Gasification issues with my gasifier ???

[smoke]

Hi folks, new to this forum and after searching the net for a forum that does not specialize in specific gasifier designs, I thought I would shoot a question to you as I am needing some help here. I built this gasifier after observing one like it on youtube. Its G3 I downdraft gasifier. My issue. After I get it going and turn on the suction fan, I get good smoke but I am unable to sustain a good flare. I do get orange/yellow flare when I hit the smoke with a torch, but for the life of me, I cannot sustain a gas flare. Any ideas. Thanks in advance.

Herer are some pics of my gasifier design.

[Matthew Jones]

You gotta mix air with it. Do you have an air inlet?

I like the design will put some pointers up on the design and what you used.

Thanks
Matt

[smoke]

Thanks for the info matthew, I just built a cyclone for it today. I will post a pic when I get the flare.

[Matthew Jones]

Your welcome bud.

I haven't actually built one yet but I have the parts for FEMA version. It really interest's me with the amount cutting I have around here. Even if its not good enough fuel for an engine I should be able to still of some peach brandy every now and again.

Can't wait to see the pics.

Matt

[smoke]

YouTube - ‪First wood gas flare from my homemade gasifier‬‏

I finally got the goods guys. Thanks for the advise Matt, it worked. This is just from the gasifier and into the cyclone that I just made. No filter on it yet. Not bad.

I will post a drawing soon for you Matt.
Thanks Again

SEE VIDEO ABOVE

[Matthew Jones]

Oh thats a nice flame. I would defendantly be interested in plans.

Cheers
Matt

[smoke]

Matt, any ideas as to how I can collect or trap the gas to use on an engine for future uses ?. I know guys use weather balloons to trap the gas but I am not sure I want a bunch of flammable balloons floating around my shop.

[Matthew Jones]

From what I understand it is a hard process. You will have to first freeze it and condense it to liquid. So you are talking about alot of energy just to make it store.
Then the Hydrogen thats in it will have a tendency to decrease if not store in a frozen state. The wood gas though also contains carbon monoxide and methane.

I haven't heard of the balloons but it make sense to store it that way. Helium and hydrogen have alot of the same characteristics as a gas, on the molecular level.

Pretty much your stuck using it on demand. Though you could use it to run a generator and charge batteries. Or run a chipper and make more wood chips.

Sorry
Matt

[ashtweth]

Here's Bills!
YouTube - ‪Gasifier Ver2 6-9-2011 012.3gp‬‏

[smoke]

Thanks for posting that vid. I like the idea that he (Bill) uses two cyclones on the system. I may incorporate an additional cyclone on mine. I was having audio issues, did he say what material he is using in his filter. Just curious, Thanks

[Allcanadian]

@smoke
These batch mode gassifiers are ok for small experimental purposes however they have quite a few issues. I built quite a few gassifier/distillers about 30 years ago, back when me and dad were kids, and solved many of the issues your facing. Mind you I was only 15 at the time, however I used a gassifier to run an old kick start gasoline washing machine engine with an old alternator for battery charging and 12v lighting as well as an exhaust heat exchanger to heat my little 10'x12' shop on the farm. I guess I had a co-generation system before they became popular but on the farm we made what we needed from what we had on hand and made it work the best way we could.
The first issue is residue which coats the inside of all the surfaces and at some point your going to have to deal with this mess. I used a bed of sand which the material rested on and the solid material residue stuck to the sand which was then black. Then a small 1" auger moved the sand outside the vessel to another chamber from the bottom and when the very hot sand came in contact with the outside air the carbon residue flashed to carbon monoxide which helped heat the material in a burner. A small amount of water was also be added which flashes to steam and helps crack the carbon residue faster. The clean sand was then augered back into the gassifier to repeat the cycle.
Every so often I would also steam the system by simply adding water to the reactor and the steam would work it's way through the system picking up residue which was also fed to the engine while running on gasoline.
I threw pretty much everything under the sun into that little unit and it never seemed to have an issue with breaking it down.

I think the best system would be a continuous one using sand as a transport media, first the plastic melts into the sand in one chamber and is augered through a larger heating/expansion chamber to drive off the gasses then the residue is removed from the sand by air/steaming in a third chamber to run a burner and drive the whole process. I don't think air leakage would be an issue if the sand is partially compressed when entering/leaving the larger gassifier chamber and if the gassifier chamber has a positive pressure then it is next to impossible.
I also used a weighted check valve on the gassifier as a safety measure because I know as a fact a small amount of air was entering the system but this air can only react with a much smaller volume of fuel so it was never an issue.
Regards
AC

[dave_cahoon]

Hi Smoke,

Here are a few photos of my G3-1.
It worked first try at 40f 100%humidity (raining)

A few important points to keep in mind

A. fuel size. (i haven't tried anything but pellets in my G3)
B. moisture content of fuel and air
C. maximum temp achieved.
D. Knowing the amount of suction/vacuum. Measured in inches of water. (4-10iw is the basic ballpark range)
E. a good seal causing most if not all air to come in through the nozzles.

Its Easy to make a manometer from clear vinyl tubing in a J shape, filled with colored water. A rule in inches. Connect it as close to the outlet as you can use copper flex to "get away" from the heat if you have to..

To start my unit I use tiny tin can camp stove gaser to make a can of hot charcoal from pellets and dump them in followed buy a can or two of wood pellets. start the suction fan.

From running yours you should already know that the cone does not rotate it just needs a jiggle from time to time. A small motor with a deliberate major vibration, connected to the end of the handle. Could automates grate shaking.

Plans from the Guy that invented the G3.
G3-I Plans - G3-I Gosselin Grateless Gasifier

A document called FAO 72 can be found here along with a wealth of other info.
GEK Wiki / Inventory of Online Wood Gas Generator Plans

Cant forget about Ben
Wood Gas Generator: Victory Gasifier

Or DJ Woodgas.nl

----------------------------------

@anyone making a FEMA;
The hot "lobe" in the fema can move up and down the fire tube. A very simple fix for that is a 1/2?? - 3/4?? inch pipe centered and pointing straight down. This will be where most of the air will enter, so you dont have to seal off the hopper. Dimensions on the tube will vary with the size of the unit.

Never let it run out of fuel. That's the easy way to make it sneeze. And when it does it can blow the charbed out. Right in your face, if its there!!! keep the amount of gas in the producer after the grate to a minimum.

After a run leave the blower run for a day? or two so the startup tar doesn't stick it up.

The gobby welding is the first Ive done since VOC auto shop class in high school 35 years ago??

Dave

[smoke]

AC & Dave. Thanks so much for posting the information. I plan on using your advise in order to make this work. AC:, my goal is to hook this thing up to a riding mower or small vehicle. Dave, Nice pics, and nice flare. Blue is the goal I suppose. Nice compact design on a cart, ready for an emergency situation. Great info from both of you. Thanks Again ! Smoke

[dave_cahoon]

Smoke,

When you get it going. During the day the flame will be invisible.
On cloudy days ive had to stick my hand in to see it its still burning, do that quickly. ha

Many people try to video tape the invisible flame during the day. "shimmers"
On sunny days video the shadow of the flare stack on the pavement or ground.
There it can be seen easy. In fact by panning show both.

I hope to get a camera than can take videos this year.
Next is how to use ammonia to boost the woodgas...
The machine is made just needs tweeking of all the variables to get it working at the right temp..

Have FUN
Dave

[dave_cahoon]

smoke,

Blue with red tops is what your looking for.
Now even if you cant sustain a flare (things moving to fast and no air forced to the burner too) if you have the right colors with your torch as the pilot lite. it should still run an engine. Just make sure that you consistently get the colors.

You have to have electric start on the engine and start your mixture at 50:50. You can put the mix valve on the air side so as to not restrict the vacuum on the gaser. Use a 1.5 inch line to connect the filter to the breather on the engine. Try to find a chunk of vinyl so you can see if tar starts to darken your inlet line. A shroud around the producer will preheat the air going it the radial holes. I suppose I could go on and on. Just keep playing with it. The manometer and outlet temp measure will really help make things repeatable.

yes thanks its portable so i can pull it out to the well with a small tractor and run a geny to fill the bladder tanks up.

Smoke; What are you using for fuel?

Dave