A centrifugal fan is essential for running a downdraught gasifier. However, searching for a fan can almost be impossible or too expensive if you are lucky enough to find one. After purchasing How to Design and Build Centrifugal Fans
In the picture below we can see one side of a fan cut out of a piece of plywood. The correct dimensions for the fan required are taken from the book.
In the next picture we can see two plywood framing pieces cut out for both sides of the fan. Below the framing pieces a sheet of light gauge steel has been cut from a vegetable oil can that will act as a shield to protect the plywood.
Constructing a centrifugal fan #1
Centrifugal fans
Probably the hardest task, when making a gasifier, is the blowing/suction fan. Thanks to the famous Gingery engineering family there is help at hand. How to Design & Build Centrifugal Fans for the Home Shop is packed with everything you need to know about constructing the right fan for the task at hand.
There are five chapters; fundamentals, design, construction, testing & measurement and applications.
After experimenting with various fans, that were woefully underpowered, I am sure this new book acquisition will help me to build the right fan. The applications chapter even has details on building a cyclone separator, ideal for cleaning ash out of your wood gas.
The book can be bought from Amazon - How to Design and Build Centrifugal Fans
Time to dust off my tools
With all my vegetable crops taken in it's time to start tinkering again. I shall be concentrating on improving my wood gas stove, as a good stove is more of a priority, at the moment, than a gasifier producing engine fuel. I expect to be living rough over the winter whilst I look for some farmland to buy.
Improvements I want to make to my wood gas stove are; a wind shield for sheltering the stove whilst cooking outside, holders for suspending pots at different levels above the flame and a conversion to make the stove an indoor heater.
No-weld gasifier made from clay
Here is a video showing another method for building a no-weld gasifier. This one uses clay as the basis for various chambers. Plumbing is still performed with steel tubes.
Many people are put off by the thought of having to employ welding to build a gasifier. The idea of building a fully functioning downdraught gasifier without recourse to welding, and still being to produce gas good enough for a generator, will hopefully get more people interested in building their own generator.
Build your own simple MIDGE gasifier (plans on the left-hand side) and see how simple it is to gasify wood. After you have understood the principles of gasification, and see how it applies to downdraught gasification, then it does not matter how you build your gasifier.
Wartime gas-powered van on Jersey Island
This is a photograph of a gas-powered van on Jersey Island, prior to occupation by German forces.
The gas used was coal gas rather than wood gas and was pumped into the gas bag, on top of the vehicle, prior to travel. The vehicle's range was about 30 miles.
Prior to the discovery of North Sea gas, towns in the United Kingdom were supplied with coal gas, which was produced by the gasification of coal.
click image to enlargeOperating Engines on Woodgas
I have found a very useful slide show on wood gasification. There are 100 slides covering all aspects of wood gas theory, history and operation. No stone left unturned, a recommended read.
Slideshare - Operating Engines on Woodgas
Constructing a blower - continued
The blower has been completed.
First, the end of the drum holding the fans was trimmed and tabbed so that it could accept the other end of the blower enclosure.
A hole was drilled in the drum end so that the wires from the fan could be fed to the outside. The wires are visible just below the bolts holding the fan in place.
The bottom off another 20-litre drum was cut off. This end of the enclosure was measured to provide just enough clearance above the fan.
Two holes were drilled into this part of the enclouse. These holes take tank connectors and act as the gas inlet and outlet.
The two ends of the enclosure were pressed together and the blower tested. The aperture for the gas inlet is a little small. It will enlarged when the rest of the gasifier is built.
Constructing the blower has given rise to some ideas for its integration into the gasifier so they will now be investigated.
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