Using Wood to Fuel a Generator! (How to Build a Wood Gasifier w/Demonstration)

Summary

This video script details the construction and operation of a homemade wood gasifier, an innovative device for converting organic biomass into combustible gas. The creator explains the gasification process, emphasizing its efficiency and potential for energy generation. The script covers the design, including a burn bowl, fire tube, and cyclone filter, and demonstrates the setup's ability to power a generator using wood pellets. The video also highlights safety precautions and the importance of using dry fuel, showcasing the gasifier's practicality and sustainability.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The video describes a homemade wood gasifier, an improved version 2, designed to efficiently decompose organic material into syngas.
• 🌲 The gasifier uses various types of organic, carbonaceous biomass such as wood pellets, paper, coal, and dried leaves for gas production.
• 🔥 Gasification is a process of controlled pyrolysis, which breaks down material through heating in an oxygen-deprived environment to produce syngas.
• 🌪️ Syngas is composed mainly of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen, with trace amounts of methane, and is produced from the leftover gases after pyrolysis.
• 🔨 The 'burn bowl' or 'shaker grate' is a crucial component of the gasifier, made from a stainless steel bowl with ventilation holes for efficient gas production.
• 📏 The diameter and length of the fire tube are essential for calculating gas production and determining the size of the engine that can be powered.
• 🔄 The gasifier includes a cyclone filter and a radiator for cooling, which helps remove water vapor, tar, and particulates from the syngas.
• 💨 A blower is necessary to pull the gas through the system and to start the gasification process, which can be powered by a 12-volt motor for convenience.
• 🔄 The gasifier must be airtight to prevent dangerous fuel-to-air mixtures that could lead to explosions, emphasizing the importance of careful construction.
• ♻️ The gasifier is designed to be self-cleaning, with the motion of the shaker grate helping to remove ash and maintain air flow.
• 🔋 The end product of the gasifier is a clean-burning syngas that can be used to power an internal combustion engine or for other applications like lighting and cooking.

Q & A

What is a wood gasifier?

A wood gasifier is a device that uses gasification, a process of controlled pyrolysis, to break down organic carbonaceous material like wood chips into a gas that can be used for various purposes such as powering engines or for heat.

What is the main purpose of the burn bowl or shaker grate in a gasifier?

The burn bowl or shaker grate is where the actual gasification process takes place. It holds the material for it to burn and be exposed to air, allowing for a more efficient gas production.

What type of material can be used in a wood gasifier?

Various types of dry organic materials can be used in a wood gasifier, including wood chips, wood pellets, paper, coal, dried leaves, and dried horse manure.

What is the composition of the gas produced by a wood gasifier on average?

The gas produced by a wood gasifier is typically composed of about 20% hydrogen, 20% carbon monoxide, and between 50 to 60% nitrogen, with a small amount of methane.

How does a wood gasifier increase the energy utilization compared to burning wood directly?

A wood gasifier allows for the capture and utilization of flammable gases that would otherwise be lost when burning wood directly, thus increasing the energy utilization from about one-third to a higher percentage.

What is the importance of the fire tube in a gasifier?

The fire tube is crucial as it determines the amount of gas that can be produced. Its diameter and length are important factors in calculating the engine size that can be powered by the gasifier.

Why is it necessary to have an airtight system in a gasifier?

An airtight system is essential in a gasifier to prevent the escape of gases into the environment and to avoid dangerous stoichiometric mixtures of fuel and air that could lead to an explosion.

What is the function of the cyclone filter in the gasifier's exhaust system?

The cyclone filter helps to remove water, tar, and particulate matter from the gas. It operates by causing the gas to spin along the side walls, which helps to condense and trap contaminants before they exit the filter.

What is the role of the blower in a gasifier system?

The blower is vital for starting the gasifier and maintaining the flow of gas through the system. It creates a vacuum that pulls air through the gasifier, aiding in the gasification process and delivering the gas to the engine or other uses.

How does the gasifier's radiator help in the gas cleaning process?

The radiator in the gasifier system helps to cool the gas, which is important for condensing and removing as much water as possible before the gas reaches the engine, thus improving the quality of the gas.

What safety considerations should be taken when operating a wood gasifier?

Safety considerations include ensuring the fuel is completely dry to prevent mushy buildup, maintaining an airtight system to avoid explosive mixtures, and being cautious during the startup process to prevent accidents.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Building a Wood Gasifier

The script introduces a homemade wood gasifier, an improved version 2 of the builder's first design. The gasifier is explained as a type of pyrolysis that breaks down organic material through heating without complete combustion. The builder uses wood pellets for convenience but mentions that any dry organic material can be used. The gas produced, called syngas, is a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen. The process is described as more efficient than burning wood directly, capturing gases that would otherwise be lost. The 'burn bowl' or shaker grate is highlighted as a key component for efficient gas production. The builder also discusses the importance of the fire tube's dimensions and the need for an airtight system to prevent dangerous fuel-to-air mixtures.

05:01

🔧 Constructing the Gasifier Components

This section details the construction of the gasifier's main components using freon cans and sheet metal. The reactor, where gasification occurs, is described along with its airtight seal using a fiberglass wood stove gasket. A cyclone filter made from a freon can is introduced as the first stage of gas cleaning, which spins gas to separate contaminants. A radiator is used for further cooling and condensation of the gas. The blower, made from HVAC duct and a salvaged 12-volt fan, is explained as essential for pulling gas through the system until the engine creates its own vacuum. The builder emphasizes the importance of using dry fuel and the blower's role in the initial startup process.

10:01

🔥 Starting the Gasification Process

The script outlines the process of starting the gasifier using newspaper as an ignition source, leveraging leftover carbon from previous burns. The importance of the blower in drawing air and flame into the carbon is highlighted. The builder demonstrates the gasification process, showing the production of smoke and the heating of the reactor. A filter system is shown in action, with the top part remaining cool to the touch despite the heat below, illustrating the effectiveness of the gas cleaning process. The builder also advises on the importance of having a completely dry fuel source to avoid issues with the gasifier's operation.

15:35

🌳 Utilizing the Gasifier for Power Generation

The final section describes the successful startup of the gasifier and the generation of flammable gas. The builder attempts to power a generator using the gas produced by the wood gasifier. The video concludes with the generator running on wood gas, demonstrating the efficiency and potential of the gasifier. The builder reflects on the historical use of gasification in the 1800s and expresses a desire to raise awareness of this technology for its potential in preparedness and sustainability. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and ask questions for further engagement.

Keywords

💡Wood Gasifier

A wood gasifier is a device that converts wood or other organic materials into a combustible gas known as producer gas through a process called pyrolysis. In the video, the creator discusses building a version 2 of a wood gasifier, indicating an improved design from the first iteration. The gasifier is central to the video's theme of energy production from sustainable resources.

💡Gasification

Gasification is the process of converting organic materials into gas by subjecting them to high temperatures in an environment with limited oxygen. In the script, the creator explains that gasification is a central control pyrolysis, which is the decomposition of material through heating. This process is fundamental to understanding how the wood gasifier works.

💡Carbonaceous Biomass

Carbonaceous biomass refers to organic materials that are high in carbon content and can be used as fuel. The video mentions that wood chips, wood pellets, paper, coal, dried leaves, and horse manure are examples of carbonaceous biomass that can be used in the gasifier. This term is key to understanding the types of materials that can be utilized for gas production.

💡Syngas

Syngas, short for synthesis gas, is a mixture of gases produced from the gasification of organic materials. In the video, the creator describes syngas as being composed of about 20% hydrogen, 20% carbon monoxide, and 50-60% nitrogen, with traces of methane. Syngas is the primary product of the gasifier and can be used for various applications, such as powering engines.

💡Burn Bowl

The burn bowl, also referred to as a shaker grate in the script, is a crucial component of the gasifier where the actual gasification of the biomass occurs. It is a container with holes for ventilation, allowing the wood pellets to react and produce gas more efficiently. The burn bowl is central to the gasifier's operation and is an example of the practical design elements discussed in the video.

💡Fire Tube

The fire tube is a part of the gasifier that channels the flow of gases and helps in the calculation of gas production. The script mentions that the diameter and length of the fire tube are important for determining the size of the engine that can be powered by the gasifier. This term is integral to understanding the engineering aspects of the gasifier's design.

💡Cyclone Filter

A cyclone filter is a type of gas cleaning device that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from the gas stream. In the video, the creator describes using a cyclone filter made from a freon can to remove water, tar, and particulate matter from the syngas. This keyword is essential for understanding the gas cleaning process in the gasifier system.

💡Radiator

In the context of the gasifier, a radiator is used to cool down the syngas by allowing it to rise through a series of tubes, which helps in condensing out more water and other contaminants. The script describes a homemade radiator made from rectangular tubing and pipes, emphasizing the importance of cooling the gas before it reaches the engine.

💡Blower

The blower is a critical component that facilitates the flow of gas through the gasifier system. It is used to create a vacuum that pulls the gas from the reactor and towards the engine. In the video, the creator details building a blower from HVAC duct and a salvaged 12-volt fan, illustrating the DIY aspect of the project.

💡Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry in the context of the video refers to the proper ratio of fuel to air needed for combustion. The creator warns about the dangers of incorrect stoichiometry, which could lead to an explosion, emphasizing the importance of careful design and operation of the gasifier to ensure safety.

💡Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of material by heat in the absence of oxygen. The script explains that gasification involves controlled pyrolysis of the biomass, which is a key concept in understanding how the wood gasifier produces syngas from organic materials.

Highlights

Introduction to a homemade wood gasifier, an improved second version with most bugs resolved.

Explanation of gasification as a centrally controlled pyrolysis process.

Use of various organic carbonaceous biomass materials for gasification, including wood pellets for convenience.

Description of syngas composition, including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen.

Efficiency comparison with traditional wood burning, highlighting energy waste and gasification benefits.

Introduction to the 'burn bowl' or shaker grate, a key component for efficient gas production.

Importance of the fire tube diameter and length for calculating gas production capacity.

Design of the fuel storage and gravity-fed system to supply the gasifier.

Safety considerations for airtight systems in gasifiers to prevent dangerous fuel-air mixtures.

Ignition port function and the process of starting the gasification.

Discussion on stationary vs. mobile gasifiers and the need for ash agitation in stationary setups.

Construction details using freon cans and sheet metal for the reactor.

Filtering process using cyclone and radiator filters to clean and cool the syngas.

Blower function and construction for pulling gas through the system.

Demonstration of starting the gasifier using newspaper and a blowtorch.

Filter demonstration showing the temperature gradient and efficiency.

Importance of using completely dry fuel to prevent mushy residue.

Final setup for gas production and generator testing.

Successful demonstration of the wood gasifier running a generator.

Historical context of gasification technology dating back to the 1800s.

Potential applications of gasification for preparedness and energy self-sufficiency.

Call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and provide feedback for future content.

Transcripts

[Music]

this is a wood gasifier that I built a

couple of years ago it's actually an

improvement on a first design so this is

the version 2 or I think I have most of

the bugs worked out I was thinking that

there might be some interest in seeing

how I built it and how they work and if

you're not familiar with the gasifier

this is in fact your first time hearing

the word and don't worry I'll go into

that gasification is a centrally

controlled pyrolysis and what Casas

means is the expediate decomposition low

material through heating so the way that

this works in our case is we have a

material for example wood chips but you

can use any sort of organic carbonaceous

biomass using wood pellets because

they're convenient they'll already go

and dry and I don't have to do any work

in preparing them but you can also use

anything any sort of dry organic

materials so what is obviously go to

options because it's readily available

and also energy dense but you can also

use paper you can use coal you can use

dried leaves you can use dried horse

manure really any dry organic flammable

mass will work just fine for producing

or send gas so what does send gas and

gas is it is the product of what's left

over after we paralyze our medium down

here and on average it's composed of

about 20 percent hydrogen 20 percent

cover monoxide and between 50 to 60

percent nitrogen which is a little bit

of methane in there by weight and of

course all that we're left over with

down here is almost pure carbon and you

burn a pile of wood on the ground for

example you're only using up about one

third of the potential energy of that

firewood and that remaining two-thirds

goes up in the air and the form of

flammable gases that haven't flashed off

yet and so essentially the principle for

this is allowing that to happen in an

oxygen-deprived environment and then

taking those leftover gases filtering

them cooling them getting all the

contaminants out and most of the water

and then we can use that gas leftover to

power an internal combustion engine or

just to burn for lighting cooking or a

number of other things so this piece is

really where all the magic happens this

is called the burn bowl or shaker great

depending on who you're

- and in my case it's just a stainless

steel bowl with holes drilled through

the bottom for ventilation so these wood

pellets under here not just the surface

pellets are reacting so we're getting

more gas into more efficient process so

all this is is something to hold our

material for it to burn in where it can

also be exposed to air this is called

the fire tube and the diameter of this

and the length of this is important in

calculating how much gas we'll be able

to produce and thus how big of an engine

you'll be able to run in my case with

this being I think it's around a four

and three-quarter inch fire tube I'll be

able to run that about a twenty to

twenty five horsepower engine which

should more than power most generators

out there for home use

so after were through it the flame tube

all we have left to do is store fuel

that can be fed by gravity into the

shaker grid eventually and so I've got

this half a freon can you can see with

some sheet metal just to seal it all up

and then reduces it down to this size

and then I needed more storage so I

simply welded this five gallon propane

tank on top added a simple lid of course

it's important with the lid since you'll

be drawing air through the system via

this fan which I'll get to later you

have to have a place for air to enter so

make sure you don't see what I've

completely obviously this isn't a

complete setup because if I were to burn

anything this the gases would simply

escape out into the environment now get

absolutely no you set them so as an ash

catch and a containment vessel I'm using

this other freon can at least have the

top cut off of that as you can see has

these lashes which form up on these here

and a gas get running along the inside

of this to seal up against this surface

so we have an airtight system which is

also another thing and need to mention

because it's very important to have a

completely airtight system and gasifier

because what can happen is that can lead

to a dangerous stoichiometry or the

mixture of fuel to air that could result

in an explosion so be very very careful

if you were to replicate this and I

would encourage you to do lots and lots

of research before attempting to so

you've got the fire tube you've got to

burn great and we also have an ignition

port this is where you'll start the

gasification process by igniting the

carbon from a previous burn the first

start off of gasifier is always the most

difficult because you have to ignite the

material you don't have the assistance

from the leftover carbon so so after the

first burn you're left at this nice

combustible base we can simply ignite

there's one other component that you

should have on a stationary gasifier I

say stationary because aside from

running home generators you can also

make them large enough to power a

full-sized vehicle and in a moving

vehicle you don't

need this shaker great to move because

the motion of the vehicle is enough to

sit down they already spent ash and such

the carbon that's no longer useful and

inhibiting air flow will be agitated by

the motion of the vehicle and just fall

out into your cash flow case in my case

this so in a stationary gasifier you

have to have a way to agitate this every

so often they'll notice it's suspended

by chains one link welded here and then

just bolted here as you probably notice

this does not have a way to externally

agitate this and I found that it isn't

entirely necessary I can run this for a

very long time and it seems to do a well

enough job of cleaning itself out

without my input so as far as actual

construction goes it's mostly made of

freon cans so I've got this one here as

I said this B's sheet metal reducing it

out of this size and then this taper so

this tube goes all the way down to here

and does not stop this is just a collar

over it made of the removed top of a

freon can with a hole the same size is

the external diameter of this tube and

another can lid turned over and welded

to make sort of the patty shape right

underneath of here and then I took a

piece of flat bar and you can see the

difference in the seam you can see the

seam between the two halves as the freon

can and is seen between the flat bar

that I welded on the purpose for this

flat bar is to offer a surface to

support the sides of this container and

because I had the nice taper at the

inside of that freon can it guides it

right into this channel between the two

which I have inserted a piece of which

I've inserted a piece of fiberglass wood

stove gasket into to give it a nice

airtight seal you can now you can see

I've got that cover back on I've got the

great clothes and the only purpose for

this is just to keep hands away from the

burn tube because it does get fairly

warm and I don't want anything flammable

coming into contact with it and of

course I don't want somebody to touch it

with their bare hand and it's just being

held closed with this spring that have

been to a nice shape that made it

somewhat ergonomic as you can see these

draw lashes hold this in place and also

press it firmly against the gasket

lining the inside and I've never once to

notice a leak around this seam so I

think that covers most of this part

which is technically called the reactor

which is really where all the important

stuff happens but we can't use the gas

produced by this yet because it's too

dirty too full of water vapor and it

will reduce the life of our engine so

what we're doing is we're filtering it

with these two filters out here here's

our outlet from the reactor it's just

one and a quarter inch steel pipe and

you want the place where

gasps straw is relatively high in your

reaction chamber because given to

contaminants which are generally heavier

to stay down and the lighter elements

like the hydrogen will flow up and into

here and of course will still be drawing

up a lot of ash a lot of carbon a lot of

other things but we'll filter those out

a little bit later starting with this

which is a simple cyclone filter emitted

of another freon can so I have this

going in at an angle so what happens is

the gas goes there and then it spins

along the side walls all the way down

until it gets drawn out by this the draw

to which sits just a couple of inches

from the bottom and the cool side wells

with a cyclone filter condense out a lot

of the water and tar that you would find

in your fuel especially using something

like wood it's not completely dry and

there will be quite a bit of tar

produced as well and this will hopefully

some of that out and as the sides get

wet and from the water and sticky from

the tar they also trapped a lot of the

particulate material simply despite

heejun and of course as those liquids

and the tars build up gravity will pull

them down and then they'll follow this

taper into our collection jars you can

see I well that stuck and you can see I

have this ring that's quite a bit

there's just a little bit of that

nastiness down there in the bottom but

because I'm using wood pellets that are

just pressed together there's really not

a lot of garbage in there that needs to

be filtered out so very little

production other that in my filter isn't

work okay next up after that it's drawn

up from down below and the cyclone

filter goes up it goes into here which

is where hopefully a lot more the

cooling is going to take place because

we really want to get all of the water

that we can out of our gas before it

gets to our engine so this is just a

simple radiator made out of two inch

rectangular tubing and then one inch

pipe so obviously the operating

principles are quite simple gas just

goes up cools on the way up and of

course a lot of those heavier gases we

want mostly hydrogen in this and

hydrogen of course is the lightest

element so having this be as tall as

possible can actually be beneficial to

our gas production process that's really

all there is to it next we move on to

the blower which is a very vital part or

setup because one you get a gas fire

running the vacuum of the engine pulling

on the intake stroke of the piston where

it goes down and draws in fuel a vacuum

is created and then it pulls air through

our desfire system so there is no

external power needed for this to

function once the engine is running but

in order to get it to that state we have

to have a way to pull the gas through

and of course it's quite a complicated

system with lots of turn

lots of restrictions so we're gonna need

quite a powerful air pump to do so so

this one I just made myself have some

HVAC duct so it's quite thin but it's

more than good enough it's just pop

riveted together obviously I came up

with a pattern for them paper tray sell

me the metal cut it out with the nibbler

cutter leaving tabs bent them over and

then pop rivet it together

of course that's not gonna be quiet

airtight so I added some wood stove

sealing tape nothing it turned out quite

nice as far as the blower itself this is

salvaged from a 1992 Dodge Dakota this

was just a temperature control blower at

push air around your cab to keep it cool

or warm another nice part about this is

it's a 12-volt fan so you can run it off

of a battery so in the event of a power

outage you're not gonna have 120 volts

to start this thing up that would be

kind of counterintuitive so make sure if

you replicate this think about these

things and go with the 12 volt motor and

of course it's just drawing to a system

pushing out this tube which I am going

to this piece of one-inch pipe here

that's just being held in place with

this hose clamp and of course the reason

for this is I can like this on fire and

the metal won't burn like the tubing

will this is just a clear braided hose

that have picked up at my local hardware

store I was worried about how corrosive

the gases were that were being produced

by this and whether or not this should

hold up but in a couple of years that

I've had it I've run it quite a few

times and I've had no issues it doesn't

feel brittle it's still soft it is quite

cold out so it's not as soft as it could

be but once it warms up you'll see this

is just a barb the size of the hose that

I threaded into the sheet metal here now

we're gonna start it up I'll walk you

through that process and we're gonna see

if we can run that generator so those

cages on a hinge on that side so you can

see I can just remove the spring swing

it right open and have access to my

ignition port there ok so there's sort

of a universal starting sequence to most

gas fires out there it's a pretty

complicated high-tech process but I

think you can bear with me newspaper

good old newspaper so he's gonna roll it

up hook it down miss you tube and that

is all set remember I've got leftover

carbon from previous burns so this

should take right off as soon as I get

the motor going and ignite the end of

this okay

the newspaper is in place next step is

to turn that fan on so we can start

pulling air through with any luck since

this has less resistance than pulling

air through all of this material you

should draw Aaron through here and pull

that flame down into our carbon ok

batteries connected they enter a fan you

can hear it's running currently just

ball rolling you see my flame being

drawn in with a section of the blower

here we go you see you've already got

smoke being produced at the end over

there

and we're going as if things look like

down inside of our shaker great right

now okay so now we're gonna go ahead and

cap this back off and we're gonna close

our safety great here fascinates our

spring and we're all set to go

it's been about three minutes we're

getting close but we're not quite there

yet I could do a quick demonstration to

show you guys just how well this filter

setup works down here you can see that's

quite hot the water is beating out

falling off evaporating steaming you can

see it up here same deal quite hot you

go to the top of this however

no reaction it's matter-of-fact I can

touch this with my bare hand no issue

it's amazing what can happen in that

short distance there one more very

important thing that I forgot to mention

it just occurred to me as I was sitting

here waiting for this to start producing

gas for about 20 minutes

make sure your fuel is completely

completely dry and I thought I was in

the clear

but there was some old fuel in the fire

tube left over from the last time I use

this that was soaked you can see it just

turns into this complete mush so I

cleaned it out restarted it nothing's

changed you're starting to produce gas

now and while we're here why don't we

just keep the shot hey see that that is

fire fire good so as this heats up a

little bit more eventually we'll have a

sustaining flame here that won't need

the assistance of it blowtorch or a

lighter see that okay so obviously the

gas coming out is still quite thick

that's because to get every bit of

contaminant out of this we're going to

need a lot more of a complicated system

than what I have as you can see all it

needs is this to be clean enough to burn

I'm gonna truth and we've got sustaining

flame you can see the volume this

produces is quite substantial and one

thing I forgot to mention is that the

tube running from your blower down to

your engine or whatever you have running

off of this is also going to act like a

condenser so you will have some liquid

buildup in there so be mindful of that

if you were using this for a home

installation you actually had a unit I

was installed there and already hooked

up to a generator that's just one thing

that you need to be aware of the longer

of a run you have from your gasifier to

your generator the better off you'll be

and the more fluid that you'll be able

to condense out of your guest okay we've

got flammable gas now it's the moment

you've all been waiting for we're gonna

try to start this generator here and the

way I'm going to do that is simply by

blowing the gas into the intake of the

carburetor move that tell the seconds

they can actually see ordinarily you'd

have this piped straight into the

carburetor with a tee and another valve

coming off to the side so you would

adjust the gas and the airflow from the

outside to get a perfect stoichiometric

to get your engine to run the best it

can off this gas so it's so it's sort of

like a okay primary carburetor if you

will but for now we're just gonna do

that and that works

[Music]

so we are officially using wood

throughout this contraption the

amplifier

okay I think that's just about it in

this video I covered how I built it in

her gasification works and end product

you can see how much flame is being

produced here substantial amount for the

small amount of wood that'll be consumed

to generate that so I hope you found

this video interesting at the very least

or maybe I piqued your curiosity and

you'll either build one for yourself or

do a little more research into the

technology because this stuff has been

around for hundreds of years in 1800s

gasification was used mostly with coal

as a fuel source to produce town gas for

cooking and lighting so this has been

around for a very long time I don't know

why more people don't know about it I

think this is an awesome technology and

I'm trying to bring it to the attention

of more people because I think it can be

utilized specifically from a

preparedness standpoint because as you

can see I'm surrounded by fuel so no

matter what I will always have something

to generate electricity while having

this around and that's a really

comforting thought you could show your

support by liking and subscribing that

would be awesome

I'm trying to give this whole YouTube

thing a try and I'm hopefully gonna be

putting out videos once a week of weird

little stuff like this and please let me

know if you enjoyed this video I like

hearing feedback from you guys and if

you have any more questions on this and

please just ask and I'll be more than

happy to try to answer them for you so

anyway I really hope you enjoyed this

video and if you didn't enjoy it then at

least I hope it was entertaining Thanks

see you later