My newest project

[Banjo]

I can thank aeronica65t for porviding me with a link to the one site on the net with information on how to build a wood gas generator, so I'm underway building a wood-powered car!
I've been intrested in this process since I heard about a guy not too far from me with a wood powered truck. I searched and searched for information on the process finding only that it's an old technology and was used extensivly in western europe during the fuel shortages of WWII.
The process burns wood chips in a low oxygen enviornment to produce combustable gas that is then piped to the standard gasoline engine and the whole thing is supposed to work well
So I printed out the "book" on how to build and operate this device, called a wood gas generator, and have procured an 85 Toyota Corolla for a whopping $60 that will be the guina-pig for this experiment.
I'm thinking of starting a blog or something to document the process, but we'll see.

 

[sammyb]

Wow..never heard of that. Let's see...that makes gas, diesel, ethenol, nitromethane, alcohol, propane, electricity, wood, waste cooking oil, steam (water burned with kerosene,) hydrogen...what will someone try next?

 

[beaulieu]

In WW 2 there were many cars converted to wood gas in Germany,

VW had some bugs and Kubelwagens ,
I have seen photos of Mercedes too,
Also I have seem a few big trucks also,

not sure how far you can drive on a "tankful" but would be an interesting project

Beaulieu

 

[Banjo]

From what I've read so far the conversion is 1gal. of gas = 20lbs. of wood chips.
Unlike the greasecar or biodiesel this method is not meant as a "power of the future" It's an idea that is much more involved than just "fueling up" so It's really just an alternative for use when petrolium based fuels aren't available.
As a matter of fact, the manual I have was distributed by FEMA, for use in an emergency situation. Thus the plans utalize many "on hand" materials, and the unit can be made very cheaply.
It has applications in stationary generators and pumps as well.
I don't plan on using this car as primary transport. it's just an experiment, and to take to shows and such as a "check this out!" thing. If only to spark the imaginations of those who never thought of doing something like this.

 

[aeronca65t]

Cool....very cool.
Keep us up-to-date on any progress.
I'm really curious about how it will work.

And $60 for a car....you're in my league! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[JPSmit]

any chance of posting that link?

TIA

 

[Banjo]

Yup
wood gas generator site
have fun!

 

[swift6]

Wow..never heard of that. Let's see...that makes gas, diesel, ethenol, nitromethane, alcohol, propane, electricity, wood, waste cooking oil, steam (water burned with kerosene,) hydrogen...what will someone try next?

Just read an article about some Japanese scientists producing a liquid 'gasoline like' fuel from cow manure. Sort of a liquid form of the methane. Not quite nitromethane but is supposed to have a fairly high octane level. Just have to remember where I read it now. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif

 

[Sherlock]

Now...

Would this car be street legal?

A very cool project anyway...

 

[Bret]

Yes very cool! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif

But I'd like to see the look on the smog testing tech when you bring it in for an emissions test. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[hottvr]

On PBS I saw a show where scientists raise bacteria that generate electricity. They hope to be able to power a car somewhere down the road. Now they're up to powering an Ipod.
Rick

 

[aerog]

There was an article in a "Classic & Sports Car" a couple of years ago about a French truck that ran entirely on wood gas. The owner restored it and drives it regularly. Pretty neat.

 

[bugimike]

That's worth looking into for the stationary generator applications down here in the hurricane belt. Keep us posted on your progress! Heck, it would be easier to scrounge wood for fuel in a crisis than trust the petroleum distribution system! We could burn blown down fences, he,he!!

 

[DrEntropy]

Neighbor's homes, too.... ugh.

Arcadia was one big fuel depot!

 

[Banjo]

Lesse, catching up on questions...
Yes, it will be street legal.
The car I'm using is an 87 Corolla. It's originally carburated. And currently in my area, a car of that vintage has to pass a safety/ emissions test yearly, but it's only a visual emissions test. All the original emissions equipment has to be in place.
I could modify the title to either alternative fueled, or custom/homebuilt and that would effectivly bypass the current emissions laws. but I don't see any issues with it passing an inspection by just altering the fuel source, as I don't have to pass any kind of "sniffer test"
According to the information I have the process is as follows
"By weight, gas(wood gas) produced in a gasifier unit contains approx. 20% hydrogen, 20% carbon monoxide, and small amounts of methane, all of which are combustible, plus 50 to60% nitrogen. The nitrogen is not combustible; however, it does occupy volume and dilutes the wood gas as it enters and burns in an engine. As the wood gas burns, the products of the combustion are carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Today was starting in on the Corolla. I really wish I had a camera to show what this thing looked like before I started cleaning it up. It was a mess!. I filled a 30 gal garbage can with nastiness, and then took out the seats and plastic trim so I could remove the carpets, hang them up, and pressure wash them.
Meanwhile, I steam cleaned the front seats, and soaked the plastic bits down with industrial cleaner and then turned the hose on em.
It should be pretty decent by next week. Then it's on to gathering up generator parts

 

[swift6]

How about the legality of using non road taxed fuel? Technicallity I'm sure and you probably won't see an issue appear from it. But is it legal? Home brew biodiesel and grease cars could face the same issue if they get popular enough.

 

[swift6]

"By weight, gas(wood gas) produced in a gasifier unit contains approx. 20% hydrogen, 20% carbon monoxide, and small amounts of methane, all of which are combustible, plus 50 to60% nitrogen. The nitrogen is not combustible; however, it does occupy volume and dilutes the wood gas as it enters and burns in an engine. As the wood gas burns, the products of the combustion are carbon dioxide and water vapor.

So what happens to the nitrogen? Is it expelled from the exhaust as NOx. That will be the next standard for emissions in the future. California is already using an NOx based Air Program and they have been the bellwether state for emissions programs.

 

[Banjo]

Good points Shawn. I think the non-taxed fuel thing would only become an issue if someone specific made a legal point of it. Like you said, it's the same deal with greasecars and bio-diesels. If I claimed on the title that it ran on an alternate fuel source, the state may require an extra licencing fee to compensate. but unless It becomes a legal issue, I'm not worried about it. This is going to see minimal road use anyway, compared to a daily driver.
You may be right about the NOx. But I am still running the original cat, so that should help.
I won't know until I get it running and get it hooked up to a gas analyser.
The trick around here is to FIND a gas analyser. It's not required for inspection on ANY car, so noone around here has one. I'd have to get down to the NY metro area before it's required. So right now that's also a mute point.
But this is all good stuff to be thinking of for the future.
Thanks for the dose of logic.
Now I gotta figure out how to start a blog.

 

[mailbox]

PICTURES!!! WE WANT PICTURES!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[Banjo]

Soon.. the car's at work, so I gotta take the camara in on monday. Other than that there's nothing to take pics of yet