I do recommend something like that as a first project. I is possible to simply pipe woodgas into a diesel’s intake while continuing to inject diesel fuel as a pilot. Others on this forum have done it.
Charcoal is very forgiving. Here is a little rig I put together. It is based on @k_vanlooken’s thread Some School In Thailand thread. I made very many design errors. But the contraption worked anyway. I say you can’t miss with charcoal.
Rindert
1960s 3KW Briggs-Gillette genset
A sample of the char that works for me.
I use a TLUD (Top Lit Up Draft) to make ~30 gallons of char at a time. Material to make it is just a broken hot water heater with the bottom and center pipe removed. Very dry wood is required. I live in Colorado, United States so this is no problem for me. Since you are in Great Britain where the environment is much wetter you may have to it differently. There is something out there called a Hookway charcoal maker.
