Construction of a simplified wood gas generator for fueling internal combustion engines in a petroleum emergency
This report is one in a series of emergency technology assessments sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The purpose of this report is to develop detailed, illustrated instructions for the fabrication, installation, and operation of a biomass gasifier unit (i.e., a ''producer gas'' generator, also called a ''wood gas'' generator) that is capable of providing emergency fuel for vehicles, such as tractors and trucks, in the event that normal petroleum sources were severely disrupted for an extended period of time. These instructions have been prepared as a manual for use by any mechanic who is reasonably proficient in metal fabrication or engine repair. This report attempts to preserve the knowledge about wood gasification that was put into practical use during World War II. Detailed, step-by-step fabrication procedures are presented for a simplified version of the World War II, Imbert wood gas generator. This simple, stratified, downdraft gasifier unit can be constructed from materials that would be widely available in the United States in a prolonged petroleum crisis. For example, the body of the unit consists of a galvanized metal garbage can atop a small metal drum; common plumbing fittings throughout; and a large, stainless steel mixing bowl for the grate. The entire compact unit was mounted onto the front of a farm tractor and successfully field tested, using wood chips as the only fuel. Photographic documentation of the actual assembly of the unit as well as its operation is included. 19 refs., 39 figs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6054362
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-6404; ON: DE89012903
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
GAS GENERATORS
FABRICATION
WOOD
GASIFICATION
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
CARBON MONOXIDE
EMERGENCY PLANS
ENERGY CONVERSION
FIRES
INSTALLATION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MAINTENANCE
MANUALS
OPERATION
STRATIFICATION
TOXICITY
VEHICLES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONVERSION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENGINES
FUELS
HEAT ENGINES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
090400* - Solid Waste & Wood Fuels- (-1989)
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)