Retaining energy for generator from retort

[tcholton717 (Tom Holton)]

Amen. I think that most if not all of us here are mainly interested in energy independence. Not having to be totally dependent on someone else for electricity or motor fuel. Wood and it’s by products are our best option. Can be converted to various energy uses by most people and is totally renewable. Solar is great if you have sun and if you could build your own panels and electronics. If not, you are still dependent.

[KristijanL (Kristijan Leitinger)]

Dustless charcoal grinding is easyest thing on earth. Invest your time in a downdraft charcoal gasifier. Add 20% water to the feedstock charcoal. Grind. Enjoy. With clean lungs, shirt and face

[nvvizm (Vladislav Nasonov)]

@KristijanL

… downdraft charcoal gasifier.

Why are you advising a downdraft charcoal gasifier than a crossdraft gasifier?

[KristijanL (Kristijan Leitinger)]

Hi Vladislav. You share your name with my wifes father. Rare name here. Always nice to see more people here from the East!

Because only a downdraft alows full cracking of any gas that is produced above the reaction zone. Moisture, tar…

[SteveUnruh]

Diagonal Cross Flow Barrel Charcoal Gasifer

Bob, l am a bit buissy at the moment and dont want to give any skechy answers without reading/thinking it out thurly. I will get back on it tomorow in more detail l hope. Throwing an eye just on the skeches, first of all, nice to see you got back to building! I am afraid a cross draft charcoal gasifier will not give you the benefits you are looking for. Here is why. A downdraft charcoal gasifier must be designed so that no tar, moisture or unreduced gases can bypass the “lobe of hell” and whil…

[nvvizm (Vladislav Nasonov)]

@SteveUnruh

A downdraft charcoal gasifier must be designed so that no tar, moisture or unreduced gases can bypass the “lobe of hell” and whil…

Hi Kristijan.
We speak about charcoal gasifier.
Coal is tar free.

[KristijanL (Kristijan Leitinger)]

It never is 100% tar free. When l drove my Mercedes on charcoal l made my own charcoal in a big 2m3 kiln. It made percect charcoal yet with a updraft l occasionaly had problems. You miss a litle undercooked peace of charcoal, a twig falls in your fuel, children throw something in a sack of charcoal… with a updraft this all converts to tar and gets stuck in your engine. Happened to me twice but luckly it first clogged the felt filter.

Aditional advantige of a downdraft is you can intentionaly moist the charcoal with 20% water. This way it produces no dust when grinding and handling and it lowers the heat of burning a bit, plus adds valuable hydrogen to the gas.

[Bobmac (Robert Mackey)]

Kristijan, also it give us the opportunity to add a little raw wood, like sawdust with no problems of tar making it through the inferno lobe and the reduction hot zone and grate. Added power. The down draft charcoal gasifer is a great design. One of the best parts, you do not have to worry about trying to keep your charcoal dry.
Bob