Hi Jim, While in Akron Michigan, this season, I sat in on the GEK assembly demonstration you gave. You fielded many many questions with highly knowledgeable answers, as the equipment was put together in a jiffy.
With respect to connection of the two pressure sensor-columns, I noted both columns were referenced to the atmosphere. The left hand column was sensing gas pressure within the system downstream the grate. Is this connection always done this way on the GEKs? In my gasifiers, I connect one leg to the similar pressure zone as the GEK reactor manometer, however I reference the other leg to the solid-fuel bin shell. This gives an idea of pressure drop across the reactor bed, irrespective of pressure drop across primary air nozzles. Nozzle pressure drop can vary as reactor-inlet air is more or less heated, or as diameter is changed as well as when total mass flow varies as both our connection methods do. Isolating measurement of pressure drop across the reactor-bed only; gives operators whether human, or machine, an idea of build up of fines held above the grate, at a given engine power level. Here is a homemade video of what happens when the throttleman/electrician throws the turtle/rabbit lever, when the bed temperature is low after time spent re-fueling, and re-configuring load bank. Also the fines have built up too much with the dusty fuel we used that day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8l0IW_mieo Note: we measured ~9" of water column, when the engine was re-started, and brought up to full governed speed. Grate-actuating machinery (excess char/ash dump) is energized as need prevails. An engine power range band (throttle position v RPM) should bias this signal for repeatability of desired maximum gas bed flow resistance set-point. Your sweet spot table will be useful to many that make gas from wood. Thank you, Andrew Schofield _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2 _______________________________________________ Gasification mailing list [email protected] http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_listserv.repp.org http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org http://info.bioenergylists.org
