cost and
availability of liquid fuels has reawakened interest in this technology.
Yet, after a decade of interest, there are only a few companies
manufacturing gasifier systems for specialized applications. The authors
have spent more than 12 years working with various gasifier systems,
primarily at the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI). In this book they
discuss all the factors that must be correct to have a successful "gasifier
power system."

Chapters in the book include: Principles of Gasification; Gasifier Designs;
Gasifier Fabrication & Manufacture; Gasifier Fuels; Instrumentation &
Control; Gas Testing; Engine Adaptation and Operation; Gasifier Systems;
Safety & Environmental Factors; and Decision Making. The book was
originally conceived as an aid to farmers and mechanics who want to build a
"home gasifier" to power generators, pumps, tractors and mills. However,
it has expanded far beyond that scope to be a major reference for anyone
interested in producing power from wood and biomass wastes. 200pp
$25.00

FUNDAMENTAL STUDY AND SCALE UP OF THE AIR-OXYGEN STRATIFIED
DOWNDRAFT
GASIFIER - T. B. Reed, M. Graboski and B. Levie. In 1980 the Solar Energy
Research Institute initiated a program to develop an oxygen gasifier to
make methanol from biomass. A novel 1 ton/day gasifier was designed and
studied for five years at SERI on air and oxygen. Now a 25 ton/day
gasifier has been operated on both air and oxygen. This book describes the
theory and operation of the two gasifiers in detail and also discusses the
principles and application of gasification as learned in eight years by the
author-gasifier team. Initially published by DOE with lavish
illustrations. 250pp........ .$25.00

CONTAMINANT TESTING FOR GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS - A. Das Long engine life
and reliable operation requires a gas with less than 10 mg of tar and
particulates per cubic meter (10 ppm). The simplified test methods
described here are adapted from standard ASTM and EPA test procedures for
sampling and analyzing char, tar and ash in the gas.
32pp.................................. ..$8.00

TREES - Jean Giono. While we strongly support using biomass for energy, we
are also very concerned about forest destruction. This delightful true
story says more than any sermon on the benefits and methods of
reforestation. 8pp.. ...$1.00

TREE CROPS FOR ENERGY CO-PRODUCTION ON FARMS
Anyone interested in using biomass for energy should know about the
enormous potential for raising trees along with food crops as an energy
source. This book is reprinted from a conference held by the Solar Energy
Research Institute, convening experts in this field to evaluate potential
crop species and to examine practical systems for the
economical production of energy from wood species. 260 pp
............................................................ ..$20.00

The BEF Press, 1810 Smith Rd., Golden, CO 80401 303-278 0558; ;FAX: 303 278
0560

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
BIOMASS ENERGY FOUNDATION PRESS & ORDER BLANK


Cost
HANDBOOK OF BIOMASS DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS: T. Reed
and A.
Das, (SERI-1988).
140pp (see over)
$25.00. .___ _____

GENGAS: THE SWEDISH CLASSIC ON WOOD FUELED VEHICLES: English translation,
(SERI-1982), edited T.Reed, D. Jantzen and A. Das, with index. This is the
"Old Testament" of gasification, written by the people involved in
successfully converting 90% of transportation of WW II Sweden to wood
gasifiers. Valuable practical and theoretical information. 340pp.
$25.00...___ _____

PRODUCER-GAS: ANOTHER FUEL FOR MOTOR TRANSPORT: Ed. Noel Vietmeyer
(The
U.S. National Academy of Sciences-1985) A seeing-is-believing primer with
historical and modern pictures of gasifiers. An outstanding text for any
introductory program. 80pp $8.00...___
_____

FUNDAMENTAL STUDY AND SCALEUP OF THE AIR-OXYGEN STRATIFIED
DOWNDRAFT
GASIFIER:
T. Reed, M. Graboski and B. Levie (SERI1988).290pp (see over)
$25.00...___ _____

CONTAMINANT TESTING FOR GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS: A. Das (1989).32pp (see
over)

$8.00...___ ____

TREE CROPS FOR ENERGY CO-PRODUCTION ON FARMS:. 260 pp (see over)
$20.00...___ _____

STATE-OF-THE-ART FOR SMALL SCALE GAS PRODUCER-ENGINE SYSTEMS: by A.
Kaupp
and J. Goss. (1984) Updates GENGAS and contains engineering data
indispensable for the serious gasifier projects.
278 pp
$25.00...___ _____

GASIFICATION OF RICE HULLS: THEORY AND PRAXIS: A. Kaupp. Applies
gasification to agricultural residues in addition to rice hulls. 303 pp
$25.00...___ _____

WOOD GAS GENERATORS FOR VEHICLES: Nils Nygards (1973). Translation of
recent results of Swedish Agricultural Testing Institute. 50 pp.
$4.00...___ _____

THE PEGASUS UNIT: THE LOST ART OF DRIVING WITHOUT GASOLINE: by Niels A.
Skov and Mark L. Papworth. Detailed drawings of various gasifiers and
systems from World War II. 80 pp
$15.00...__
______

BIOMASS TO METHANOL SPECIALISTS' WORKSHOP: Ed. T. B. Reed and M.
Graboski.
Expert articles on biomass to methanol, the clean liquid fuel for the 21st
century. 331 pp $30.00...___ _____

CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLIFIED WOOD GAS GENERATOR: ...by H. LaFontaine and
F.P. Zimmerman (1989). Over 25 drawings and photographs on building a
gasifier for fueling IC engines in a Petroleum Emergency. Originally
published the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) , RR28.68 pp
$10.00...___ ____

TREES: by Jean Giono, 1953. A delightful story which says more than any
sermon on the need for reforestation. 8 pp
$1.00...___ _____


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
BOOK
TOTALS.....................................................................
........................................................................
___ ______
Add $3 handling/order + $1.50/book postage* ________= ________
TOTAL
ENCLOSED..__________


Name___________________________Address_____________________________________
__________

Mail orders to The Biomass Energy Foundation Press (BEFP), 1810 Smith Rd.,
Golden, CO 80401; FAX 303-278 0560;call 303 278 0558;E-mail
reedtb AT Compuserve.com. Shipping: $2.50/book to Canada and Mexico, all
other foreign $9/book. 10% discounts on orders for 3 or more books.
Distributor inquiries welcomed. Please include check or money order with
your order, or we will ship COD. No foreign checks (cost more to clear
than value of books).









.

>







tvoivozhd>>>if you want to monitor combustion and outlet temperatures,
here's another Tom Reed excerptl


I use chromel-alumel thermocouples for temperatures up to 1,000 C,
indefinite life, and up to 1100 C for short periods. They are metal clad
with built in plugs, diameter 1/16 - 1/4 inch. I buy them in Denver at
Instrument Serviecs made to order for about $25 apiece. Well worth it.

For higher temperatures, you need platinum/platinum rhodium and inconel
sheathing. Generally not worth it.












  • [Homestead] tvo post -woodgas July '98, Rob, 06/06/2007

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page