[Bioconversion] T-LUD on steroids was on stove

[Jeff Davis]

Dear List,

I agree with Andrew to move this to the Bioconversion list. If something 
workable comes of it then it would move to the stove list and maybe someday 
the Gasification list.

Think I should first try to make a VARY simple T-LUD, just to get to know it. 
Than by hand some way try to feed fuel from  the bottom. Next work on some 
kind of crude auger.

Bad time of the year. I have two vehicles to get inspected, tax forms to fill 
out plus the normal stuff. So it is slow going right now.

Any idea what to call this project: Bottom Feed T-LUD, BF-T-LUD, Auger Feed 
etc.?


>
> The top half of the gasifier is where the ash/char would collect until it
> was time to clean this bin. Also the gas exits at the top.

Consider that the offgas is devoid of oxygen, so the char will collect without 
burning as long as secondary air doesn't get into this section.
>
> The fire tube, term barrowed from the stratified gasifier, is common to the
> top and bottom bin. Some kind of thermal couple would be needed to sense
> the location of pyrolysis thus controlling the activation of the auger
> motor. The ash would act as insulation for the fire tube.

I think you only need insulation in the length above the pyrolysis zone, to 
keep the offgas hot. Below this you probably want heat loss to prevent burn 
back to the main fuel supply. The pyrolysis zone is then probably best sensed 
with an infra read pick up.

>
> I have this nagging feeling that this gasifier could be used for stoves and
> IC engines. I'm sure the Gasification list would say that it is too tarry,
> for engines . But after all the reading that I have done about gasifiers I
> would think twice about this application. Furthermore a tar reformer may
> help on the top. But I have never built a T-LUD.

This offgas is very heavy in volatilized tars, because the tars float away 
from the pyrolysis zone which itself seems to average about 500C they are not 
subject to any of the heat they would be passing through the hot char zone of 
a downdraught gasifier, there's only one sort of ic engine that I know they 
will burn well in.
>
> Bet this would burn Rogers Samson's slaggie switchgrass pellets.

Well I like the idea of doing it this way because the temperatures are lower 
and the minerals and alkali ash should stay in the char matrix. The char 
could then be burned in a slow cooker, again at a low temperature.
>
> What do you think. Is this a waste of time?

No, not a waste of time but probably more relevant to bioconversion once it 
needs the sophistication of mechanical devices.

AJH (catching up after a week with little internet access )


Dear List,

Here's an idea for an auger feed T-LUD.  Jigme Rangdrol and Andrew Heggie 
provided the inspiration. A drawing is provided at the below link:

http://velocity.net/~jeff0124/pictures/woodgas/myGasifier.gif

This would not work for Jigme because electric is needed for the auger and a 
fan to move the gas.

The top half of the gasifier is where the ash/char would collect until it was 
time to clean this bin. Also the gas exits at the top.

The fire tube, term barrowed from the stratified gasifier, is common to the 
top and bottom bin. Some kind of thermal couple would be needed to sense the 
location of pyrolysis thus controlling the activation of the auger motor. The 
ash would act as insulation for the fire tube.

The bottom bin would house the fuel, lower portion of the fire tube and auger. 
The auger would need some kind of lip on the outside diameter. This would 
help to feed the fuel. It also may need to be conical.

I have this nagging feeling that this gasifier could be used for stoves and IC 
engines. I'm sure the Gasification list would say that it is too tarry, for 
engines . But after all the reading that I have done about gasifiers I would 
think twice about this application. Furthermore a tar reformer may help on 
the top. But I have never built a T-LUD.

Bet this would burn Rogers Samson's slaggie switchgrass pellets.

What do you think. Is this a waste of time?

-- 
Jeff Davis
Somewhere 20 miles south of Lake Erie, USA
http://www.velocity.net/~jeff0124