Re: GAS-L: Gasifiers and engines

["Thomas Reed" <tombreed@home.com>]

Dear Tom, Doug and all:

For all the reasons below, we have adapted modern car instrumentation and
computerization into our "turnkey, tarfree" gasifiers at CPC.  Prices
$750-3000/kW depending on fuels and options (dryers, chippers, ...)
required.

Onward,        TOM REED


         Dr. Thomas Reed
  The Biomass Energy Foundation
 1810 Smith Rd., Golden, CO 80401
303 278 0558;
tombreed@home.com; www.woodgas.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Miles" <tmiles@trmiles.com>
To: <gasification@crest.org>
Cc: "Graeme Williams" <graeme@powerlink.co.nz>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: GAS-L: Gasifiers and engines


> 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
>
>
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>
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>
>


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