[Gasification] Small steam systems plus gasifiers for electricity

[Ken Boak]

Hi All,

Forget small scale steam for electric power generation.  Very low overall
conversion efficiency and a full-time control problem to prevent potential
steam explosions, make this a technology cul-de-sac not worth exploring.

The efficiency of a good downdraft gasifier and internal combustion engine
will produce four times as much electricity as any steam engine could - for
the same quantity of wood fuel.

I've recently been doing test runs on an APL 20kW Power Pallet, and saw
49.5kWh of electricity produced in 2.75 hours from a standard 200 litre (55
US gal) oil drum of woodchip fuel.

regards


Ken


On 1 December 2013 16:29, <sabbadess at aol.com> wrote:

> Paul,
>
> I actually built a prototype that did this:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIFTBITYjb0
>
> I found that small steam at the residential scale is just a bad idea.  The
> first major problem is wet layup seizing all the parts together.  Then
> there are the thermal lags of the gasifier and boiler for a step change in
> electrical load.  Then there is the corrosion/explosion hazard.....It just
> kept getting worse even though it sounded great in theory.  I am FAR
> happier with my gasifier/engine combo.
>
> Stephen Abbadessa
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Anderson <psanders at ilstu.edu>
> To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification <
> gasification at lists.bioenergylists.org>
> Sent: Sun, Dec 1, 2013 11:21 am
> Subject: [Gasification] Small steam systems plus gasifiers for electricity
>
>  Dear Tom, Thomas and all,
>
> On 11/30/2013 5:44 PM, Thomas Koch wrote:
>
> Tom
> .....
> I can only agree that for small systems steam systems looks as the most reliable way to produce electricity
>
> Thomas
>
>
>  This "low tech" approach appeals to me (and maybe to some others) because
> the Up Draft gasifiers are great for making clean heat, of which much gets
> wasted in cases such as people making char and biochar.
>
> I acknowledge that the *small steam systems for electricity* do not
> require gasification technologies, and therefore this topic should soon be
> off of the Gasification Listserv.   But for the moment, who are the readers
> who have interest in taking this discussion further?
>
> Paul
>
> Doc  /  Dr TLUD  /  Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD
> Email:  psanders at ilstu.edu
> Skype: paultlud      Phone: +1-309-452-7072
> Website:  www.drtlud.com
>
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