Thrive Off Grid

Partn 6 Fire it Up!!

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Ok running 100% wood chips today. I think it really could benifit from timed a hopper vibrator. Ive had to go smack it around a bit a few times to knock the bridging down. So I got this on order.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B8L5KPHX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As soon as I conclude this run Im going to switch over to charcoal and test back to back. See what the differences are in power, stability and run time.

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Or maybe MattR a Jonas Hedenberg type windshield motor timer dropping plunger rod down trough your top.
Cheaper. With less lower system char packing.
S.U.

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Yeah I tried something like that with a phumatic poker rod thing. The rod corroded really bad and quick.

We could make our old ones but Im tired of making everything lol. Its actually probably cheaper to just buy em. Hopefully I can find a cheaper solution, this is just what come on Amazon amongst other things “vibrator” related. LOL

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Yes I know. Any “made” eccentric shaft viberators killed their bearings. Eventually worked hardened and cracked mounting brackets. And all did cause lower internal packing. Many too-big and active shook loosening joints and flanges fasteners.

So little is actually needed hand massage viberators look possible, But $$"s. And AC motors.

Rod replace would be just a cheap/easy consumable. Use SS.
S.U.

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Well just ran into some tar. I got it on video, valve was sticking while running so switched over to gasoline and managed to save it. Going to let it run for a bit and see whats going on.

I suspect the colprit is the bridging. Burnt out oxidation zone with bridge then raw fuel dropping where it shouldnt be.

Yup I think it just needs a light vibration every 10 to 15 minutes and hopefully grate packing wont be an issue.

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LOL I might have just sucked some hay in the engine. I found that the output screen in the ammo box filter was breached. So replaced it and now back up and running. But there was some tar in there so it still could be the valve was getting sticky. Anyways running out this hopper so I can switch over to charcoal.

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Oh the joys of being the test pilot sometimes it all goes so well you fall asleep with boredom and other times problems that in the back of your head you had thought about suddenly come to the for front all at once , best to get them out the way in one foul swoop , its what happens when your leading the way in the duel fuel race to freedom fuel .

Matt the gasket tape you used on the build between the flanges , does it have a brand name or what is it made up of ? , its just what i will need on my build if i can get it over
here .
great build and really apart from the couple of mishaps i think it all went rather well and i am sure once you use a poker of sorts to stop the bridging you have a winner there.
( thinking of that pyrotouch set up on the Drizzler gasifier could be incorporated into the lid and using a stainless steel rod as Steve mentioned .
Dave

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The gasket material I get from McMaster Carr. It is used for sealing foundery ovens and at least the listing in McMaster does not show a brand name. So I dont know who actually makes it. Its just “high temp seal” LOL.

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Yeah I expected issues. Is that possible I could build a perfect prototype? NOT!! LOL

I did expect bridging issues but if I just threw a hopper agitator on it and found out later it worked well then I wasted time and money. But in the end it needed a hopper agitator. So going the simplest route I can just buying it. Simple easy trumps cost and really 60 bucks in todays world really is not all that much anymore.

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Ok so here are both the 100% wood and 100% charcoal. In this test the wood fuel did have a higher output but with less stability. The charcoal had much better stability but lower output. The charcoal had roughly a half hour longer run time. I think if had the ability to tune our battery charger beyond 10 amp increments the kW/hours would probably be the same between fuels. The wood will just get you there a little faster is all.

All in all Im calling this a success even though I had some issues. But that was to be expected and really no other machine at this scale running this size engine would be exempt from these same issues. I think the hopper agitator will fix those issues. We will see next weekend :fire:

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Good to know it’s a true “Dual Fuel” gasifier without compromise. Job well done Matt!

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Now that Im thinking about it. After I had the breach in the ammo box and I fixed it. I took the hay out of and put saw dust in it. I did not run a load on wood after this only on charcoal. Im wondering now if that maybe why I was not able the get the same load.

Fun fun!! Ok well I will learn soon enough.

OK, I’m going to be that guy that everyone wishes would shut up and go away but you guys are going to want to stockpile anything you need for builds NOW. Parts that you can get from a local hardware will be available for a while, but things like the ceramic fiber blanket Matt talked about will not. Supply lines will be down and until some form of alternate currency gets sorted out goods will not be moved. Optimistically you are looking for several years before many manufactured goods will be available. Nobody is projecting a renaissance of the fiat dollar. Certainly not the Federal Reserve. It will either be CBDC or a struggle to establish a gold or hard asset backed currency. CBDC ends any hopes or plans you have for self sufficiency. Fortunately the WEF were forced to move into this reset of theirs before they had all the pieces in place and there is very little likelihood it can be pulled off, but that doesn’t stop the economic chaos that follows. Get what you think you will need while you can. Sorry to interrupt this essential and fascinating project being documented here.

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You wont hear that from me buddy. I run a business and already have these issues and know those issues are going to get worse. In fact this next gasifier unit I design is going to be based on this unit and will be the ““SHTF Gasifier””

It will be a gasifier shipped in a can. The barrel drums will buy modify and the reactor will slip inside and ship that way.

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Doesn’t ceramic fiber blanket harden and deteriorate on it’s own?

If SHTF is the goal, then it would be better served to design around a clay insulation material. The ceramic fiber is just spun clay, but there are other materials like clay, plus wood ash, straw, etc. that don’t perform as well but are obtainium in SHTF scenarios. Just saying … :slight_smile:

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I have not seen it deteriate. It is sleeved as well. But if I had to use an alternitive I would go down to the beach and get bucket of Michigan sand. Sand is propobly the best alternitive there is.

The heat riser on my Mass Rocket Heater is a section of 8 inch duct lined with a section of 1 inch ceramic blanket. I don’t know what temps are inside that thing but I’m sure they are at least 1500F. It has held up for three years now. I make simple fire reactors by packing dug from the ground clay around a six inch piece of duct in a five gallon metal bucket. The clay dries out and cracks. Doesn’t hurt anything but I have been putting a couple inches of refractory cement over the top of it for aesthetics. I have looked for a while but Home Depot was selling boxes of ceramic fiber chunks for fifty bucks. Just scraps from cutting up blankets I suppose. perfectly good for cramming in places.

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I read that on forging sites that it gets brittle for forging and flakes away. I thought they also mentioned it does if you try to store it as well. Given I read it on the internet as a user experience it may NOT be true. And they also could be heated it over the material temperature rating… :slight_smile:

If I was going to pick a substance, I would pick wood ash. it is a natural refractory material and does have some sand in it but I am not picking materials :slight_smile:

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Hi Matt , this looks to be the closest to what you use possibly that i can find here at the moment does this look a little like your tape ?
Office & Warehouse | Teflon PTFE High Temperature Woven Fabric Heat Sealer Adhesive Tape 13 / 25 / 50 / 100 mm x 10m | Everything ID

While we are talking about the fibre insulation , yes it does go brittle if exposed to direct flame/heat and i think that’s why people coat it in water glass and other things … But most importantly according to what i have read is this type of material needs to be handled with great care as the fibres are minute and have a health issue when breathed in , ( think asbestos ) not trying to spoil your fun its just what was written on the side of the box of “Kaowool” i bought and said, has been classified as a 1B carcinoge .
Dave