Ok guys Ive been working in the background testing the units with raw wood chips. As some may have noted in the last video the unit in this video was running on a 30% mixture of 10% MC wood chips mixed in with the charcoal. Today I ran the M-1 SE on 100% raw wood chips at 10% moisture content and it was a success!!
So this is huge!! This will now allow me to re classify the units beyond just a charcoal gasifier. These machine will now be classified as Duel Fuel hybrid gasifier systems. Those with 2021 models and newer (that have the ammo box saw dust filter) can now classify their machines as DFHG systems. The 2023 models I will be retiring the "M" =(micro) to the "DF- Series".
The unit actually performed quite well, as flow issues generally plague a raw fuel gasifier and is why most require automation to self sustain. However my design is a novel design and its internal architecture is more open to allow better flow.
Ok now before users attempt to run wood chips at 100%, you should first run mixtures. Start out running a 30% mixture of chips and work your way up and checking your filter for tar residue. Even though the gasifiers are capable of 100% raw wood; your application and your fuel may not work. This is why a direct wood gasifier is not a good solution for the consumer market as there are tons of variables that play into the users success. Engine size is important; it must be large enough to draw on the unit to reach tar cracking temperatures. Some fuels may be too dense and will create too much raw pyrolysis gas than the reactions can sustain clean gas production. While other fuels that are less dense will be consumed faster than gravity can feed the reactor causing fuel flow issues. Again producing tar and unstable engine operation. Fuel must also be very dry 10% or less as these units do not have coolers and tanks for moisture dropping. So this moisture must be removed prior to the gasification process. The gasifier will simply run more efficient stable anyways so you want this.
Charcoal is still the recommended fuel for the machines. However you now have that option to run raw wood chips if there is not charcoal available and you need to run. So you can always produce both fuels and have some raw chips drying over time that can be ready to run when needed. plus you can run mixtures at anytime making fuel production more practical to any given user arrangement. Users should run 100% charcoal initially and learn the gasifier before proceeding to wood mixtures. You will learn how the gas is and how stable and consistent machine is on charcoal. Raw wood will run less stable and produce a little dirtier gas as a trade off and this is the case for any wood gasifier. But unlike a downdraft wood gasifier, they can not run 100% charcoal. As this fuel will overheat the unit and can damage it. Plus there is no practical way to add a water drip system to help cool these reactions and get the added boost from the water cracking.
So all this is now possible in a very easy to use low cost gasifier that will last you a life of use!! They are now a huge step above anything else!!.
You may want to check out Max's thread here. Im sure he would be happy to answer any questions. For this very reason, when you get your unit; then you should also create a thread here and share your experience along with getting assistance. That is what this forum is for and is the best platform for getting help in real time. Eventually there will be enough users that will be willing to help others if I am not available immediately in real time.
https://www.thriveoffgrid.net/forum/thrive-off-grid-users/max-s-m-2-mule
Thanks for responding! It won't stop me from eventually purchasing a unit but I was wondering if anyone had one near me so I could see it in operation. When you were running the welder - the ah-ha moment happened for me. Thank you for all the time and effort that you and your company put into the design! Fantastic!
Hi Ron, I dont think we have any in Navada yet but we do or will have in surrounding states. At this time I am the only distributor as we are still at start up phase in the companies development. Distributors are required to purchase bulk orders of 5 or more machines. This is required in order to justify offering the units at wholesale.
I caught your videos on youtube and I am sincerely impressed. I am located in Reno-Sparks, Nevada and my wife and I are preparing to build a modified Earthship Biotecture home off grid. I would like to know if you have sold a unit in Nevada yet and if you are looking for demonstrators and distributors for Nevada? Thank you.
Ok all machines have been re classified and are now the DF-Series Hybrid Gasifier product line. I have now retired the M-Series branding. All of you who have 2021 / 2022 models with ammo box filter may refer to your machines as the DF series. :)
This one here is after shut down and letting the engine cool for an hour. Then pulling the valve cover to inspect the intake valve. If there were tar production, it would show here. Even a small amount of tar would make the valve sticky or even seize it in place. This is the stuff others are not showing you!!.
This is just before I shut it down after a near full hopper was consumed. This is running on 100% wood chips @ 10% MC.