GAS-L: Re: law of mass action

[Reedtb2@cs.com]

Dear Paul and Aul:

Sounds to me like you are already making high yields of charcoal in the Inverted Downdraft Gasifier.  Highest yields occur with bone dry wood (30%?), lowest with wet (30%?).  The air fuel ratio takes care of itself provided you have a sufficiently deep bed (> 3 cm for particles < 3 cm), since all the oxygen is consumed.

If you are more interested in the cooking, the forced draft IDD increases the heat per unit area of the bed and probably reduces charcoal yield.  

We need to get togther somewhere to discuss this in more depth.  

TOM        BEF STOVEWORKS
> Tom and Mike,
>
> You guys are GREAT resources.  But I need some additional help with this topic.  My question is mainly to Tom.
>
> So what does this reversability stuff mean to me when I am involved with a gasification process such as with a modified IDD gasifier (ala Reed - Larson)?
>
> I want to heed your warnings about the iron rules of thermodynamics.  But what does this reversability info mean about making charcoal in an IDD style gasifier?  What should I be trying to do, or trying NOT to do, especially in terms of heat and fuels and etc.?  More air, less air, when, where, what type of charcoal is best and how to get it.
>
> Or what else should I know.....?? (I am not sure even how to ask the question.)  
>
> Please, guide me along a little more on the very practical side of this topic.
>
> Paul