Hi Bill, Interesting post, thanks for taking the time to share.
What do you see as the difference between "pellets" and "briquettes"? Aren't they made in basically the same way; except that one is larger than the other? I'm not understanding the (applied) difference between the two. -brian On Jun 22, 2011, at 7:36 AM, Bill Klein wrote: > 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: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10:13 PM > Subject: Re: [Gasification] Any experience with Stak Properties 10K > gasifier? > > > Dear Bill > > Quoting Bill Klein <[email protected]>: > >> 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 >> <[email protected]> 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 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/ >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Regards, >> >> Greg Manning, >> Brandon, Manitoba, Canada >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/ >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/ > --------------------------------------- Indiana Renewables, LLC 6600 Karyn Drive Avon, Indiana 46123 ph: 317-272-7939 fax: 317-536-5326 _______________________________________________ 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/
