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[evolvingape]

Hi Everyone,

I found this video on youtube showing a much smaller unit running a small tractor. The guy says he has built it to FEMA design specs. He also says that with a hefty double filter he is only getting 4 hours run time before a filter change is required. Filters might require more R&D but you will find that out when you got a unit up and running under testing.

The good news is it looks to me like the dimensions of his combustion area are around about 1/3 (ish) the dimensions of an EGU Mk4... So... Maybe a few Mk4's could run that small tractor... ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqXYp28DDc&feature=related

RM

[evolvingape]

Hi Everyone,

Some developments to share with you:

Here is a youtube video of a guy running a FEMA type gasifier to power a Briggs and Stratton 3HP ICE. In the summary he mentions he is using a 10cm fire tube. This is important because it tells us that 4” schedule pipe will do the job of running a small motor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOIy-3WHa1I

With the ICE powered wood chippers being generally around 5 â€" 6 HP then a 4” fire tube will probably run them fine, which means you have the capability to produce as much wood chip fuel as you want, with zero fuel cost. Effectively you will have your own fuel processing plant in your back yard.

Now let's talk about the 4” NPS requirement. The problem that we have currently with the Everyman Gasifier is that 4” Barrel Nipples are not very long, this means you have to build a fire tube using multiple Barrel Nipples and Parallel Sockets. This can get costly and so a much better solution would be to have a single Barrel Nipple custom made to the length you require, if you can find a plumbing place that will make it for you at a reasonable price.

There is another alternative and that is to cut your own:

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/1224-Threading-Machine

This is the industry standard pipe threading machine for up to 4” pipe. It also can cut 4” stainless steel pipe with the correct die fitted. It also can be easily adapted to cut either BSPT or BSPP threads of varying length.

Here is a youtube tutorial on how to use it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGsEzTcLREY

These machines can be very expensive to buy new, approximately £7000 GBP, however they are very cheap to rent, prices vary so shop around for the best deal:

http://www.speedyservices.com/product/13860/pipe-threader-ridgid1224/productoverview

http://www.tglynes.co.uk/plant-hire/

If you were then to buy 6 metres of pipe for example:

http://www.zx55.com/shopexd.asp?id=5069

http://www.zx55.com/shopexd.asp?id=5067

As you can see the welded S40S 4” pipe is cheaper than the seamless, but the seamless does not have the potential problem of the weld cracking and leaking from the high temperatures of the gasifier. I would always prefer seamless if I could afford it.

Now you have 6 metres of pipe and a pipe threading machine for a day that will cut, deburr and thread the pipe for you. If you were to cut each pipe into ½ metre lengths then you would have 12off fire tubes with custom threads on either end, either BSPP or BSPT.

You could then either sell the fire tubes individually via ebay for a small profit, or to members of this community. You could also easily fabricate a complete gasifier unit to run a wood chipper or small generator using 150lb class fittings. If you have the money to do this then it may help everyone out hugely, if I had the money I would definitely do it. Something for you to ponder.

The thing about screwed fittings such as Tee's and Crosses etc is that they are cast, so no seams. Parallel Running Nipples and Parallel Sockets are also threaded from S40S seamless pipe, so no welded seams. If you were to use only seamless pipe for the fire tube you would have an exceptionally high quality 316 stainless steel, fully seamless, thick walled gasifier unit, that would most probably be of the highest quality around... for less money than the 304 welded versions currently available to buy:

http://www.youtube.com/user/VictoryGasworks#p/u

(The website is down today www.victorygasifier.com but it was up last night)

So I think if you got the money for an initial startup then you could have your own gasifier business and fuel business from your backyard with very little labour time. This would also be a decentralised industry with zero patent restrictions and so it would be impossible to shut down.

RM

[evolvingape]

Hi Everyone,

I have been doing some work on the blower system and here is a good site to give you an idea of the range of blowers available:

http://www.justfans.co.uk/

I personally think that a Tesla Turbine Pump will do the job much better and can be made entirely out of stainless steel. It can also be powered by a simple pulley allowing you flexibility in choice of prime mover.

I have also been thinking about reducing the height of the woodchip fuel hopper which is a major obstacle to covert vehicle mounting. I believe I have come up with a solution that solves the problem by removing the fuel hopper from the gasifier unit and implementing an automated fuel feeding system.

We already have a vacuum pump (blower) present in the system that is only used on startup. If we were to divert the vacuum generated after the gasifier becomes self sustaining and use it intermittently to create a vacuum on the fuel hopper then we could suck fuel chips into the fire tube loading port. If your clever about it you can spring load the gate open and use the vacuum of the pump to close it before it will suck chips this saves using an actuator that must withstand the high heat.

The chips would be stopped by a stainless steel mesh above the hopper, at which point the vacuum would shut off, and the gate valve would open. The chips would drop under gravity into the fire tube.

The compacting rod would then linear actuate to tamp down the chips in the fuel tube. The compacting rod would then withdraw and seal to the top of the fuel feed tube.

Using this system would utilise the vacuum pump already present and only requires sensible valve control and suitable control software.

It may be possible to use a laser beam to trigger the auto fuel feed system when the beam is able to reach the sensor, multiple sensors would work better. They must be able to withstand the heat of the gasifier unit. Other ideas on sensing fuel level in fire tube are welcome

I have put some pictures of gate valves below for the people that do not know what they are, and also a website that sells valves to give you some more information:

http://www.valtorc.com/valves/industrial/knife-gates.html

RM

[evolvingape]

Hi Everyone,

Up to now the focus of gasifier technology has been for use in ICE engines. This is understandable but I believe there are other options.

Currently an ICE requires that a gasifier system filters the gas to purify it before injection into the engine. This prevents the engine clogging up from unwanted deposits.

An ICE also requires a gas that is at the correct temperature before injection and this requires a cooling system.

I believe we can get around both of these problems if we were to utilise the gas in a different system.

If we were to use a gasifier to create gas and then burn that gas without it being filtered it would generate heat. The Kelly Kettle demonstrates the principle of a stainless steel double walled boiler that creates steam. This is the same principle as a steam engine boiler.

This gas also would not need cooling eliminating the need for a cooling system.

The steam pressure that is generated is a fluid in a separate isolated system and so will be pure. The only interaction between the two fluids is in thermal heat exchange.

Steam as the pure working fluid can run a turbine, and a turbine is perfect for running an electric motor. So it will be possible to run an electric car from a gasifier with a far more simplified architecture.

We will definitely be able to eliminate the cooling system in this manner, however, I am sure none of us want to pollute the environment anymore than is absolutely necessary in this transitional period.

So, a filterless burn will need to be assessed for pollutants, and then if necessary some kind of filtration system can be added.

Gasifier Turbine Electric Vehicle anyone ?

RM

[evolvingape]

Hi Everyone,

Check out this video from VictoryGasifier showing the ABE unit. See how compact it is! The guy also uses 45 degrees as a design principle, this was a potential direction I mentioned in the youtube video, looks like he beat me to it by a couple of years!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpqvKeSH9v0

What he describes as the hearth below the fuel hopper is not very tall and so he must be getting the correct combustion processes in a very small vertical space. This is great news! He is also using the 45 degree angle to feed the gas out and then sending it through 180 degrees through the hot filter and cyclone filter.

Note he mentions adding on a radiator and further media filter for use with ICE's, if your just going for a burn to run a steam boiler then these extra devices are not necessary. Clean steam power could be just around the corner!

RM