How does a coal engine work? How we made a car gas generator (also suitable for domestic needs)
Looking at gas station signs with gasoline prices, every now and then a desire arises to switch the car to a cheaper type of fuel.
One of the popular options is converting a car to gas. But not everything is smooth here either. Against the backdrop of events in the gas and oil sector, gas prices may rise, which will make work pointless.
Problems with energy resources are obvious and no one yet knows how this will end for the end consumer.
If you decide to redo it, then you should choose independent and truly effective ways. And here gas-generating cars or, in simple terms, “wood-burning cars” come first in terms of savings.
HISTORY OF CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT, EXAMPLES OF WOOD-POWERED VEHICLES
Despite the slow progress of the topic of gas-generating machines, the history of such developments is very rich. So, back in 1823, the Russian inventor Ovtsyn I.I. developed an apparatus for distilling wood. It is based on the most common “thermal lamp”.
The main feature of the installation was the use of the main pyrolysis products - illuminating gas, acetic acid and tar, as well as charcoal.
Almost forty years later (in 1860), Etienne Lenoir, a Belgian waiter with engineering “inclinations,” made his contribution to science. It was he who first acquired a patent for an internal combustion engine operating on lighting gas.
Two years later, the installation of the newly minted genius appeared on an 8-seater open omnibus.
But in 1878, when the more powerful 4-stroke gas engine of Nicholas Otto was presented to the public, Etienne Lenoir's development was quickly forgotten. At the same time, the new device had a higher efficiency: 16% for Otto versus 5% for Lenoir.
Another two decades later, in 1883 (from 1860), appeared new concept combination of a conventional internal combustion engine and a gas generator.
The English scientist E. Dawson managed to combine two devices in one box.
The resulting device could be safely installed on any equipment and safely operated. Over time, E. Dawson’s development became known as “Dawson gas.”
In 1891, Evgeniy Yakovlev (lieutenant of the Russian Navy) distinguished himself. He managed to build an entire plant for the production of kerosene and gas engines. The place for construction was St. Petersburg.
Over time, the plant ceased to exist due to the inability to resist competition with gasoline and diesel engines.
The year 1900 can safely be called the year of production of the first gas-generating car using charcoal and wood as fuel.
The device was developed in France by Frederick Winslow Taylor, and a patent was obtained a little later (in 1901).
Subsequently, new and more interesting developments in this area appeared. So, in 1919, Georg Imbert (an engineer of French origin) developed a reverse-type gas generator.
Already in 1921, the first cars with engines operating on this principle appeared. It was then that speculation arose about the likely competition of a gas-generating car with diesel or gasoline engines.
Over time, Germany also distinguished itself, where during the war not only wood-burning gas generators became widespread, but also devices capable of operating on special briquettes consisting of lignite dust and crumbs.
The first trucks with gas generators were very slow - they could hardly reach a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
Despite this, by 1938 the popularity of gas-generating cars was so great that the total number of such cars was about nine thousand.
Three years later (by 1941), their number increased fiftyfold. For example, in Germany, the number of “wood-burning” cars has grown to 300 thousand copies.
The Soviet Union also tried to keep up. Here, the first tests of gas generator cars took place in 1928. The car was powered by a Naumov engine and a Fiat-15 chassis.
Six years later, the first large run of cars with gas generator engines was organized from Moscow to Leningrad and back.
ZIS-5 and GAZ-AA cars took part in the “race”. The success of the event contributed to the adoption in 1936 of a special resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on the development of gas-generating tractors and machines.
GAZ - AA.
The first batch of new gas-generating vehicles appeared on the roads of the USSR in 1936.
Production was carried out at two plants - Gorky (GAZ-42) and ZIS (Stalin Plant).
Five years later, the production of gas generator engines for tractors and ZIS vehicles was launched.
The disadvantages of power units included multiple factory defects, high metal wear rates, minimal power, and so on.
On the other hand, gas generators helped a lot during the war and were actively used in the rear.
WOOD-FUELED GAS GENERATOR FOR A CAR – DEVICE AND PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The automotive gas generator installation includes the following elements:
- rough cleaners;
- the gas generator itself;
- fine cleaners;
- mixer and ignition fan.
A simple diagram looks like this.
During movement, air is sucked into the gas generator using the thrust of a running motor.
The same thrust helps to “pump out” the flammable gas from the gas generator, as well as supply it to the coarse purifiers, and then to the fine filter.
After mixing with air in the mixer, the finished gas-air mixture is sucked into the engine cylinders.
After leaving the gas generator, the hot and contaminated gas requires additional processing (cooling and cleaning).
To do this, it is passed through a special pipeline that combines a gas generator with a fine filter.
In some designs, the gas passed through a special cooler mounted in front of the water radiator.
Most often, a combined system was used for cooling and cleaning.
Its principle of operation was to change the speed and direction of the gas flow. At the same time, the latter was cooled and cleaned.
The next stage is fine cleaning, for which special “ring” cleaners made in the shape of cylinders were used.
The operating principle of most fine filters was based on the water principle, when gas purification was carried out using water.
In the process of igniting the gas generator, a special centrifugal fan equipped with an electric drive was used.
Due to the fact that the fan needs to pump air through the entire purification system, the device was installed as close as possible to the mixer.
The formation of a combustible mixture is carried out in a car mixer.
The simplest type of device is a special tee in which air and gas flows intersect.
The volume of the mixture entering the engine is controlled using the throttle valve.
The quality of the gas-air mixture is regulated by an air damper.
Principle of operation.
The main fuel for a gas generating unit is coal briquettes, peat or firewood.
The operating principle of the system is based on partial combustion of carbon. The latter, during combustion, can connect one or a pair of oxygen atoms with the subsequent formation of two elements - carbon dioxide (dioxide) and carbon monoxide (monoxide).
If carbon does not burn completely, then almost 30% of the total energy can be obtained with complete combustion of the material.
As a consequence, the formed gas has a lower heat transfer than the original solid fuel.
It is worth noting that in a gas generator, during the conversion of wood or coal into gas, an exothermic reaction occurs between water and carbon monoxide.
Thanks to this reaction, the temperature of the resulting gas drops and the efficiency increases to 80 percent.
If the gas does not require cooling before use, the efficiency can reach 100%. As a result, 2-stage fuel combustion occurs.
The resulting gas has minimal calorie content due to its mixing with nitrogen.
Due to the fact that smaller volumes of air are needed to burn fuel, such a reduction in calorie content is insignificant.
As for the decrease in engine power when running on gas, the reason is a decrease in the charge of the fuel composition caused by the difficulty of cooling.
DO-It-Yourself WOOD-WOODED CAR
If you wish, you can make a wood-burning car with your own hands.
In a simplified version, the algorithm looks like this:
1. A loading hopper is equipped.
As a base, you can use a regular gas cylinder with a capacity of about 40-50 liters. Thanks to this capacity, large volumes of coal can be placed in the cylinder.
Other materials can also be used.
Make sure that the wall thickness is at least three millimeters.
Once a suitable cylinder has been selected, cut out the bottom and cut a neck for loading fuel. The hole for the lid should be wide to simplify the process of loading fuel.
2. A grate is made, which takes on the greatest load.
3. A special lid for the hopper is created.
Fuel (coal) will be loaded through it. If desired, the lid can be made of aluminum, but theoretically any other type of metal can be used.
During the installation process, pay attention to the choice of cord - it must be asbestos with mandatory impregnation with graphite.
This is necessary to protect the cord from burning and accidental damage in case of closing or opening.
You can get a high-quality cord at the market or in a boiler room. The optimal diameter of a suitable cord is 13 and 8 millimeters.
4. A tuyere is made.
The task of this device is to take on the main temperature load. During the installation process, everything is done in such a way as to make replacement easier.
5. A cyclone filter is manufactured.
The use of charcoal or brown coal, peat, straw or other substances for traveling by car has characteristic feature- presence of dust.
If you do not make a high-quality filter element, then dust can get into the carburetor, pistons, spark plugs and other components (including the interior).
You can find a ready-made solution right away.
6. Making a radiator (cooler).
Any material can be used here. As an option, it is possible to use a standard heating radiator made of aluminum.
You can construct a device from water pipes. Please note that the cross-section of the radiator, as a rule, is slightly larger than the cross-section of the pipes connected to it.
But still some take the simple route.
7. Manufacturing of a fine filter.
At the time of the first gas generators, fine filters were enormous in size and occupied a significant part of the car. However, the effectiveness was minimal.
Today we have modern materials at our disposal, thanks to which we can make a high-quality and compact filter at minimal cost.
In this case, the service life will be 10-20 thousand kilometers.
Here, as a rule, you will have to get rid of the luggage compartment lid to install a new device.
Some Kulibins hang the device behind the trunk. This is of course more practical, but it does not look very aesthetically pleasing.
9. Connecting the gas generator to the engine.
The switching tubes through which gas is supplied are supplied to the engine.
At the same time, the main structural elements must remain intact.
REGISTRATION WITH THE SAI
The most important thing is to register a car with a gas generator engine with the traffic police.
Here it is worth contacting the inspectorate in advance and clarifying the package of documents required for registration.
Unfortunately, in the CIS countries, legalizing cars converted for firewood is a very difficult task. The reason is the lack of GOST standards.
There are similar standards abroad, so the registration process takes a minimum of time.
Anyone who managed to register with the traffic police without problems, share your experience in the comments.
If someone has a motorcycle with a sidecar, then you can try to implement this option.
IN modern world rising prices for public utilities, everyone is looking for ways to save money. And that’s how the wood-burning internal combustion engine was developed and implemented. Today, this design has been improved, thanks to which it can be found in many places. Moreover, the most interesting thing is that these installations are used not only in enterprises or private homes, but even in cars. Therefore, today many are interested in whether it is possible to make gas generators using wood with their own hands? This question can be discussed in more detail.
Principle of operation
In order to understand how to properly use a generator at home, it is worth understanding the basics of its operation. This will allow you to understand whether the costs of materials are worth the investment and how quickly they will pay off. In addition, the gas generator has its own scope of application.
In itself, this device is a complex of components and assemblies that ensure the production of gas from solid fuel. The resulting material is used in the operation of the internal combustion engine. But there is a nuance: the design of generators may differ from each other - it all depends on the type of solid fuel.
One of the most common, and perhaps affordable, types of fuel is firewood. When wood is burned in a sealed space, the process produces flammable gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and other unsaturated carbons. This mixture additionally contains ballast gases - oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. But the efficiency of the gas generator does not simply depend on the production of such a combustible mixture. It must become suitable for use for specific purposes. Therefore, the entire process goes through the required stages:
- Gasification. Here the solid fuel must completely burn out and enter the smoldering stage. This process occurs with a small amount of oxygen - 30-35%.
- The first and second stages of cleansing. All volatile substances resulting from smoldering are separated using a dry vortex filter-cyclone and fed into a separate chamber - a scrubber. Here water is already used, which carries out another cleaning of the combustible stream.
- Cooling. During the process of combustion and smoldering, all substances acquire a fairly high temperature - from 700 degrees and above. To reduce their performance, an air or water heat exchanger is used. After this, the mixture will have to undergo another cleaning.
- Dispatch. After all stages, the resulting finished substances can be pumped into a distribution tank using a compressor, or immediately enter the internal combustion engine.
In fact, the full cycle is quite complex, and therefore takes time. But the main component is the gas generator itself. Basically, it is a metal column of cylindrical or rectangular shape, tapering at the end. The internal structure has several air pipes through which oxygen is pumped in and gas comes out. At the top there is a lid through which firewood is loaded.
If you don’t delve too deeply into the basis of chemical processes, the process of gas production looks like this: they loaded fuel - it burned/decayed - a gas mixture was obtained. In order for the final product to have the necessary properties, there are many components inside the structure that clean and cool the mixture. If we talk about home gas generators, then you can use a simpler design. This turns out to be both simpler and cheaper.
Pros and cons of “home” gas generators
Before you take on self-assembly devices, you should understand for yourself whether it is really needed in the household. Yes, this type of generator is economical in terms of fuel, especially if you live in the private sector and have your own garden. But, nevertheless, you need to be more objective.
The strengths of the gas generator are:
- high efficiency index - it varies between 80-95%, but in solid fuel boilers it reaches an average limit of 60%;
- long-term burning - this moment allows you to add fuel more rarely (wood burns for about a day, and coal can smolder for 5 days);
- in the process of burning wood, almost 100% combustion occurs, so the need to carry out general cleaning of the ash pan and flue arises much less frequently;
- if desired, you can make the entire process automated;
- no harmful substances appear during combustion, making the installation safe both for the environment and for the owners themselves;
- a gas generator allows you to save on heating your home;
- wood is one of the most affordable materials, both in a paid and free sense (you can buy firewood, or you can dry the cut branches yourself);
- For heating, you can use not only firewood, but also wood waste - wood chips, sawdust and other cellulose-containing materials;
- the gas produced is excellent not only for heating a house, but also for maintaining the operation of an internal combustion engine in a car, and even for generating electricity;
- if desired, you can create a container in which impressive logs (up to 1 m in length) will be placed, which means they will burn longer;
- There are factory models that allow the use of fuel with high humidity (up to 50%) or even freshly cut logs - although home installation of this nature is difficult to do.
Many experts believe that a gas generator is much safer to use than solid fuel boilers.
But for the sake of fairness, it is worth mentioning the disadvantages of such units. Firstly, in order for fuel to smolder in the correct way, forced air intake is needed. This means that the installation will need to include a fan. But this element runs on electricity, so if the lights are turned off, the generator will not be able to work. Secondly, if for some reason the power decreases (by more than 50%), the device will begin to emit tar. This substance has a sticky consistency and will quickly pollute the flue. If the gas generator is used for heating, the owner must control the temperature so that it does not fall below 60 degrees. Otherwise, condensation will quickly form.
If you look at the stores, you will see that gas generators are very expensive in price, unlike solid fuel boilers. That is why, in order to save money, you can think about how to assemble such a unit with your own hands. The main thing is to choose and prepare those materials that are durable and able to withstand high temperatures. You should never skimp on this issue, since operational safety depends on it.
Creation of a gas generator
The construction of the unit should begin with familiarization with what drawings of wood-burning gas generators are available. This will allow you to understand what work lies ahead and what is needed for it. Even though homemade device will cost less than the factory one, you will also have to spend money here.
Many people assemble a generator because it is cheaper. But there are also costs:
- cast iron for the grate is a fairly expensive material, but it has the necessary characteristics;
- a special spring that is best suited for making a cover;
- heat-resistant gaskets for hatches and combining individual components;
- fan - you will not only need to purchase it, but also be prepared for the cost of electricity that will power it.
The gas generator can be used in two cases - for home and for car. The drawings of these structures will differ, since in the latter case, the structure should be lighter weight and small in size.
In fact, the closer a device is in size and design to an industrial model, the higher its operating efficiency. But there is no need to make an exact copy. The gas generator must have the following elements:
- Frame. This element is also called a filling chamber. The shape may resemble a cylinder or a rectangle. To make it easier to make the body, you can take a ready-made metal container and sand it a little. But you can start everything from scratch. In this case, you will need sheet metal (8-10 mm thick) and a corner. It is advisable to use low carbon steel. For safe operation, legs are welded to the bottom of the body. An additional circle of steel is welded in the upper part, which will serve to intake cold air.
- Fuel bunker. This element is made similarly to the body, and from the same materials. The hopper must be made smaller so that it can be fixed inside the housing. If you don’t want to tinker for a long time, then you can simply divide the space of the case into sections using metal plates. The volume must be at least 0.7 cubic meters. You can also install a hatch here. It will help control excess fuel and, if necessary, “dump ballast.”
- The combustion chamber. For such an element, heat-resistant steel is needed, because this is where the process of combustion and smoldering occurs. An alternative option is an empty gas cylinder from household gas. Bolts are used for fixation.
- Combustion chamber neck. Cracking of resins occurs here, so the neck is separated with heat-resistant gaskets. Asbestos gaskets are suitable, but if possible, it is better to invest in safer materials.
- Air distribution unit. To connect this unit to the rest of the structure, a fitting is used. A check valve is installed next to it, which is responsible for regulating the air flow to the firewood. The valve also prevents leakage of the resulting combustible mixture. Between the air distribution box and the middle part of the chamber, calibration holes are made - tuyeres.
- Filter unit. At this stage, the mixture that enters through the pipe from the air distribution unit should be cleaned. For the cyclone filter, you can use the housing of an old fire extinguisher or other similar container.
- Cooler. In a home model, you can use a regular radiator for such purposes or make a special coil. The resulting mixture will move along the long structure and gradually lose its high temperature. If you wish, you can do water cooling.
- Separator. Since the incoming air will be cold, and inside the generator, it is planned high temperatures, then it is not possible to avoid the formation of condensation. But so that it does not interfere with work, a separator is installed, which will remove it from the installation. For this purpose, a plate with ribs is inserted into the pipe (diameter 3-5mm) and fixed on the “skirt” (cold air entry point). The lower part is equipped with a condensate drain valve.
- Grate, doors and other elements. It is best to use cast iron for the grate. The middle part of such an element is made movable or removable so that it can be more easily cleaned in the future. Although the presence of doors makes it more convenient to operate the gas generator (loading firewood or cleaning the combustion chamber), they must have airtight seals.
One of the important conditions for the operation of a gas generator is tightness. Therefore, the lid should fit as tightly as possible to the body. Since this element serves as the entrance to the loading chamber, it is best to equip it with a shock-absorbing spring. This will make opening and closing the lid more convenient and safe.
In theory, it is believed that a homemade gas generator can work with wood with a moisture content of up to 50%. But, as practice shows, the higher this indicator, the lower the efficiency of the installation. Therefore, it is best to stick to a threshold of up to 20%. Although this problem can be fixed. To do this, a ring hose is placed in the space between the walls of the housing and the outside of the hopper. This will allow part of the thermal energy to be transferred to the fuel.
The best option would be to make a gas generator from the body of an old boiler. This will help maintain proportions for a particular house. But when this is not possible, you can use old gas cylinders, or purchase completely new metal. There are many opportunities to save, the main thing is to calculate and collect everything correctly. This is why you need to follow the drawings.
The car runs on wood
gas generator carWe create a gas generator in 1 day, spending less than $50, and tomorrow we drive on charcoal in the city and on the highway...
The constantly rising price of gasoline is the main headache motorists, and in order to save some money, cars are switched to gas, but sometimes this is not enough, because every year oil noose will tighten more and more.
Hello!
My name is Sergey LagunovIn May 2013, I came across one of the programs " Eco-inventors - wood-burning cars". In this series of a program about eco-inventions on the National Geographic TV channel, two presenters made jokes and jokes in front of the audience from pieces of iron found on scrap metal car gas generator and installed it on a pickup truck - which from that moment stopped running on gasoline, and started riding on wood.
What I saw in this program struck me very much, and I began to study information on gas generators with the aim of building one. But as it turned out, drawings of gas generators could not be found and all the information had to be collected bit by bit, and if it weren’t for like-minded people in my city, I would never have been able to create a gas generator.
This day has come, and the gas generator has been created and tested on a car
Press about me:
And here is the second model of the gas generator
Still don't believe that this is possible?
A little history
Bus in London with a gas generator in the form of a trailer 1941 Tractors 4DKT70 produced by the Hurlimann plant were converted from diesel to firewood by chief designer Ariste Liem due to a shortage of oil during World War II ZIS-13 with a NATI gas generator - began to be mass produced in the USSR in the early 30s. This became possible thanks to experiments carried out in 1928, with foreign models Pip and Imbert-Dietrich Who drives wood now?
Finland: Juha Sipila Juhasipila.fi
Loading firewood is enough for 200 km of run
The gas generator is made of stainless steel
Firewood consumption is 40 kg/100 km
with a 6.5 engine (compression ratio 11:01)
his car develops speed > 140 km/hSwitzerland: Daniel Hagen Holzgas.ch
The gas generator is made of iron, weighs 80 kg
Installed on Opel Cadett, engine capacity 1.6 liters
Daniel found a ready-made gas generator produced in 1947
by Wisco which had been in his collection for many years
and installed it on my car, which inspired Daniel to do this
increase in gasoline prices in 2005Ukraine: Sergey Kalinovsky
decided to convert my 20-year-old ZIL-131 to firewood
120 kg of firewood is consumed per 100 km of run
when his ZIL consumes 50 liters of gasoline per 100 km
The gas generator tank holds 5 bags of firewood
Sergei studied old literature for 1.5 years and
then ordered the production of a gas generator at the factory
Video: Sergey about his carWho will benefit from installing a gas generator on a car?
For those who are forced to save
Who often has to travel frequently for work?
For people living in rural areas, for installation on a work vehicle (for driving through fields), mini tractors, motor cultivators, etc.And the most important thing is that to connect the gas generator you do not need to modify the engine. Your car, at the same time, can run on gasoline or gas at any time. If desired, you can remove the gas generator and use it for other purposes.
What else can you use a charcoal gas generator for?
This gas generator is capable of generating about 9 kW/hour of heat if used as a heating boiler for home, production areas, greenhouses, etc.
By connecting to a gasoline electric generator, you can get cheap electricity
By connecting a gas generator to an engine with a pump, you can provide watering to the fieldsRealizing that in our country people are not rich- it was decided to make a gas generator from very simple materials that were at hand and that were cheap - so that later anyone could find such materials and repeat our experience.
From this excellent step-by-step material came out, making a gas generator that even someone who has no experience in creating products from drawings can use. By the way - blueprints were also done by our team at the highest level and attached to the video course.
From the video course on making a charcoal gas generator, you will learn:
Part 1
1. Making a loading hopper
The loading hopper is based on a used gas cylinder. You can take 40-50 liters. 50 liters is better because... it will hold more charcoal. This cylinder has a wall thickness of 3mm. We cut out the bottom, cut a neck for loading fuel. In our case, the hole is not made large, because... The lid has already been prepared, it is better for you to make the lid wide so that it is convenient to load fuel with a bucket or bag.2. Making a grate
The grate bears the main thermal load - less than the tuyere, but still noticeable. How to do it correctly - look in this part.3. Making a hopper lid for loading charcoal
Our lid was cast from aluminum, but you can weld it from sheet metal. It is extremely important to use asbestos cord impregnated with graphite in the lid. Graphite is needed so that the cord does not burn and does not peel off every time it is opened and closed. The cord can be obtained from boiler houses if you cannot find it at the hardware market. I managed to buy it for $4 per meter. The cord has different diameters: 8mm and 13mm. 8mm or smaller will do.Part 2
4. Making a tuyere
The lance will bear the main thermal load - we will tell you what material it will be more convenient to make it from and how to easily replace it.5. Making a cyclone filter
Driving on charcoal and wood (as well as on other types of fuel for a gas-generating vehicle - brown coal, charcoal, straw, peat) differs from driving on propane, methane and gasoline in that wood gas contains a large amount of suspended particles - dust. And there is quite a lot of it. If such dust gets into the carburetor, it will clog the spark plugs and the pistons will fail after a short period of time. To avoid this we will make a filter.6. Making a radiator
The radiator can be made of any material. In our case, we took existing parts of an aluminum heating radiator; you can weld it from ordinary water pipes. The flow area of the entire radiator must be larger than the cross-section of the gas pipes connected to it in order to reduce the resistance to gas as it passes.7. We make a fine filter and assemble everything into a single whole
During the Second World War and after it, thin cleaning filters for gas generators were bulky and heavy boxes that used materials that had proven to be ineffective. In the past, modern materials were not available and could not be produced. In this part, we create a thin cleaning filter from modern, cheap, affordable materials that is very easy to clean and can last tens of thousands of kilometers.8. We fix the gas generator in the trunk
Remove the trunk lid and secure the gas generator in it.9. Connect the gas generator to the engine
We connect the wood gas pipe to the engine while our main fuel - gasoline (and if someone else has propane or methane installed) remains untouched. We are making a system for regulating the calorie content of the mixture from the cabin.10. Registration with the traffic police
Attached to the course is a package of documents that will need to be submitted for registration with the traffic police. The package of documents is intended for Ukraine. You will also learn about other ways to install our automobile gas generator. Abroad, the gas generator can be installed simply, because For this purpose, the corresponding GOSTs have already been prepared, but this is not the case.
ATTENTION!!! The video course is divided into two parts. After purchasing the course, I send you the first part, you follow it and take a video of what you did and send it to me. [email protected] a link to what you did through the email from which you purchased the course. After that I will send you the second part. This was done to protect against pirates.
We are constantly improving our experience and soon you will see the release of video courses: a gas generator for a scooter, gazelle, zil, tractor. We unite all enthusiasts in the VKontakte group where we discuss things related to the creation and improvement of gas generators in this closed group where only those who have paid for the course have access.
Also, those who have paid for the course will have the opportunity get additional advice for the construction of a gas generator. For the above reasons, the pirated version of the course will be half useful.
How much does the video course cost?
Wood-powered car, version 1.0
(from a gas cylinder)189$
Wood-powered car, version 2.0
(hidden in the trunk)295$
How to purchase a ready-made gas generator running on charcoal
If, for some reason, you cannot produce a gas generator, you can order its production from us, to do this, write to us at [email protected]. If it is difficult for you to drive a car (Ukraine, Donetsk) so that all the work is done on site, it is possible to send a gas generator by mail with a detailed video of installation, connection, configuration and startup.
Sincerely, Sergey Lagunov
With the advent of the energy crisis and rising prices for gas and fuel, people increasingly became interested in alternative types of energy and switched to solid fuel boilers. Let's look at three examples of how wood can be driven.
The history of wood-burning cars
The idea of a gas-generating car, the engine of which runs on gas obtained from solid fuel, is not new; it was invented back in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. The first classic gas-generating car, which used wood and charcoal as fuel, was designed in 1900 in France. Within a year, a patent for the production of such cars was issued in Russia.Cars that ran on wood were very popular during World War II. They are still widely used in some countries. In particular, there are quite a lot of them in rural areas of North Korea. In Sweden, South Africa, China and the Philippines, the development of gas generation technologies is supported at the state level.
Alexey Lagunov cars with gas generators
Alexey Lagunov converted his old Lada into firewood. According to Alexey, driving a vehicle that runs on wood is 4-8 times more economical than buying gasoline. 20-30 kg of firewood is enough for 100 km.
“In May 2013, I accidentally found out that there are cars that run on wood - that is, using a gas generator. Then I found out that there is old Soviet literature from which you can learn how to build the same devices yourself. I told my fellow friends about this, and we did the calculations ourselves and collected everything ourselves. Of course, there were some mistakes at first, but in the end we ensured that everything worked perfectly.”
“During the ride, the firewood burns in a metal container, which is very easy to build,” Sergei explained the principle by which the mechanism works. - There is little oxygen there, and therefore they burn differently than in a fire. Carbon monoxide is produced, enters the engine and there performs the function of gasoline or propane. What comes out is carbon dioxide - just like opening a bottle of soda. No harmful emissions, it is ten times more environmentally friendly than gasoline. It also has a very beneficial effect on plants.”
Two kilograms of firewood is the equivalent of a liter of gasoline. And if you fill your car with charcoal, then a kilogram of coal corresponds to a liter of gasoline. Although you can even ride on pine cones.
Re-equipping the car costs $1000. But most importantly, according to the inventor, after upgrading the car, the driver does not feel the difference.
The car can still reach speeds of more than 100 km/h.
A wood-burning gas generator has proven to be a popular idea: social network Sergey has vKontakte group, dedicated to devices, and in it he conducted a survey - he asked why users joined the community. The absolute majority, 46.7%, answered that they need to save money and they are also going to make a gas generator for their car.
Evgeniy Kolyvan, Opel on wood
A 36-year-old resident of the Chernihiv region, Evgeniy Kolyvan, also experimented with his car.“My Opel can run on both gasoline and wood,” says Evgeniy. - The car is not new, produced in 1986. I decided to remake it last winter. Due to the rise in gasoline prices, commuting to work has become expensive, so I came up with an alternative option. It is easier to ride on wood than to pedal a bicycle. It was not difficult to modify the car. By profession I am a physics and mathematics teacher. I worked at a school for several years, and now I repair cars at a private service station. I attached a metal barrel and a can into the trunk, into which firewood is placed. They smolder, releasing gas, which is filtered, cooled and piped into the engine.”
There are no modifications to the engine. It’s both convenient and cheap for me to drive with wood. I think this is a good option for rural areas. 20 kilograms of firewood goes 100 kilometers. So only 10 hryvnia is spent for such a distance. The savings are significant when compared with gasoline prices - an average of 20 hryvnia per liter. The car accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour with wood in 1 minute and 35 seconds. In general, it depends on the quality of the firewood and its moisture content. I can throw it into the “firebox”, but most often it’s ordinary pine firewood. The best fuel is from dry mulberry. You don’t ride on it, you fly!
Driving with wood is also environmentally friendly. Only water vapor and carbon dioxide come out of the Opel exhaust pipe.
One day traffic cops stopped me to ask how I had converted my Opel like that. They didn't even ask for documents. It will soon be a year since I started driving wood, and I have never regretted it. During this time, I covered more than 7,000 kilometers. I saved about 15,000 hryvnia. Since the area in the Chernihiv region is wooded, there are plenty of gas stations along the road. I took a saw out of the trunk, which I jokingly call the “Refueling Gun,” cut down the dry branches, and off we went. If you don’t have time to stop or drive into a field, you can switch to gasoline.
The idea was also supported in Latvia. This Latvian Moskvich also runs on a gas generator:
Based on materials:
Man's desire to preserve the environment makes him think about the possibility of creating equipment whose operation will not affect the environment. On modern stage Great damage to nature is caused by road transport, namely exhaust gases. This led to the creation of electric vehicles, which today are already beginning to be produced at the serial level. But there is another opportunity to reduce harmful emissions and save on fuel - by installing a car gas generator.
What are such units?
Firewood as fuel
Typically, heavy-duty vehicles with powerful engines are equipped with gas generator units, although passenger vehicles can also be equipped with such a device if desired.
At the same time, the unit has relatively compact dimensions, but they will still not be proportional to the dimensions of the car. For example, one designed for a motorcycle and assembled with one’s own hands will be comparable to a sidecar for a vehicle. Therefore, calling it small is a stretch. In addition, the use of gas generators with low-power engines leads to a lack of power.
Design features of the equipment
What is included in the package of a car gas generator? First of all, it is a device in which the process of converting wood or other fuel into combustible gas occurs. But since the resulting mixture needs to be cleaned, not a single generator for a car can do without cleaners.
Moreover, they are presented in the form of three horizontal structures and one vertical. In the first, preliminary cleaning from mechanical impurities occurs with simultaneous cooling. The vertical cleaner is designed for finer cleaning.
Wood-burning unit diagram
In addition, the wood-burning automobile gas generator includes:
- Condensate settling tank;
- Mixer;
- Fan;
- Pipelines.
As for the design of the gas generator for a car and its main unit, it is enclosed in a housing and consists of a hopper and a fuel compartment. This unit is attached to the car frame.
At the top there is a flange that connects all the parts into one. The loading hatch is equipped with a lid that is pressed with a locking handle. Gas is taken from the pipe. Fuel is loaded through a special hatch. Leaving the unit, the gas is purified sequentially in each cylinder and from there enters the engine.
How does the power plant work?
Cars in which such a device is installed use gas produced by burning wood, coal or other components as a fuel mixture. The principle of operation of a gas generator for a car, made by yourself, is based on incomplete combustion of carbon. In this case, a third of the energy is released and, therefore, the resulting gas has a lower calorific value than the source material.
Let's watch a video about gas generators and how they work:
In the process of burning wood or coal with the addition of steam, an exothermic reaction occurs between the resulting composition and water, which in turn leads to the separation of the mixture into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This leads to a decrease in the temperature of the produced substance and at the same time increases efficiency up to 80%.
It is possible to use gas without cooling, in case of complete combustion of solid fuel. In this case, the efficiency of gasification can reach 100%.
But since the gas is diluted with nitrogen during the purification process, its calorie content is low. But at the same time, less air is used for its combustion, therefore, it is not much inferior to traditional air-fuel mixtures.
Do-it-yourself gas unit for a car
One of the simplest units will be one assembled from an old gas cylinder. At the same time, all other components are also easy to find and inexpensive. So, let's start assembling a car gas generator with our own hands.
Simple and environmentally friendly
The cylinder performs the functions of a housing. Inside it is divided into two zones:
- Downloads;
- Burning.
And here is the core of the gas generator. It is possible to use a metal box welded from steel sheets as a body.
But still, the best option is a cylinder, since welding areas can become leaky over time, which will lead to an emergency. It is also important to take into account that if gas accumulates inside the generator, this can lead to an explosion, so it is better to assemble the structure in such a way that it immediately exits into the engine. You can find a diagram of a gas generator for a car on the Internet.
Watch the video, stages of work:
But, having chosen a gas cylinder as a basis, it is necessary to take into account the fact that a mixture may remain in it and, when cutting, this can cause a small explosion. To avoid this, you need to either blow it with compressed air or cut it and fill it with water.
Next, the bottom is cut out and a neck is cut for loading fuel. The lid should be convenient for filling in wood waste. Then the grate is made. It must be taken into account that it will bear a thermal load.
The next step is preparing the lid for the hopper. It can be made of sheet metal, but must be insulated with asbestos cord. To prevent it from burning, you need to treat it with graphite lubricant. You can buy it at the hardware market.
Next, a tuyere is made, which will bear the main thermal load, as well as a filter. If you plan to use wood or coal as fuel, then this component is mandatory, as it will allow you to get rid of a large number of suspended dust particles contained in them. And in order to avoid them getting into the carburetor, a filter is used.
The next part is the radiator. It can be made of aluminum radiators or ordinary water pipes. It must be taken into account that the flow area of the radiator must exceed the size of the pipes connected to it. This will help avoid resistance to the gas as it passes through it.
We continue to make the unit with our own hands video 2:
The last part is the cleaning filter. It can be made from modern and inexpensive materials that are easy to clean and have a long service life. A drawing of a gas generator for a car is easy to find on the Internet.
Next, all that remains is to fix the gas generator in the trunk and connect it to the engine. To do this, a tube is installed through which wood gas will flow into the engine. Along with it, the main fuel remains - gasoline. AND last step– adjust the calorie content of the consistency.
Efficiency of using a gas generator for cars
What is the advantage of using such units? First of all, they use fuel that does not require any processing. At the same time, such cars do not need energy.
Another plus is the ability of wood gas producing devices to self-charge. Therefore, there is no need to install a powerful chemical battery on the car, which is also quite difficult to dispose of if it fails. At the same time, the waste from the gas generator is ash, which is known to be an excellent fertilizer.
But still, the most important advantage of such car generators is their environmental safety. With a properly designed gas generator, much less harmful substances enter the airspace than from the operation of a diesel or gasoline engine.
However, homemade gas generators for cars also have some disadvantages. And one of them is the fairly large size of the installation. This is due to the fact that wood gas has a low specific energy.
Generator for your car
Another disadvantage is the inability to reach speeds like when running on gasoline. This is due to the fact that wood gas contains up to 50% nitrogen, which does not support combustion. Therefore, the engine receives little fuel, which causes a decrease in its power.
In addition, the combustion process occurs quite slowly, which does not allow the use of high speeds. This aspect leads to a decrease in the dynamic characteristics of transport.
Naturally, such cars are very inconvenient to operate, because the generator can reach operating temperature only 10 minutes after starting. So you won’t be able to get behind the wheel and drive away like in a regular car.
Between refills you need to remove the ash, which also does not add to the popularity of the gas generator. The formation of resins when burning wood requires the use of filters that require regular maintenance.
In general, although the idea of creating a car that runs on wood has a number of advantages, it still requires further improvement. For now this is vehicle far from ideal and requires additional maintenance when compared to gasoline models.
- Equisetaceae department general characteristics and significance What structure does a horsetail spore have?
- Practical work “Structure of fern and horsetail. Horsetails have
- Who is behind the attacks on Tuleyev?
- Kirill Barabash - Lieutenant Colonel of the Air Force: biography, political views What is the IGPR “call”