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Woodgas Stove
Posted: 21 May 2008, 20:30
by Brad
http://www.woodgas-stove.com/
Got one of these recently, with rechargeable batteries and a solar charger would make a good set up
Re: Woodgas Stove
Posted: 22 May 2008, 11:42
by SunnyJim
Can you run them without the batteries?
i.e. can you run it as a standard rocket stove?
Posted: 22 May 2008, 18:17
by Brad
Don't think so. The batteries run a fan there are no air holes underneath
Posted: 24 May 2008, 08:42
by mikepepler
Here's one which doesn't need a fan:
http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/daxu
read the case study PDF.
Not sure if you can get technical details though.
Posted: 24 May 2008, 09:37
by MacG
Systematically burning crop waste might deplete the soils. It's darn difficult to recycle ashes since the salts are so extremely soluble and easily run off in the first rain.
Posted: 24 May 2008, 22:58
by RenewableCandy
MacG wrote:It's darn difficult to recycle ashes since the salts are so extremely soluble and easily run off in the first rain.
Do they bind up any better if you put them with other stuff in a compost heap first?
Posted: 24 May 2008, 23:08
by MacG
RenewableCandy wrote:MacG wrote:mikepepler wrote:It's darn difficult to recycle ashes since the salts are so extremely soluble and easily run off in the first rain.
Do they bind up any better if you put them with other stuff in a compost heap first?
Have no idea! This Terra Preta thing should definitely do the trick though. If it works as advertised.
Posted: 25 May 2008, 00:36
by Andy Hunt
You mean it improves soil fertility?
(the carbon sink aspect being irrelevant?)
Posted: 17 Jun 2008, 01:16
by JohnB
Here's a home made one I saw at South Somerset Green Fair yesterday:
It's made out of a food tin, a paint tin and a computer fan. An example of the inner food tin can be seen in the foreground. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo with the kettle removed.
I've got a 1200 gram dog food tin, now all I need is a paint tin and a fan!
Here's a rocket stove on the same stand:
Posted: 16 Apr 2009, 21:51
by mikepepler
OK, I'm thinking of getting one of these WoodGas stoves. I know I could make something similar, but to be honest the people selling them have been designing them for some time for use in developing countries, so know how to do it properly. I've got plenty of solar power to charge the AA batteries to run it.
Has anyone tried them? How is yours going Brad?
Posted: 16 Apr 2009, 23:30
by woodburner
They work well. I bought 3 small and 3 large last year when the £/$ was high. some practice running them gives better results.
It's possible to run them without batteries, but you have to have a draught generator. I used two 6" riser tubes
Rather than using a solar cell to charge the batteries, you could use a peltier heat pump, and run the fan on the heat from the stove. It will work at night then.
Posted: 17 Apr 2009, 21:56
by mikepepler
Right, I've ordered one. I look forward to seeing how effective it is. I reckon it'll be handy to use up in the woods, and as a backup stove at home.
Posted: 18 Apr 2009, 03:08
by kenneal - lagger
Do a search on YouTube for woodgas stoves there are loads of them, mostly without fans.
Posted: 18 Apr 2009, 09:48
by mikepepler
Yes, I'd seen them, and will have a go making one sometime. However, to make one that gasifies the wood really well without a fan you need a chimney - I wouldn't be surprised if many of the DIY ones you see are putting out quite a bit of unburnt stuff, including CO.
The fan adds complexity, but it really does make it work better. So much so that for use in developing countries there are models being developed that use a peltier effect device to use the heat of the stove to run the fan (though I guess you have to kick start it with a battery, or get the stove hot first).
Posted: 18 Apr 2009, 11:31
by emordnilap
Keep us informed, Mike. The peltier trick sounds good, too. Sigh... will it generate extra hours in the day, though?
