Re: GAS-L: Engine Experience

[LINVENT@aol.com]

There are engine manufacturers who offer engines with 20,000 hours between 
overhauls providing the producer gas meets their stringent contaminant 
analysis. Just the cost of conducting the analysis is probably $15,000. They 
also offer a contract maintenance agreement with $.08/kwhr fee, they ship a 
replacement engine, take the old one and slide it out and bolt up a new one 
in a few hours. 
    Acid and alkali neutralization filters are good answers if you can't 
clean the gas well enough to remove these contaminants. They are put in 
series with the existing filters. 
    Gas cleaning is the key. Derating is 25-35%, depending upon the 
manufacturer and I am of the opinion that less derating can be achieved by 
customizing the engine appropriately. Caterpiller says 25% on 120 btu gas, 
but the dealers will not quote this. 
    We have run engines for many hours and as long as the gas is clean and 
cool, and has most of the water removed, they show no execessive wear. Tires 
are a great fuel as the gas heating value is high and without sulfur, has no 
adverse impact upon the engine. We start the engine on the gas and run it on 
the gas. Wood and other fuels have also been used successfully. 

Leland T. Taylor
President
Thermogenics Inc. 
7100-F 2nd St. NW Albuquerque, New Mexico USA 87107 Phone: 505-761-5633, fax: 
341-0424, website: thermogenics.com. 
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