Choosing a System: Wood Fuel or Charcoal? Which one should I choose?

Ok most that find this technology generally come accross wood gasificaiton before discovering charcoal gasification. Both technologies are good; however, each has their own place and better suited for different applications. This applies to all gasification, reguardless if you DIY or buy a unit from anyone. The physics here is simple physics and it applies to all gasification technologies.

Wood Gasification became popular after WWII as it was widely implimented during the time as patrolium was in short supply. The typical application was on cars, tractors and military equipment, all are larger engine applications. Small engine power generators or even small engine applications at the time were not as comon as they are today. So charcoal units running the smaller applications is not as widely known about. The truth is wood gasification at this smaller scale simply does not work all that well. Good enough for a 2 minute Youtube video but not good at all as a practical use system. Charcoal is going to be best suited for small engines under 1000cc. Charcoal gasfiers are far less complex, they are free flowing and with water injection produce a higher energy dense fuel gas and this is important when fueling a small engine. These systems are much lower cost to DIY or Manufacture. Self sustainabilty is a big deal for stationary power back up; a wood fueled gasifier at this scale, simply will not selfsustain engine running even if its automated. Anyone can build a unit and get it on video showing it work for 2 minutes. Its a whole different ball game getting one to self sustain for an entire hopper load and do so without producing any tar or engine stalling during that run. Then do this day in and day out reliably. With a charcoal system tar is no longer an issue as it is spent in the charcoaling process. So there is no need for an internal restriction inside the gasifier that WILL restrict flows. A small engine will require a small wood gasifier and inside that gasifier is a restriction throat. This is a focal point that focuses all the process heat to a central point to crack the tar. However with such a small reactor and restriction requirement fuel hang ups is a constant problem and not even automation can fully sustain these flows. Once the process layers are interupted you then have raw unprocessed fuels flowing into the later process sections and tar will be a result. Get tar into a modern generator then the intake valve will seize in its place. The only thing you are gaining by wood gassing a small engine is a huge headache. Trust me Ive been doing this over 12 years and Ive beat my head against the wall long enough to know. lol.

Charcoal is actually easier fuel to produce than you may think. Keep in mind wood fuels must be processed all the fines must be screened out and the fuel must 100% dried at this smaller scale. If you are chipping you will lose at least 25% in small fines that must be screened out. Another point is a wood gasifier reaction process is only 70% efficient verses a charcoal reactor is 90%. The available feed stocks for charcoaling are also more open as you are not limited to what your equipment can process.

Ok now engine displacements beyond 1 ltr; wood fuel gasification will now start to be more viable. As the gasifeir reactor and restriction will be much larger. Fuel can flow now, plus a larger gasifier will be more tollerant to higher moisture content. Add some automation and now you have reliable flows. A larger application is going to help justify the cost reguardless if you buy or DIY the unit. If you DIY you are going to put some money into this. This is not Youtube with one time builds to get video clicks. This is real world with real investments put into the application you are going to run. You do not want to skimp on a gasifier if it makes tar it can potentially destroy your engine. We tarred up a GM performance LS based 5.3 ltr engine and it smashed every valve!! That was an $8000.00 crate engine!! But this being said no matter how good you build the system there is never a guarentee tar will not be produced. No wood fueled gasifier is exempt from making tar. The cause for failure in this instance; is this system was designed for standard hard wood chips. The fuel used was olive branches and the chips were too small and fine It simply did not carry the weight for gravity to pull it through the machine. So make sure your fuel is dry and sized correctly. Running high moisture fuel is like dumping a 2 ltr of water into your gas tank. If your fuel is wet dont run it!. As long as you are following the guidelines you will be ok and tar will be very unlikely. Plus there are ways to fix a tarred up valve. Typically its not the end of the world. lol.

Dont be fooled by wannabes building out of garages. If you are looking for a gasifier that is actually going to work; then you are already at the right place. We are the real deal, we 100% design and develop all of our technology and manufacture at a commercial level. These others are at the level we were 10 years ago. We have come along way since then and have developed some of the most advanced systems to ever exist at this scale. No one else comes close to this level of development at this scale.