GAS-L: Reader's Digest version of possable syn gas use (was: Fuel Cells -- ethanol -- reforming natural gas)

["Greg and April" <gregandapril@earthlink.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <CAVM@aol.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 19:04
Subject: Re: GAS-L: Fuel Cells -- ethanol -- reforming natural gas

>
> Greg,  If syn gas from coal, or whatever source, can be used in place of
> methanol, it would be a big hit in rural areas where we have ready access
to
> coal and other biomass.  Can you give a Reader's Digest version of how
this
> might work?
>
> Neal
>

I can try, most of the info. I have, comes from a few books I have, that
are:
    1) Turn of the century, (yes, originals) printed around 1900.
    2) Reprints of turn of the century books.

Here goes nothing-

At the turn of the century ( late 1800's, early 1900's ), many/most cities
( the bigger the city, the more likely) had someone, the city,  private
person(s), or a company would make syn gas. The place would make syn gas was
called the gas works, the gas plant, or something simular.

They would make syn gas in a number of different ways (to list all the
different gasifier designs would make this anything but the Readers Digest
version asked for). They would then would pipe it around like we do natural
gas, for lighting, heat, power engines to run looms, power hammers, or other
things the we use electricity for now. The gas plants had someone running
them 24/7.


This is where I get to the part that I have a problem with syn gas. Power
storage (perhaps someone else can help here). For home/farm use the best way
I can think of is:

    1) Use syn gas to power a generator.
        a) Then store the electricity in batteries, for your own use.
        b) Sell the electricity to the power company by running the meter
backwards (net metering, I think it is called).
    2) Automation of syn gas production. Then you could use syn gas like
natural gas (more or less).
    3) Reforming syn gas to a high denisity fuel, like methanol.
    4) Use the syn gas as it is being made to make Ethanol

To me, No. 3 look to be the best bet to at this time. I say this because
then you make it easy to store ( as compared to syn gas ) and you can also
use it for your car, fuel cell, chain saw, or what ever else you could use a
liquid fuel for.

If you want to avoid No. 3, No. 1 is probably your best bet.

No. 2 you are looking at putting out a lot of cash and/or time.

No. 4 has the problem of loseing efficency. You would be better off burning
the biomass right under the still.

Otherwise, you are left with starting a gasifier each time you needed power
or you need to set up an elaborate storage system (check out methane
digesters for ideas, they have the many of the same problems for storage),
and don't for get the possablity that things need to be adjusted just when
you need to be somewere else like asleep in a warm bed or running a still.

I hope this helps,
Greg H.

P.S. Thoughts and ideas about this piece are welcome.


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