Thanks, Bill and Greg. I used Gregs method of emptying the whole reactor, an inch thick layer at a time to try to figure out what was going one. The char is 100% tiny stuff, max of maybe ½ long, ¼ wide and maybe 1/16 thick or less, including some charcoal dust. So I am in total agreement that the fuel has to get bigger. I think Ill chop or saw up a hundred pounds of 1 and 2 branches to about 1 to 2 long for my next trial.
My sons 100hp chipper isnt up and running yet. Upon startup both times this weekend, I used larger pieces of charcoal to get it going and thats (at startup) when I had the best gas. On Sunday, My second day, I loaded regular charcoal briquettes. I dont think they worked as well as coarse charcoal did the day before. Instead of taking a lot of notes on paper, I video taped my sessions, hollering at the camera with the numbers. Now I find that my Samsung DV camcorder puts out mp4, which my nonlinear editing system doesnt like. Oh, well. I downloaded a free mp4 to avi/mpeg-2/3 converter and that one only converts up to about 38 minutes. So much for my instrumentation plan. Murphy strikes again. I did install a manometer across the filter of the gasifier, but it would have been better utilized at the reactor. Now I know I need to install a better manometer across the reactor. I tried to jerry-rig one at the last minute, but I could not see any pressure difference, so I must have got something wrong. jim mason (note all lower case) sent me one from allpowerlab a while ago and I just now relocated it (dont tell him). I will now set it up just as he suggests and get some good data. Last thing: my gas makes a mostly orange flame. Is that bad? I just saw, on the GEK site, a nice blue flame, like my kitchen stove coming out of their swirl burner. Pete Stanaitis ---------------- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Klein Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 8:03 PM To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification Subject: Re: [Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties 10K gasifier? 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! Respectfully, Bill Klein 3i http://www.3iAlternativePower.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- From: Greg Manning <mailto:[email protected]> To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification <mailto:[email protected]> 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. <snip>
_______________________________________________ Gasification mailing list to Send a Message to the list, use the email address [email protected] to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site: http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/
