Converting down draft wood to charcoal

#1

I mentioned earlier that some years back I built a downdraft gasifier from the WK book. Had to make a few modifications due to material availability but it was fairly close to the build shown in the book other than it was built to run a generator and only had an 8 inch fire tube. I ran it once back then and it made gas. Not knowing anything about gasification I figured that was all that was necessary and it got pushed to the back burner. Now I want to build a utility vehicle for around the homestead. I’m low on obtainium right now and the original unit is overly large and cumbersome for a vehicle like that. I’m thinking it would be easier for me to just use some of the components, which may not have worked all that well as a wood gas unit anyway, and build another charcoal gasifier. It will take a while to go through the build pictures of the original. Here is the unit as it exists right now.

0805200931
0805200931.jpg2307Ă—1298 1.12 MB

0805200932
0805200932.jpg2307Ă—1298 1.16 MB

I recall someone posting about using old acetylene tanks for builds. The casing for the firetube for this unit was made from one. Won’t be doing that again.

gasifier%20002
gasifier 002.JPG1280Ă—960 445 KB

gasifier%20003
gasifier 003.JPG1280Ă—960 438 KB

I expected to find just a empty tank. This was filled with something. Took a long time to burn it all out. more to follow.

2 Likes
#2

This confirms what I had been told about those tanks. Thanks for the pictures

#3

Fire tube with holes drilled and welded to a wheel.

008
008.JPG1280Ă—960 446 KB

Top view.

007
007.JPG1280Ă—960 442 KB

From my previous posts you can tell I’m real fond of building with wheels.

All covered with two five gallon metal buckets cut down.

workshop%20001%20(2)
workshop 001 (2).JPG1280Ă—960 438 KB

To be continued.

2 Likes
#4

You either a brave-man, or a xxxxxxx one TomH.; dinking around with an acetylene tank.

https://www.rexarc.com/blog/importance-disolving-acetylene-acetone/
Liquid acetylene-acetone mix in an inert porous filler-buffer.

Thanks for putting this up so others will see and avoid.
S.U.

3 Likes
#5

When I was doing structural Iron we didn’t have heaters to warm up with in the winter. Common practice was to take a metal can the bolts came in. Fill it half way with gasoline and light it. As long as no one knocked it over it was fine. When I cut up propane tanks I just fill them with water once. Drain it and cut them. None of my ugly came from blowing myself up. The sad thing is that I still have four more of those small acetylene tanks and one large one and have no idea what to do with them. Makes me crazy to see something like that sitting there with nothing I can make out of it.

I only have a couple more questions about this conversion but not sure what is out of bounds. I probably should just let it live as it is and build something new. I am thinking of trying a bigger firetube made out of sections of five inch channel, which I still have a small supply of, and welding them into an octagon to bring this thing up to vehicle standards. I’m thinking round or octagon should not make much difference. I’ll chew on it awhile. I think I’m going to start on the greenhouse water heater and charcoal maker next. I have a design that I believe will work.

1 Like
#6

That is exactly what i am doing. The pellet stove is the proof of concept and I do plan to build a dumbed down version of a down draft unit with an active passive grate for bulk feeding chip fuel. I think something like this will allow lower cost box store chippers a viable solution. I will let you know as I have one.

2 Likes
#7

Hi Matt, I remember a active passive grate that @gasman Max came up with. It was like fingers that were put together like rakes and would move. It would keep fines from clogging it up by the way it would move. I thought it was a really cool design. Not sure if anyone tried to build a grate like it. Maybe someone knows where it was posted on the DOW site.
Bob

2 Likes
#8

Hi, Bob!
11.11.2020
Chris played a bit with it and probably built it in the “plank” gasifier.
It was not fulfilled, as he got the new farm to build up …
Hopefully he fulfilles it, as there are 2 “new” items and two internal cyclones to evaluate…
Max

2 Likes
#9

Thanks Max, I go and look on Chris threads and see if I can locate it.
Bob

1 Like
#10

Yes I remember the twin cyclones. They had a common clean out on them. I think for them to work correctly each cyclone clean out needs to be isolated from each other.
Hopefully he will find some time in the future. I miss his project innovations that you two would come up with, like the plank gasifer. Thanks again Max for all your input.

2 Likes
#11

Today we built an indoor charcoal Kiln heater. Doing some testing outside and so far I think we have a winner. It is sort of like a rocket stove, the kiln is made up like the one I showed in my last video but with a 55 gal drum to serve as a bell. So the gas is not just exiting the top it has to migrate back down and then exit out the chimney. We will be installing it tomorrow for our shop heat.

Here is a link to my latest post on the Thrive Forum. Easier for me this way verses reposting everything. https://www.thriveoffgrid.net/forum/charcoal-kilns/indoor-charcoal-kiln-shop-heater

1 Like