In this article, the author of the YouTube channel NightHawkInLight will tell you about the technology for producing wood gas. Wood gas itself has a lot of impurities from butane to methane and, of course, it is extremely combustible. They can not only ignite various materials and substances, but also use it as fuel.
Materials
- Paint can
- Branches, slivers
- copper pipe
- Plastic container
- Tube, ball valve, plug.
Instruments, used by the author.
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Manufacturing process.
Wood gas is produced under conditions when some material (not necessarily wood) is heated, but it does not have conditions for ignition, for example, if there is not enough oxygen for this. Heating leads to the breaking of chemical bonds in organic matter, resulting in the release of methane and hydrogen.
For this experiment, the author selects wood chips as organic matter. He is faced with the task of heating sawdust without oxygen. The author encloses them in a small metal container - in a can of paint, trying to fill the maximum number of branches into it.
As a heat source, he uses a makeshift oven made of a larger can of paint, into which another smaller can is inserted on the side. It blew.
The stove is filled with wood by two-thirds, it will quickly burn out. And the second can is inserted in the middle and closed tightly with the "native" lid. However, in the lid itself a tap was made from a copper tube. The author bends the tube at a right angle - this will be the hole from which the wood gas will escape. Positive pressure will form in the internal sealed chamber, and air from the outside will not be able to penetrate the tube.
And so the system worked. As can be seen in the photo, the gas is rather rapidly released from the tube.
The author tries it for combustibility. There is an effect, but it is weakly expressed. For now.
Gas must be collected, thereby raising its concentration. To do this, you need to slightly extend the tube itself so that it does not come into contact with open flame.
And now look how much potential fuel has formed here. By the way, wood gas was successfully used during the World War, when other types of fuel were not enough!
In the process of gas production, a large amount of tar is also formed. Such a by-product, of course, will clog the engine if this type of fuel is used in it. The way out is to learn how to process these resins, or at least collect them in a separate tank.
Fifteen minutes have passed since the furnace was ignited, and all the firewood inside the small jar burned out with the formation of a by-product - charcoal, which in itself is very useful.
Now the author will offer us one of the methods (maybe not the best) for collecting wood gas. He lays a new portion of chips in a jar and oven.
Then he prepares a large aquarium, 100 liters, fills it with water, covers it with a metal mesh, and puts a plastic container on it, in which natural gas will accumulate.
The author uses water as a shutter. Gas passing through water is filtered off from various impurities and then condenses. The container can hold about a gallon of gas.
Before filling it with gas, the author removes air from the container in an original way. Here at the top of the system there is a valve. The author opens it and simply sucks the air out of his mouth, allowing water to enter the vessel.
We have to add a little water. Now, clean wood gas will accumulate under the hood.
It remains only to connect the gas generator to the tank with water. The author does this with the help of such a tube from the brake system of a car.
But before, a small hole was cut in the base of the container. There, one end of the tube is inserted, and at its other end there is a coupling, due to which the tube is fixed to the gas generator.
And it starts the process again. Gas quickly accumulates in the upper part of the hood.
In this image you can see how the smoke begins to settle, and the clean emitted gas accumulates at the top.
Now, so that the gas begins to exit the valve, the entire tank must be pressed down so that it goes under water, that is, create additional pressure. Stones are very welcome. Needless to say, pushing a gas-filled tank under water is not an easy task.
The hole itself is closed by a plug, but a tiny hole is drilled in it through which gas will escape.
The author opens the valve ... a characteristic hiss is heard, and the smell of natural gas appears. The click of a lighter and .... the author assumes that methane is mainly released. As you know, it burns very cleanly. If there was a significant admixture of butane, the flame would be more clearly visible.
The advantage of clean burning is that it does not give soot.
Thanks to the author for an interesting way to get wood gas and charcoal for barbecue.
All good mood, good luck, and interesting ideas!
Author video can be found here.