GAS-L: Densification as a major aid to biomass utilization

[Reedtb2@cs.com]

Dear Stovers and Gasifiers:

Jim Dunham's posting (below) is a welcome modern comment on densification of 
biomass and covers the facts well. 

When I first joined the Solar Energy Research Institute in 1977 I wrote (with 
Becky Bryant) an assessment of the technology and economics of densification 
after visiting several sites.  

Densification makes low grade biomass into an excellent fuel.  The energy 
cost of densification is about 3% of the energy in the product.  (This 
doesn't include drying to 10-20%, because that is paid back in better 
combustion).  

Densification has progressed to the point where we now buy pellets for our 
gasifier in the local hardware store for $2.50/40 lb bag ($125/ton) and bulk 
pellets can be purchased for as little as $50/ton.  So we've made some 
progress in 23 years.  

The BEF Press has just printed a second edition of "DENSIFIED BIOMASS:  A NEW 
FORM OF SOLID FUEL"  including a scientific paper on densification I wrote in 
1980(see below).  

Unfortunately, densification is caught in a "chicken or egg" trap.  If more 
people burned or gasified biomass there would be more pellets/briquettes/logs 
produced;  if more were produced, more would develop uses and burn them.  So 
densification is doomed to only progress as fast as biomass prospers and that 
is tied to oil prices.  

So, I have learned to be patient as we stagger toward renewable energy.  

Yours truly,                    TOM REED                BEF PRESS

    ORDER LIST - Biomass Energy Books 
            (Nicknames in Bold,  book descriptions follow)

1. A SURVEY OF BIOMASS GASIFICATION 2000:       $25

2. BIOMASS DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS HANDBOOK:  $25

3. CONTAMINANT TESTING FOR GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS:     $10  

4. BIOMASS GASIFIER "TARS": THEIR NATURE, FORMATION, AND CONVERSION:    $25

5. GENGAS: THE SWEDISH CLASSIC ON WOOD FUELED VEHICLES:     $30

6. SMALL SCALE GAS PRODUCER ENGINE SYSTEMS:     $30

7. PRODUCER-GAS: ANOTHER FUEL FOR MOTOR TRANSPORT:  $10

8. FUNDAMENTAL STUDY AND SCALEUP OF THE AIR-OXYGEN STRATIFIED 
DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER:         $30  

9. EVALUATION OF GASIFICATION AND NOVEL THERMAL PROCESSES 
FOR THE TREATMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE - MSW    $25

10. DENSIFIED BIOMASS:  A NEW FORM OF SOLID FUEL:   $12 

11. WOOD GAS GENERATORS FOR VEHICLES:     $4

12. CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLIFIED WOOD GAS GENERATOR:    $15

13. BIOMASS TO METHANOL SPECIALISTS' WORKSHOP:  $30

14. THE PEGASUS UNIT: THE LOST ART OF DRIVING WITHOUT GASOLINE:     $20

15. GASIFICATION OF RICE HULLS: THEORY AND PRAXIS:  $30

16. TREES:    $1

17. TREE CROPS FOR ENERGY CO-PRODUCTION ON FARMS:   $30  

18. FROM THE FRYER TO THE FUEL TANK: HOW TO MAKE CHEAP, 
CLEAN FUEL FROM FREE VEGETABLE OIL: $20


ORDER BLANK 
-10% if 3 or more books ordered or to booksellers               + $3 handling 
+ (US & Shipping, US and Canada $1.50 (bookrate, or request air, $3) or 
(other foreign, $8/book air)    
TOTAL ORDER                                     ___________
E-mail order to reedtb2@CS.com or Mail orders to The Biomass Energy 
Foundation Press (BEFP), 1810 Smith Rd., Golden,  CO 80401; FAX 303-278 0560; 
call 303 278 0558.  We'll send invoice with books.  Pay by postal order or 
check on US Banks, or electronic deposit to Bank No. 10 20000 76, Acct. No. 
300800 2911.  (No foreign checks - can cost $25 to clear!)  


BOOKS FROM THE BIOMASS ENERGY FOUNDATION  PRESS

PURPOSES OF THE BIOMASS ENERGY FOUNDATION PRESS:  Biomass energy and 
particularly biomass gasification is a field where publications are often 
difficult to find.  We make available information - sometimes old, sometimes 
new - on biomass at reasonable prices in attractive "lie flat" bindings. 
See our webpage at www.webpan.com/bef or write us at Reedtb2@cs.com

Biomass Energy Books - Description and Order Blank

NEW:  A SURVEY OF BIOMASS GASIFICATION 2000:  T. Reed and S. Gaur have 
surveyed the biomass gasification scene for the National Renewable Energy 
Laboratory and the Biomass Energy Foundation.  180 pages of large gasifiers 
systems, small gasifiers and gasifier research institutions with descriptions 
of the major types of gasifiers and a list of most world gasifiers.  ISBN 
1-890607-13-4       180 pp     $25    _________

NEW:  BIOMASS GASIFIER "TARS": THEIR NATURE, FORMATION, AND CONVERSION:  T. 
Milne, N. Abatzoglou, & R. J. Evans.  Tars are the Achilles Heel of 
gasification.  This thorough work explores the chemical nature of tars, their 
generation, and methods for testing and destroying them. 
ISBN 1-890607-14-2      180 pp  $25________

NEW:  EVALUATION OF GASIFICATION AND NOVEL THERMAL PROCESSES FOR THE 
TREATMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE - W. Niessen et al.  1996 NREL report by 
Camp Dresser and McKee on MSW conversion processes.  ISBN 1-890607-15-0 198 
pp   $25_______

NEW:  FROM THE FRYER TO THE FUEL TANK: HOW TO MAKE CHEAP, CLEAN FUEL FROM 
FREE VEGETABLE OIL:  J. & K. Tickell, (1998) Resale from Greenteach 
Publishing Co.  Tickell has done an excellent job of collecting both theory 
and praxis on producing Biodiesel fuel from vegetable oils, particularly used 
oil.  Nice instructions for kitchen or large scale.  ISBN 0-9664616-0-6      
90 pp          $20   __________

NEW/OLD:  DENSIFIED BIOMASS:  A NEW FORM OF SOLID FUEL: Tom Reed and Becky 
Bryant, A "State of the Art evaluation of densified biomass fuels" with 
documentation of processes, energy balance, economics and applications.  
First published in 1978, & still good.  ISBN 1-890607-16-9       35 pp        
  $12 __________

******
BIOMASS DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS HANDBOOK:     T. Reed and A. Das, 
(SERI-1988) Over a million wood gasifiers were used to power cars and trucks 
during World War II. Yet, after over two decades of interest, there are only 
a few companies manufacturing gasifier systems. The authors have spent more 
than 20 years working with various gasifier systems, In this book they 
discuss ALL the factors that must be correct to have a successful "gasifier 
power system."  Our most popular book, the "new Testament" of gasification    
 ISBN 1-890607-00-2     140 pp  $25  ________

GENGAS: THE SWEDISH CLASSIC ON WOOD FUELED VEHICLES: English translation, 
(SERI-1979)  T.Reed, D. Jantzen and A. Das, with index.  This is the "Old 
Testament" of gasification, written by the people involved in successfully 
converting 90% of transportation of WW II Sweden to wood gasifiers.   
ISBN 1-890607-01-0  340 pp. $30   ________

SMALL SCALE GAS PRODUCER-ENGINE SYSTEMS: A. Kaupp and J. Goss. (Veiweg,1984) 
Updates GENGAS and contains critical engineering data indispensable for the 
serious gasifier projects.  Ali Kaupp is thorough and knowledgeable.  ISBN 
1-890607-06-1   278 pp  $30  __________

PRODUCER-GAS: ANOTHER FUEL FOR MOTOR TRANSPORT: Ed. Noel Vietmeyer (The U.S. 
National Academy of Sciences-1985)  A  seeing-is-believing primer with 
historical and modern pictures of gasifiers.  An outstanding  text for any 
introductory program. ISBN 1-890607-02-6    80 pp   $10  _________


FUNDAMENTAL STUDY AND SCALEUP OF THE AIR-OXYGEN STRATIFIED DOWNDRAFT 
GASIFIER: T. Reed, M. Graboski and B. Levie (SERI 1988). In 1980 the Solar 
Energy Research Institute initiated a program to develop an oxygen gasifier 
to make methanol from biomass.  A novel air/oxygen low tar gasifier was 
designed and studied for five years at SERI at 1 ton/d and for 4 years at 
Syn-Gas Inc. in a 25 ton/day gasifier.  This book describes the theory and 
operation of the two gasifiers in detail and also discusses the principles 
and application of gasification as learned over eight years by the 
author-gasifier team.
ISBN 1-890607-03-7      290 pp  $30  ________

CONTAMINANT TESTING FOR GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS: A. Das (TIPI 1989).   Test 
that gas for tar!  Long engine life and reliable operation requires a gas 
with less than 30 mg of tar and particulates per cubic meter (30 ppm).  The 
simplified test methods described here are adapted from standard ASTM and EPA 
test procedures for sampling and analyzing char, tar and ash in the gas.  
Suitable for raw and cleaned gas.  New edition & figures, 1999.  ISBN 
1-890607-04-5     32 pp $10  _________

TREE CROPS FOR ENERGY CO-PRODUCTION ON FARMS:  Tom Milne (SERI 1980)  
Evaluation of the energy potential to grow trees for energy.  ISBN 
1-890607-05-3   260 pp  $30  _________

WOOD GAS GENERATORS FOR VEHICLES: Nils Nygards (1973). Translation of recent 
results of Swedish Agricultural Testing Institute. ISBN 1-890607-08-8    50 
pp. $4_________

CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLIFIED WOOD GAS GENERATOR:  H. LaFontaine (1989) - Over 
25 drawings and photographs on building a gasifier for fueling IC engines in 
a Petroleum Emergency (FEMA RR28). ISBN 1-890607-11-8    68 pp  $15________

BIOMASS TO METHANOL SPECIALISTS' WORKSHOP: Ed. T. Reed and M. Graboski, 1982. 
 Expert articles on conversion of biomass to methanol.     ISBN 1-890607-10-X 
    331 pp  $30_________

THE PEGASUS UNIT: THE LOST ART OF DRIVING WITHOUT GASOLINE:  N. Skov and M. 
Papworth, (1974).  Description and beautiful detailed drawings of various 
gasifiers and systems from World War II.   
ISBN 1-890607-09-6   80 pp  $20________

GASIFICATION OF RICE HULLS: THEORY AND PRAXIS: A. Kaupp. (Veiweg, 1984) 
Applies gasification to rice hulls, since rice hulls are potentially a major 
energy source - yet have unique problems in gasification.   ISBN 
1-890607-07-X    303 pp $30_________

TREES:  by Jean Giono, 1953. While we strongly support using biomass for 
energy, we are also very concerned about forest destruction.  This delightful 
 story says more than any sermon on the benefits and methods of 
reforestation. ISBN 1-89060712-6        8 pp    $1_________

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
 


In a message dated 3/25/00 9:11:18 AM Mountain Standard Time, 
costaeec@kcnet.com writes:

<< 
  
 Our firm specializes in densification of all types, so perhaps we might be
 of some help.
 
 First, there is no formula or secret recipe, as NO binder is needed for most
 biomass feedstock, if using high pressure equipment. The naturally occurring
 lignin becomes the binder, when subjected to high heat and pressure.
 
 There are three basic types of briquetters; hydraulic, reciprocal, & screw.
 Each has advantages, depending on the application.  The reciprocal type is
 far more versatile and reliable, but costs more. We still use one built in
 1946.
 
 Briquettes are generally 50mm to 95mm in diameter and 10mm to 300mm long.
 Capacities range from 500-6000 pounds per hour.  We have made briquettes
 from virtually all dry plant materials, as well as paper, currency,
 corrugate, waxed corrugate, aluminum, rice husk, nut shells, etc., etc.
 Briquettes are made to reduce volume or to provide fuel. Once densified,
 these materials can be easily conveyed, stored, transported, stoker fed and
 burned. The high density provides a very hot and clean burning fuel. It
 totally changes the concept of using waste as a fuel. We have extensive data
 regarding the economics and logistics of this concept.
 
 Same machines make fireplace logs and BBQ wafers.
 
 Pellets are just small briquettes (1/4-3/4" dia.), but are generally more
 precise and uniform. They are much more difficult to make, but have specific
 applications which require them, rather than briquettes.
 
 Cubing is another method of densification. It produces a rather low density
 product about 25mm square. It is fine for volume reduction, but does not
 make such good fuel. It is low cost and quite effective for certain
 applications.
 
 We have specific data on most machines and materials, and also a test
 facility for new or unusual materials. We also have all brands of new & used
 machines.
 
 Jim Dunham
 Environmental Engineering Corp.
 816-452-6663
  >>
The Gasification List is sponsored by
USDOE BioPower Program http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/
and PRM Energy Systems http://www.prmenergy.com
Other Sponsors, Archives and Information
http://www.crest.org/renewables/gasification-list-archive
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/gasref.shtml
http://www.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/
http://www.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/carbon.shtml