History of very small true gasifier units

["Paul S. Anderson" <psanders@ilstu.edu>]

Hi,

I have become interested in the history of the development of very small 
true gasifier combustion units.

But I question every claim for "gasifiers" because the definitions are so 
weak.  For example, I give below the recent messages from Crispin and AJH.

>On Mon, 14 Oct 2002 20:13:47 +0200, "Crispin" <crispin@newdawn.sz>
>wrote:
>
> >Dear Andrew
> >
> >I heard anecdotal evidence of a very low cost string bound straw 'sausage'
> >'briquette' being used to cook in Kampala restaurants.  It was placed into a
> >fairly tight fitting metal can and top lit.  The diameter was on the order
> >of 5 inches.  It apparenetly burned very cleanly and was the cheapest fuel
> >around..

At 12:08 AM 10/18/02 +0100, AJH wrote in reply:

>Nice one! Just shows most things have been thought of. I wonder if it
>predates the Reed-Larson idd stove? Does it burn out the char?
>
>AJH

My comment and question:  Just because it is top-lit does not make it a 
gasifier.  There would need to be air intentionally entering at the bottom, 
to come up through the biomass (straw), and create gases specifically to be 
flared later (milli-seconds or longer) when secondary air is intentionally 
introduced.

I suspect that the "can with straw" did NOT have air entering at the 
bottom, but because the straw is so much like loose paper, the air from the 
top that could reach the burning zone was providing sufficient primary air 
AND simultaneously providing the secondary air needed to get the flame.

Anyone with further (and first hand) information about the "can with straw" 
combustion unit, please send it to me (via Stoves List is best so that all 
can comment.)  (I am sending this also to the "Gasification List Serve" for 
comments from that perspective.)

Meanwhile, I would like to hear from anyone about OTHER very small 
gasifiers, including when where who what etc.  I am sure that some of you 
experimented with the likes of Tom Reed's IDD gasifier.  I will post my 
1-page "Short introduction to the Juntos Gasifier Stove" very soon, 
probably today, without pictures so it will transmit easily.

Also, I refer to my previous posting of 3 days ago about "Theory and 
terminology questions about combustion".  Not a single comment from anyone yet.

Paul
Paul S. Anderson, Ph.D.,  Fulbright Prof. to Mozambique 8/99 - 7/00
Rotary University Teacher Grantee to Mozambique >10 mo of 2001-2003
Dept of Geography - Geology (Box 4400), Illinois State University
Normal, IL  61790-4400   Voice:  309-438-7360;  FAX:  309-438-5310
E-mail: psanders@ilstu.edu - Internet items: www.ilstu.edu/~psanders


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