Date: 2009/09/23
This is a continuing series of tests to explore the relationships between tar production and various critical measurements in the reactor. The goal is to be able to use temp and pressure readings for gasifier diagnostics and establish a formal set of "conditions needed" for clean gas production. Our hypothesis is that we can most accurately correlate tar production with temps maintained at the reduction restriction, which approximately measures how well x temp has spread and filled the hearth area for tar cracking.
This run used the same tar testing methodology and pressure setpoint experimental design as used on the Instrumented Walnut Shell Run 082409.
Results from the tar testing will be posted shortly.
The primary change in this run was a switch to wood pellets.
Other tests in this series are linked to from the GEK User Pages and Run Reports page.
This run was intended to repeat the same conditions and method of the 08/24/09 run with wood pellets. For this run the short auger/drying bucket design was used (the auger remained strictly for reactor filling, the cowling gas->drying bucket pathway was not connected).
Diagram of the experimental setup. Not shown: Tar fence, fuel detect "plunger". Not to scale.
Wood Pellets
Fuel detect plunger worked automatically with pellets. Increased auger run time occurs at higher flow rates.
(pending)
Run Description |
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Run Name: | Instrumented Wood Pellet Run |
Run Location: | Shipyard, Berkeley, CA |
Operators: | Bear, Charlie |
Date: | 09/23/09 |
Fuel | |
Type: | Wood Pellets |
Moisture Content: | first two bags (open one day), to 160 mins: 8.9% dry basis, 5.9% dry basis third bag (assumed from MC of first two bags when initially opened) |
Angle of Repose: | ND |
Ash Content: | ND |
Void Space: | 43% (water in 600 mL vessel) |
Bulk Density: | 656 kg/m3 (wet) (1 sample, 1L vessel) |
GEK | |
Version: | v3 |
Reactor Type: | Imbert |
Air Nozzle Size: | 3/8" street 90°C with 3/8" cap drilled on center with 5.5 mm dia. hole, 2.75" above reduction top |
Reduction Cone Height: | 6 |
Top Reduction Diameter: | 3 |
Bottom Reduction Diameter: | 6 |
Tar Fence: | yes |
Tar Fence Height: | |
Details: | |
Filter: | v3 |
Filter Media: | Unmixed from last run (new for last run, softwood chip) |
Fill Height: | |
Details: | |
Gas Motive Force | |
Ejector | yes |
Jet Nozzle Type (eg barb, plug): | drilled plug |
Jet Exit Position: | |
Fan | no |
Power Source/Voltage: | |
Engine | no |
Make: | |
Model: |
GCU Setup Form |
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Run Name: | Instrumented Softwood Run |
Date: | 09/23/09 |
GCU Version: | 1.0 |
Firmware: | in development (PID control of reactor with servo controlled ejector air, timed grate shaking (1 min intervals, ~40° fwd/back rotation) |
Use | |
Thermocouples: | |
TC0 | T_bred - bottom of reduction - 1" in from cone bottom, through manometer port |
TC1 | NA |
TC2 | T_tred - top of reduction - inside 1/4" mild steel pipe quarter round, welded closed and positioned on the top edge of the reduction cone |
TC3 | T_air_in - air in - inside air riser, through hole drilled co-axially with the riser tube through street 90°. 1 1/2" below top of riser. |
TC4 | T_comb - combustion - first TC of profile assembly. centered by ring rod assembly, 1" in front of air nozzle hole, at same elevation. Sheathed in 2" length of alumina tube, extending 1/2" below TC (1/4" OD, 1/8" ID). |
TC5 | T_1in - 1" above combustion. 2nd TC of assembly... |
TC6 | T_2in - 2" above combustion. |
TC7 | T_3in - 3" above combustion. |
TC8 | T_4in - 4" above combustion. |
TC9 | T_6in - 6" above combustion. |
TC10 | T_8in - 8" above combustion. |
TC11 | T_gas_out - installed in cowling gas exit port |
TC12 | T_flare - installed in 1 1/2" tangential entrance tube |
TC13 | T_gas_flowmeter - installed in 1 1/2" to 1/2" reducing T just after filter, before union based gas flowmeter |
TC14 | NA |
TC15 | NA |
Drivers: | |
FET BANK 1: | |
VOLTAGE | 12 V |
FET0 | |
FET1 | |
FET2 | Grate Fwd Relay (30A automotive) (FET # not confirmed) |
FET3 | Grate Rev Relay (30A automotive) |
FET BANK 2: | |
VOLTAGE | |
FET4 | |
FET5 | |
FET6 | |
FET7 | |
Servos: | |
SERVO1 | Ejector Air Control |
SERVO2 | |
SERVO3 | |
Pressure: | Part (7002,5004,4006, |
P0 | 7007 - P_comb - pressure at combustion, via profile assembly |
P1 | 7007 - P_reactor - taken from reactor manometer port |
P2 | 7002 - P_gas_out - gas out flowmeter differential pressure |
P3 | 7002 - P_air_in - air in flowmeter differential pressure (flowmeter installed on V3 air cowling inlet) |
I/O: | |
RS-232 | |
CAN-BUS | |
ANALOG0 | P_filter sensor input from breadboard (7007) |
ANALOG1 | |
ANALOG2 | Auger plunger on sense (12V motor line, through voltage divider) |
ANALOG3 | |
Frequency Counter |
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