1. P ROJECT D ESIGN AND M ANAGEMENT II P EGASUS II (M EASUREMENT AND I NCREMENT OF THE E FFICIENCY OF P EGASUS L AWNMOWER E NGINE ) R OBERT C RUMRINE B EN K NERR R IJESH P RADHAN

2. I NTRODUCTION This Project is a continuation of the spring Pegasus project. The purpose is to construct a Biomass gasifier unit, or a wood gas generator, to substitute gasoline as fuel. to measure and enhance the output delivered from it to increase efficiency

3. B ACKGROUND Biomass gasifers are excellent because the fuel can be abundant and easy to convert The structure needs a burner, heat exchanger, and pipes that can withstand high temperatures. The energy is produced by combustion. Wood, peat, coal, or lignite can be used for fuel.

4. O LD D OMINION U NIVERSITY W OOD B URNER G AS G ENERATOR Presently it is used to fuel a lawnmower engine(Pegasus). In the past, this technology has been used to power internal combustion engines. The operation of the Gas Generator is simple. The fuel is starved of oxygen. The basic chemical equation for this is, C 6 H 12 O 6 + 3O 2 → 6CO + 6H 2 O (g)

5. H OW IT WORKS The Burner uses a process called gasification. Optimum temperature is 1000 degrees Celsius. Products of the starved fuel becomes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, tar and dust. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen make up the combustible gas that feeds the engine. Figure 2 – Gasifier without casing and shaker.

6. D ESIGN Main body Manifolds air Inlet Storage compartment Basket Outlet pipes Access cover Rear view of the gasifier unit

7. D ESIGN Other components Filter Heat exchanger Blower Valves(air fuel mixture) Nozzle Side view of pegasus

8. S PRING ‘11 Problems known before testing Excess production of tar as output. Built up for testing Scaled autoCAD model construction for temperature probe and insulation installation concepts. Procuring the insulation and temperature probe. Removal of tar in the pipes. Tar as unwanted output

9. TESTING March 9 th 2011 Outdoor temperature 17C and conditions windy. Initial Observation Temperature not high enough ( fluctuating between 200C - 300C) The basket before and after ignition

10. I NITIAL O BSERVATION Smoke coming out of the inlet ports. Blower placed too far to provide efficient suction. Output air not combustible. Air inlet ports

11. D ISMANTLING THE UNIT Removing the system piping Disassembly of the filter

12. DISMANTLING Filter filled with wood chunks. Filter did not have enough crossover holes for proper airflow. Holes for cross flow of gases Wood crammed in the filter

13. TROUBLESHOOTING The blower was attached to the top of the gasifier unit. The temperature increased to 460C Smoke discharging from the blower increased. Smoke discharging from the inlet ports decreased.

14. C ONCLUSION AFTER TESTING System doesn’t have sufficient air flow. Maximum temperature reached too low. (460 C compared to the required 1000C) Thicker wood chunks caused uneven heat distribution Filter actually obstructs the airflow to the blower.

15. RECOMMENDATIONS Blower needs to be closer to the gasifier unit to provide better suction. Installation of insulation around the unit to decrease heat loss.(next step) Use of finer cut wood for proper combustion. Filter modification or better assembly required.

16. F IGURE 1 – PEGASUS U NIT G ENERAL S CHEMATIC (R EF 1)

17. A UTOCAD Conceptual view of the gasifier unit

18. B UDGET Temperature probe an meter $670 Insulation $63 + s/h Initial budget provided $500

19. A PPENDIX A: G HANTT C HART (510)-331-3767

20. R EFERENCES 1. La Fontaine, Harry; Zimmerman, F.P. Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for Fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum Emergency. 2nd ed. Golden, CO: The Biomass Energy Foundation Press. (1) 2. Papworth, and Skov. Driving on Wood. The Biomass Energy Foundation Press, 2006. 3. Das. “The Up-Downdraft Gasifier.” Woodgas. Web. http://www.woodgas.com/history9.htm 4.Vinod. Volvo 240 Converted to run on Wood Gas. Automotto, 29 July 2010. Web. http://www.automotto.org/entry/duch-john-converts-his-volvo-240-to-run-on-wood- gas 5.Lynch, Eric. Biomass Gasification. What is it? Can it be used now?. Surfers without borders, 21 Jan. 2006. http://www.surferswithoutborders.org/Resources_files/Biomass%20Gasification%2 0Presentation.pdf

21. Q UESTIONS ???????