[Gasification] Engine for Gasifier

[doug.williams]

Hi Kevin,

You want to know:

> The engine is gasoline, 1.9 litre displacement, 8:1 compression ratio,,
> has fuel injection, and is "computer controlled."

This should run OK on producer gas, as it is almost the same as my own 
generator.

> A 1.9 litre engine running on wood gas at 1,800 RPM should be able to
> produce about 10 kW of generator output.

I have built several gensets from car engines, but chose to use belt drive 
to the generator. This is to allow the best torque RPM to be selected, 
rather than run at 1800RPM, which is not using the producer gas to it's best 
advantage. Cannot specify what RPM might be applicable, but 1200RPM is good 
for me, and could really pull in the International when mobile.

> With the existing computer control system, there may be inherent
> problems trying to control the engine operation.

Modern gasoline is more similar to the octane rating of producer gas than 
the WW2 fuel. I have found that at 8:1 CR on the International, the standard 
ignition setting was ideal,
so there should be no reason to believe that the computer would not function 
in the existing range. We tried advancing, but only broke Bendix springs on 
the starter.

> 1: Would the system be able to control spark advance adequately?

In a fixed RPM situation, the advance and retard hardly work if at all, and 
really only need control in a variable speed situation.

> 2: Is the 8:1 compression ratio unacceptably low?

Not at all for these small gensets.

> 3: Could it be operated as a "dual fuel engine", where it was started on
> gasoline, and then wood gas was supplied to a point where gasoline flow
> was cut back say 80% to 90%?

I used to have a solenoid valve in the fuel line on the International so I 
could get up the hills faster. I think it will complicate things to try and 
use both at the same time, but it might keep the injectors lubricated. I 
remember that in the absence of fuel, gasoline injectors "chatter".  I was 
running my own system yesterday, and only used a couple of squirts of 
gasoline down the carb to start and pull the gas through to the engine. Then 
it's gas all the way!

> Any and all comments, suggestions, and observations would be appreciated.

Before you spend a cent, even take it out of the body, put a tee mixer on 
the intake and start her up, and turn the gasoline off. You cannot harm 
anything, and can fiddle to your hearts content checking ignition, etc.

Regards,
Doug Williams,
(enjoying an unexpected day off)