[Gasification] Australian Kent charcoal Gasifier

[doug.williams]

Hi Peter, and Gasification Colleagues.

As promised, I have posted photographs of a simple charcoal gasifier that I 
had the chance to inspect while recently in Melbourne, Australia. You can 
find these on the Fluidyne Archive www.fluidynenz.250x.com  and Tom Miles 
will possibly relocate them to the Gasification Archive. 
http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org  I cannot do these things myself, as I 
can still create mayham just by trying to turn this infernal machine on!

The principles of gas making remain the same in charcoal gasifiers, in that 
you still have an oxidation lobe (singular), and reduction zone. There 
should never be condensate in the cold gas, and simple cotton packed 
filters, or cotton bag filters are all you need for filtration. The air 
nozzle size is increased until you can get enough gas for your engine, then 
all you have to do is keep the charcoal moving down with vibration from the 
road, or engine.

Steam can be added to improve the gas quality by creating H2, making the 
engine more responsive to throttle changes, but if in a variable load 
situation, will need control of the steam injection, so that bed temperature 
is maintained. Despite the fact that you may be creating a producer gas that 
has H2, you will still have to add air carefully in controlled amounts for 
engine applications. Producer gas in all it's variations of combustible gas 
content, is not a new wonder gas, and all the old rules apply for it's 
combustion.

In the event that it has escaped notice, another Australian charcoal 
gasifier is located on the Fluidyne Archive, and that has steam addition. 
Hope this helps those interested in the easier gasifier option.

Regards,
Doug Williams,
Fluidyne Gasification.