4 replies to this topic

[Driven Energy]

I have ordered the GEK4 kit. What is the largest displacement gas engine that the GEK can power with the standard parts? I want to put some hours on the gassifier when I get it, and asside from my 8hp briggs generator I have an old Ford 2.3 sitting around that I would like to try.

[Ecnerwal]

Common statement for the stock setup is 20 hp. There was some mention of using a larger hearth to flow more gas for a bigger generator in Costa Rica (not brazil as I mis-remembered), hopefully one of the APL guys can comment on how much bigger that was (saw it mentioned in a discussion/pictures of hearths, didn't see a size of motor mentioned). I suspect you'll need a somewhat larger unit to make anything like the 80+hp the 2.3 can do, but you might be able to run it at low speed/power with the basic unit (ie, make a nice 1800 or 1200 rpm unit, and be able to pull 20-25 hp off it.)

http://www.gekgasifi...bert-downdraft/
that link indicates that a larger hearth (in the stock shell) should run a ~40 hp engine (or, in your case, let you pull ~40 hp off your larger engine, without working it too hard/fast.)

Here' the larger hearth in a post about the reactor size being shifted up:
http://www.gekgasifi...hread.php?t=185

[Driven Energy]

Thanks, I have seen the 20hp number before. Maybe an APL person can comment, but didn't they run a Honda car through Berkley, Emeryville, and Oakland with the stock GEK? It looked like it went pretty good. More than 20hp good.

[LarryBang]

Maybe I am a bit confused but isn't the power pallet running a 3.0 ltr. GM vortex engine at 1800 rpm? On the GM web site the engine is rated at over 60 hp at that rpm. the graph I have is a little hard to read but it looks like all the different fuels show more than 60 hp. Now they don't show what wood gas would be so you would need to deduct for that but even if you take away 30% it would be 42 hp. I am building a 3.0 liter toyota engine which is really strong and shaving the head to raise the compression to about 11 to 1 from the stock 9.5 I hop to run it with the TOTTI with the 4" throat and run a 30 kw or 40 hp 3 phase motor as a 4 pole 1800 rpm induction generator for grid connection. I am pushing the Totti to it's limit because the power company here in the Cayman Islands will pay 44 cents per KW with a 20 year contract. If the Totti can't handle it I will downsize to a 30hp motor and produce 22kw 3 phase. I hope that the 20 hp they are talking about is a conservative estimate, and when I see a car running on a gek I assume it must be.

[Sparker]

There is a big difference between instantaneous capacity and continuous capacity.  I am certain that any of the GEKs is capable of quite a bit more over a short period of time.  However, continuous use at high pull rates will bake you some clinker and produce inferior gas.

GM's engine is probably capable of 60 hp on natural gas or propane, but you must derate for the lower power density of wood gas and you must take into account the generator's efficiency.  Your car is rated for a certain amount of horsepower too, but you don't drive with your foot to the floor even 10% of the time.