Difference between revisions of "Wood Gasification"
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| − | [[File:B_0710_SB_MEP.jpg|600px|Wood Gasification: A Smart Alternative?, Image | + | Wood gasification is the process by which wood is burned at very high temperatures, to create a cleaner, more efficient fuel than traditional wood burning can produce. (Many naturally-occurring fuel sources can be gasified, including coal, petroleum and biomass, most commonly wood.) Wood gasification can provide fuel to power vehicles, greenhouses, homes and farms. It produces less greenhouse gases than traditional wood burning, and its by products (char and ash) can be used for fertilizer. Since wood is a renewable resource, and gasification produces more energy from smaller amounts of wood, wise use of wood gasification can result in a sustainable global alternate energy source. |
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| + | == History == | ||
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| + | Interest in gasification dates back to the seventeenth century, when the first experiments were conducted in pyrolysis, the process of superheating biomass.<ref>Turare, Chandrakant. "History and Development." Biomass Gasification: Technology and Utilisation. ARTES Institute, University of Flensburg, Germany , n. d. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. <http://cturare.tripod.com/his.htm>.</ref> The first patent for gasification was obtained in 1788 by Robert Gardner, and the first documented use of coal gasification occurred in just four years later, with the use of coal for heating and cooking continuing for for many years afterward.<ref>(Turare)</ref> However, it is not until 1839 that the first historically-credited wood/coal gasifier was created by Bischof, resulting the powering of gas lamps using coal in large parts of London by 1850.<ref>(Turare); Miller, Scott. "Gasification Technology - Page 2, Gasification Technology." Energy Independence. American Energy Independence, 01 Feb 2011. Web. 1 Feb 2013. <http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/gasification-2.asp&xgt;.</ref> | ||
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| + | In 1861, Siemens created the first successful commercial wood gasifier. In the decades to follow, plants throughout the U.S. and Europe produced manufactured gas for widespread use as a gaseous fuel.<ref>(Turare); (Miller)</ref> | ||
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| + | In 1901, Thomas Hugh Parker built the first motor vehicle powered by wood gas.<ref>(Turare)</ref> By then, wood gas produced from coal was being used in many cities to power and heat residences.<ref>(Miller)</ref> | ||
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| + | [[File:B_0710_SB_MEP.jpg|600px|Wood Gasification: A Smart Alternative?, Image via buildings.com]] | ||
[[File:ld_gasifier_cross_section_numbers.JPG|600px|Image via powerityourself.com]] | [[File:ld_gasifier_cross_section_numbers.JPG|600px|Image via powerityourself.com]] | ||
[[File:IMG_woodHowitworksLRG.jpg|600px|Image via alternateheatingsystems.com]] | [[File:IMG_woodHowitworksLRG.jpg|600px|Image via alternateheatingsystems.com]] | ||
| + | [[File:Pyrolysis.jpg|400px|Pyrolysis: Image via gekgasifier.com]] | ||
[[Category:Alternate Energy]] | [[Category:Alternate Energy]] | ||
Revision as of 14:55, 1 February 2013
Wood gasification is the process by which wood is burned at very high temperatures, to create a cleaner, more efficient fuel than traditional wood burning can produce. (Many naturally-occurring fuel sources can be gasified, including coal, petroleum and biomass, most commonly wood.) Wood gasification can provide fuel to power vehicles, greenhouses, homes and farms. It produces less greenhouse gases than traditional wood burning, and its by products (char and ash) can be used for fertilizer. Since wood is a renewable resource, and gasification produces more energy from smaller amounts of wood, wise use of wood gasification can result in a sustainable global alternate energy source.
History
Interest in gasification dates back to the seventeenth century, when the first experiments were conducted in pyrolysis, the process of superheating biomass.[1] The first patent for gasification was obtained in 1788 by Robert Gardner, and the first documented use of coal gasification occurred in just four years later, with the use of coal for heating and cooking continuing for for many years afterward.[2] However, it is not until 1839 that the first historically-credited wood/coal gasifier was created by Bischof, resulting the powering of gas lamps using coal in large parts of London by 1850.[3]
In 1861, Siemens created the first successful commercial wood gasifier. In the decades to follow, plants throughout the U.S. and Europe produced manufactured gas for widespread use as a gaseous fuel.[4]
In 1901, Thomas Hugh Parker built the first motor vehicle powered by wood gas.[5] By then, wood gas produced from coal was being used in many cities to power and heat residences.[6]
- ↑ Turare, Chandrakant. "History and Development." Biomass Gasification: Technology and Utilisation. ARTES Institute, University of Flensburg, Germany , n. d. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. <http://cturare.tripod.com/his.htm>.
- ↑ (Turare)
- ↑ (Turare); Miller, Scott. "Gasification Technology - Page 2, Gasification Technology." Energy Independence. American Energy Independence, 01 Feb 2011. Web. 1 Feb 2013. <http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/gasification-2.asp&xgt;.
- ↑ (Turare); (Miller)
- ↑ (Turare)
- ↑ (Miller)
