[Gasification] Bob's system, and general comments about making gas

[jim mason]

On 3/7/07, rkurt at tadaust.org.au <rkurt at tadaust.org.au> wrote:
> Probably because automating this sort of thing requires skilled people
> (plural) to design and build the system, with the whole design needing
> to be created just for that purpose. Aside from the commercial concerns
> doing this sort of work, the individuals need to be Joats to pull that
> off and few people who are handy with a gas axe are necessarily handy
> with computer programming.


well, this depends on where you live and/or the industries in your
area.  in areas that are focussed on information technology sorts of
things, it is often easier to find someone to set up some basic
embedded control things than it is someone who can weld two pipes
together.  in a place like where i am, the bay area of california,
industrial skills are really somewhat exotic at this point.  the norm
is to be able to program and often, do basic electronics work.  i
somehow missed all this, so i weld and surround myself with friends
who can do the more typical things in the area.

also, sometimes these electronic skills are best found in your kids.
the robotics classes and competitions many of them are doing in high
school these days are well engaging exactly the sorts of things needed
to automate the control of a gasifier.  there are tons and tons of
starter kits that let you do this sort of stuff in near off the shelf
manners.

i agree with drew that there is very little left to milk out of imbert
type gasifiers.  they are great for diy'ers and situations where users
can and will control the whole cycle, from feedstock to fussy
operation to charash disposal.  but if we want to make the wonders of
pyrolysis and gasification and the newly emerging terra preta
concerns, all accessible and really usable, we are going to need to
step beyond the usual imbert type designs.

automation over sensing and control is an important part of this.  so
also is the promotion of designs that move closer to "any biomass
shape", "any water content".  if such needs some additional motors and
whatnot, it will then only be like every other aspect of a
contemporary combustion system.

though i like to stay all mechanical, most around me find this a
terrible way to make a reliable and efficient system.  they will argue
the increased robustness of embedded control systems over old
mechanical solutions.

kids these days, no respect for their elders . . .

j






> Also, the basic Imbert design is something
> that worked and we are still trying to emulate his designs and get them
> right. Heading off into the blue on entirely new ideas will come in due
> course (is already coming if the truth be known.)
>
> Kurt
>
>
> drew wrote:
> > .    Never before has this sort of thing been available for
> > this sort of money.    Integration of small controls is happening so
> > fast in some industries, why not here????
> >
> > All the best
> > Drew
> >
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Gasification mailing list
> Gasification at listserv.repp.org
> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_listserv.repp.org
> http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org
>