[Gasification] Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker) formation(Greg Manning)

Tue Jan 23 07:23:20 CST 2007

 Greetings Gero, and list.

 Yes I agree at the reduction level, one needs very high temperatures to
crack tars, however, what I'm getting is clinker forming in the "air arc" at
about 4cm away form the front of the tuyeres these are not huge, rather
about the size of grass seed. Very consistently down through the arc to the
top of the grate, they pass as long as they stay small. The problem is that
this only happens at the upper-most gas production level, and if by accident
I go over this amount, the clinker forms large enough that it will not pass
through the grate, and therefore will cause the gasifier to eventually
plug-up 6-10 hours later in operation.

My goal is to set a "High point" for gas production on a specific sized
gasifier, so down time for cooling, disassembly and cleaning is avoided.

Or put another way... the problem is not the gasifier, rather it's my
finding the top end of gas production, without having to consume another 10
hours of feedstock to figure out that I accidentally went over the top.....

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org]On Behalf Of Gero Eckermann
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 3:07 AM
To: gasification at listserv.repp.org; gasification-owner at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker)
formation(Greg Manning)

Dear Greg and all,

We are a bit puzzled about you wanting to bring down the already low process
temperature(?!), resulting in heavy tar contamination.
The gasification process in a TAR FREE down draft Gasproducer (like ours:
www.carboconsult.com )requires a minimum process temperature of 1,400degC to
crack the tar molecules. This requires clean, uncontaminated wood- or other
biomass fuel, with a less than 20%MC.
Any contamination by metal, or sand and stones carried in the bark, will
produce clinker. Also contamination from chlorine releasing plastics will
destroy the refractory lining, whereas other contaminants will sinter or
clinker and block the ash grate holes.

Gero Eckermann
Carbo Consult & Engineering (Pty) Ltd

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: 22 January 2007 08:00 PM
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Subject: Gasification Digest, Vol 7, Issue 23

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Today's Topics:

   1. Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker) formation (Greg Manning)
   2. Re: Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker) formation (Tom Miles)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:23:06 -0600
From: "Greg Manning" <a31ford at inetlink.ca>
Subject: [Gasification] Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker)
	formation
To: "A WoodGas" <WoodGas at yahoogroups.com>,	"A Gasification"
	<gasification at listserv.repp.org>
Message-ID: <GGEBLFNJNOGGJGNEDBJJKEJOLPAA.a31ford at inetlink.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

 Greetings Everyone.

 I'm wondering about ash slagging (Clinker) formation in downdraft
gasifiers.

 I've found a type K thermocouple (Good to 2750f) that can be permanently
mounted in an overhead mount (in the bunker, pointing down into the core
between Tuyeres and Reduction Throat), and I'm wondering if I could
configure it on a simple "your over maximum" type cutback unit as to limit
internal temperature to inhibit slag formation (worst case scenario).

 This would be done by closing/limiting a master air inlet valve, with an
electrically modulating valve controller head, commonly used in hydronic
heating systems.

 My question is, for most wood, 20%MC and down, what is the rough
temperature of slag formation (ballpark area)?

I have lots of clinker and catbox clumps as samples of this over-temperature
condition, but have no idea of the temperature needed to create these nice
little "presents".....

P.S. Catbox clumps are simply lightly-fused ash clumps, but not yet clinker.

 Greg Manning,

 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:52:12 -0800
From: "Tom Miles" <tmiles at trmiles.com>
Subject: Re: [Gasification] Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker)
	formation
To: "'Greg Manning'" <a31ford at inetlink.ca>,	"'A WoodGas'"
	<WoodGas at yahoogroups.com>,	"'A Gasification'"
	<gasification at listserv.repp.org>
Message-ID: <005f01c73e3d$4830bfb0$6701a8c0 at VaioSZ160>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Greg,

While temperature control will avoid some clinkering it is more due to the
ash content and chemistry of the fuel than to the operating temperature.
Over time the compounds that decompose at gasification and combustion
temperatures will accumulate and react with other compounds to form
eutectics that melt at low temperatures. The principal component is
potassium, which is abundant in all annual growth.

A working temperature for fusion of a potassium-silica mix is 750C
(1400F).Unfortunately in a downdraft gasifier you need the gas temperature
in oxidation to be well above 1400F, more like 2000 F, to be able to have
enough energy to reduce the carbon. So you are constantly in a balancing act
between enough temperature to maintain gas quality and low enough
temperature to keep the ash moving. Ash removal is clearly important to
making anything work when you have some hardwoods, or any branches, twigs,
or leafy materials.

There are many publications on sintering, slagging and fouling but you can
find the basics in our 1995 report, "Alkali Deposits in Biomass Power
Plants." http://www.trmiles.com/alkali/alkali.htm
Download the 4 MB file.

You can also see an interesting report on staged gasification for
bio-solids, which is a very high alkali and high nitrogen, at:
http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/lewisstagegas
Mike Lewis reports how he used staged gasification in a fluidized bed with a
very difficult fuel. The plant, with 3 gasifiers, each capable of about
50,000 pph steam, operated for 10 years between 1986 and 1996.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Greg Manning
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 10:23 PM
To: A WoodGas; A Gasification
Subject: [Gasification] Temperature of Ash Slagging (Clinker) formation