Gasifier Burner/Research Development

=Study of Industry Standards=

See also Industry Standard Pellet Burners - not necessarily gasifier burners

Design Criteria
The gasifier should be designed in such a way that it can satisfy a specific set of use cases. These use cases should consider the availability of three products produced by the gasification process, namely Heat, Ash or char and combustible gases.

Use of excess heat: Use of ash and char: Use of combustible gases:
 * heat air in a shelter
 * dry fuel for the gasifier
 * soil amendments
 * lye production for:(ash may have to much carbon for quality lye production)
 * soap products
 * lye stabilized earth
 * Steam Generator
 * Power Cube
 * Truck
 * Car
 * Kiln

Portability
Unit should be available in both portable and fixed arrangements. portable configurations should enable vehicle (trailer?) mounting. reactor module design could be impacted. Will refractory cement handle the jostling around?

Modularity
A good design should allow for flexibility in design variability without loosing compatibility between the various components. This need may be more pronounced during development. modules include:
 * fuel bin
 * different Sizes
 * Autoloading? (designed with this in mind not necessarily needed)
 * reactor core and ash collection
 * variability in configuration depending on feedstock
 * hearth material may vary depending on portability
 * cyclone filter
 * gas cooler
 * filters
 * manifold for gas delivery (optional)
 * flare

Capability
How large a generator should this unit supply? A gasifier operating above designed capacity can cause damage to the reaction chamber and grate and operating significantly below capacity can lead to high tar production, the most difficult problem facing engines ran on producer gas.

Other Considerations
ability to interface with:
 * screw type ash cleanout
 * auto fuel loader

=Research=
 * Gasifier construction set:
 * Mike Koch's gasifier, U. Missouri, Columbia, 2008 Capstone Project, Mechanical Engineering:
 * A gasifier can also be used to make biochar. Here are some simple design examples for charcoal/biochar-producing biomass gasifiers:
 * 50 kilowatt wood pellet gasifier
 * Charcoal kiln at A.R.T.I.
 * Folke Günther's design: "the simplest of the simple - a two-barrel charcoal retort"
 * Tom Reed's TurboStove

Build and design documents

 * FEMA Gasifier Plans(PDF)
 * Producer Gas for Motor Vehicles(PDF and registration)
 * Handbook of Biomass Downdraft Gasifier Engine Systems(PDF)



Conversation with Ben Hansen

 * Ben is building a 40 kW gasifier CHP system, and may be interested in a steam engine
 * Packed bed, downdraft:
 * Modified fluidyne gasifier.
 * Doug Williams – fluidyne gasifier - http://www.fluidynenz.250x.com/
 * Fab shop in Viroqua – friend of Ben – Roger Tullifson, Tollifson repair– did a heat exchanger for diesel exhaust.
 * Dig up solenoid valves contact – some open source people
 * The Gasifier Experimenters Kit (GEK) Wiki

GEK Gasifier powering a Car
   
 * http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/masongekhonda

=Prototypes=

Prototype I - Larry Dobson's Roundy
Gasifier_Burner_with_Heat_Exchanger_Prototype_I

=See Also=
 * Compressed Fuel Gas
 * Biomass to FuelFischer-Tropsch

=GEK Gasifier powering a 6 hp combustion engine= 