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| Wood Gas Generator |
We are all familiar with Solar Energy (Photovoltaic
- PV) for generation of electrical power. In fact solar energy has become
so well known and utilized that it will soon surpass fossil fuel as the most
economical energy source within the next decade. That is good news, but what
about when there is no sunlight? Up here in the Northwest (and many
other places), there are long periods when there is limited sunlight. Ask
any solar power user, and they will tell you that when there is no sunlight for
any extended period, they turn on the generator to keep their battery
bank charged. Even those who have a complimentary system like a wind
turbine will find times when there is no sunlight, and no wind.
So on goes the generator. But those generators can consume a lot of fuel,
whether it be gasoline, diesel, natural gas, or propane. That fuel cost can add
up quickly depending upon your geography and number of hours needed to run to
make up the difference in the lack of sunlight or wind.
What if we could power those generators with a
biofuel that we could create on demand? Well with a wood gas generator,
we can do exactly that, create our own fuel. As long as we have sufficient
access and availability to a biofuel such as wood chips, and utilize a
process called gasification.
Gasification - A little history
Gasification is process that has been used for
several hundred years. Going back to the 1800's gasification was used
commercially for industrial and residential heating and lighting. Street lights
were powered with gas from gasification. Gasification was again used during
WWII when there were severe fuel shortages. Car engines, tractors and other
engines were converted to run a wood gas. It seems that gasification is a
technology that gets lost and then rediscovered during times of fuel shortages
and high prices. Today we are experiencing a renewed interest in gasification
using cleaner , safer and more efficient designs to generate clean gas for fuel
and heating applications.
Gasification - The Process
Gasification is a process that coverts organic
or fossil fuel based materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon
dioxide gases. This combination gas is often referred to as Syngas (Synthetic
Gas) as it is not pure natural gas. This gas is created in a process
called Pyrolysis, which is the thermo chemical decomposition of these organic
materials in a high temperature, oxygen limited environment. When created
property by using extremely high temperatures, any residue tars or burned and
created into gas. The gas is additionally filtered to ensure it is suitable to
be used as a fuel to an internal combustion engine.
The other solar energy
You can think of organic materials as storage of
solar energy. Sunlight was crucial to the growth these materials and the gasification
and pyrolysis process releases this stored energy and converts the material
back to its basic elements. The gasification process allows is to retrieve this
stored energy as Syngas. We can use both the heat generated by the
pyrolysis process of the gasification and the resulting gas (Syngas). We can
burn the gas for heating applications, or we can use it as a fuel for our
engines and generators. When you think about it, Wood Gasification is a
perfect complement to any existing solar, wind or other alternative energy
system. Gasification is also a highly efficient process. For example, when we
burn wood in a fire or wood stove, we get only a small portion of the energy as
fire and heat. The majority of the energy is 'up in smoke', which is the
unconverted gases of the material. This smoke is also an
environmental hazard and breathing hazard. The gasification process, burns
up all of the material at much higher temperatures, so there is little to no
smoke to release in the atmosphere, a far more efficient process. Additionally,
the gasification residue, also known as biochar, is mostly carbon and provides
a host of uses including a soil additive.
Today's Wood Gas - Generate your own fuel
Today we are rediscovering the benefits of wood
gasification for home power generation. Wood gas generations are built on
proven designs with better materials and provide a cost effective means to
generate wood gas for power generation or heating applications, whether
combined with an internal combustion engine, external combustion engine or even
a Stirling engine. Whether you are an existing solar user, wind turbine
or other alternative energy user, or you are interested in learning how wood
gas can be a part of your energy solution, you should explore the benefits of
wood gas generation.
I would be glad to answer any questions you may
have on wood gas generators or be of any assistance in your renewable energy
needs.
Steven Honkus
Renewable Energy Consultant
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