For such a small gasifier, it has been decided to fuel it with charcoal rather than wood. This reduces the need for filtration as there are less unwanted tars and gases in a charcoal fired gasifier. However, a simple filter will still be constructed to remove the lower amounts of unwanted tars and gases.
In fact the filter will be the first part of the new gasifier to be built and will based on designs in the books "Convert Wood into Charcoal and Electricity" and "Producer Gas for Motor Vehicles".
After that a suitable radiator/cooler will be constructed and then both new components married to a no-weld version of the G3-I gasifier.
For now, some charcoal will be bought (or maybe obtained on Freecycle) to test the system. If it works then charcoal will be made by the retort method.
Leakier than a very leaky thing
The no-weld gasifier was fired up, last night. Chunks of softwood off-cuts were used as fuel. Doused with a little meths, they were ignited and a fire took hold without any problems.
The lid with the blower was placed on top and smoke was soon seen coming from the gas outlet pipe and just about everywhere else too.
Sealing all the gaps with fire cement will mean that the gasifier innards will not be accessible. A redesign is in order so that gas doesn't leak out and the gasifier can be dismantled when necessary.
There are some interesting designs on YouTube that I will incorporate into my redesign. The G3-I is one such design that I am interested in. Although it is welded together, it is a simple design that might yield ideas for the no-weld gasifier.
The lid with the blower was placed on top and smoke was soon seen coming from the gas outlet pipe and just about everywhere else too.
Sealing all the gaps with fire cement will mean that the gasifier innards will not be accessible. A redesign is in order so that gas doesn't leak out and the gasifier can be dismantled when necessary.
There are some interesting designs on YouTube that I will incorporate into my redesign. The G3-I is one such design that I am interested in. Although it is welded together, it is a simple design that might yield ideas for the no-weld gasifier.
No-Weld Gasifier Progress
A little more progress on the no-weld gasifier. The centrifugal fan has been put on top of the hopper. Originally it was going to force air through the side, into the combustion (middle) chamber, but that would have required a stand to hold what is a very heavy fan.
On the table, to the right of the fan, you can see the variable mains supply that was built. This allows the speed of the fan to be altered for the correct amount of air throughput.
The fan was briefly switched on and surprisingly there was not much bleeding of air from unwarranted places. A draught was felt from the exit tube (top right of lower chamber). There are not that many holes in the grating so more will be made.
The fan will be bolted in place and some gasket material placed between it and the lid. A test firing is not too distant into the future.
A transition tube was added to the centrifugal fan, as can be seen in the image below.
As this is an experimental gasifier and not the final product then gaps will be filled with fire cement. The aim, with this gasifier, is to produce gas of whatever quality and then to take stock of the project so far.
The documentation for this project needs updating and will be carried out soon.
On the table, to the right of the fan, you can see the variable mains supply that was built. This allows the speed of the fan to be altered for the correct amount of air throughput.
The fan will be bolted in place and some gasket material placed between it and the lid. A test firing is not too distant into the future.
A transition tube was added to the centrifugal fan, as can be seen in the image below.
The documentation for this project needs updating and will be carried out soon.
Some no-weld gasifier progress
Time and commodity are beginning to come together, allowing us to get further with the "No-Weld Gasifier" project.
The stationary engine was completely rebuilt. Initially it worked but there was a remaining fault. The woodruff key slot for the flywheel was damaged by the previous owner and finally gave in. A new flywheel and drive shaft have been ordered and will replace the damaged ones, next week. Still, the engine looks a lot better than it did.
Today, a plywood flange was added to the centrifugal fan that was built for the project. The copper piping that was going to be used for venting air from the fan into the gasifier was quite narrow. Instead, some obtainium tinware will be riveted into a conduit between fan and gasifier. The plywood flange on the fan will help to join the fan to the conduit.
As soon as all of that is in place then the fan will be attached to the gasifier and we shall see if there are any holes in the system that will need plugging. Once air is entering the gasifier through the conduit and exiting only through the gas exhaust then a test firing with wood will be made. This should all be achieved by the end of the month.
After that it is a matter of filtering and cooling the wood gas afore connecting the gasifier to the engine. We have an alternator and all the necessary belts and pulleys to test the resulting generator.
The stationary engine was completely rebuilt. Initially it worked but there was a remaining fault. The woodruff key slot for the flywheel was damaged by the previous owner and finally gave in. A new flywheel and drive shaft have been ordered and will replace the damaged ones, next week. Still, the engine looks a lot better than it did.
Today, a plywood flange was added to the centrifugal fan that was built for the project. The copper piping that was going to be used for venting air from the fan into the gasifier was quite narrow. Instead, some obtainium tinware will be riveted into a conduit between fan and gasifier. The plywood flange on the fan will help to join the fan to the conduit.
As soon as all of that is in place then the fan will be attached to the gasifier and we shall see if there are any holes in the system that will need plugging. Once air is entering the gasifier through the conduit and exiting only through the gas exhaust then a test firing with wood will be made. This should all be achieved by the end of the month.
After that it is a matter of filtering and cooling the wood gas afore connecting the gasifier to the engine. We have an alternator and all the necessary belts and pulleys to test the resulting generator.
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