Re: GAS-L: Gasifiers and engines

[Tom Miles <tmiles@trmiles.com>]

Graeme,

You wrote: "There is a lot more to gasification than enthusiasm."

You raise an important issue. $20,000 for a 40 kW dual system, or $500/kW, 
should be very attractive since current systems of a similar size seem to 
add up to $96,000-$140,000, or $2,400-$3,500/kW. These costs are similar to 
steam systems of a comparable size.

Why then are they not used, especially in remote villages where power is 
generated with diesels? Why are there not more operating units of the 
gasification systems and suppliers listed at 
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/gasref.shtml or 
http://www.woodgas.com/Gasification.htm ? It is more than economics.

If we look at successful, i.e. continuously running, gasification systems 
we find that the people who run them have a dedication to the art and the 
technical where-with-all to make them work. It takes a certain technical 
"culture" or technical infrastructure for support and maintenance. That 
includes not only maintenance and operation of the engine and gasifiers but 
also the fuel system. In the case of the Indian gasifiers I suspect that 
there is a well organized support organization to keep the gasifiers 
operating. I am sure that Fluidyne, BTG, GTZ, World Bank and other groups 
that have promoted gasifiers would agree.

In spite of efforts for more than 20 years to promote gasifiers in Alaskan 
villages, where diesel power costs $0.40/kW without subsidy, we do not find 
biomass gasifiers primarily because most villages, especially in the 
tundra, lack the biomass, technical skills, and interest. Nor have 
gasifiers been adopted in Southeastern Alaska where biomass is available. 
One reason may be that the support system for diesels is well developed 
there. Even when diesel generators fail and supplier support is not 
available some teachers in the village schools have become skilled diesel 
mechanics.

At a workshop last week in Russia a professor from a Siberian energy 
institute proposed using gasifiers in remote villages where diesel generate 
power costs $0.20/kWh or more. Sawmill owners and village leaders from 
Siberia and the Russian Far East told us that they have heard the stories 
about WWII gasifiers for many years but so far nobody has demonstrated that 
gasifiers are reliable or cost effective enough to use in their conditions. 
They even abandon modern combustion turbines in favor of marine diesels 
because the marine diesels are easier to maintain and more reliable. For 
wood they prefer steam systems.

So it would seem that gasification for power generation requires not only 
abundant residues and affordable systems but adequate support for operation 
and maintenance. The challenge to gasification enthusiasts is to find 
markets or circumstances fit those requirements. What can be done with 
Rahul Kamath's 80 tpd of "agri waste"?

Tom


Thomas R Miles          tmiles@trmiles.com
T R Miles, TCI                  Tel 503-292-0107
1470 SW Woodward Way    Fax 503-292-2919
Portland, OR 97225 USA


-
Gasification List Archives:
http://www.crest.org/discussion/gasification/current/

Gasification List Moderator:
Tom Reed, Biomass Energy Foundation,  Reedtb2@cs.com
www.webpan.com/BEF
List-Post: <mailto:gasification@crest.org>
List-Help: <mailto:gasification-help@crest.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:gasification-unsubscribe@crest.org>
List-Subscribe: <mailto:gasification-subscribe@crest.org>

Sponsor the Gasification List: http://www.crest.org/discuss3.html
-
Other Gasification Events and Information:
http://www.bioenergy2002.org
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/gasref.shtml
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/