Gasifier Experimenters Kit

First FiringSept, 08. See updated gasifier at: Gasifier Experimenters Kit (GEK)Gasified 5kw generator: coffee, sawdust, wood pellets, cardboard and other solid biomass to electricity.The photos below are of the V2.0 gasifier I made from an junk air compressor double tank, and a variety of other obtainium around the shop. I am using this as a learning rig,with no intended end use other than learning about gasifiers through building them.The plan is to build small versions of each of the main 4 types of gasifiers on the same frame, of approximately the same size, allowing for easy comparison between the types.Currently there is an updraft gasifier on the left (grateless design) and a stratified downdraft on the right. In the coming weeks there wil be a cross-draft and fluidized bed addedto the same fame. In these pictures, we are running the downdraft version on the right. Pictures from the previous updraft one (V1.0) are findable here. The previous onegenerated gas for an air burst type flamethower.The goal with these units is very quick iterative building, using only junk at hand and a few readily findable parts at home depot. My rule was i could only use things i alreadyhad around the shop, or could expect to find at the local auto junkyard, or on the shelves of home depot. No McMaster Carr orders. No fully integrated heat recycling embeddedprocessor temp and O2 sensor metering and and feedback modulation. That will come later . . .Thus I started with a junk 2x air compressor tank and welded various plumbing fittings into it for the gas inlets and outlets. The grate in the downdraft is cut from a chappatiflipper stainless steel spatula I bought at local Indian spice store (that was cheating, i know, but it was perfect).The "cyclone" is a 10 gal metal bucket that was borrowed from the local gas station. I've used a hammer smashed flex exhaust pipe to try to get a little cyclone circulation withouthaving to fabricate the taper. The filter in the top is from a shop vac.The cooler/condensor is a car radiator.The piping is a combination of flex exhaust pipe, hydralic hose, home vacuum tubing, and duct tape.The fan is a small shop vac run on a variac (light dimmer) so i can alter the gas flow to see the related effects.The generator is a standard generac type 5kw briggs and stratten type gas generator. The grinder in the pictures below is running off it while on woodgas.The woodgas carb is the existing briggs and stratton carburetor, with a ball valve restrictor added to the air intake of the carburetor. Adjusting the resistance on the air intakeallows varying the vacuum on the gasifier and thus gas:air mixture until it is proper (about 1:1). The existing butterfly plate in the carburetor continues to be the throttle, with theexisting generator governor controlling engine speed.The unit is started on gasoline with the regular carburetor, then the fuel cock is shut off. As the engine runs out of gas, the air restrictor ball valve is adjusted to start pulling gasfrom the gasifier. The transition is fast and a little rough, but can be smoothed out by keeping the choke about half way shut..The gasifier is prestarted and wamed up with the shop vac.These are pictures are not great, but there will be more soon.Pictures from V1.0, which was run on NYE 06/07, are findable here.http://whatiamupto.com/gasification/firstfiring.htm (1 of 16) [10/9/2008 08:16:23]