[Gasification] Charcoal Gasification No 4.

[Mark & Elena Gallmeier]

To Doug Williams,

I've been reviewing the charcoal gasification series.

CHARCOAL QUALITY

1.  You previously wrote in "Charcoal Gasification #1:

"Moisture in wet charcoal will only be
driven off as steam to form a abnormal condensate problem."

I assume this means either use the charcoal soon after making it, or store 
the char dry, and preferably air-tight so it can't absorb moisture from the 
air?

2.  Also from #1;

"CHARCOAL. All charcoal is not equal in quality, and species should be
taken into consideration for the best sizing option. Hard wood make the best
charcoal, and need a size of about 1" nuggets, and soft woods, about 1.5".
Charcoals need to be sieved to size, and fines discarded. Very small
gasifiers can utilise finer charcoal."

Is there a recommended remaining volatiles content for the charcoal fuel? 
Put another way, is there a minimum fixed carbon percentage for charcoal 
gasification fuel?  Is there an optimum char quality specification?   How 
tolerant are charcoal gasifiers to changes in fixed carbon and volatiles 
percentage of charcoal fuel?  Or will remaining volatiles in char be cracked 
during gasification of the char (within some range of volatiles 
percentages)?

Thanks for your time to present this information.

Best Wishes,

Mark