[Gasification] Producer gas without nitrogen

Arnt Karlsen arnt at c2i.net
Mon Mar 19 15:49:19 CDT 2012


On Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:55:08 -0700, Ken wrote in message 
<CAOqQ0ibKZH3ZjfZ40+9z7NOQFf9Dj=_J86tzc_a6=kDn1BufDw at mail.gmail.com>:

> List
> 
> An excellent discussion - and one that Kalle touches on in his 1942
> paper.
> 
> http://www.hotel.ymex.net/~s-20222/gengas/kg_eng.html
> 
> He reasoned, why use completely atmospheric air, when you can feedback
> about 20%  CO2 from the hot engine exhaust gases. Returning this hot
> carbon dioxide into the reduction zone of the charcoal gasifier
> reduces the amount of charcoal you need to burn per mile - and also
> returns water vapour which boosts the H2 content.  It also cools the
> nozzle temperature to something sensible  900 - 1000C.
> 
> Interesting that we breath an atmosphere that's roughly 78% nitrogen
> - and we manage to oxidise and metabolise our fuel - coincidence?
> 
> Ok - woodgas has a low BTU content - about 1/6th that of methane or
> propane.  But it wins in the end - because by the luck of its air/fuel
> ration mix is roughly 1:1 - whereas propane is 14:1.   A cylinder
> full of woodgas and air contains roughly the same energy as the same
> cylinder with the correct air/propane mix.
> 
> One way to get more bang for your buck is to increase the compression
> ratio
> - or use and engine with a naturally high compression ratio - i.e. a
> diesel.

..why not use a turbocharger to boost the induction pressure by 
another third or so to match the engine "derate"?

..increased compression ratios means higher loads at all conditions,
we only need those higher combustion pressures at "full power."

> I'm currently looking on converting simple diesel engines to spark +
> compression ignition so that they can be used at their stock
> compression ratio - and run on both diesel for starting and woodgas
> for the rest of the duration of the run - without significant power
> derating.  It's entirely an experimental piece of work - but
> documented here on the APL Wiki.
> 
> http://wiki.gekgasifier.com/w/page/30448258/Spark%20conversion%20for%20Lister%20slow%20speed%20diesel%20engines#view=page
> 
> I'm also looking for a cheap and robust gasifier that is appropriate
> for developing countries where the slow speed Lister is commonplace.
> 
> Gary Gilmore from Philadelphia is making some progress with his
> interpretation of the Kalle.
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pbuJKRrFuc&feature=related
> 
> I don't wish to hijack your thread - just make you aware of some
> interesting stuff that's going on.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> regards
> 
> 
> 
> Ken


-- 
..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt Karlsen
...with a number of polar bear hunters in his ancestry...
  Scenarios always come in sets of three: 
  best case, worst case, and just in case.




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