1 reply to this topic

[Dracofrost]

The Japan Gas Synthesis Company has developed a process for producing a mix of propane, butane, and dme from synthesis gas using a methanol catalyst and another catalyst normally used seperately to produce Dimethyl ether. Knowing nothing at a practical and experienced level about gasifiers and gas to liquids, but thinking to myself that many of the same engine modifications to optimize for wood gas are similar to those for propane, and knowing that large propane tanks for heating and refrigeration in rural America are common already, and the relative ease and parts availability of converting gasoline engines to propane, it makes sense as a method of compact wood gas storage and perhaps a better way to fuel vehicles still sourced from biomass. So, people here, with your experience with gasifiers and reactors, how practical would this be on a small scale? What issues would inhibit the practicality of converting wood gas to propane as a clean burning storage medium?

[madflower]

It isn't practical at a household level for a myriad of reasons. You are better off using a battery pack or grid-tie system to store your excess energy units.

As far as the mods to make syngas work, they are the same as propane and natural gas. All are corrosive, and require some engine mods to last a long time, but it is the same mods for all the fuels. For instance GM only produces 2 engines that are designed to work with trifuels they don't have parts off the shelf for any other models. The engine upgrade kit is like 5-8k plus labor. If you just want it to work, you can just run syngas in your air intake at the right ratio and turn off the gas, it will go for quite a long time running syngas if you don't have any tars.