scream-of-consciousness;
"If you're trying to change minds and influence people it's probably not a good idea to say that virtually all elected Democrats are liars, but what the hell."
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Friday, July 10, 2015
Mountain Gas
DIY
This
is just the g'damdist thing I ever seed! I just stumbled upon Mountain Men—this
episode. The whole thing is so compelling that I'm recording the
series, and watched 5 yesterday. But here's what blew my mind. The gasifier. Here's what blows
my mind more:
Wood
gasifiers can power either spark ignition engines, where 100% of the
normal fuel can be replaced with little change to the carburation, or
in a diesel engine, feeding the gas into the air inlet that is modified
to have a throttle valve, if it didn't have it already. On diesel
engines the diesel fuel is still needed to ignite the gas mixture, so a
mechanically regulated diesel engine's "stop" linkage and probably
"throttle" linkage must be modified to always give the engine a little
bit of injected fuel (Often under the standard idle per-injection
volume).
Wood can be used to power cars with ordinary internal combustion
engines if a wood gasifier is attached. This was quite popular during
World War II in several European, African and Asian countries because
the war prevented easy and cost-effective access to oil. In more recent
times, wood gas has been suggested as a clean and efficient method to
heat and cook in developing countries, or even to produce electricity
when combined with an internal combustion engine. (Wikipedia)
How the hell did I live this long without even
hearing
about this? Or, even worse, what if it turns out that I once
built one
myself? Ahem. I'll guess that a goodly number of you were way
ahead of
me on the gasifier, and on Mountain
Men
too. All the characters are something else, but Tom is the one
who
fills me with the most wonderment about his skill and
determination.
And he lives with a good woman, too. I think RAK could qualify
for inclusion in this series.
I have been watching this series since it aired some time ago. This is a good show. Wouldn't miss one if I just do have to do so. Like you, Tom is the best in my opinion.
Have you every closely watched a wood fire? You can sometimes see gas jetting out of the end grain, a flame burning an inch from the wood, the wood still unscorched. That's the stuff. Roast wood and it gives off that gas that will burn like propane.
1. How the hell did I live this long without even hearing about this?
There was coal gasification for "city gas" too, but fluidizing solid fuel for remote ignition was never "popular" or efficient. It's just stupid. You never heard about it because WikiP makes this stuff up.
2. Science fun fact: Solid fuels can't burn. Only thing that burns are the gases given off from the pyrolyze fuel.
3. The Industrial Revolution thrived on steam power because pyrolyzing coal and burning its flammable gases in the same combustion chamber works great.
'Been watchin' this. Ol' Tom, smokin' his buffalo hide...the narrator says it's 15º below and there's Tom in his stupid cowboy hat, with nothin' coverin' his ears? Gimme a break. At 10º above I need to protect my ears and nose.
Wood
gasifiers can power either spark ignition engines, where 100% of the
normal fuel can be replaced with little change to the carburation, or
in a diesel engine, feeding the gas into the air inlet that is modified
to have a throttle valve, if it didn't have it already. On diesel
engines the diesel fuel is still needed to ignite the gas mixture, so a
mechanically regulated diesel engine's "stop" linkage and probably
"throttle" linkage must be modified to always give the engine a little
bit of injected fuel (Often under the standard idle per-injection
volume). 
I have been watching this series since it aired some time ago. This is a good show. Wouldn't miss one if I just do have to do so. Like you, Tom is the best in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteJust like Red Green, only different.
ReplyDeleteTim
Yep, my wife and I both wish we were Tom's neighbor. He is just such a likeable guy. -Anymouse
ReplyDeleteHave you every closely watched a wood fire? You can sometimes see gas jetting out of the end grain, a flame burning an inch from the wood, the wood still unscorched. That's the stuff. Roast wood and it gives off that gas that will burn like propane.
ReplyDeleteAWM
Check out Chip and Agnes Hailstone on "Life below Zero."
ReplyDelete1. How the hell did I live this long without even hearing about this?
ReplyDeleteThere was coal gasification for "city gas" too, but fluidizing solid fuel for remote ignition was never "popular" or efficient. It's just stupid. You never heard about it because WikiP makes this stuff up.
2. Science fun fact: Solid fuels can't burn. Only thing that burns are the gases given off from the pyrolyze fuel.
3. The Industrial Revolution thrived on steam power because pyrolyzing coal and burning its flammable gases in the same combustion chamber works great.
4. More interesting: Distilling turpentine from pine pitch.
My German dad long ago told me about wood gasification during WWII. He said lots and lots of cars were powered by it.
ReplyDeleteSnazzy photo at http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e888330120a7d21beb970b-pi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw7rJMNqk4o
ReplyDeleteOh gawd, don't you people know that all of this reality TV is total scripted bullshit? Except for the gold mining show. That one is real.
ReplyDeleteCasca
"Scripted"?? You mean somebody actually gets PAID to write this crap??
ReplyDeletePhil N. LeBlanc
VW Bugs had wood gas generators in the front of the car instead of gas tanks, back in the 1930's
ReplyDelete'Been watchin' this. Ol' Tom, smokin' his buffalo hide...the narrator says it's 15º below and there's Tom in his stupid cowboy hat, with nothin' coverin' his ears? Gimme a break. At 10º above I need to protect my ears and nose.
ReplyDelete