Setup
I’m sure you have questions about setup, so lets answer the main one- “Where do I put the gasifier at?”
Home Power Users & Off Gridders
Ideally it will be located outside for ventillation, but underneath an overhang to keep the weather off and keep you dry when filling it. If you have a wood shed with an overhang you are in luck. If not, then consider the design below. It gives you storage space, solar drying, and room to set up your discreet power station.
To create suction in the gasifier during startup you will need a blower motor capable of pulling 10″ of water column or an air compressor capable of 100 psi. Contractor type or 30-60 gallon Home Depot type. Your compressor will also be invaluable for cleaning and maintenance.
You could recycle waste exhaust heat into a dryer if you need to rapidly dry woods, but using a solar dryer works well in it’s place. Note: Exhaust is humid. Exchange the heat into the fuel bin, but don’t blow exhaust over the fuel or your will just make it more moist.
Light Industrial & Village Scale Users
The longer run times you require mean that you need more space alotted for fuel preparation, drying and storage. A metal building with good cross breeze ventilation is ideal. It must be tall enough to handle the machinery entering with your biomass energy feedstock. Side walls are optional.
Energy Storage
To store energy you will want to net meter it back to the grid (check local regulations) or store it in batteries if an electrical connection isn’t nearby. Another option that isn’t used anymore but was popular 100 years ago is using gas storage membranes to hold the gas for future use.
Liquid fuels are the best storage solution and we are working in earnest to bring down the cost.
Engines
Portable Power
It’s usually necessary to have either ac or dc power or both when you are out on location. Here is a little video of our rolling power pack. To keep the system 12 volt wire the positive side of the inverter to the positive sides of the batteries. Negative goes to negative.
