From oil dependence to local resilience

My Memories

When I was a very very small boy/girl, our Creamie (man who collected our cream cans from our front gate to take them to the Butter Factory) had an International Truck model 1938 fitted with a Charcoal burner gas producer which powered the engine. The fuel was WOOD, well charcoal actually but a newer version designed by the US Dept of Energy burns any wood drier than 20% H2O and needs no other fuel at all except oil ( a few drops a km) to prevent dry-running (fossil fuels have additives which provide lubrication to upper cylinder), used to be lead !!!!! I am willing to join a co-operative project to build a 'producer' and fit it to a stationary engine driving an alternator to produce 12/24 V power for charging a battery bank and inverter to power MY house. Could then be used as a demo unit for all to see and wonder at !!!!!

I have a 100 page step by step instruction manual which uses parts available from Carters, Bunnings etc.

Tags: Alternate, fuel, power, producer, sources, wood-gas

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Bryan on June 11, 2008 at 18:45

Sorry! I messaged you before I read this bit. Sounds clever. I am not very mechanical I am afraid, so probably will not be of much use to your project. Where are you based?

Permalink Reply by Geoff Cox on June 12, 2008 at 5:42

Hi Mike

I'm based in Mangawhai Northland.

Permalink Reply by Mike Bryan on June 12, 2008 at 20:43

I am fairly new in the country! Where is that?
I am up in Kaitaia.
Let me know if you build a protoype. Does it look difficult?
Cheers
mike

Permalink Reply by Geoff Cox on June 13, 2008 at 6:39

We're 60 km south of Whangarei on the coast so not all that far from you. Will let you know!

Geoff

Permalink Reply by Richard Lee on July 3, 2008 at 21:33

Hi Guys,

Great idea Geoff, what I have read of gasifiers they are best suited to stationary engines. I am not particularly technical but I like the idea of working demos. I'll be in Warkworth so if I can help at all I'll be interested.

Cheers
Richard

Permalink Reply by Geoff Cox on July 4, 2008 at 15:05

Good man Richard. I have a local female motor mechanic on board too so we might get started. I'll wait a few weeks until you get settled and then get back to you. Do you have reasonable DIY skills ? It's all we need really, a bit of tin bashing, brazing, welding, pipe fitting, motor vehicle skills. I have a reasonable workshop and some tools so let's plan to make a gas-producer.

Regards,

Geoff

Permalink Reply by Grant on July 24, 2008 at 1:21

Hi there Geoff
Hey that sounds great!
I know a guy in Pukekohe ( Auk) that has a 30KW gasproducer running a genset, it works well. Its made in India. He really just wants to sell them as hes not an engineer and not too keen on building his own in NZ.
But at least its a working system we can look at if you need to at some stage. Ive seen it working, very simple and impressive.
I have two other engineering buddies that are keen to build a gasifier to play with and do what you have suggested, run a 24V alternator to charge batteries for our workshop in Ruatangata (Whangarei)
My uncle lives in Mangawai, he has a caravan biz there. I havent seen him in ages so i could come and see you too for a catch up if thats ok?
Cheers
Grant

Permalink Reply by Geoff Cox on July 25, 2008 at 8:57

You're welcome anytime. I would be very interestd to see the unit you spoke of.

geoff cox

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