Difference between revisions of "Wood Gasification"
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[[File:William_Murdoch_sm.jpg|200px|William Murdoch (1754-1839) | [[File:William_Murdoch_sm.jpg|200px|William Murdoch (1754-1839) | ||
| − | Reproduction of a portrait by John Graham Gilbert in the City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham (public domain: Image via http://www.netl.doe.gov)]] | + | Reproduction of a portrait by John Graham Gilbert in the City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham (public domain: Image via http://www.netl.doe.gov)]] |
Just four years later, in 1792, Scottish engineer William Murdoch first realized the commercial potential of heating coal in the absence of air to produce gas. Murdoch used this gas to light his home while continuing to modify and refine the method of gas production. He collaborated Matthew Boulton and famous steam engine manufacturer James Watt to provide widespread gas lighting throughout England by 1798. In 1807, “town gas” began to be used for street lighting, and by 1816 most of London was using the gas.<ref>United States. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Gasifipedia - Introduction to Gasification. Web. <http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/gasification/gasifipedia/1-introduction/1-2_history-background.html>.</ref> | Just four years later, in 1792, Scottish engineer William Murdoch first realized the commercial potential of heating coal in the absence of air to produce gas. Murdoch used this gas to light his home while continuing to modify and refine the method of gas production. He collaborated Matthew Boulton and famous steam engine manufacturer James Watt to provide widespread gas lighting throughout England by 1798. In 1807, “town gas” began to be used for street lighting, and by 1816 most of London was using the gas.<ref>United States. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Gasifipedia - Introduction to Gasification. Web. <http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/gasification/gasifipedia/1-introduction/1-2_history-background.html>.</ref> | ||
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After 1945 gasoline and diesel became more readily accessible and usable as a cheap, plentiful fuel source for powering engines and machines.<ref>(Turtare)</ref> As a result, gasification became a "forgotten" technology. <ref>Turtare</ref> It took nearly 30 years before renewed interest in gasification brought about ongoing development in the technology for small-scale power generation.<ref>(Turtare)</ref> | After 1945 gasoline and diesel became more readily accessible and usable as a cheap, plentiful fuel source for powering engines and machines.<ref>(Turtare)</ref> As a result, gasification became a "forgotten" technology. <ref>Turtare</ref> It took nearly 30 years before renewed interest in gasification brought about ongoing development in the technology for small-scale power generation.<ref>(Turtare)</ref> | ||
| − | A detailed and complete [http://www.reference.com/browse/Coal_gas history of coal-gas] and gasification is available at www.reference.com. | + | A detailed and complete [http://www.reference.com/browse/Coal_gas history of coal-gas] and gasification is available at www.reference.com. |
== The Basics of Pyrolysis and Gasification == | == The Basics of Pyrolysis and Gasification == | ||
| − | [[File:FlamingMatch-600.jpg| | + | [[File:FlamingMatch-600.jpg|300px|Pyrolysis in a Flaming Match: Image via gekgasifier.com]] |
"Pyrolysis" refers to any "chemical change brought about by the action of heat."<ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrolysis?show=0&t=1359757126</ref> Pyrolysis is the process at the heart of gasification. Gasification occurs when wood, coal, or any other source containing both carbon and hydrogen is treated at high temperatures and pressure (i.e., pyrolysis), causing changes in the original substance at the molecular level.<ref>Miller, Scott. "Gasification Technology - Page 1, Introduction." Energy Independence. American Energy Independence, 01 Feb 2011. Web. 1 Feb 2013. <http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/gasification.asp&xgt;.</ref> The processed fuel source is broken down into different gases, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide.<ref>(Miller p.1)</ref> The gases are separated and cleaned of impurities by scrubbers and distillers; the purified gases can then be used to create various kinds of fuel, including "ethanol, methanol, butanol and other alcohols as well as methane gas, synthetic petroleum, dimethyl ether, kerosene, diesel and other gases and liquids. Even the “waste” gases can be used to form marketable products such as fertilizers and chemical feedstocks."<ref>(Miller p. 2)</ref> | "Pyrolysis" refers to any "chemical change brought about by the action of heat."<ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrolysis?show=0&t=1359757126</ref> Pyrolysis is the process at the heart of gasification. Gasification occurs when wood, coal, or any other source containing both carbon and hydrogen is treated at high temperatures and pressure (i.e., pyrolysis), causing changes in the original substance at the molecular level.<ref>Miller, Scott. "Gasification Technology - Page 1, Introduction." Energy Independence. American Energy Independence, 01 Feb 2011. Web. 1 Feb 2013. <http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/gasification.asp&xgt;.</ref> The processed fuel source is broken down into different gases, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide.<ref>(Miller p.1)</ref> The gases are separated and cleaned of impurities by scrubbers and distillers; the purified gases can then be used to create various kinds of fuel, including "ethanol, methanol, butanol and other alcohols as well as methane gas, synthetic petroleum, dimethyl ether, kerosene, diesel and other gases and liquids. Even the “waste” gases can be used to form marketable products such as fertilizers and chemical feedstocks."<ref>(Miller p. 2)</ref> | ||
| − | [[File:Pyrolysis.jpg| | + | [[File:Pyrolysis.jpg|300px|Pyrolysis: Image via gekgasifier.com]] |
| − | The wood gasification boiler is the primary tool used for gasification. | + | The wood gasification boiler is the primary modern tool used for gasification. The gasification boiler |
Revision as of 13:03, 2 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.
Just four years later, in 1792, Scottish engineer William Murdoch first realized the commercial potential of heating coal in the absence of air to produce gas. Murdoch used this gas to light his home while continuing to modify and refine the method of gas production. He collaborated Matthew Boulton and famous steam engine manufacturer James Watt to provide widespread gas lighting throughout England by 1798. In 1807, “town gas” began to be used for street lighting, and by 1816 most of London was using the gas.[2]
In 1861, Siemens created the first successful commercial wood gasifier. In the decades to follow, manufacturing plants throughout the U.S. and Europe produced manufactured gas for widespread use as a gaseous fuel.[3]
In 1901, Thomas Hugh Parker built the first motor vehicle powered by wood gas.[4] By then, wood gas produced from coal was being used in many cities to power and heat residences.[5] The Fishcer-Tropsch process, of sorting and reassembling manufactured gas into liquid fuel, was used by Germany during World War II and by South Africa during the apartheid years.[6]
After 1945 gasoline and diesel became more readily accessible and usable as a cheap, plentiful fuel source for powering engines and machines.[7] As a result, gasification became a "forgotten" technology. [8] It took nearly 30 years before renewed interest in gasification brought about ongoing development in the technology for small-scale power generation.[9]
A detailed and complete history of coal-gas and gasification is available at www.reference.com.
The Basics of Pyrolysis and Gasification
"Pyrolysis" refers to any "chemical change brought about by the action of heat."[10] Pyrolysis is the process at the heart of gasification. Gasification occurs when wood, coal, or any other source containing both carbon and hydrogen is treated at high temperatures and pressure (i.e., pyrolysis), causing changes in the original substance at the molecular level.[11] The processed fuel source is broken down into different gases, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide.[12] The gases are separated and cleaned of impurities by scrubbers and distillers; the purified gases can then be used to create various kinds of fuel, including "ethanol, methanol, butanol and other alcohols as well as methane gas, synthetic petroleum, dimethyl ether, kerosene, diesel and other gases and liquids. Even the “waste” gases can be used to form marketable products such as fertilizers and chemical feedstocks."[13]
The wood gasification boiler is the primary modern tool used for gasification. The gasification boiler
- ↑ 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>.
- ↑ United States. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Gasifipedia - Introduction to Gasification. Web. <http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/gasification/gasifipedia/1-introduction/1-2_history-background.html>.
- ↑ (Turare); (Miller p.2)
- ↑ (Turare)
- ↑ (Miller p.2)
- ↑ (Miller p. 2)
- ↑ (Turtare)
- ↑ Turtare
- ↑ (Turtare)
- ↑ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrolysis?show=0&t=1359757126
- ↑ Miller, Scott. "Gasification Technology - Page 1, Introduction." Energy Independence. American Energy Independence, 01 Feb 2011. Web. 1 Feb 2013. <http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/gasification.asp&xgt;.
- ↑ (Miller p.1)
- ↑ (Miller p. 2)
