Wood gas generators for small power (∼ 5 hp) requirements

This paper reports experimental and developmental studies on wood gas generators meant for running 5 hp diesel engines in irrigation water pumping. Critical inputs for the design of small reactors are presented. A prototype of the gas generator based on these inputs has been built and tested along with a diesel engine pumpset. The results of various tests on the system are described along with some critical operational features. The lowest amount of diesel at which the engine could be run with a mixture of diesel and gas is about 15% of the consumption with diesel alone. However, to obtain the same energy, that is the same amount of water at a given height, the best replacement of diesel obtained is about 75%. The paper also comments on the economics of such systems. The results presented here are the outcome of a project ‘Wood gas generators for engines of less than 10 hp’ financed and administered by Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.