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wood gas | 33 comments (33 topical, editorial)
Re: wood gas (3.00 / 0) (#27)
by dozer on Sat Apr 9th, 2005 at 10:31:10 PM MST
(User Info)

there is a lot of talk about "methane" in this thread; but to my knowledge, the bulk of "wood gas" is hydrogen and CO (carbon monoxide).  Methane is a pretty small component of it...perhaps 2-5%, depending on type of wood, conditions of gasification, etc..

In any case, I don't understand why you're focusing on pressurizing the gas by pumping air in on it ???

a) that dilutes your fuel...you're wasting storage space

b) it makes it an explosive mixture.

The proper way to do this is to draw the gas through a filter and into a compressor.  The output of the comp. goes right to the tank.

Your thought of using propane tanks is a good one.  They are rated to higher pressure than almost any other commonly available pressure-vessel.

Note that your gas is likely to have some water vapor in it, and propane tanks do not have a water-drain valve on the bottom.  Water will collect in your tank and slowly rust it.  You should be thinking about how you're going to deal with that...

I'd consider the use of wood-gas for a heating boiler as a big waste of time and energy, and fuel-energy too.  The only thing that I use wood-gas for is a diesel gen-set, i.e. something that -needs- a gaseous or liquid fuel.  For heat and hot water, we use solid wood.

notes;  the CO portion of the gas IS a fuel.  You do not want to eliminate it...you want to burn it.

I know of no cheap and easy way to eliminate the nitrogen.  There -are- filters available that will seperate hydrogen from nitrogen, but they are neither cheap nor easy.

you -can- filter out the tars and acids fairly easily with a fairly crude/simple setup; and I highly recommend doing so if you're using the gas to run any kind of engine.  Uncleaned wood-gas will eat up an engine in short order...

good luck with the project!



Re: wood gas (3.00 / 0) (#28)
by mikey ny on Sun Apr 10th, 2005 at 07:28:57 AM MST
(User Info)

thanks dozer, I appreciate  your input. I will definitly run the gas through the compressor to eliminate any air. As far as storeing it and using it for heat, I only plan to use it as a backup for wood. This season I may be able to make enough improvements to my present wood heat system so i won't need a backup. I presently use natural gas as a back up. I am also considering waste vege oil as a backup since my wood boiler has an oil burner at one end.  Keeping a large volume of oil warm enough in my detached garage will be a challenge also. Oil is definitly much safer to deal with and easier to store, it would definitly require less work to figure out how to deal with the problems related to oil than with gas. With all the feedback i have recieved here i may change my thoughts and go in another direction, I have to decide soon the clock is ticking.
             
Mr. Mikey... "I thought I made a mistake but I was wrong"
[ Parent ]


wood gas | 33 comments (33 topical, 0 editorial)

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