Wood-Gas generator help/opinions needed...

[gasman]

Be gentle, I'm new

I've been considering building a wood-gas generator for quite some time (after watching The Colony, a post-apocalyptic reality show). I never knew such things existed, much less that they were once in wide use throughout the world.

ok, now my situation. I want to make a wood-gas generator generator. By that I mean a wood-gas generator feeding a gas-powered electric generator.

Some other info:

I have lots and lots of dead trees to work with. they grow and die off faster than I could possibly use them.

I plan to use a 5hp Briggs-and-stratton engine, attached to a pulley/bracket system with probably 2 or more car alternators. (before anyone mentions it, yes, I am aware of the lawsuit, and that it probably has significantly less than the advertised 5hp) These alternators will be wired in parallel (for constant 12-14v, but more amps), and then wired into a 12vDC to 120vAC inverter. Yes, I'll have a battery hooked up for the 12v field. I'm also considering taking apart a broken gas-powered (factory-manufactured) electric generator, and using parts from that (a number of advantages to this, like no need for a battery). I think the engine is the only part not in working order. At this point, though, I'm mostly interested in making plans for the wood-gasifier itself, and just getting it working. All the electronics can be handled later.


what I can do, and what I have:
arc-welding and brazing are fine. light metal work (what can be done on an anvil) is probably fine. grinding and cutting (including with a cutting torch) are fine.l I have various pipes, piping connectors, pressure tanks, metal sheets, barrels, bars, and pieces, bolts, nuts, and lots of other junk that I have to work with. I would really like to get this thing working while only using scrap junk that I have lying around. I'll have to buy sealants and some small things, though, probably.

Advice on any part of the system is appreciated.

I would really like some input on the wood-gassifier itself. I don't have any experience with them whatsoever, and I'm open to all ideas and input.

At the moment, I'm thinking of making a "stratified, downdraft gasifier," not an imbert. The main reason is because I want to use larger chunks of wood. In fact, I want to modify the design to allow for even larger chunks of wood. Any idea on how to do that? Here is a link to the design I'm thinking about basing my model off of: http://wood-gas.com/wp-content/uploa.../woodgas12.pdf

A few more modifications might need to be made since it will be for a stationary engine. More cooling and maybe another filter will be needed.


Wikipedia has good info and some very detailed PDF and web links: Wood gas generator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks in advance

PS: this isn't too technical for this site, is it?

If there are other forums you think I should check out, please let me know

[FuzzyTomCat]

Be gentle, I'm new

I've been considering building a wood-gas generator for quite some time (after watching The Colony, a post-apocalyptic reality show). I never knew such things existed, much less that they were once in wide use throughout the world.

ok, now my situation. I want to make a wood-gas generator generator. By that I mean a wood-gas generator feeding a gas-powered electric generator.

Some other info:

I have lots and lots of dead trees to work with. they grow and die off faster than I could possibly use them.

I plan to use a 5hp Briggs-and-stratton engine, attached to a pulley/bracket system with probably 2 or more car alternators. (before anyone mentions it, yes, I am aware of the lawsuit, and that it probably has significantly less than the advertised 5hp) These alternators will be wired in parallel (for constant 12-14v, but more amps), and then wired into a 12vDC to 120vAC inverter. Yes, I'll have a battery hooked up for the 12v field. I'm also considering taking apart a broken gas-powered (factory-manufactured) electric generator, and using parts from that (a number of advantages to this, like no need for a battery). I think the engine is the only part not in working order. At this point, though, I'm mostly interested in making plans for the wood-gasifier itself, and just getting it working. All the electronics can be handled later.


what I can do, and what I have:
arc-welding and brazing are fine. light metal work (what can be done on an anvil) is probably fine. grinding and cutting (including with a cutting torch) are fine.l I have various pipes, piping connectors, pressure tanks, metal sheets, barrels, bars, and pieces, bolts, nuts, and lots of other junk that I have to work with. I would really like to get this thing working while only using scrap junk that I have lying around. I'll have to buy sealants and some small things, though, probably.

Advice on any part of the system is appreciated.

I would really like some input on the wood-gassifier itself. I don't have any experience with them whatsoever, and I'm open to all ideas and input.

At the moment, I'm thinking of making a "stratified, downdraft gasifier," not an imbert. The main reason is because I want to use larger chunks of wood. In fact, I want to modify the design to allow for even larger chunks of wood. Any idea on how to do that? Here is a link to the design I'm thinking about basing my model off of: http://wood-gas.com/wp-content/uploa.../woodgas12.pdf

A few more modifications might need to be made since it will be for a stationary engine. More cooling and maybe another filter will be needed.


Wikipedia has good info and some very detailed PDF and web links: Wood gas generator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks in advance

PS: this isn't too technical for this site, is it?

If there are other forums you think I should check out, please let me know

Hi gasman,

to the forum !!!


Here is a link to a thread I started here at Energetic Forum some time ago you might find what your looking for ..... Wood Gasification

Regards,
Glen

[theremart]

RE: wood gas.

Join the yahoo group on wood gas would be my first suggestion.

I met a friend who lives about 1 hour drive from me who has made one from scratch, the things to watch for is the back fires.


Also look on Youtube their is an open source method of converting a Lister engine to wood gas.

Also look up GEK gasifiers, and woody Gasifier on youtube.

The yahoo group is VERY active and they have working setups, VERY skilled guys on that group.

Mart

[gasman]

thanks for the welcome and links

I've followed some of those links, and it lead me around a bit...

now I've pretty much decided that the FEMA model is not what I'm going to base mine off of. It has too much tar content maybe I can modify the design to get higher temps to crack the tar (break it down into smaller carbon chains for easy burning, and far less stickiness).

I'm still searching for a good way to use large chunks of wood, while retaining efficiency. (I'm talking about typical-sized split wood). I could maybe make charcoal for one, but that's double the work for less output.

edit: just saw the new reply

lister engines, ehh? (google time...)

I actually just joined the yahoo "group." I have to say... yahoo groups suck, lmao. I've never seen such an unorganized bunch of hard-to-navigate jibberish in a long time. Please tell me I'm missing something... when I go to messages, all I see is an ordered list of ALL messages ever sent to the list. I don't see any sort of sub-forums or topic/thread organization. Have I missed something, or is it really that poorly organized? It would take me ages to fine anything on there. And when I tried using the search feature, it kept returning that the search feature is busy, and to try again later. ugh.

[FuzzyTomCat]

thanks for the welcome and links

I've followed some of those links, and it lead me around a bit...

now I've pretty much decided that the FEMA model is not what I'm going to base mine off of. It has too much tar content maybe I can modify the design to get higher temps to crack the tar (break it down into smaller carbon chains for easy burning, and far less stickiness).

I'm still searching for a good way to use large chunks of wood, while retaining efficiency. (I'm talking about typical-sized split wood). I could maybe make charcoal for one, but that's double the work for less output.

edit: just saw the new reply

lister engines, ehh? (google time...)

I actually just joined the yahoo "group." I have to say... yahoo groups suck, lmao. I've never seen such an unorganized bunch of hard-to-navigate jibberish in a long time. Please tell me I'm missing something... when I go to messages, all I see is an ordered list of ALL messages ever sent to the list. I don't see any sort of sub-forums or topic/thread organization. Have I missed something, or is it really that poorly organized? It would take me ages to fine anything on there. And when I tried using the search feature, it kept returning that the search feature is busy, and to try again later. ugh.

Hi gasman,

Here is a couple others that was added to my Windows "LIVE" SkyDrive public folder ....

Diagrams for a complete "Wood Gasifier" machine

Wood Gas as Fuel - Food and Agriculture Origination of the United Nations ( FAO ) Forestry Paper 72

Regards,
Glen

[IndianaBoys]

Gasman,

This may be of interest:

http://www.energeticforum.com/renewa...html#post98549

IndianaBoys

[SeaMonkey]

I actually just joined the yahoo "group." I have to say... yahoo groups suck, lmao. I've never seen such an unorganized bunch of hard-to-navigate jibberish in a long time. Please tell me I'm missing something... when I go to messages, all I see is an ordered list of ALL messages ever sent to the list. I don't see any sort of sub-forums or topic/thread organization. Have I missed something, or is it really that poorly organized? It would take me ages to fine anything on there. And when I tried using the search feature, it kept returning that the search feature is busy, and to try again later. ugh.

Don't overlook the Files and Photos sections of the Group.

Most of the 'meat' is located there.

[gasman]

Thanks for the links and advice. I have only skimmed over them so far, but it all looks interesting, and I'll certainly read up on all of them.

Also, thanks for the info for the group. I'll make sure to check those sections now.

The more I research, the more complicated it becomes lol

(I haven't checked for the answer to this next question yet).

Anybody know of some places to get some math info on them? Like, different pyrolization rates at different temps (for different wood, or constituents thereof, like tar), and with different flows of input air? And how much airflow (speed) is needed through the fuel wood in order to keep it going? I need the latter to figure out if I can make a modified fuel hopper in order to use larger chunks of wood. But I'm worried that if I just make a larger hopper I won't have enough airflow through the larger volume to keep the woodgas going in the intended direction, even if I make a choke section in the bottom.

[Vickers]

I made one for a stoneage B&S 3.5 HP Generator about 7 years ago. Ran it on sawdust. Good thing about these old engines is that they vibrate a lot due to poor design. Which is good for a sawdust hopper gasifier set up. So u can make it a lot smaller as opposed to a solid wood setup. You have to run the wood gas thru a water bubbler to collect the resulting tar etc..But the vacuum will pull it thru. Think of it like a BONG and u will understand. The tar etc.. will gum up the workings of yor engine otherwise. Maybe a use for this bong water I dunno. But should be changed regular.
Works perfectly on governor controlled stationary engines and will save a lot of gasoline. It works. Go for it. Sawdust is free.

[tkushlev]

What about a wood gas powered gas turbine that in turn powers an electric generator as described here Wood gas – the fuel that will get you through crisis
Do you think this is easily achievable? There are some model gas turbines in the market but they are way to expensive for me and I'm not sure whether a DIY gas turbine is plausible.

[renaud67]

Some french refrence :
Onpeutlefaire.com - L’homme qui tire de l’énergie des broussailles
and
Jean Pain, Inventeur du compost de Broussailles, précurseur du BRF.

[dave_cahoon]

Gasman,

for a small engine like that, I recommend Luc Gosselin's G3-I.

Here is "Smokes" G3 and more jabber from me.
http://www.energeticforum.com/renewa...-gasifier.html

The FAO-72 book linked to above is one of the best.

Careful on the groups, there are people that sit in the background just looking for your great ideas. Never agree to keep your ideas secret. No matter what their plea is. Only you can decide that.

Dave