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In 1989, FEMA developed a plan and produced a prototype for converting a car, tractor, or any internal combustion engine to run on wood gas (flammable volatile gas released from wood when it is heated and charred). This type of device was extremely popular in some countries during World War II gas shortages for running everything from tractors to motorbikes. The old devices had quite a few problems, however, which this attempt fixes (including releasing no toxic gases while refueling). A down-draft wood gasifier unit is described made from easily improvised materials, including a galvanized trash can, standard plumbing fittings, and a salad bowl. Read on for more information and a copy of the FEMA Report.
Updated 1 Time
Abstract:
This report is one in a series of emergency technology assessments sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The purpose of this report is to develop detailed, illustrated instructions for the fabrication, installation, and operation of a biomass gassifier unit (that is, a "producer gas" generator, also called a "wood gas" generator) which is capable of providing emergency fuel for vehicles, such as tractors and trucks, in the event that normal petroleum sources were severely disrupted for an extended period of time. These instructions are prepared in the format of a manual for use by any mechanic who is reasonably proficient in metal fabrication or engine repair.
This report attempts to preserve the knowledge about wood gasification as put into practical use during World War II. Detailed, step-by-step fabrication procedures are presented for a simplified version of the World War II, lambert wood gas generator. This simple, stratified, downdraft gassifier unit can be constructed from materials which would be widely available in the United States in a prolonged petroleum crisis. For example, the body of the unit consists of a galvanized metal garbage can atop a small metal drum; common plumbing fittings are used throughout; and a large, stainless steel mixing bowl is used for the grate. The entire compact unit was mounted onto the front of a farm tractor and successfully field tested, using wood chips as the only fuel. Photographic documentation of the actual assembly of the unit as well as its operation is included.
This system was designed for older gasoline and diesel engines. We are looking for information on how/whether this can be done with newer engines, looking into stationary applications like electric generators, and ability to use agricultural waste (the FEMA protoype can burn bark and sawdust).
Update:Jonathan Spreadborough of woodgas.net writes to emphasize that the FEMA design is meant for emergency use and is not suitable for long term transportation. In particular, it produces high amounts of tar which can ruin an engine. Other designs such as the European Imbert gasifier improve on this significantly without making the gasifier much harder to produce. There are links to other designs and documents from the woodgas.net site. We will likely have another article once I digest the information he has sent.
Links are provided here to PDF copies of the FEMA report. It is quite large (~10 MB). Please choose one of the links at random.
If you have any experience or expertise in building these kinds of systems, or in related mechanics,
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. Stay tuned for future articles on this subject, including gas vapor-burning stoves.
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