Looking for wood gasifier help

[lostcause]

I'm thinking that at least a few of you probably have built working gasifiers, and in the process you must have done plenty of research first. I've been looking at building one for a few years now in an on-again, off-again kind of approach, but i think i really a going to do it now. the one last thing i am looking for before i start is a good sounding board - ideally a forum. the problem is that i haven't found a place like what i want yet. i have seen a ton of sites with people's builds and lots of design information, but there are always hidden things that they did that you can't see. hopefully i can ind people willing to share the details.

i found one alternative energy forum that literally had one post in the gasifier section, made over a year ago. i've also found others that seem to be mostly built around the community that have bought the gasifier kits they sell. what i'm looking for is basically a forum with an open-source attitude with people who have built their own units from scratch. i know that a build is likely to involve some tweaking and possibly rebuilding after the fact, but i figure that if i can find a group of people who are already in the know, they might be able to tell me some things i should not do, or should do differently.

as a bit of background, i'm planning on building a gasifier to run a 16hp 2 cylinder engine, powering a belt drive generator head. i'm not looking at this as a necessary item that i'm going to depend on, though it would be nice if it turned out to be that good and reliable. i was the kid who tore apart every toy he had, just to see how it worked. i've always been fascinated by anything mechanical, and i've spent a lot of my life building and working on things, so this is really just natural progression. it's also a matter of availability - i have a 16hp wisconsin-robin engine, a few good air compressor tanks that were donated due compressor failure, a good hot air furnace heat exchanger, and even a 4kw belt drive generator head. though, if i can get this to work, i'll likely buy a slightly bigger generator head.

 

[CobyRupert]

Wow, sounds like an I interesting project. Sorry I can't add any info, the only wood gasification stove I saw was a super efficient wood stove "boiler" (but not technically) .
Do you plan on storing large quantities of the gas to use as needed?

 

[forgeblast]

its come up on the forum a couple of times, I asked once about running an old genny using it.
Search Results - TractorByNet.com

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Have you checked out Mr teslonian on you tube.

 

[davedj1]

try here also, don't be afraid to ask questions, I think these guys will share all their info with you if you are sincere.
Outdoor Wood Furnace Info - Index

 

[Papasmirf]

Go to Mother Earth News. They are good at researching and investigating the pros and cons. You can find a lot of info there.

 

[stuckmotor]

Yahoo has a woodgas forum. I believe it's called exactly that, "Woodgas". Communication between posters is relatively easy.

 

[Papasmirf]

Good, hope you find a lot of info. Just don't forget Mother Earth News.

 

[Fallon]

Wouldn't a steam engine be more efficient? Turn heat to power rather than use heat to manufacture fuel to provide power?

 

[lostcause]

Wouldn't a steam engine be more efficient? Turn heat to power rather than use heat to manufacture fuel to provide power?

no idea to be honest. i'm not familiar with what it would take to fabricate a steam engine of a sufficient size to turn a generator. crude but functional gasifiers can be built pretty easily out of scrap, and that is probably one of the more attractive features for many when designing these as a backup power source. my approach is adding an extra layer in, since i am building a device to extract gas from wood to power an engine to turn a generator.

gasifiers initially became popular because of the shortage of fuel to power existing vehicles, tractors, and other equipment. there is still a use for them in under developed areas of the world where fuels aren't easily available. in this part of the world we never saw the shortage during ww2 that they did in europe, where gasifier use became common to power your vehicle.

my interest is purely hobby - i've already got a hydraulic feed pto chipper to generate a limitless supply of fuel, lots of surplus tanks and scrap metal that is just screaming gasifier, along with a wisconsin twin that i haven't been able to find a use for. if it will all work when i'm done, there's a 7.2kw harbor freight generator head for $300 with a lot of good reviews that will mate to it and produce a neat and fun project that actually could be useful.

this is all a precursor actually. one other "hobby" i have involves somewhat a uncommon older brand of european automobile, and i'd just love to build a gasifier to power one of them. some people like to sit in their chair and watch football, but i'd rather exercise my mind and create something.

 

[Fallon]

some people like to sit in their chair and watch football, but i'd rather exercise my mind and create something.

We just moved out of suburbia to 5 acres with a shop so I could tinker & putter as well.

I was just thinking heating water with fuel would be a little simpler than trying to get air/fuel mixtures right for a gasifier. A steam engine is just a steam supply & a piston connected to a flywheel with appropriate valving to switch piston direction based on flywheel location. I'm not sure which one would be more likely to explode on you... probably steam.

Keep on tinkering.

 

[davedj1]

OOPS my bad, I just naturally thought of a wood fired gasifier water furnace. I'm not geared to think of a gassifier to make a fuel. I did read a bunch on them a while back but can't remember where I found all the info. You tube search might help.
dave

 

[lostcause]

OOPS my bad, I just naturally thought of a wood fired gasifier water furnace. I'm not geared to think of a gassifier to make a fuel. I did read a bunch on them a while back but can't remember where I found all the info. You tube search might help.
dave

yeah, it's cool. most newer wood burners are designed to employ some form of gasification to burn the excess gases produced as wood heats up. it's all the same principle, just that i'm looking to keep it at controlled pyrolase and not intentionally use the heat from burning the wood. as far as learning about it from the internet - i've searched, read stuff, and watched videos for the last few years. i'm just looking for a two directional form of communication now. a sounding board to toss ideas at and hear feedback from people who have already done it. there's a lot out there already, but there's even more knowledge in the heads of people that you have to find and pry out.

 

[OldMcDonald]

lostcause, Sorry I cannot help directly. To be honest I am not so technically minded, but have a near neighbour who is and he mentioned wood gasifiers to me a few weeks back. Always willing to learn I read a little bit about them. If you have not already checked specifically for Australian sites, they were a very popular fuel source for vehicles during WWII. A forum that might be able to provide useful info for you is Home made jet & pulsejet engine and might also give you some new thoughts on other propulsion methods.

 

[gungatim]

have you read the plans put out by FEMA? I downloaded them a while ago and was toying with building one myself. Looks pretty simple and "government approved"!

 

[Willie B]

I know nothing of them, Vermont Castings engineering genius Duncan Syme, Built a gassifier trailer to tow behind a 1935? Yellowstone Ford tour bus. It served as the gas tank. As I recall he used hardwood thread spools heated in a sealed container over a propane burner.

 

[jwmsjwms]

Have you thought about a steam plant instead. I do recall an article in The Mother Earth News about units that had been built in England during WWII. Do not recall details though; read it about 25 years ago.

 

[Tor Arne]

One thing you have to watch out for is getting the gas cooled and filter it well before you introduce it to the engine if you plan to have the engine last for some time. You will also experience some loss of power compared to gasoline, about 40% if i remember correctly.

 

[Willie B]

Tor Arne, My wife's family is in Norway, Byremo if I remember correctly.
I was surprised to see a B275 on your list. I too have had one for 27 years, a very useful tractor, and now some of the venues are relaxing their pre 1960 rule, Mine is 1961, I run stock in antique tractor pulls. I do as well as anyone in weight class. These machines are very rare in USA.
Bill

 

[Tor Arne]

Tor Arne, My wife's family is in Norway, Byremo if I remember correctly.
I was surprised to see a B275 on your list. I too have had one for 27 years, a very useful tractor, and now some of the venues are relaxing their pre 1960 rule, Mine is 1961, I run stock in antique tractor pulls. I do as well as anyone in weight class. These machines are very rare in USA.
Bill

Hey.
Mine is a 62 model, agree that it is a very useful tractor. Perhaps one of the most smooth running disel engines I've heard It has been on the farm since 72 I think. many childhood memories with that tractor. They are quite common here in Norway. Still using it frequently when I have a small job.