Gasifier Burner/Research Development

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Study of Industry Standards

See also Industry Standard Pellet Burners - not necessarily gasifier burners

Design Criteria

The gasifier should be designed in such a way that it can satisfy a specific set of use cases. These use cases should consider the availability of three products produced by the gasification process, namely Heat, Ash or char and combustible gases.

Use of excess heat:

• heat air in a shelter
• dry fuel for the gasifier

Use of ash and char:

• soil amendments
• lye production for:(ash may have to much carbon for quality lye production)
  • soap products
  • lye stabilized earth

Use of combustible gases:

• Steam Generator
• Power Cube
• Truck
• Car
• Kiln

Portability

Unit should be available in both portable and fixed arrangements. portable configurations should enable vehicle (trailer?) mounting. reactor module design could be impacted. Will refractory cement handle the jostling around?

Modularity

A good design should allow for flexibility in design variability without loosing compatibility between the various components. This need may be more pronounced during development. modules include:

• fuel bin
  • different Sizes
  • Autoloading? (designed with this in mind not necessarily needed)
• reactor core and ash collection
  • variability in configuration depending on feedstock
  • hearth material may vary depending on portability
• cyclone filter
• gas cooler
• filters
• manifold for gas delivery (optional)
• flare

Capability

How large a generator should this unit supply? A gasifier operating above designed capacity can cause damage to the reaction chamber and grate and operating significantly below capacity can lead to high tar production, the most difficult problem facing engines ran on producer gas.

Other Considerations

ability to interface with:

• screw type ash cleanout
• auto fuel loader

Research

• Gasifier construction set: [1]
• Mike Koch's gasifier, U. Missouri, Columbia, 2008 Capstone Project, Mechanical Engineering: [2]
• Pyrolysis System Design- 2012 Report, Concordia University

• A gasifier can also be used to make biochar. Here are some simple design examples for charcoal/biochar-producing biomass gasifiers:
  • 50 kilowatt wood pellet gasifier
  • Charcoal kiln at A.R.T.I.
  • Folke Günther's design: "the simplest of the simple - a two-barrel charcoal retort"
  • Tom Reed's TurboStove

Build and design documents

• FEMA Gasifier Plans(PDF)
• Producer Gas for Motor Vehicles(PDF and registration)
• Handbook of Biomass Downdraft Gasifier Engine Systems(PDF)

Ben's gasifier - not open source, though

Conversation with Ben Hansen

• Ben is building a 40 kW gasifier CHP system, and may be interested in a steam engine
• Packed bed, downdraft:
• Modified fluidyne gasifier.
• Doug Williams – fluidyne gasifier - http://www.fluidynenz.250x.com/
• Fab shop in Viroqua – friend of Ben – Roger Tullifson, Tollifson repair– did a heat exchanger for diesel exhaust.
• Dig up solenoid valves contact – some open source people
• The Gasifier Experimenters Kit (GEK) Wiki

GEK Gasifier powering a Car

• http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/masongekhonda

Prototypes

Prototype I - Larry Dobson's Roundy

Gasifier_Burner_with_Heat_Exchanger_Prototype_I

See Also

• Compressed Fuel Gas
• Biomass to FuelFischer-Tropsch

GEK Gasifier powering a 6 hp combustion engine

See Also

• Biochemicals from Pyrolysis
• Biomass to FuelFischer-Tropsch
• Compressed Fuel Gas
• Pyrolysis Oil
• Biochar
• Micro-Gasification

The Global Village Construction Set
Habitat	CEB Press	Cement Mixer	Sawmill	Bulldozer	Backhoe
Agriculture	Tractor	Seeder	Hay Rake	Well-Drilling Rig
	Microtractor	Soil Pulverizer	Spader	Hay Cutter	Trencher
	Bakery Oven	Dairy Milker	Microcombine	Baler
Industry	Multimachine	Ironworker	Laser Cutter	Welder	Plasma Cutter
	CNC Torch Table	Metal Roller	Rod and Wire Mill	Press Forge	Universal Rotor
	3D Printer	3D Scanner	CNC Circuit Mill	Industrial Robot	Chipper Hammermill
	Drill Press	Induction Furnace
Energy	Power Cube	Gasifier Burner	Solar Concentrator	Electric Motor Generator	Hydraulic Motor
	Steam Engine	Heat Exchanger	Wind Turbine	Pelletizer	Universal Power Supply
	Nickel-Iron Battery
Materials	Aluminum Extractor	Bioplastic Extruder
Transportation	Car	Truck
Key	Design	Planning	Prototype	Almost done	Full Release