In the early 70s I used a 2 foot long X 1.5 inch schedule 80 pipe partially filled
with a mix of water leached from wood ashes and various types of biomass, heated
by an electrical band heater on the evaporator end
A needle valve on the (water cooled) condenser end allowed
bleed-off of the initial trapped air followed by the combustible bio-gas
( H2, CO, CH4, CxHy & CO2) generated by the reaction of the water with the biomass.
By varying the input power pressures up to 1200 psi (seen on a gauge) were used.
But, a good water-soluble catalyst for this didn't show up until Dumesic at U. Wisconsin
hit the right one until a couple of years ago.
Syngas or "Aquafuel", Jones ??? :-)
Frederick
