To see this working, head to your live site.

Edited: Apr 07, 2023

Revisiting the Harbor Frieght Gasifier!!

Ok guys now that warmer weather is coming back. Im going to work on a new DIY gasifier kit. The plan for now is we will offer a pre welded kit and a non welded kit. The non welded kit will just be a flange set insulation retaining rings the grate and the stand legs. The rest the builder will need to source on there own. The pre fabbed version wil not use the Harbor Frieght tank. We will cut and roll the shells in house and then pre weld these assemblies along with other items that are welded. Other items both kits will need are two 15 inch diameter barrel drums with lids. One will be your hopper and the other will be a saw dust filter. You will need to source an Amateck Lamb blower for your start up blower. Hoses, pipe fittings, valves, engine adapters etc all your own. The idea here is to get a very low cost unit on market and then let the user source the additional items without mark up from our end. Builders will be encouraged to use this forum to show case builds and share ideas and parts sourcing. Do not just buy a unit and hide in the shadows.

Ok the new design: this unit will be both a full blown Imbert wood gasifier and a down draft charcoal gasifier all in one. However it can only be set up as one or the other. But you will have the option to set it up in either configuaration at any time. In the down draft wood gasifier mode, you will install the restriction plate and then there are three jet ports for a three jet / nozzle set up. You will install ball valves on all three of these jets for shut down. Yeah I know its crude but its simple and low tech. Those that can weld for either version can also source a 6 X 2 butt weld pipe reducer to install in the hearth of the unit. This will help fuel flow and better direct process heat. This we will not supply as they are very expensive.

In charcoal mode you simply remove the restriction plate and block off the back nozzles and install the charcoal nozzle with the water atomizer. This plus the water tank we will supply with both kits.

I have parts on order and will be doing a build video using the Harbor Frieght tank. Yes I will cut it apart with a grinder and through sparks all over myself :(. The things I do for you!! lol

So more to come.

16 comments

16 Comments

Thrivenrg

Sep 15

Ive started a brand new concept for new type of gasifier using the Harbor Frieght tanks. I am planning on making this in a kit form that will be viable to produce and realistic for the DIY'er to construct. Im planning on offering a number of versions of this kit as well that will include a no weld kit for those that dont have access to a welder or can not weld. But besides a no weld version there are plenty of other tanks like LP tanks, water heaters etc that could take the place of the Harbor Freight portable air tanks. I used those HF tanks becuase any one can buy one and they are safe to work with. LP tanks you need to know what you are doing they can explode!

Im planning on different levels of the kits as well. The primary kit I am going to offer to launch will be a complete kit that will not require any additional parts bought outside of the kit. It will be basically turnkey with exception you will have to mod, weld and put the kit together. Other than that it will come with all your hoses, couplings, filter drum, the tanks, blower, mixer assembly, engine adapter etc etc.

Then there will be stripped down versions where the hoses, tanks, drums and all accessories are omitted. However these kits will be designed around specific tanks. There will be one for the HF air tanks or any standard portable air tank. We will specific the size of the tank, OD and then length. Then kits for 30, 40, and possibly larger LP tanks or even a water tank etc.

The no weld version will use 14 inch diamter barrel drums. The con to this is the barrel drums are much thinner metal and this kit will be much more expensive as the drums when baught new generally cost a lot to ship plus they are twice the retail cost of the tanks.

This gasifier will be marketed a little differently as water will be the primary fuel input. The charcoal is just the catylist that shifts the water to H2. How this works is the water in injected into the intake of the unit and is flashed to steam. It then enters into the reactor. The carbon in the charcoal at this extreme temperature will strip the oxygen out of the water molecule and form CO. H2 is now a byproduct of this shift. All gasifiers do this to some extent. This gasifier is optimized for this process and based on what has been learned from this years CFX RTR with the boiler nozzle arangement.

davec18

Sep 06

While running in charcoal mode, could I mix in 50% wood chips (screened, no fines, 5% moisture)?

Edited

davec18

Sep 06

Replying to

Charcoal only for engine less than 1000cc - agreed. Energy balance point about charcoal vs wood - agreed (especially with your recent nozzle innovations). I also understand you have unlimited woodchips from your neighbor but still choose to pursue strictly charcoal. I am in this situation where I have free woodchips available to me too. But even with free woodchips, you are saying it is just not worth the headache and risk of tar, and best to pursue 100% charcoal units. I have a simplefire for a small lawnmower and think it's great for what it does. I get nervous about if my charcoal is not 100% converted from wood and makes tar in the updraft. Would you say I could take the ammo can crossdraft design and put it in a 30 gallon drum and run it on a 500cc generator? Thanks for your responses and all the clear info you put out

Thrivenrg

Sep 06

Replying to

yeah think about what you just said. You get nervouse if the charcoal is not 100% converted. That right there is your sign, if tar can happen with a charcoal gasifier there isnt a fat chance in hell a wood gasifier will ever be exempt from tar production. At this smaller scale they are impossible to keep self sustaining as well. Yeah even with chips already made Its not worth the efforts trying to dry them down to such a low moisture content. Its easy in the middle of July but not so easy the rest of the year especially in the north. Its nearly impossible to dry fuel in the winter months. Im done with wood fuel and I will never turn back. Im too old to get my butt kicked by this technology anymore and now I know better.

The ammo box gasifier is strictly for experimental purpose and get the builders brain wrapped around how it works. If you build this for an everyday use gasifier then you need to build it out of more robust materials. You will need to be creative and come up with that part yourself. Do not be afraid to think outside the box and just build it. There are no rules it will either work or it wont. Just tune it until it does work. You can NOT screw this up its charcoal!!

We all need to put our creative inovations into charcoaling process. I have expanded on the retort I did video of this year. It is very efficeint now as it has a new second stage added on to it. It is basically a double retort now with second retort stacked on top of the bottom. The top one is a fuel dryer to pre dry fuel before going into the lower retort. It take very little inventment to get it into gasificaiton where it will self sustain its own process heat.

Ive taken this concept now and built it into a wood heater for the RV. This stove is how I will heat this winter.

Edited

davec18

Sep 06

Replying to

I'm also in the northern parts so it is good to know that ahead of time about drying the chips in winter. I think you've talked me down off the ledge... going to take a wander through my junk pile and see if I can come up with something for a bigger version of the ammo can charcoal crossdraft. Thanks Matt

saltiestcracker

Apr 26, 2023

What size PVC reducing coupler is this? This is 1" cam lock?

Thrivenrg

Apr 26, 2023

Replying to

Its a 1 1/2 to 1" socket reducer. I cant seem to find a 1 1/2 socket to 1 inch NPT. Im sure they make them I just cant find em. But yeah you just slip the 1 inch NPT cam lock into it and glue it there with black RTV. You may notice I later put a hose clamp on it, that did secrure it better. So would recommend adding one in addition to the sealant. The Cam Locks I used here are 1 inch trade size to 1 inch NPT.

Thrivenrg

Apr 22, 2023

Part 4

saltiestcracker

Apr 22, 2023

Replying to

Looking pretty sweet!

Thrivenrg

Apr 22, 2023

Here is Part 3

Thrivenrg

Apr 15, 2023

Ok so here is the first video installment of the HF DIY Gasifier Kit. Video 2 will be out Monday. I ran out of shielding gas today and its Satureday, so I will have to wait until Monday to get our tanks filled. I will then complete the remaining part of that video and get it uploaded.

Thrivenrg

Apr 17, 2023

Replying to

Ok here is Build Part 2 actualy building something here :)