Wood gas

Alternative Fuels of all sorts, Biodiesel, Electric, Human Power, Steam, etc.

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dadeo
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Wood gas

Post by dadeo »

A while back, while searching for bus conversion pictures, I found a picture of a bus in china with a large column of smoke coming out of some machine on the back. The caption said the vehicle was coal powered. I studied up on it and discovered that it ran on producer gas. This is a really cool way to create a fuel suitable for motor vehicles from solid fuel such as wood or coal. It's kinna like making charcoal/coke but using the by-products: carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane to fuel your vehicle, and the charcoal/coke burns to heat the next layer of wood/coal.
The basic idea can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgu9BdHeUYg
and heres some people who converted their Volvo to run on it: http://www.vedbil.se/indexe.shtml

This isn't new technology, it was popular during World War 2 due to petroleum shortages. Mother Earth News has had articles about wood gas and have plans to build a gasifier, but they want $15 for it.
FEMA has plans for free download:

"Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas
Generator for Fueling Internal Combustion
Engines in a Petroleum Emergency"

here: http://www.woodgas.net/files/FEMA%20eme ... ssifer.pdf

It would be cool to make a vehicle run on it (Silverbear's bus, for example was set up for it) but I would really like to make a gasifier to run a stationary engine powering a generator for my house electricity. Wood chips aren't hard to get here (free from the DPW down the street) and coal is also available (steel mills and power-plants)
Dualfuel
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Post by Dualfuel »

Hi,
Please do not bother with the FEMA. Its a tar maker. Tar, will stick your intake valves...here is a link to an American Master....Mr. Wayne Keith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3MZo_eyxhM

This guy's rig runs on wood gas and powers a saw that makes the blocks that the tractor uses as fuel, so it makes its own fuel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHbXC6na ... re=related

The European Master.... Dutch John

http://www.woodgas.nl/GB/index.html

Swedes and Fins are doing it as a matter of course.
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GoodClue
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Wood gas and related ...

Post by GoodClue »

http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/01/ ... -cars.html

An excellent and comprehensive article on wood gas ... including the comments feedback ...

The Low Tech Magazine is a blast on it's own to read ... worth following even on nice days.

GoodClue
"ya gotta have art ..."
Dualfuel
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Location: Calumet MI
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Post by Dualfuel »

Hi,
The producer on the red 240 series was designed and built by Dutch John. He really does painstaking work.
DF
Dualfuel
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Location: Calumet MI
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Post by Dualfuel »

Image
Here is a picture of me riding my new 500 gallon pig! Its one of two I purchased from the propane company. The pigs will be filled with producer gas. I am hoping to eventually get enough low pressure storage to run our propane frig for an extended period between fillings.

Also in the background is clear evidence of my air compressor fetish/addiction. I fear when all is counted and numbered, I will have more compressors stashed around the country, then I do, engines. Hmmm, hard to claim being a gear head when I am actually a 'Pressor Head.

DF
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