[Gasification] Fluidyne Update.

[Doug Williams]

Hi Gasification Colleagues,

Circumstances have reduced my ability to contribute to this forum as much as 
I would like to, but as 2006 marks the 30th year of Fluidyne's activity with 
gasifiers for engine powered electrical generation, some following 
commercial gasification, may be interested in our progress to date.

As most of you know, my personal involvement is reduced to supervising 
Licensees of Fluidynes gasification technology, located in Northern Ireland, 
Canada, and now Australia. To have three teams working with three different 
sized gasifiers from 15 kWe - 2 MWe, using quite differing fuels in each 
gasifier, and operating in a wide range of environmental conditions, has 
provided new increments of knowledge no literature could provide. During my 
visits to these companies this year, I have tested three gas, and one dual 
fuel engine, all differing size and speeds, and once again would like to 
confirm, that the Engine Tables shown on the Fluidyne Archive 
www.fluidynenz.250x.com are accurate for the evaluation of engines fuelled 
with producer gas.
                                                                             
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Northern Ireland.

It gives me quite some pleasure to report that the Atlantic Class gasifier 
in N.Ireland has now been completed to it's final commercial design 
requirement, and engine performance is above expectations. Originally 
targeting 70 kWe output, removal of all the gas moisture resulted in an 
increase to 89 kWe. This should once, and for all time, prove that steam 
vapour does not enhance combustion in an engine fuelled with producer gas 
made from wood. This was caused by confusing the practice of adding steam to 
charcoal gasifiers.

The staff at ITI www.innovation-tech.co.uk  are now reorganising to begin 
commercial projects, and inquiries should be made directly to them for the 
Atlantic Class gasifier. Please do not expect a quotation without first 
discussing all your projects requirements, which will include the need for 
on site training of your key staff.
                                                                             
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Canada.

Providing assistance to complete the final EPA emission tests of the Mega 
Class gasifier in Winnipeg, Canada, also brought a conclusion, to this long 
development programme. The intent of this project was to scale up the 
ability to make large quantities of gas that had no contamination to foul 
rotating machinery. This refers to engines, turbines, fans,and compressors, 
all proposed  in variations to utilize producer gas. While the gasifier 
development was extremely important to achieving this outcome, it has been 
the ancillary technology development that held the ultimate key, allowing 
the gasifier to function without being compromised. The system has no 
pressure dropping filtration, or water scrubbing of the gas, so many of the 
problems associated with cleaning have been eliminated. Safety filters are 
used, but have no function other than to collect the odd flake that might 
shed from components.

The full EPA Report will be posted on the Fluidyne Archive when all the 
waste analysis have been received. I can tell you that the particle count 
from the flue stack was 0.164 g/m3, and gas emission, CO2  12%, O2  8.4%, CO 
0%, N2  79%.  I am not qualified to comment on these amounts, but my advise 
is that it is a clean emission, and it is nice to actually see pristine 
surfaces at the engine valving. EPA testing is planned to continue for 
projects to support regulated installation requirements of these larger 
power generating systems.

I will continue to answer enquiries for the Mega Class Series of gasifier 
(300kWe-2MWE) for W2e Technologies Inc., until the production facility for 
these gasifiers opens in March 2007. The development site in Winnipeg is now 
being prepared for client demonstrations, which will include the 175 kWe 
Mirrlees duel fuel engine operating on 94% gas replacement of diesel fuel. 
Once the wood fuel stocks have been replenished, those waiting to visit, 
will be advised of the demonstration dates.
                                                                             
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Australia.

Gasification Australia, is a new company set up to provide rural people with 
independence from fossil fuel supplies, and is headed by John Sanderson, 
<gasifierjohn at gmail.com>      and Mark Feltrin. <mfeltrin at yahoo.com.au> 
During August 2006, I visited Melbourne to conduct the first tests on 
components for the Tasman Class gasifier (15 kWe) being specifically 
developed for tropical conditions. This also incorporated fuel testing of 
the extremely hard native timbers, plus had a reality check of the waste 
urban timber supply. Literally hundreds of tonnes of waste wood are put out 
for road side rubbish collection, a huge resource, and a disposal problem.

 Australia is hot, and gasification becomes difficult to implement when you 
try to cool the gas with air that can be 40C. This has required a move away 
from the previously successful design concept of Fluidyne's gas cooling 
system, and the new version is to be retested early October. Just for once, 
it is not a test of the gas making, which performs very well with power 
generation within 4 minutes from a cold start.  It is planned to begin 
production of the Tasman Class in early 2007. The first off the assembly 
line, have been reserved for an export order, so please allow these guys a 
chance to become organised, before requesting prices for export.
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USA

I also visited California in July, to commission one of our original Pacific 
Class gasifiers that was sold after being in storage for 16 years. This is a 
private project, and the owner wishes to remain anonymous in order to work 
on fuel chip size issues, and fuel wood forestry. This is a project that I 
will be supporting over the next few years, as there has not been the 
opportunity for anyone to bring all the increments of gasification together 
with some coordination of the expertise. Conducting the Training Programme 
was an interesting experience, as I watched doubt turn to what I can only 
say, was unbridled enthusiasm for the potential use of gasifiers to resolve 
energy, and emission issues in California, and further a field.

Special invited guests were able to witness cold start to full electrical 
power generation in 5 minutes, and also a blown demonstration of the hot gas 
being burnt as a heat source. With peak power demands creating problems at 
the extended arms of distribution grids in California, there was some 
discussion of how stand-by gasified power generation could fill this need. 
Time will tell.
                                                                             
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I will be posting photos on the Fluidyne Archive over the next week of these 
projects, and will advise you as they are installed. You will be able to 
share with us, this final push to bring back commercially developed 
gasifiers appropriate for modern power generation.

Doug Williams,
Fluidyne Gasification.