Can you show us some data?

T R Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
[email protected]
Sent from mobile. 

> On Apr 22, 2017, at 9:51 PM, l <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> One of the major reasons Caterpillar won't get heavily involved in producer 
> gas engines is the naphthalene issue. One group that had an operating power 
> plant for a municipality would operate their engines for a few hundred hours 
> and the valves would begin knocking and the V-12 engine would have to have a 
> valve job. ir
>     It is fairly easy to fix if one knows the properties of the gas. We do it 
> as a matter of course as it doesn't make any sense to offer a system that has 
> to have the engine rebuilt periodically. One engine manufacturer will not 
> guarantee their engine unless it meets their strict standards.
>     As to the GAST report, I read some of it and some of the procedures can 
> easily be improved such as measuring the air inlet flow using a typical 
> mass:flow meter out of a car that is extremely accurate and can provide 
> continuous monitoring. In the program we use for our systems, it 
> automatically calculates the inlet air flow rate and with settable or 
> automatic monitoring inputs such as temp, humidity, can provide continuous 
> and accumulated air mass input. 
>     There are also methods of measuring gas composition, to much better 
> detail than is now being used. Fixed gases such as the usual by either GC or 
> specific gas analyzers do not show the condensable gases such as ethanol, 
> methanol, acetone, acetic acid, napthalene of course, and other compounds 
> that may affect engine operation for the better or worse. The same system 
> could be used for engine exhaust measuring of say formaldehyde, carcinogens, 
> and everything except PAH and particulate. 
>     None of the gasifiers monitored are as efficient as we would like to see 
> in our designs. High carbon yield in the char/ash residue is an admission of 
> the inefficiencies present. 
>     As another note, virtually all emission testing is flawed because if the 
> inlet air has a few ppm of NOx or CO, the output is going to be biased upward 
> this amount and none of the EPA testing protocols take ambient air quality 
> into account. 
> 
> Sincerely,
> Leland T. "Tom" Taylor
> Thermogenics Inc. 
> +001-505-463-8422 
> www.thermogenicx.com
> Skype: ltt.invent
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doug <[email protected]>
> To: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification' 
> <[email protected]>
> Sent: Sat, Apr 22, 2017 5:39 pm
> Subject: [Gasification] Naphthalene Condensate Photos
> 
>  
> Naphthalene in Producer Gas
>  
> Hi Gasification Colleagues,
> Reading through the Italian Paper on gasifier monitoring in South Tyrol, the 
> reference to Naphthalene caught my eye, because as a light pyrolysis oil, 
> after dry filtration and condensation, I have only seen this in gas in the 
> Northern hemisphere. Looking like yellow oil floating on aqueous condensate,  
> exposed to air when tipped onto a concrete surface, it just completely 
> vaporizes leaving only a carbon trace of stain. It makes a good mess inside 
> pipes and diaphragm regulators and if being combusted in a flare or oxidation 
> chamber, will add to the emissions from the stack. The bottom line is that we 
> don't want this in our producer gas for either engine or combustion 
> applications, but once condensed, it's very hard to clean out of the gas.
> My questions to any one who might have some similar experience, is why 
> Naphthalene may not show up in small gasifiers under say 100m3/hr, yet 
> becomes a issue as the gas output increases from a larger system. I have 
> observed this formation in N.Ireland and California and definitely related to 
> just higher output. Could it be related to the amount or volume of the 
> unstable pyrolysis gas in the fuel hopper? Can this create a chemistry that 
> can survive an incandescent char bed, but reform as Naphthalene in the gas 
> reduction phase?
> I can assure you that it isn't about tar or bad design, as our bed analysis 
> and pressure drop continuous monitoring has not shown bridging or channeling 
> to be the culprit. Black tars are never present, nor is CH4  as Methane 
> (<2%), so bed temperatures are not an issue, nor moisture content of the 
> fuels (wood chips or blocks). Char under the grate is dry and clean, as is 
> the <10 micron dust from the cyclones.
> The photos show two samples from a larger system, one a first stage cooling 
> containing ash and carbon with a purple colour from the ash. The second bag 
> from the cooling condenser is yellow from the Naphthalene which did increase 
> with more gas output . The square container is completely clear and comes 
> from the Fluidyne  Pacific Class gasifier (90m3/hr) and it has always made 
> clear condensate in both hemispheres except when incorrectly fueled. It has 
> not been possible to test larger gasifiers of our own design here in New 
> Zealand, hence the questions.
> Any discussion would be appreciated.
> Doug Williams,
> Fluidyne.
>  
>  
>  
>  
> _______________________________________________
> Gasification mailing list
> 
> to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
> [email protected]
> 
> to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
> http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org
> 
> for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site:
> http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Gasification mailing list
> 
> to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
> [email protected]
> 
> to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
> http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org
> 
> for more Gasifiers,  News and Information see our web site:
> http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/
_______________________________________________
Gasification mailing list

to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
[email protected]

to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org

for more Gasifiers,  News and Information see our web site:
http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/

Reply via email to