Testing new size fuel

Hi Michael,

This bamboo was 6 years old. The clump is about 9 years.

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Hi Dave,

Yes you can use the condensate the easy way.
I have some brochure for making charcoal and vinegar from the royal princess
I will post this pdf to Chris to have it in the library

They use the simple long way, i use the fast lane. But their approach is also more real life…

edit: i was able to convert the pdf into picture

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Thanks Koen , my guess is that brochure is pretty old or they just dont understand or care about asbestos over there ,

You mentioned you like the fast lane , would that be distilling/ separating the vinegar a different way , rather than allowing it to settle

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Sadly but, asbestos is still used here…
My fast lane is indeed separating the vinegar with the set i did build, but i am putting the outcome to a test now, leaving the product settle for 90 day’s and check what it becomes…

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I redesigned the original box, now with a bolted lid and in/outlet + thermocouple. Going to tilt the oven on its side for a smoother activation process…

The box on the leftcan hold 5 Kg, the cylinder tube only 1 Kg

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Koen, You just gotta love a “hands on” lady!

testing is fun, especially if the outcome is within expectations…

The output is consistent
The process easy to manage

The Vinegar , i tested the 5 different outlets, there is a significant difference with the refractometer, the last 3 bottles are in the range 1,10 to 1,13 density, the 2 first bottles have 1,25 to 1,3

Uploading a video clip now to show the gas outlet after the condenser and the gasoutlet when i am activating with Co2

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The gas / smoke video:

and the Co2 with glowing Charcoal
( Co2 to syngas converter :grin: )

by the way, the gas is pure and powerful, no dilution with nitrogen

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Ph test in the lab today…
The more dense liquid has a slight higher Ph value
The mix from the 3 last fractions, less dense, has a lower Ph

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Good info Koen. This is Bamboo only, right?
The reason I ask is, do other woods have a different value? Are there trees that may be closer to a neutral level? We have Carl on this side of the pond replacing a lot of metal on his system compared to others. Just providing possible future tests. :slight_smile:

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Every plant matter pirolise condensate shuld be acetic becouse of acetic acid content. Howewer, oak wood contains other chemicals that eat steel. Not sure why, my guess is maybee tannic acid.

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Another factor would be the amount of moisture in the feedstock. Wetter = more dilution
I believe bamboo is fairly dry

Testing fractional distillation in the kitchen…

Be careful…

1 part to mix with regular diesel, other part to mix with heavy fuel…

Preparing samples to sent to labo

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All above are small steps in learning before i make a “raw wood” gasifier…
But i promise, one day… :grin:

If i know the way to toggle the behavior of the condensate into my advantage…

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Looks good! So is this methanol or some other fractiom?
Have you got a idea of yeld of flamable liquid fuel/kg wood?

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Hi Kristijan,

This is a first “field” distillation, testing the possible separation of Tar components and other liquids.
The acidity increased from 4 to 3, so that is a change but i am studying the different boiling points in order to extract other components.

This first distillation was at 118ºC ( vinegar / acetic acid )

Methanol has 64.7 °C
Ethanol has more or less 78,2 °C

I am graduell working towards the lowest temperatures , hoping not to lose to much vapors :grin:

But one of my aims is in this :
https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/elsevier/functionality-of-liquid-smoke-as-an-all-natural-antimicrobial-in-food-JHF3e4AsuW

and more info:

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Koen
I was just scanning this post and thinking about your splitting method it reminds me of how they make French fries.
Anyway that got me thinking could you put that splitter inside a tube and use a set of roller to push the bamboo through the splitter before cutting then on the output side have a saw cut all the split bamboo to length? If that worked you could automate the advance rollers to step the bamboo while the saw was out of the way it would be fully automated chunks falling off the end of the saw onto a conveyor belt or into a bucket.

A little more thought. Look at A corn chopper basically put the splitter. Between the knives and the in feed.

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Great info Koen, but you overlooked the ability to make vanillin, and other favouring agents with white oak, and perhaps other hardwoods. Almost magical… :slight_smile:

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Hi Garry,
Yes, magic it is…

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Hi Koen

can the methanol and ethanol that you distil be used as motor fuel?