[Gasification] Re MDF Gasification

[Doug Williams]

Hi Paul,

Briefly:

> Congratulations on your accomplishments!!!!!!!!

These are my reports of the work done by our Licensee Innovation
Technologies (Ireland) Ltd www.innovation-tech.co.uk   I can only stand back
and watch these days.
>
> What is the approximate raw fuel consumption (weight) per hour at full
> speed?

The MDF is 6% moisture content, and fuel consumption is "around" 1.4 kg/kWe.
The weight test was done last year in less than ideal conditions. Aqueous
condensate formed at the rate of 4-5ltrs/hr at the 50kwe output. Gas
consumption at 70 kWe was 200Nm3/hr. Performance figures are not considered
at this point to be repressentative of final systems design.

>I am trying to get a sense of quantities of fuel, although my own
> applications are
> much smaller.

Generally speaking, all biomass should give the same oututs, if the gasifier
is working as a true gas making system, and not refering to stoves
performance.
>
> I am very interested in the "snapper" for preparing the fuel.  Clearly
works
> well with uniform strips from the factory, but could also have
> application with
> small branches (perhaps limit it to 2 to 4 cm maximum diameter??).

No. This is designed specifically for MDF, and would not be an applicable
system for branches. Raw wood is too fiberous, and you need clean cuts to
avoid strandded ends. These will create fuel flow problems.

 > Cutting and
> chomping are not the same as "snapping".  Can you send more info or
> links/contacts about the snapper for fuel preparation, please?

No The snapper was designed as a solution to a fuel preparation problem, and
as such was custom built. It has no other function. These are not cheap
problems to resolve, and for stick wood, hand cutting is stiil a reliable
option for small systems.

Some time back, I gave you a very basic drawing on the Fluidyne Archive for
a stick cutting guillotine, and it would take very little to motorise it for
faster cutting. Back then you wanted it for remote villages, hence the
manual operation. Put some engineering into it and that would be usefull to
everyone.
Regards,
Doug Williams.
Fluidyne Gasification.