GAS-L: Tar Standards and Codes

["Tom Reed" <tombreed@attbi.com>]

Dear Thomas and all:

 

Thomas puts it very well when he says...

 

>  The problem about this protocol is that it is initiated by researchers and driven forward by researchers.

 

A second problem is that the EEC (with tons of money) is mostly focussed on fluidized bed gasifiers which make tars in the raw gas of 10,000-50,000 ppm.  When they reduce them by a factor of 100 they think they are doing well. But downdraft gasifiers have only initially 100-1000 ppm tar in the raw gas when properly operated.  Tar measurements suitable for the first case don't have the sensitivty required for the second case. 

 

A third problem is that money and time is no object... the more the better.  While those of us in small gasifiers want to find a gas that is clean enough for engines and don't care too much about the exact analysis of the tar. 

 

So, we should all be interested in high sensitivity, low cost, fast tests and many of us are working on it.  The Bacharach Smoke Meter (cost $75) comes pretty close to a good quality test and I have been trying to make it quantitative with some success. 

 

Yours truly,                     TOM REED                     BEF GASWORKS

----- Original Message -----

From: Thomas Koch

To: Kollol Dey ; Gas - L

Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 2:39 AM

Subject: Re: GAS-L: Standards and Codes

Dear Kollol

 

That is a very relevant subject you discuss.

 

In EU there have been a work ongoing on stardadisation on tar measurement going on for some years.

Search on "Tar protocol" to get more information.

The problem about this protocol is that it is initiated by researchers and drive forward by researchers.

 

Do you have the tiem to explain how you are used to conduct performance test?

 

New input would be very helpfull for us in the biomass field.

 

 

Thomas KOch

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Kollol Dey

To: Gas - L

Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 9:54 AM

Subject: GAS-L: Standards and Codes

Dear ALL,

 

1.0    I wish to know the internationally accepted standard codes that are available for conducting the "Performance Test" of a bio gasifier - whether it be moving bed, fluidised bed or entrained bed type. Can anyone help?

I understand that ASME has a PTC - 47 which is meant for an IGCC units. But have no idea as to how much of this can be adopted in checking the performance of a biomass gasifier? I also understand that ASME had a code for conducting Performance Tests on a coal based producer gas plant - I think it was PTC - 16, but I believe this code has been with drawn for sometime.

If someone is working on such a code - good !

But if this is not so, then isn't it time that a PTC for biomass gasifiers be drawn up ?

 

2.0    Further, the petroleum and petrochemical industry rely on API for standards, codes and recommended practices. Isn't it time that such things also be introduced in this industry (biomass gasification)  so that there are guidelines for buyers of biomass gasifiers to go by? I am sure this will be interest of the industry and will keep away a lot of "tall claims and counter claims"once the industry sees such internationally accepted standards and codes.

 

Comments please !!

 

K.Dey.