Re: History of very small true gasifier units

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

Paul and Aul:

Loosely speaking there is a lot of overlap between gasification and
combustion.  1960 cars were (vaguely) gasifiers because they burned quite
rich and could emit 10% CO-H2.  Our stoves should be called "close coupled"
gasifier combustors. I do a demonstration with a cigar or cigarette that
clearly shows the difference between updraft gasification and downdraft
gasifiacation.  (Then I apply mouthwash).

The distinction is not trivial since there are often tax credits for
gasification and not for combustion of biomass.  Testifying in court, I
would say that if in principal you can put a septum between the gasification
section and the combustion section and remove samples of combustible gas
requiring more air, it is a gasifier.  If sufficient air is supplied in one
step for "substantially" complete combustion (like the pellet stoves), it is
a combustor.

Yours,          TOM REED              Department of Elucidation and
Obfuscation

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul S. Anderson" <psanders@ilstu.edu>
To: <andrew.heggie@dtn.ntl.com>; "Stoves" <stoves@crest.org>;
<gasification@crest.org>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 8:09 AM
Subject: History of very small true gasifier units


> 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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> http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1010424940_7.html Bioenergy
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> http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1011975672_7.html Carbon
>
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-
Stoves List Archives and Website:
http://www.crest.org/discussion/stoves/200209/
http://crest.org/discussiongroups/resources/stoves/
>
Stoves List Moderators:
Ron Larson, ronallarson@qwest.net
Elsen L. Karstad, elk@wananchi.com www.chardust.com

Other Biomass Stoves Events and Information:
http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1010424940_7.html Bioenergy
http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1011975339_7.html Gasification
http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1011975672_7.html Carbon

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