[Gasification] Running on MT

[andy schofield]

Dear Ananda,

  I used a co-current falling water-spray in 1991 to cool and clean gas 
on-board a Jeep fueled with cherry pits. The water and gas contact was 
ensured by spraying water over a bed of boat anchor chain carefully fayed 
into the column. The water, and hot, tarry gas made many turns down the 
column. The water collected in a sump by gravity, then was filtered, pumped, 
then cooled with air, then re-sprayed into the top of the column. The gas 
changed direction just over the sump and was led off to the engine. I began 
to have second thoughts of using this wet-scrubber when I noted the brown 
weeds in the area where I changed the water. This is not acceptible. 
However, Max Gasman has suggested to me that condensate, and perhaps 
scrubber water, I think, could be pumped through a bed of char which comes 
from beneath my grate. Continue until the tar breaks -through the bed of 
char. Excess char from gasification of cherrypits has fair organic-chemical 
adsorbent value according to the ASTM iodine standard. Other biomass char 
may be better at adsorbing tars from water...Or the gas! I'm scratching my 
chin..

  So Ananda, How does the gas contact the sawdust to collect the tar? How is 
the saw dust forced to stay in the tank? Some list contributors were 
investigating binders for densifying biomass such as sawdust. May I suggest 
using your spent filter-media (sawdust/tar) for feedstock for making stove 
and gasifier fuel (briquettes) to sell to consumers? This would be a very 
energetic fuel!

  I place my palms together, and wish you peace.

Andy Schofield
Great Lakes Renewable Fuels

Dear Michael G, Tom M,

  Taking pictures are harder than building gasifiers for me. Ya, it's fun!

Andy
>
>Sorry andy, but pictures are a must!
>Please?
>It sounds like fun.
>
>Michael G
>
>Dear All,
>
>  This past week, I've been running my gasifier with a few  modifications.
>The stratified downdraft reactor unbolts from the grate-flange and the gas
>clean-up train. I set it aside and fitted an Imbert-type reactor with an
>air-tight fuel batch-bin with condensate trapping slotted liner 
>(monerator).
>
>  The 500 pound unit is now mounted aboard a 1975 GMC 1/2 ton cab and
>chassis. The 5.7L V-8 is fueled with both gasoline (4-barrel Rochester), 
>and
>the gas made from cherrypits.
>
>  The gas-train consists of a 30-gallon hopper-bottom hand augered ash-bin,
>a nominal 4" cyclone,
>a 30 square foot surface water-cooled gas cooler, and a large straw-packed
>filter. Electrical auxilliaries are driven by a 4KW gasoline genset.
>
>  Top speed so far is 40 MPH on a 1/3 mile rough dirt oval track (gasoline
>throttle shut). This breaks my own old speed record I set in 1991 with a
>four-cylinder Jeep side-valve,  also fueled (stratified downdraft) with
>pits.
>
>  Sparkplugs tend to foul at low gasification rates, but I have a way to
>clean them. Anyone have suggestions to tune an Imbert type for less tar?
>
>  The purpose of this setup is to tow a 3.5 ton trailer at the lowest cost
>possible. Break-even point is many miles down the road! Keep you posted.
>
>In the "pits" wrench'n.
>
>Andy Schofield
>Great Lakes renewable fuels

>Andy,
>
>   We use a Scrubber and then a "Saw Dust" filter to reduce the Tar content 
>of Flu-gas. Gas going through a sealed tank of saw dust comes cleaner. This 
>is an invention of a Japanese professor who was our adviser. We didn't have 
>any problems with Spark Plugs. But Engine must be run with LPG before 
>closing the shop, to have a good start the next day.
>
>   Engr.Ananda S.K. Weerakkody

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