[Stoves] Re: blue flame observations in TLUD rice husk gas stove

[Thomas Reed]

Dear Roger and All:

Most "structural" biomass (trees, stalks, ...) contains lignin, a 
predominantly hydrocarbon compound that I believe is the precursor to 
coal, peat ... and tar. 

Mother Nature values the next generation more than the current and 
spends a LOT of time nurturing them. 

Seed related biomass is typically a carbohydrate polymer and can burn in 
a hot fire according to

CH2O ==> CO + H2 ==> CO2 + H2O

Carbohydrates contain typically less energy (15-18 MJ/kg instead of 
19-22), but they seem to burn cleaner.

Paul.  I like blue flames better than yellow.

TOM



Roger Samson wrote:

>It may be a function of fuel quality and the quality of combustion. The best
>blue flame we have gotten with the Mayon turbo stove (MTS) is with cocoa
>husk then rice hull, but also we have gotten it with millet husk -peanut
>shell mixes. However the cocoa shell is unique, it has no flame above the
>fuel bed, then 3 inches above we have dancing blue flames. In the case of
>rice hull the blueflame starts at the fuelbed. It maybe that the cocoa shell
>releases its gases more readily.
>
>In my gasifer pellet pellet stove that I heat my home with in Montreal, corn
>provides one of the best blueflames. I do not know but think maybe somehow
>related to the chemical composition such as chlorine and potassium content
>of the fuel as the ag residues tend to be higher in these constituents. 
>
>I think the blue flame is sexier to watch at night but may not necessarily
>better than a light yellow flame which usually occurs with high quality wood
>combustion.  The emissions and combustion efficiency are likely similar.
>However a blue flame maybe a good indicator of low particulate load as  the
>stoves with blueflame seem to have relatively low particulate load. 
>
>
>Roger
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org
>[mailto:stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of psanders at ilstu.edu
>Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 12:06 AM
>To: alexis belonio; STOVES
>Subject: [Stoves] Re: blue flame observations in TLUD rice husk gas stove
>
>Stovers,
>
>The following is from Alexis Belonio.  He is not subscribed to the Stoves
>list
>serve, so please include his address in any replies that you send.
>
>Alexis, please tell us more about the amounts of primary air that give 
>the best
>gases.  I suspect that a moderate to strong flow of primary air is best.  If
>really strong flow, than what is observed?  And if a low flow, what is
>happening?  So far you are the only person who has these observations, so
>your
>details are important.
>
>Tom Reed, I still do not know why you say that blue flame is not better 
>than the
>yellow flame, or however you choose to say it.  Please elaborate.
>
>Paul
>
>Quoting alexis belonio <atbelonio at yahoo.com>:
>
>  
>
>>Dear Paul,
>>
>>Thanks for the email and the info re blue flame from
>>gasification of biomass!
>>
>>In my previous experiments on TLUD rice husk
>>gasifiers, I found the following factors contributed
>>in producing a bluish flame color:
>>
>>  1. The fuel itself - Only rice husk was found to
>>have a bluish color in the stove.  I tested wood
>>chips, corn cobs, and dried leaves. The rice husk
>>produced the bluish color of almost 80 to 90% followed
>>by crumbled dried leaves  of about 60 to 70% then corn
>>cobs of 30-40%, and wood chips of 5-10%.
>>
>>  2. The moisture content of rice husk fuel - Based
>>on my several tests, drying rice husk in the sun for
>>half a day produces a better flame (more bluish)than
>>rice husk which is not subjected to drying before
>>fuelling.
>>
>>  3. The type of burner used - The design of the
>>burner also affects the color of the flame.  The
>>cylindrical type cover produces a better flame than
>>the conical cover.  This can be attributted either to
>>the distribution of secondary air or the preheating
>>effect of air prior to combustion.
>>
>>  4. Amount of char in the reactor - The amount of
>>char also affects the color of the flame. During the
>>first few minutes, the color of flame is less bluish
>>than on the later stage of the stove operation.  This
>>is because more char layer is present in the stove in
>>the later part of operation than in the earlier part,
>>that improves gas generation.
>>
>>  5. Amount of air flow - Adjusting the amount of air
>>during gasification can provide the right color of the
>>flame during gasification.  I observe this in the
>>single as well as in the remote burner stoves.
>>
>>These observations might not be true to other biomass.
>>The stove itself should be tested and experiments must
>>be done.
>>
>>Alexis
>>
>>    
>>
>
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