GAS-L: Re: Model Gasifier

["Graeme Williams" <graeme@powerlink.co.nz>]

Dear Tom R and Colleagues

Thanks for your comments regarding the web pages of theFluidyne Archive
which did start out just to save photographs of gasifiers and engines etc.
Graeme is really responsible for putting it all in place, but his own work
in computing, leaves less time to help me, so hope I can find a way to keep
it up in the long term.

Repeatedly each time I respond in this forum to questions, I receive a flood
of private e-mails which makes it difficult to respond quickly, so if I keep
you waiting for a reply please wait.

Tom, I related to your quote of "proper balance between dreams that move us
forward and realisms that stop all progress".  For the benefit of those who
recently posted requests for information on gasifiers and engines, I'd like
to offer the following realisms that kill your aspirations stone dead if you
are looking for commercially developed equipment.

a: In a world that hasn't used gasifiers for 60 years, there has been no
market for manufacturers to supply.

b: How can you develop a gasifier to a commercial standard if there is no
market need?

c: You cannot supply a client list in a world that hasn't used gasifiers.

d: You cannot expect performance guarantees when the client is responsible
for operating the equipment.

e: Each and every country has its own special "twist" to implement a
project, and this includes the environmental conditions that produce changes
in the fuel characteristics.

This is just a sample of the realities that make it difficult for those of
us who have tried to develop this technology to a commercial standard
appropriate for a modern world.  Faced with the perception that any biomass
is considered gasifiable in any gasifier for any purpose, the lengthy
explanations to all the necessary questions is like conducting a training
course by correspondence.  Hence the value of the Gasification Archives that
is part of this forum.

Since the formation of the Gasification List at Crest, I have made many
contributions regarding gasified engines and rural power generation.  This
morning for the first time I punched in "Graeme Williams" to the search box
and was staggered to see the quantity of information I have attempted to
share.

As an appeal to every new researcher or consultant, please take the time to
read what has been written on the subject of gasified power generation in
the Archive.  Then you can be more objective with your dreams and
aspirations and hopefully move forward.

As an aside to all of the above, I have just returned from North Queensland,
Australia where I spent 15 days looking at the tropical rain forests, and
the farming areas of the Atherton Tableland that once grew these forests.
This is part of my own ongoing education to study degrading environments,
and the way that nature provided stability before removal of the trees.

Australia is facing an environmental crisis of drought, dust storms, fires,
rising salt levels in farm land and rivers, and deforestation on a huge
scale.  Combined with increasing populations and energy demand, there are
big decisions to be made there that must include a reduction of living
standards to be sustainable.  Just think, it all began with chopping down
the first tree highlighting the fact that we need to know about everything
before we put a gasifier into a situation that's not environmentally
sustainable.

Doug Williams
Fluidyne Gasification,.




> Dear Doug;
>
> Let me compliment you and Graeme on a stunning web page which I am still
> studying...
>
> Tom Reed        BEF GASWORKS
>
> -----



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