gasf:gasification

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gasf:gasification [2026/03/11 18:38] – 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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-## 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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-## 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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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +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). 
 + 
 +It is also in the section [[gt:transport|Transport & freight]] (Forum: [Transport & freight](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/transport)). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [All Power Labs](https://www.allpowerlabs.com/) - equipment - [All Power Labs](https://www.allpowerlabs.com/) - equipment
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
-- [Biodiesel](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/biod/biodiesel) +- [Biodiesel](biod:biodiesel) 
-- [Biomass boilers](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/biom/biomass_boilers) +- [Biomass boilers](biom:biomass_boilers) 
-- [Charcoal making](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/char/charcoal_making) +- [Charcoal making](char:charcoal_making) 
-- [Low-impact transport](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/litr/transport) +- [Low-impact transport](litr:transport) 
-- [Tree/woodland management](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/wodl/woodland_management)+- [Tree/woodland management](wodl:woodland_management)
  
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • gasf/gasification.1773254280.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/11 18:38
  • by Dave Darby