[Gasification] Straw Fueled CHP

[Doug]

Hi Greg,

Tom has covered the issues of straw gasification, and certainly 
liquefied ash, and sintered clinker are an issue not easily overcome if 
you just want to make gas. The issue always remains in that raw straw 
can end up passing through, to then add their condensible volatiles to 
the end gas.

You may remember that we cubed flax, straw, and hemp for trials in 
Winnipeg using a rather big vertical rotary machine. It was at least a 
solution to being able to get the volumes reduced, but for sure 
conventional gasifiers of most designs just do not incorporate the 
appropriate factors to control the low velocity air and fast moving 
fuel. If you hold the fuel it will slag, so to me, the first thing I 
would do is:

1. Establish first how thick the bed can be with your cubed fuel on a 
horizontal high porosity grate plate (or other).

2. With various flows, I would want to see if I could function with the 
thinnest bed possible, allowing for the lowest air velocity, and minimal 
ash problems.

3. If you do this in the open air, watch the smoke generation and time 
the colour changes, you know it explains the state of pyrolysis.

Downside.

1. Cubing is high energy consumption adding to fuel cost, unless you can 
generate power from the gas you make.

2. The output char, if that is the target, will need very careful 
airtight storage, plus a way to move it about in considerable volume. 
Very hazardous to health.

3. You still have to design on a scale that your fuel test information 
will set in "stone".

Hope you keep us informed on your progress as I am sure others will have 
more to contribute (as we do!)

Regards,

Doug Williams.

Fluidyne.


On 27/12/17 05:57, Greg Manning wrote:
> Greetings Doug and list,
>
> I hope all is as well as can be as we all age like fine wine.
>
> In the interest of the original post about straw gasification, I am 
> going to attempt a sample run in my latest unit out of curiosity, I 
> think going the route of cubed wheat straw would be the way to go, 
> what are your thoughts on this ?
>
> Greg Manning
>
>