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Old coal technology back again
If you scroll down to my posting from last Wednesday, you'll see the discussion about coal gassification and the new "Future Gen" plant at Mattoon. Reading the description of the coal gassification process reminded me of an older technology, that of producer or manufactured gas. There are many techniques for this but generally the result is similar. When done properly, the result can provide more energy than simply burning the fuel. This technology has come back again in the new generating facility planned for Mattoon. This process makes it relatively easy to capture the carbon dioxide, compared to conventional combustion.
Basically all these synthetic gas (Un-natural gas?) processes involve heating a solid fuel such as coal, trash, wood, or other biomass with a limited oxygen supply in a destructive distillation process. The gas driven off is rich in hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. H2 and CO are both combustible. H2 is particularly well suited to feeding fuel cells.
During WWII, one type of producer gas called wood gas was used in some areas to power cars when gasoline was not available. The vehicle had to have an oven installed to gassify the wood chips, equipment to treat the gas, a holding bladder (for the gas) which was fed to the engine. I can't imagine that efficiency was very high given the weight of all that apparatus. Watch this video for a couple enterprising Swedes who built their own. It looks like the trailer they're towing is for the fuel.
Who knows, before too long, when we can't afford gasoline any more, this will be the way you get to work. Future Gen, meet Future Car.
Old coal technology back again
December 21, 2007
If you scroll down to my posting from last Wednesday, you'll see the discussion about coal gassification and the new "Future Gen" plant at Mattoon. Reading the description of the coal gassification process reminded me of an older technology, that of producer or manufactured gas. There are many techniques for this but generally the result is similar. When done properly, the result can provide more energy than simply burning the fuel. This technology has come back again in the new generating facility planned for Mattoon. This process makes it relatively easy to capture the carbon dioxide, compared to conventional combustion. Basically all these synthetic gas (Un-natural gas?) processes involve heating a solid fuel such as coal, trash, wood, or other biomass with a limited oxygen supply in a destructive distillation process. The gas driven off is rich in hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. H2 and CO are both combustible. H2 is particularly well suited to feeding fuel cells.
During WWII, one type of producer gas called wood gas was used in some areas to power cars when gasoline was not available. The vehicle had to have an oven installed to gassify the wood chips, equipment to treat the gas, a holding bladder (for the gas) which was fed to the engine. I can't imagine that efficiency was very high given the weight of all that apparatus. Watch this video for a couple enterprising Swedes who built their own. It looks like the trailer they're towing is for the fuel.
Who knows, before too long, when we can't afford gasoline any more, this will be the way you get to work. Future Gen, meet Future Car.
Posted by Peter Welander on December 21, 2007 | Comments (0)
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