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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Dear Mark</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mark@ludlow.com href="mailto:mark@ludlow.com">Mark Ludlow</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=kchisholm@ca.inter.net
href="mailto:kchisholm@ca.inter.net">'Kevin'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A
title=gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org
href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 19, 2010 5:14
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Gasification] the most
important thing (quitepossibly) i'velearned to date</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Dear
Kevin,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">It is the Second
Law that I refer to. In simple terms it states that entropy will never
decrease (spontaneously) within a given system. So while there may be a way of
recovering, say, “waste heat” from a process, no re-formulation of the process
will make the end products more energetic than they were in their native,
unreacted state. I am quite certain that you will not find this simplified
expression worthy of argument (or will you?).</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># The way Jim
posed the original problem was that his fundamental "system" (Gasifier,
Engine, Generator) was wasting low and medium grade thermal energy in the
form of sensible and latent heat in the engine exhaust, and he was wondering
if there is a good way to use this thermal waste productively. Clearly,
evaporating water contained within fuel is an endothermic heat load which the
energy in the exhaust could meet. His overall "energy objective" is to reduce
the biomass energy input per unit of electrical energy output, by using an
available energy resource that would otherwise be wasted, rather than reducing
entropy.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># If you feel this
is an argument, then I am guilty. :-) However, I would prefer to think of it
as "polarizing the issue clearly" so that the results of his tests will be
clear</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Best
wishes,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Kevin</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Very best
regards,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Mark<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Kevin
[mailto:kchisholm@ca.inter.net] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 18, 2010 9:08
PM<BR><B>To:</B> mark@ludlow.com; Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and
gasification<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Gasification] the most important thing
(quitepossibly) i'velearned to date<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dear
Mark</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">----- Original
Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
title=mark@ludlow.com href="mailto:mark@ludlow.com">Mark Ludlow</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
title=gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org
href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">'Discussion of biomass
pyrolysis and gasification'</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Monday, October
18, 2010 4:48 AM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Re:
[Gasification] the most important thing (quitepossibly) i'velearned to
date<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Hi
Kevin!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Second Law!
Energy is not “created” by the reaction. It already exists in the individual
components of the reaction.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># Very
interesting comment! However, I think you are inferring that my questions
are an attempt to violate the First Law, and not the Second. The First Law
relates to the balance between mass and energy in a reaction. It can be
simply stated as:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">"First Law: You
can't get something for nothing."</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">The Second Law
deals with randomness and disorder, and the impossibility of getting a
perfect reaction. It can be stated equally simply as:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">"Second Law: As
a matter of fact, you can't break even."</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># My question
deals with how to set up the reaction so that with a given amount of
chemical energy in the feed input, the use of energy content of the output
gas is maximized. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Kevin, you can
answer your own question. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># I think you
might have missed the significance of my question. What do you think my
question was?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">The only excess
“free” energy is that which is expressed as sensible and latent thermal
energy of the gaseous output (however: we cool gases for greater volumetric
efficiency in UC engines, etc.). </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># No. The excess
"fee energy" that would otherwise be
wasted includes:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">1: The sensible
and latent energy in teh gasifier output product gas.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">2: The sensible
and latent heat in teh engine exhaust after teh fuel gas passed through
teh engine.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># I
am not at all talking about "free energy." What I am talking about is, as
stated above, the potential for maximizing energy content of output gas from
a given energy content of biomass feed. More specifically, if there is more
water in the feedstock, its endothermic heat burden on the reaction is
increased, but if there is "waste heat" available, such as hot engine
exhaust, it may be able to recover this waste thermal heat, and feed it into
the reaction, to end up with a greater energy content in the output gas than
is presently attainable. There is no "Something for Nothing" scam here... it
is a question being able to recover waste exhaust heat as chemical
energy in the output gas.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Even tars
require energy for “cracking” (that’s why catalysts are important). Look at
the Gibbs Free Energy of the fuel infeed and you can compute the
theoretical, 100% efficient (read:impossible!) output.
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># Using
catalysts to crack tars for gasification is totally unnecessary. Simply set
fire to them.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">One may wish to
alter the composition of the output gas, but it ain’t free, baby!
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># I would
strongly disagree with you. If the excess waste energy in the hot engine
exhaust can be used to counteract the endothermic heat load of extra water
in wet fuel, then the extra recovered energy is indeed free, from a cost
standpoint, but in no way does it violate the First
Law.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Otherwise I
would be filling the petrol tank on my double-engined Hummer with quadruple
A/C with my garden hose!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"># No
comment.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Best
wishes,</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Kevin</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal> <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Yah!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d">Mark<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
gasification-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Kevin<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, October 17, 2010 10:43 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification;
gasification@bioenergylists.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Gasification] the
most important thing (quite possibly) i'velearned to
date<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">Dear
Jim</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">Interesting
thoughts!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">What are your
thoughts on the optimum moisture content of biomass feed to a gasifier? On
the one hand, with low fuel moisture content, there is a low endothermic
load on teh reaction. On the other hand, a high moisture content could yield
greater hydrogen content in the output gas.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">To take things
to the limit, what are your thoughts on feeding a gasifier with torrified
wood?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">Thanks!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">Kevin</SPAN> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
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<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 100pt">----- Original
Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
title=jim@allpowerlabs.org href="mailto:jim@allpowerlabs.org">jim
mason</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
title=gasification@bioenergylists.org
href="mailto:gasification@bioenergylists.org">gasification@bioenergylists.org</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Monday,
October 18, 2010 2:08 AM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> [Gasification]
the most important thing (quite possibly) i'velearned to
date<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in" class=MsoNormal><BR><BR>there are many
variables to move around in a gasifier, and all of them are<BR>important.
but once the basics are in order, i'm coming to the conclusion that<BR>the
most impactful thing one can do/add/fix to the basic imbert design is to
use <BR>the ic engine exhaust to heat the incoming fuel.<BR><BR>no, i
don't have any numbers on this yet (we hope to get these soon), but
the<BR>anecdotal experiences keep piling up. the biggest flexibility gains
i'm finding<BR>both in poor fuel shape/size and moisture tolerance, as
well as gas turndown ratio, <BR>are from the ic exhaust heat exchanger. on
our rig, this is called the pyrocoil. other<BR>rigs call this something
else.<BR><BR>this is not terribly surprising. the ic exhaust is the
biggest waste heat<BR>source we have around a gasifier. in principle, the
ic exhaust has about about<BR>3x or 4x the heat available as the outgoing
syngas. the incoming fuel similarly<BR>has much more heating capacity than
the incoming air (the multiple i forget at<BR>the moment, but i do know
the incoming air can only take up about 1/2 of the<BR>heat available in
the outgoing syngas).<BR><BR>also, the ic exhaust is much hotter than the
outgoing syngas after preheating<BR>the incoming air. thus you can use the
ic exhaust to do much more than dry the<BR>fuel. you can it to drive the
fuel through pyrolysis, and really, get it up to<BR>about 4-500c before it
falls into the hearth proper. this is a big difference<BR>from the typical
situation of still moist fuel falling into the hearth.<BR><BR>not only can
you use the ic exhaust to add a very significant amount of heat to<BR>the
system, you can also use it to change the character of pyrolysis in
the<BR>reactor. a typical downdraft has very high temp short residence
time pyrolysis<BR>right on top of the nozzles. this high temp pyrolysis
optimizes the creation of<BR>teritary tars, or refractory tars, which are
difficult to crack again (given<BR>lots of double carbon bonds). if you
externally drive pyrolysis at lower temp<BR>over longer time, you get more
primary and secondary tars, which are easier to<BR>crack downstream (fewer
double carbon bonds). this seems to allow hearth<BR>conditions to be less
perfect and still get good gas out.<BR><BR>using ic exhaust to heat
incoming fuel is not a complete get out of jail free<BR>card. but to me it
seems the most impactful new thing one can do on these rigs.<BR>it seems
to have more of an impact than any other single thing we've done
to<BR>date on the gek.<BR><BR>yes, all of it is important, and all of it
should be tended to, but the above is<BR>my current vote for the biggest
bang for the effort. hopefully we can get some<BR>proper numbers on this
soon (and prove or disprove the above
conjecture).<BR><BR>jim<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>Jim
Mason<BR>Website: <A
href="http://www.whatiamupto.com">http://www.whatiamupto.com</A><BR>Current
Projects: <BR> - Gasifier Experimenters Kit (the GEK): <A
href="http://www.gekgasifier.com">http://www.gekgasifier.com</A><BR>
- Escape from Berkeley alt fuels vehicle race: <A
href="http://www.escapefromberkeley.com">www.escapefromberkeley.com</A><BR>
- ALL Power Labs on Twitter: <A
href="http://twitter.com/allpowerlabs">http://twitter.com/allpowerlabs</A><BR>
- Shipyard Announce list: <A
href="http://lists.spaceship.com/listinfo.cgi/icp-spaceship.com">http://lists.spaceship.com/listinfo.cgi/icp-spaceship.com</A><o:p></o:p></P>
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