Re: [Fwd: GAS-L: gasifier]

[Peter Singfield <snkm@btl.net>]

Dear Harmon;

Sounds like you have everything under control. Just do some research on
tars and engine damage.

Then -- what is you fuel? And is it dry enough? If not -- how to dry it?

There are other people far more competent -- on this list -- to discuss
these topics with.

I have to take a break.

Peter / Belize


At 01:54 AM 11/18/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>Peter Singfield wrote:
>
>> Hello again Harmon;
>>
>> Well -- first of all -- you have to figure 30% diesel --
>
>       No you don't. Not at all. You can use gasoline engines (much more
common
>in the US in the first place) or you can use diesel and just run barely
enough
>diesel to cause ignition. I know how to do that, I've worked on enough
diesels I
>guess.
>       Also we have an extremely plentiful supply of waste vegetable oil here
>(fryer oil) which is free for the taking. Restaurants have to pay to have it
>hauled, in fact. Turn it into biodiesel or simply filter it, heat the
tank, and
>run it straight.
>        Free fuel, at any rate.
>
>> These systems run about 16% over-all efficiencies when in this mode.
>>
>> The 30% diesel cost will come out to more than the 6 cents -- probably.
>>
>
>       Forget all that. I wouldn't pay a penny for diesel.
>
>>
>> Ergo -- get a bigger diesel -- convert to run on pure producer gas -- to
>> make up for the derating.
>
>       Right -  used engines are cheap. I can even get 7600cc diesels new
surplus
>for around $1000, or less. Or pick up good gasoline engines for a lot
less. For
>that matter, I've got a a couple of 4300cc long stroke 6 cyl. engines sitting
>around that run fine.
>      But actually I'm more interested in a good steady source of cheap
engines
>that could be used. Probably rebuilding engines from the junk yard is the
best
>idea.
>
>> We have a real expert at that on this list. Tom T. But he does this with
>> large systems.
>>
>> If I was Tom -- and with what you mention below -- I would be getting real
>> interested in importing India gasifiers and those larger old style Listers.
>
>       Somehow that doesn't quite work out economically. A 20KW gasifier (no
>engine or generator) for $4200 plus another $1-2K for shipping? I'd bet
you could
>find people here would make them for less. Not to mention the *huge*
supply of
>used engines sitting around. And other parts
>     Think recycle.
>
>
>> Would be no problem to squeeze 30 kwh out of such a system -- and very
>> reliable.
>
>     Yup, I could do that with an old chevy pickup engine, a few steel drums,
>assorted parts, and a surplus generator.
>
>>
>>
>> (They come in four cylinder models -- and make more power if they are
>> turned faster -- which would be easy -- when your starting at 650 rpm)
>>
>> You have to put in spark plugs and ignition and timing. Reduce the
>> compression somewhat (thicker head gasket or carve the piston -- or both).
>
>      Well, that's easier said than done. Where do you plug in the
distributor,
>for example? And why reduce the compression? On gasoline engines you  have to
>increase it by quite a bit to get good power.
>
>>
>>
>> Why not use a car motor?? Because it will not live long under this kind of
>> use.
>
>      Whooey. Running at 1800 rpm a car engine will last forever.
>
>> Need big bore long stroke.
>
>      No, just long stroke, ideally. But any engine will do, actually.
Some are
>more optimal than others.  A little 1600cc VW diesel engine is an excellent
>choice for a 20KW unit. Why not -- heck, buy two or three, keep them for
spares,
>they're dirt cheap. Maybe even free -- who else would want them?
>
>
>> I'm getting awfully tempted to move up to Wisconsin though and do just this
>> -- but hear you do not want any more foreigners in your country.
>
>       Well, that's just the crooks in government.
>
>>
>> Imagine every farmer in Wisconsin would want one of those.
>
>     Or would build his own once someone told him about it. Amazing how many
>farmers have both arc welders and a plentiful supply of old car and truck
>engines. Plus a ton of other junk sitting around to build stuff out of.
>


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