gasf:gasification

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gasf:gasification [2025/12/09 09:40] – Dave Darbygasf:gasification [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Gasification+This topic is part of [[gt:power|Power & heating]] and [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]]. 
 +====== Gasification ======
  
  
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-## What is gasification?+===== What is gasification? =====
  
 It's turning biomass (often wood chips and offcuts) into usable gas. The flames we see in an open log fire are actually the burning of gas from the wood - about 70 to 80% of its total mass. If wood is heated but then starved of oxygen, so that it doesn’t burn with a flame, gas is released and char is left behind (this is the ancient method of charcoal production). This wood gas (called 'producer gas') has a high calorific value that can then be transformed into kinetic energy by combustion in an engine cylinder, and into grid-independent energy if the engine is attached to a generator. This heating without oxygen is called pyrolysis - which is just a stage in, and not synonymous with, the gasification process. It's turning biomass (often wood chips and offcuts) into usable gas. The flames we see in an open log fire are actually the burning of gas from the wood - about 70 to 80% of its total mass. If wood is heated but then starved of oxygen, so that it doesn’t burn with a flame, gas is released and char is left behind (this is the ancient method of charcoal production). This wood gas (called 'producer gas') has a high calorific value that can then be transformed into kinetic energy by combustion in an engine cylinder, and into grid-independent energy if the engine is attached to a generator. This heating without oxygen is called pyrolysis - which is just a stage in, and not synonymous with, the gasification process.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Power Pallet: this is a 10kW combined downdraft biomass gasifier with engine and generator. [www.allpowerlabs.com](http://www.allpowerlabs.com)+_Power Pallet: this is a 10kW combined downdraft biomass gasifier with engine and generator. [www.allpowerlabs.com](http://www.allpowerlabs.com)_
  
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-Wood chips: this is typical of drum-chipped wood that is created all over the UK when land is cleared. These were left to rot, as it costs around £100/tonne to landfill it. This is worse for the environment as decomposing biomass produces methane, which is 21 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.+_Wood chips: this is typical of drum-chipped wood that is created all over the UK when land is cleared. These were left to rot, as it costs around £100/tonne to landfill it. This is worse for the environment as decomposing biomass produces methane, which is 21 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide._
  
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-## What are the benefits of gasification?+===== What are the benefits of gasification? =====
  
 Biomass gasifiers have an advantage over wind and solar renewable technologies because they provide power and heat on demand rather than being limited by seasonal or diurnal variations in supply. There is no need to store energy. The systems operate like a car with a fuel tank of wood chips. Make the engine run faster and the wood will be used up more quickly; run it more slowly, or switch it off completely, and the wood will last as long as needed. They can be more efficient than a biomass boiler as they have no water-heating requirements for energy transfer. Biomass gasifiers have an advantage over wind and solar renewable technologies because they provide power and heat on demand rather than being limited by seasonal or diurnal variations in supply. There is no need to store energy. The systems operate like a car with a fuel tank of wood chips. Make the engine run faster and the wood will be used up more quickly; run it more slowly, or switch it off completely, and the wood will last as long as needed. They can be more efficient than a biomass boiler as they have no water-heating requirements for energy transfer.
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-Ancient method of charcoal production in modern-day Greece. This is the same principle as gasification – heat a wood pile then almost completely starve it of oxygen, so that it continues to be hot, but there is no flame. In charcoal production, it's just the residual char that is required, and the gas is vented and wasted. Gasifiers also produce biochar.+_Ancient method of charcoal production in modern-day Greece. This is the same principle as gasification – heat a wood pile then almost completely starve it of oxygen, so that it continues to be hot, but there is no flame. In charcoal production, it's just the residual char that is required, and the gas is vented and wasted. Gasifiers also produce biochar._
  
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-Wood gas vehicle from World War 2 - an Adler Diplomat. Note the cylinder on the back - this is the gasifier tank. It was filled with wood scraps, and the gas was then piped to the engine.+_Wood gas vehicle from World War 2 - an Adler Diplomat. Note the cylinder on the back - this is the gasifier tank. It was filled with wood scraps, and the gas was then piped to the engine._
  
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 First, learn as much as you can (see further resources, below). First, learn as much as you can (see further resources, below).
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-Provenance of wood pellets combusted by large-scale power stations in the UK (source: OFGEM, 2012b, chart design by Blushful Earth, adapted from Whittaker, 2014).+_Provenance of wood pellets combusted by large-scale power stations in the UK (source: OFGEM, 2012b, chart design by Blushful Earth, adapted from Whittaker, 2014)._
  
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-Biomass producer gas comprises around 20% carbon monoxide, 20% hydrogen, 6% carbon dioxide, 3% methane, and the balance is nitrogen. It burns with a distinctive blue flame.+_Biomass producer gas comprises around 20% carbon monoxide, 20% hydrogen, 6% carbon dioxide, 3% methane, and the balance is nitrogen. It burns with a distinctive blue flame._
  
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
-Here's a free pdf of our book, _[Gasification: Succeeding with Small-scale systems](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/9780954917111_txt.pdf)_, by Andrew Rollinson of [Blushful Earth](https://blushfulearth.co.uk).+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:power|Power & heating]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/power).
  
-Below are resources suggested by Andrew:+It is also in the section [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]] (Forum: [Transport & freight](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/transport)).
  
-Bridgewater, A.V. (2003). Renewable fuels and chemicals by thermal processing of biomass, Chemical Engineering Journal, 91, pp. 87-102.+===== Further resources =====
  
-Food and Agriculture Organization, 1986, Woodgas as an engine fuel, Forestry Paper 72, United Nations: Rome, pp. 1-139.+- [All Power Labs](https://www.allpowerlabs.com/) - equipment 
 +- [Drive on Wood](https://forum.driveonwood.com/) - forum 
 +- [Build a Gasifier](https://www.build-a-gasifier.com/) 
 +- [Gasifier wiki](http://wiki.gekgasifier.com/w/page/6123718/FrontPage) - information on gasifiers, including plans for building your own 
 +- [My home-made biomass gasifier](https://www.mdpub.com/gasifier/) 
 +- [Handbook of Biomass Downdraft Gasifier Engine Systems](https://www.allpowerlabs.com/) 
 +- [Wood gas vehicles](https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/01/wood-gas-vehicles-firewood-in-the-fuel-tank/) 
 +- [Make](https://makezine.com/article/science/energy/wooden-car-burns-wooden-fuel-travel/) - wooden car with wood fuel travels round Europe
  
-Jain, B.C. (2000). Commercialising biomass gasifiers: Indian experience. Energy for sustainable development, 4 (3), pp.72-82.+**Books & papers**
  
-Kirkles, F. A., Verbong, J.P.G. (2011). Biomass Gasification: Still promising? A 30-year global overview. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, pp. 471 – 481.+- free pdf _[Gasification: Succeeding with Small-scale systems](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/9780954917111_txt.pdf)_, by Andrew Rollinson of [Blushful Earth](https://blushfulearth.co.uk). 
 +- Below are resources suggested by Andrew: 
 +- Bridgewater, A.V. (2003). Renewable fuels and chemicals by thermal processing of biomass, Chemical Engineering Journal, 91, pp. 87-102. 
 +- Food and Agriculture Organization, 1986, Woodgas as an engine fuel, Forestry Paper 72, United Nations: Rome, pp. 1-139. 
 +- Jain, B.C. (2000). Commercialising biomass gasifiers: Indian experience. Energy for sustainable development, 4 (3), pp.72-82. 
 +- Kirkles, F. A., Verbong, J.P.G. (2011). Biomass Gasification: Still promising? A 30-year global overview. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, pp. 471 – 481. 
 +- OFGEM Annual Sustainability Report Dataset, 2012, \[accessed 11th April 2014\]. Available from: [https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/annual-sustainability-report-2011-2012](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/annual-sustainability-report-2011-2012) 
 +- Reed, T., Das, A. (1988). Handbook of Biomass Downdraft Gasifier Engine Systems, Solar Energy Research Institute: Colorado, pp. 1-140. 
 +- Ruiz, J.A., Juarez, M.C., Morales, M.P., Munoz, P., Mendivil, M.A. (2013). Biomass gasification for electricity generation: review of current technology barriers. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 18, pp. 174-183. 
 +- Stassen, H.E. (1995). Small-scale biomass gasifiers for heat and power: a global review. World bank technical paper no 296. The World Bank: Washington DC, pp.1-88. 
 +- Whittaker, C., The nature of the wood pellet supply to the UK, 2014. In: Torrefaction Workshop, University of Leeds, 2-3 April 2014.
  
-OFGEM Annual Sustainability Report Dataset, 2012, \[accessed 11th April 2014\]. Available from: [https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/annual-sustainability-report-2011-2012](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/annual-sustainability-report-2011-2012) 
  
-Reed, T., Das, A. (1988). Handbook of Biomass Downdraft Gasifier Engine Systems, Solar Energy Research Institute: Colorado, pp. 1-140. 
  
-Ruiz, J.A., Juarez, M.C., Morales, M.P., Munoz, P., Mendivil, M.A. (2013). Biomass gasification for electricity generation: review of current technology barriers. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 18, pp. 174-183. 
  
-Stassen, H.E. (1995). Small-scale biomass gasifiers for heat and power: a global review. World bank technical paper no 296. The World Bank: Washington DC, pp.1-88. 
  
-Whittaker, C., The nature of the wood pellet supply to the UK, 2014. In: Torrefaction Workshop, University of Leeds, 2-3 April 2014.+===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [Biodiesel](biod:biodiesel)
 +- [Biomass boilers](biom:biomass_boilers)
 +- [Charcoal making](char:charcoal_making)
 +- [Low-impact transport](litr:transport)
 +- [Tree/woodland management](wodl:woodland_management)
  
  
- +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
- +
-## Specialists+
  
  
  • gasf/gasification.1765273240.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/09 09:40
  • by Dave Darby