[Gasification] Edited Text on the Chinese Gasifier

[doug.williams]

Peter,

You are missing the vital factor:

> but they suggest lighting when half filled -- and the blower running --
> then after that --
> "Put straw into the gasification device until half of it is full. Ignite
> the straw in the gasification device, and add more straw into it until it
> is completely full"

If the fire was left to burn on top of the straw without filling, it would 
burn towards the throat, it has no other option.

> Dry straw burns like gasoline -- so probably -- by the time you have 
> filled
> it and capped it -- the "fire" is down in the "throat" -- and staying 
> there.

No, it then starts to burn the straw towards the incoming air, to form the 
oxidation zone, and the staw beneath carbonozes into the reduction char 
zone.

 > I imagine by adjusting the air in valve at the very top you control just
> where the burn stays?? And thus -- your gas quality.

Sort of right, but the angles of the internal cone provide the specific 
velocity, in a way matched for the total air flow of the valve fuelling a 
two burner stove. Really in this situation, the top air valve is just a 
on-off valve. If one burner is used, the fire climbs slowly towards the air 
increasing the char bed and reduction zone, so cleaner gas might be 
expected. It might stablize below the top of the fuel pile, but once it 
reaches the top of the fuel pile,( the refuelling point) it then starts to 
burn down towards the throat until it stops as it runs out of carbon.

> For conversion to run on charcoal I plan to insert an air pipe feed from
> top lip directly to the proper area -- just above the grate?? (Help!!) and
> put the same valve supplied on that for regulation.

I have some new photos of a old KENT charcoal gasifier made in Australia 
(WW2)that I inspected recently. These things were no brainers, and probably 
all you need. I will try to do a text over the weekend and post them on the 
Fluidyne Archive next week.
Regards,
Doug Williams,
Fluidyne Gasification.