[Gasification] Compression question

[doug.williams]

Hi Wayne,


> I've seen the topic of compression of woodgas bandied about on the list 
> for
> some time, with the general consensus being that it cannot be "easily"
> compressed.

There is no real difficulty of compressing producer gas, and all that you 
suggest is possible, and has been done. The only thing to consider, is that 
only about 40% of the stored gas is combustible, and as one of the lowest 
energy gasses available, you use a lot to run an engine. There is also a 
derating of your engine of about 50-60%, so you need to have bigger engines 
to do the same amount of work. Unless in a desperate situation where you 
just cannot have an on board gasifier, it is better to store your gas in the 
wood, and make the gas on the fly.

Doug Williams,
Fluidyne Gasification.

P.S. Sorry folks, my vacation time has just finished, and it's back to 
reality, so must stand back once again for other priorities.




> Being new to all this, I pose a question, therefore:
>
> Why can't the gas be run through an (perhaps) liquid-cooled oil-lubricated
> cylinder type "air compressor" and into a tank? That would provide
> compression of at least 100-150 psi. Tank storage would certainly help
> provide for a more "transportable" fuel source for auto use.
> Is it the flammable nature of woodgas that prevents such a trial? Or does 
> it
> spontaneously combust under pressure?  If that type of system could be 
> made
> to work, couldn't the same thing be done with biogases, such as methane?
> I realize that for commercial applications, it is better to compress the 
> gas
> into liquid state and pipe it, but we're generally proposing smaller
> systems, such as for generators, engines, vehicles etc.
>
> Could someone take the time and explain to this newbie why that won't 
> work?
>
> TIA,
> Wayne Seidl
>
>
>
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