[Gasification] Wishart Producer Gas Unit

Doug Doug.Williams at orcon.net.nz
Mon Jul 14 17:07:04 CDT 2014


Hi Tom and Gasification Colleagues,

While we all want to run mobile gasified applications, what is not mentioned that I can see, is that the Wishart gasifier discussed in the article was a charcoal gasifier. Rural Australia had a wealth of dead standing ring-barked eucalyptus hardwoods which fuelled boilers and made charcoal for the gasifiers. Land clearance of forest cover is more controlled today, so bagged quality char from local sources not so easy to access. Most of what I observed on sale for barbecues originated from coconut shell or Asian suppliers.

Wages for a average worker at that time (1940) was around A5 Pounds a week, so the trip quoted amounted to 6.9% of that weeks wages for each person. My Father had a 6 cylinder 1938 Pontiac in Central Queensland in 1955, and on the black top you could get 80 MPH, but I doubt if this speed was possible between Sydney and Melbourne on the 1940's roads. As the trip was probably in June or late May, that can be a lot colder, so cooling would be enhanced.

It's still indicative of alternatives to using liquid fuels, and nothing should stop anyone with the need or interest to try charcoal gasifiers for mobile application, that is if you have the ability to make your own charcoal.

Doug Williams,
Fluidyne.



On Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:48:47 -0400
Thomas Reed <tombreed2010 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Tom Miles and all
> 
> One element of biomass producer gas seldom mentioned here Is the convenience and easy feeding of wood pellets.  
> 
> While not as cheap as wood chips, they are widely available in the US at a cost of < 1/3 the cost of gasoline.  They involve much less labor and a charge burns three times as long as the same volume of wood pellets.  
> 
> Tom Reed
> 
> Thomas B Reed 
> 280 Hardwick Rd
> Barre, Ma 01005
> 508-353-7841




More information about the Gasification mailing list