[Gasification] ..back to defining gasification

[Jigme Rangdrol]

Good Evening Dries Vansteenkiste.
I have considered your try.



Dries Vansteenkiste wrote:

> Jigme,
>
> Before sending this to the list, please consider my try (plz, don't 
> shoot me):
> "A gasifier is a device designed for the controlled production of a 
> complex gas mixture and process heat through accelerated conversion of 
> a carbon-rich feedstock"
>

Complex and mixture are too restrictive for simple Gasifiers. Some
gasifiers may produce only one gas or a simple gas.

"A gasifier is a device designed for the controlled production of a gas
and process heat through accelerated conversion of a carbon-rich feedstock"

Everything after AND is device specific and not applicable to all
gasifiers. I am not aware of any gasifier that does not employ heat but
there may be or may soon be.
"A gasifier is a device designed for the controlled production of gas. "
OR
"A gasifier is a device designed to use heat for the controlled
production of a gas."


> * accelerated conversion: usually thermochemical conversion, i.e. by 
> applying heat (excludes bioconversion processes such as methane 
> fermentation from the definition).



Bioconversion processes such as methane fermentation require a heat source.


>
> * designed for controlled production of gas and heat: there is a 
> production goal - this may distinguish (MSW) gasifiers from (MSW) 
> incinerators, the latter having as primary goal to get rid of the 
> (MSW) feedstock and only produce heat (...and more air pollution?) - 
> in addition, the higher heat output of gasifiers distinguishes them 
> also from bioconversion technologies.
> * complex gas mixture: may be dirty (tars) or clean, usable as a fuel 
> or destined for further distillation and production of fine chemicals, 
> whatever you want, it is a gas mixture with interesting features...
>
> By the way, I've never seen a gasifier live


This is really the heart of the problem.
The devices that have the label "gasifier" and those that do not have
theological and public relations problems.
Because of this the label has some "negative" associations.
This in turn leads to special interests redefining the label to suit
their short term personal goals.
There has also been some deception and as a result there is confusion
about what is and is not a gasifier.
If this was tried with "Airplane", "Fire" or "Dog" it would never work.
I suggest that you have indeed seen gasifiers but because of confusion
and obfuscation sewn by special interests you are thinking you havent.



> But I read quite a lot about gasification and I start seeing things in 
> my dreams :)
> no, no nightmares yet...
>
> D.V.