[Stoves] [Gasification] Gasification Operational Principles

[jim mason]

>
>  Can somebody on the list with experience from both closed top nozzle type
>  gasifiers with a small reduction pipe a´la Doug Williams Pioneer class gasifier
>  and closed top nozzle type gasifiers with the traditional widening cone style
>  reduction zone come up with some comparative information on the differences?
>

i agree we need better comparison data and operating experience
between these types.  so much is anecdotal, and largely related to
each of our personal favorite horses in this race.  even much of the
"quantative" data happens between units of such different dimension,
scale, architectural particulars and insulative realiites that the
"quantative" data becomes rather "qualatative" when compared to data
from other sites.

to help with this problem, one of the things we've been working on of
late is an "experimenters gasifier kit" that allows for the easy and
modular change out between these different modes in the same unit, so
that direct comparison and rich learning is possible.  the goal has
been to make a full gasifier lego system- a unit where all the major
and many of the minor downdraft architectural types are available in a
single unit, and easily changed between for good comparison and formal
research.

we now have a unit that can easily rebolt the main insert so as to
move between core and imbert types.  different open core tube sizes
are installable via a simple bolt down bottom ring.  in the imbert
type, restriction sizes and different varieties of reduction cone
designs similarly bolt in.  related air delivery points are movable up
and down, as well as in and out.  nozzles sizes in cast iron or
stainless change out as desired.

hybrids are also possible between the two main types, with air
dedicated air delivery to pyrolysis and combustion zone, but still
with open top, (a la mukunda, et al).    similarly, the top hopper can
change out from "none" for small batch lab work, to traditional
insulated bin, and non-insulated monorator design.

i will post some pictures and more detailed explanations of the "lego
gasifier" soon.  today i am shipping it off to the canadian professor
who ordered it for a biomass energy program.

i will be open sourcing this design with full doc soon, in the hopes
that it will prove useful for others.  hopefully others will develop
new "bolt in" components that expand the available library of
comparative options for the unit.


jim