Re: GAS-L: Wood Gasification fuel Canisters

[Carefreeland@aol.com]

    Tom and Ken, 
    Looks like you've stirred up a gas cloud with this idea.  Let me present 
a few approaches. 
    If we go with charcoal we can go truly high tech and without much trouble 
go straight to fuel cells and electric motors.  Best approach for small light 
compact cars with very low emissions. 
    If we go to gas turbines, I say we look at turboprop engine technology, 
with induction type generators coupled to electric motors. Turbo's have been 
long rejected because of the waste heat hot air blast in the exhaust.  We can 
harness the waste heat and much of the expansion of the exhaust, by routing 
it through a good heat sink coupled to a sterling and another small 
generator.  This approach may work better with large vehicles and trucks.  
Peter S. would use a refrigeration cycle for this role. 
    I had a recent conversation with my Brother who thinks most of the 
problems with poor fuel quality in turbines have been solved.  He should 
know, he designs the turbine metals.  He says that Israel has figured out how 
to burn sulfur-laden jet fuel with few problems. He thinks woodgas should be 
easier than that.  
    I am working with a friend on a devise that would give the same 
responsiveness to a turbine as a piston engine, but direct coupling is down 
the road a bit. 
    If staying with old technology, we need to look at the idea of using a 
small electric heater in the gasifier, run higher pressure, and a storage 
tank.  This would improve responsiveness of the gasifier and the fuel system 
to power surges, needed for stop and go driving and hills.  The other 
possibility would be to hook up a blower to the input side of the gasifier.  
The storage tank could be built into the filtering system to conserve space.  
Maybe all of the above.  The blower (or turbocharger) would also increase 
manifold pressure, increasing performance.  The electric heater would double 
as an ignition source for starting.  Could we use a small electric arc for 
the heater?  Talk about response! 
    The gasifier should be able to be fueled while hot.  A secondary fueling 
chamber could accomplish this like an airlock. If two chambers were used 
alternately one would be cool at all times for hot refueling.  I prefer 
blowing in wood pellets or charcoal designed for the task.  Think pitstop.  
Dust explosion is a real concern with charcoal. Poly-coated pellets like lawn 
fertilizer would remove the dust.  A wood pellet gasifier should or at least 
could, operate with low quality dry woodchips in a pinch as an option. Fuel 
up at your local tree service.  

    Let's save that canister idea for the air-breathing solid fuel jet 
engines.  Tom I was wrong about the formula for bottle rocket fuel.  75% 
charcoal was the published formula meant to confuse attempts.  The actual 
formula as reinvented by a 14-year old is 55% potassium nitrate, 35% 
charcoal, 10% sulfur by weight.  WARNING! You have to have the right 
procedure to mix and load or you will blow yourself up.  These numbers are 
only presented for theoretical purposes.  Don't try this at home kids.  
Anybody needing the procedure contact me separately. 
    The point here being that all of that oxidizer has weight.  If air was 
the oxygen, we could get some good air-mileage out of the charcoal.  
Biofueled safe jets.  Is anything not possible?
                                                        Daniel Dimiduk
                                        Shangri-La Research and Development
                                                         Dayton, Ohio, USA    
                                

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