[Gasification] "Continuous analysis of elemental emissions fromabiofuel gasifier"

[Jeff Davis]

Dear Tom & Doug,


OK, maybe Doug is correct, I’m reading too much.

A few weeks ago I walked by the bailer and it hit me, there’s a bail or
two left in the bailer! I could use them for this experiment. (My whole
supply was washed away in the flood)

I’ll take one of my junked hot water heaters, one with the outer housing
(insulation) still intact. At the bottom a pipe will be welded in for the
air blower. About ten inches up some kind of grate. To start with I don’t
think I need to worry about anything on the top, just let it smoke if it
will not burn (well, it will start out burning). Maybe later I could
collect some of the tar to use as a binder, that is if there is none of
those nasty fore mentioned elements in it. Just a long shot.

The Woodgas Camp Stove will not work with Rogers switchgrass pellets
because just ash is left. Hmmm, maybe I should microwave (dry) them first.
And it is too small for stuffed grass.

Interesting how I’m coming full circle back to the charcoal fireball. This
could end up being some of the finest suction-gas fuel known to the
world
.. or just a big slag ball.




Jeff



> Jeff,
>
> If you are just using the gas directly for cooking or heating the TLUD may
> actually work fairly well. There is a threshold temperature below which
> about 60% of the alkali stay in the char. From memory I think that is
> about
> 700 C. The char has high insulating properties so it may allow you to
> "boil
> off" the gas and leave some alkali in the char without slagging. Try it,
>
> Tom



> Dear Doug & Tom,
>
> Well, maybe there is some hope for reducing slagging of ag waste by
> carbonizing it.
>
> I would have liked to use the IDD (T-LUD) gasifier but I fear that as the
> FP zone (flaming pyrolysis) moves downward the charcoal would condense and
> store some of problem elements fore mentioned.
>
> Maybe the old tried and true 55 gallon drum kiln, start the fire on the
> bottom...
>
> Maybe I can use my Gas-of-Fire 1000 to make the charcoal. Just run it in a
> modified mode of operation. It would be cool if one could use the same
> gasifier to make the fuel that will use the fuel. Of course later (if it
> worked) a larger version for charcoal making gasifier might be in order.
>
> Thanks for the replies,
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>> Jeff, Doug,
>>
>> We dreamed about making this split with pyrolysis and with gasification.
>> In
>> both cases some stays with the char but most of the water soluble
>> inorganic
>> elements, like sodium, potassium, chlorine and sulfur go with the vapors
>> or
>> gas.
>>
>> Tom
>
>> Hi Jeff,
>>
>> You raise an interesting point:
>>
>>> One of my books state that when gasifiing ag waste you need to
>>> carbonize
>>> it
>>> first (make charcoal). I have some major doubts, I think the problem
>>> will
>>> stay with the charcoal.
>>
>> Cannot comment on Ag waste, but it seems that there is validity for some
>> elements to leave  the biomass as pyrolysis gas, leaving the carbon to
>> then
>> combust or gasify without problems. I refer to mainly woody biomass, but
>> doubt if the same could be achieved with Ag waste , which can have a
>> high
>> silica content.
>>
>>> The question is: is it possible to vaporize and remove these problem
>>> elements
>>> when making charcoal?
>>
>> It is all theory until you try it with your choice of waste, so have a
>> try,
>> it beats reading about it (:-)
>>
>> Doug Williams,
>> Fluidyne Gasification.
>





-- 
Jeff Davis

Some where 20 miles south of Lake Erie, USA