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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Hi Gasification
Colleagues,</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>I must say I have enjoyed the recent
discussions initiated by Tom Miles, that has bought to the surface,
some of the experiences which as manufacturers of gasifiers, we face in the
market place. Other than those who are only just discovering gasification,
enthusiasm to use the technology </STRONG></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2><STRONG>in a market dominated by fossil fuels, is less than encouraging,
but as addicts of gasification, I guess that we believe in what we do, at least,
most of the time (:-) </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>To dwell on the negatives however, doesn't
help us to answer those asking questions to arrive at the right
or appropriate answers. While we can point to certain successes, or
technical achievements at all levels of gasified applications, the development
work to interface gasifiers in commercially visible installations, still needs
vigorous unbiased scrutiny. Not every thing that whistles and shines, no matter
who makes it, can be proof that it works as it should.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>I'm intrigued by Colin's question of how
long should a gasifier be tested before declaring it commercial, because the
reply depends on who's asking the question, consultant or
manufacturer. Each have their own set of responsibilities.
Insurances on which your guarantees may rely, especially Public
Liability, may place limitations on conditions of supply, so the market you
need, may have no protection if outside of the country of manufacture.
As you add the liabilities that may accumulate as a condition of supply, the
"testing period" needs to cover all those things that could invoke any financial
penalty clauses.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>For what it is worth, drawing from our own
commercializing programme begun in 1984, we sent the same design of gasifier to
Fiji, Malaysia, South Africa, and Maine USA. In the differing environments of
temperatures and high altitudes, we had to test for a base line for performance
that was consistent across all conditions, more a test of our finances than that
of the gasifier. That took two years alone, but worth the effort not to
have any nasty surprises in the remote Highlands of Central PNG.
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you add to this a two thousand hour
engine test conducted by Listers NZ, before arriving at the testing of the final
design, you may get some idea of just how much time based experience is needed.
Short cuts cost money, usually somebody else's! </FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Shiny nuts and bolts cannot fix a flawed philosophy of gas
making, but many with questions, have little appreciation
of how environmental factors can affect gasification behavior. It's not
only about how many have been supplied, but tested performance
across the conditions that limit their reliability. You just cannot do
all this in the cloistered protection of a home
base.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hope this may be of some help
Colin.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Doug Williams,</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Fluidyne
Gasification.</STRONG></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>