Construction of a simplified wood gas generator for fueling internal combustion engines in a petroleum emergency

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6054362· OSTI ID:6054362

LaFontaine, H.; Zimmerman, G. P.

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., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6054362
• Report Number(s): ORNL-6404; ON: DE89012903
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090400* -- Solid Waste & Wood Fuels-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONVERSION
DOCUMENT TYPES
EMERGENCY PLANS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENGINES
FABRICATION
FIRES
FUELS
GAS GENERATORS
GASIFICATION
HEAT ENGINES
INSTALLATION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MAINTENANCE
MANUALS
OPERATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STRATIFICATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TOXICITY
VEHICLES
WOOD