[Gasification] (no subject)

[doug.williams]

Hi DM & Colleagues,

I opened the Mail tonight to find quite a debate about List discussions.

> This will be my second and probably one of very few posts because as much 
> as
> I like to read I realy don't have much to contribute.

This is your third posting DM, and I wonder what you did with the gasifier 
you built in Nickel City.

> BUT this is a gasification list and a resource.

It is, and it caters for all who put their hand up with a question, 
including the many researchers working in isolation in their respective 
institutions.

> You want to spark some discussion?
> Well here are some questions.

A good place to start a Q+A session that has any relevance, it to first 
state the type of gasification process, because the answers are not 
applicable across the board.

 > Can we discuss gas clean up?

Some of this is to be covered in the Charcoal Gasifier postings that I am 
writing for beginners. I have a lot on at the moment, and will continue ASAP 
for those interested in these basic steps towards understanding gasifiers.

> Gas cooling, I'd like to hear some ideas on counter flow clooling and air
> preheating.

Not sure I understand what you mean by counter flow cooling, but preheating 
air does have it's limitations outside of colder climates. I would never use 
it in a tropical situation, but again, it depends on the type of gasifier.

> Charcoal, dirty word around to some but its an important fuel, can we
> discuss the math and reasoning behind how to builkd cahr coal gasifiers?

When you have no dimensional drawings to work from, no real understanding of 
how gas is made, and no first hand experience with gasifiers with air 
nozzles, any calculations are just confused guess work. I guess you missed 
my first five postings on charcoal gasification?

> The Torsten Kalle gasifier would be an interesting thing to build, can
> anyone explain to calculate how to size this to an engine?

As with any gasified engine, you start with the engine volume, the average 
upper RPM that you need, then apply the what you know about air nozzle gas 
outputs, and then consult the Fluidyne Engine Tables. 
www.fluidynenz.250x.com    If your air nozzle holder is made correctly, then 
you can change the size of nozzle to get the correct amount of gas at the 
optimum temperature without over heating the gasifier or cooling system.

A new Spread Sheet Tool of engine tables with added capability will be place 
on the Fluidyne Archive shortly. As a matter of interest, between 4-500 
people access the Fluidyne Archive each week.

 > Doug
> I want to learn not read debates about why people leave.

I have been no part of this current exchange of why people join or leave the 
list, so not sure why you pick me out to address this comment.

My time is not well spent one finger typing, and besides I do not have any 
mandate to contribute more than I do to question posed on this forum. There 
is a point however, when the learning has to stop, and knowledge tested by 
doing, as some members have demonstrated quite well.

> At some point, I'd like to start posting myself when I have something
> productive to contribute

 Learning is a two way activity, but silence communicates nothing. 
Gasification is not a technology that is as simple as it appears, and the 
phenomena created in each and every component can affect performance 
outcomes. It took us three years to learn how to make gas, and nearly four 
more to cool and clean it for engines, but this was without help and the 
benefit of the Internet Forum of this List.

My advise to every member on this list is to start asking questions if you 
feel you lack understanding of any topic up for discussion.

Doug Williams,
Fluidyne.