GAS-L: design parameters ,fuel consumption,construction materials-GASIFIERS

["shuster" <shuster@zol.co.zw>]

DEAR ALL (AND I HOPE DOUG WILLIAMS)

AS YOU PROBABLE KNOW WE ARE DRIVING V8'S HERE IN ZIMBABWE WITH WOOD FIRED
DOWN DRAUGHT GASIFIERS.
WE DESPERATELY NEED HELP ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS.
1)WE ARE QUIET CONSERVATELY ACHIEVING 50 KW AT THE FLY WHEEL CONSUMING 30 KG
/HR OF MOPANI WOOD .IT IS A VERY HARD,BRITTLE WOOD
RENOWNED FOR ITS EXCELLENT BARBECUE FIRING ABILITY.HOW DOES THIS
RATE.
2)OUR GASIFIERS ARE CONSTRUCTED USING 6MM STEEL TUBING ABOVE THE JETS AND
FOR THE OUTER TUBE.THE STEEL IS JUST NOT STANDING UP TO THE HEAT. APART FROM
THE FACT THAT IT GETS SO HOT IT TRIES TO SAG IT IS ALSO PEELING AWAY IN
LAYERS WHICH YOU CAN PEEL OF WITH YOUR FINGER NAIL .
ONCE A BREACH IS ACHIEVED IT IS AS IF SOMEONE WENT MAD WITH A CUTTING
TORCH.OUR NORMAL LIFE OF A GASIFIER IS NO MORE THAN A MONTH.
3)ARE WE OVER INSULATING OUR GASIFIERS.THE ENTIRE GASIFIER IS INSULATED WITH
100MM OF VERMICULITE.
4)THERE IS NO HEAT RESISTANT S/STEEL IN THE COUNTRY AND TO IMPORT ONE
SHEET OF SOUTH AFRICAN 310 HEAT RESISTANT S/STEEL [1150 C CONTINUOUS](2.5M X
1.2M X 3MM)
WILL COST THE EQUIVALENT OF 3000 LT OF DIESEL.
4)ONE OF OUR BIG PROBLEMS IS THAT WE CAN NOT GET A THERMOMETER HERE
THAT WILL MEASURE THESE KIND OF TEMPERATURES. I HAVE SURMISED THAT OUR
GASIFIERS ARE PRODUCING A FAIR AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN AS WE HAVE TO KEEP THE HT
LEADS COMPLETELY SEPARATED[AND I MEAN COMPLETELY]
OTHERWISE WE GET AGGRESSIVE RANDOM IGNITION. AM I CORRECT.
5)ALSO COULD I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATION ON THE DIAMETER OF THE GAS OUTLET
PIPING BEFORE AND AFTER COOLING.
6)THE WATER GAUGE ACROSS THE GASIFIER IS BETWEEN 2-5 INS
AND UP TO 12-14 INS BEFORE THE ENGINE AFTER ALL THE FILTER APPARATUS.

I READ ALL YOUR E-MAILS EACH DAY AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HELP AND
KNOWLEDGE I'VE RECEIVED.

BEST REGARDS
ASHLEY
ZIMBABWE


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