[Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties 10K gasifier?

Kevin kchisholm at ca.inter.net
Thu Jun 30 19:51:04 CDT 2011


Dear Otto
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Otto Formo 
  To: bill_klein at 3ialternativepower.com ; gasification at lists.bioenergylists.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:22 AM
  Subject: Re: [Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties 10K gasifier?


  Dear all, 


  How come that pellets does not operate very well in a gasifier unit like the 10K?

  # Pellets do work very well in a JXQ-10 type gasifier, in that it is a "Stratified Downdraft Gasifier", with an open top, through which all the air enters.
  The "Imbert Type Gasifiers", with nozzle air entry, and a closed top, will not likely work well with absorbent pellets, in that there is circulation of pyrolysis gases up through the fuel bed. This is why a monorator will work on an Imbert style gasifier.


  I know that pellets made out of pine and sproose wood have a bit high content of soot.
  I belive that the pellets made out of trees with leaves have less black carbon and gives a cleaner burn.

  # No. It is not the composition of the pellet material that is the problem... the problem is "upward circulation of moist pyrolysis gases" giving their moisture up to absorbent pellets. I have run highly absorbent wood pellets in the JXQ-10 Gasifier, with absolutely no problem.


  We are using 6-8 mm wood pellets made out of mainly pine in the TLUD ND PekoPe and it works perfectly for cooking/heating and production of biochar.
  These are quality pellets, according to European Standards, with low density.
  We would like to have sizes of 10 to 15 mm, if possible, but these are not available in the commercial marked, yet.

  # In a TLUD system, pyrolysis gases are swept upward, and the moisture content of the pyrolysis gases has no opportunity to contact the fuel pellets before they are turned into char.


  Its good news to hear that pellets of Switchgras is working well.
  Hopefully pellets of Vetriver grass will do the same?

  # I haven't tried grass pellets. I understand they work well, but that under certain circumstances, there can be a problem with slag and clinkers.

  Best wishes,

  Kevin


  Otto F.


    
  > From: Bill_Klein at Powerhearth.com
  > To: gasification at lists.bioenergylists.org
  > Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:36:44 -0400
  > Subject: Re: [Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties 10K gasifier?
  > 
  > Hi, Kevin.
  > 
  > Your question of feedstock size is rather interesting and one to which I can 
  > easily relate. That said, I hope the following provides a little bit of 
  > insight and doesn't aggravate the experts on this list.
  > 
  > Before we ship our units, they undergo several tests.
  > 
  > Test 1 is a 24 hour non stop test in which we push all of the limits. Said 
  > differently, we look for the weaknesses, leaks, etc.
  > Test 2 is another 24 hour non stop test. It provides us with systems 
  > calibration.
  > Test 3 is a 100 hour non stop test. During this period, all of the necessary 
  > data points are established for our automation and management system.
  > 
  > Why am I describing an important phase of our unit fabrication, truncated as 
  > the description may be?
  > 
  > I wanted to point out the importance of properly sized feedstock for, if 
  > there is a screw up with gas flow or aglomeration, the test is stopped and 
  > rerun.
  > 
  > When we test, depending upon the customer's intended feedstock, we test and 
  > evaluate the gas from at least three feedstocks, one of which is a close 
  > approximation of that which the customer will use. Size of the feedstock is 
  > critical unless one really enjoys non stop runs, grumpy technicians and 
  > buckets of coffee.
  > 
  > Pellets: We won't use them. They are seldom uniform (cross sectionally) in 
  > moisture content and generally sealed. With heat, they shatter 
  > magnificently, leaving a pile of sawdust. The exception seems to be 
  > pelletized switchgrass: a great feedstock.
  > 
  > The chip size we like resembles an Oreo cookie, squared. As an approximation 
  > it works to gauge sizes. Overall length or width uniformity doesn't seem to 
  > be as critical as thickness. Still, there is a lot of flexibility and 
  > smaller sizes are okay to integrate, as an exception, not the rule. 
  > Gasifiers are not stoics. Built properly, they have some versatility, but 
  > you have to make friends with your unit before you learn her secrets. Then 
  > you merely have to respect them. .
  > 
  > Charcoal briquettes as a feedstock too often creates a huge problem as they 
  > plug the grate with compacted fines.
  > 
  > The best and my most favorite feedstock is still chunks. 2x4x4 - or 
  > briquettes of almost anything.
  > 
  > Kevin, I would have gladly answered earlier, but you posted hours after my 
  > bedtime. We old folks need our beauty sleep.
  > 
  > 
  > Respectfully,
  > 
  > Bill Klein
  > 3i
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: <kchisholm at ca.inter.net>
  > To: <gasification at lists.bioenergylists.org>
  > Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10:13 PM
  > Subject: Re: [Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties 10K 
  > gasifier?
  > 
  > 
  > Dear Bill
  > 
  > Quoting Bill Klein <Bill_Klein at Powerhearth.com>:
  > 
  > > To underscore Greg's email, repeating what I was taught, "The
  > > quality of the gas is in direct proportion to the quality of the
  > > char." Larger feedstock makes great char!
  > 
  > # OK!! Do you think one can make "Engine Grade Gas" using:
  > 1: Wood pellets, 1/4" diameter, 1/4" to 1/2" long?
  > 2: Wood chips screened to -1/4", +1/8"?
  > 3: Wood chips screened to -1/2",+ 1/4"?
  > 4: Wood chips screened to -1", + 1/2"?
  > 
  > Thanks!
  > 
  > Kevin
  > >
  > >
  > > Respectfully,
  > >
  > > Bill Klein
  > > 3i
  > >
  > > http://www.3iAlternativePower.com
  > >
  > >
  > > -- Original Message -----
  > > From: Greg Manning
  > > To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification
  > > Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 7:40 PM
  > > Subject: Re: [Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties
  > > 10K gasifier?
  > >
  > >
  > > Pete, (and list)
  > >
  > > What, and how big, are the fuel chunks ?
  > >
  > > most gasifiers do NOT like wood chips, or really "fine" fuel, the
  > > interstitial space the gasifier is designed to run with, is
  > > generally much larger than that of chips or fine feedstock, using
  > > the correct sized fuel, in-turn, lowers the reaction core
  > > temperature, thus creating more, and more consistant amounts, of CO.
  > > (the main flamable gas, in woodgas). (H2 and CH4 are simply "bonus"
  > > gases.....)
  > >
  > > Greg Manning.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 6:01 PM, Pete & Sheri
  > > <spaco at baldwin-telecom.net> wrote:
  > >
  > > Has anyone here had any experience running an engine using the
  > > Stak Properties 10K gasifier?
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > They tell me that the JXQ-10 gasifier is a forerunner to this
  > > machine. I have one of those. I?d like to be able to correspond
  > > with others who have this style of machine. Currently I am having
  > > mixed results getting a steady flow of good gas to run my 6.5 KW
  > > Onan 1800 rpm genset from it. On Saturday, I got it to deliver
  > > about 3.8 kw for about 12 minutes, but then the quality of the gas
  > > deteriorated. On Sunday a similar test produced worse results, but
  > > over about a one hour period, with gas quality again deteriorating
  > > as the test went proceded.
  > >
  > > I am not writing to waste the time of senior members here by
  > > asking them to troubleshoot my problems, without enough info. Just
  > > want to show what kind of issues I have for those who might be
  > > involved with similar equipment.
  > >
  > > My goals are to: 1. See how much power I can squeeze out of
  > > the generator for an extended period of time with this gas source,
  > > and 2. To get some actual experience making woodgas.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > Looking back over my videos and notes, I can see a dozen or two
  > > things that I could do better next time.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > Pete Stanaitis
  > >
  > >
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  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > --
  > > Regards,
  > >
  > > Greg Manning,
  > > Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  > >
  > >
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  > 
  > 
  > 
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