I used the phone number given by Pamela on a previous post to order the FEMA publication Item #8-0835 RR28 "Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum Emergency" It was in stock and they mailed it out right away (at no cost). I was suprised to see how simple the construction was and how it uses commonly available materials. I think one could be constructed in 2 or 3 days easily. I am planning to make sure I pick up all the materials that I don't have on hand during the next week. I have seen one of these units running a generator at a state fair.

A paragraph from the Summary follows as well as a picture of one of the units installed on the front of a tractor:

This report is one in a series of emergency technology assessments sponsored by the Fedral Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The porpose of this report is to develop detailed, illustrated instructions for the fabrication, installation, and operation of a biomass gasifier unit (i.e., a "producer gas" generator, also called a "wood gas" generator) which is capable of providing emergency fuel for vehicles, such as tractors and trucks, should normal petroleum sources be severely disrupted for an extended period of time. These instructions have been prepared as a manual for use by any mechanic who is reasonably proficient in metal fabrication or engine repair.

-- Allan (Goshen@Maine.IHope), December 05, 1999

Answers

If someone would be willing to scan (and hopefully OCR) that, I would be willing to provide webspace for it.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 05, 1999.

Do you still have the Phone # for FEMA to order book?

-- Looking (For@Phone.number), December 05, 1999.

Phone # 1-800-480-2520

Fax 301-362-5335

-- Allan (Goshen@Maine.IHope), December 05, 1999.

A friend who ran gas motors this way in europe in the 40's told me not to try it with anything other than a flathead motor. He told me they had to pull the engine cylinder head quite often to "decarbon" it. Stock up on head gaskets.

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), December 05, 1999.

Man! that thing is a GAS!

-- doktorbob (downsouth@dixie.com), December 05, 1999.

The Mother Earth News had a whole series of articles on wood gas in the late 70's (I still have the magazines some place). Anyway they ran everything from pickup trucks to a 20 kw generator (it could have been a 10 kw). They used mostly Chevy 350 engines. They reported no problems at the time like carbon build-up. The fact that they had a good gas scrubbing system might account for this. I believe they also did some work with big blocks.

MEN offered plans as late as last year. I bought a set. I don't know if they are still available.

Todd

-- Todd Detzel (detzel@jps.net), December 05, 1999.

Another source:

John D. Cash and Martin G. Cash, _Producer Gas for Motor Vehicles_ (1942). Reprinted by Lindsay Publications Inc., Bradley IL 60915 [ISBN 1-55918-187-7]

-- silver ion (got@truck.go), December 05, 1999.

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-- test (a@f.m), December 06, 1999.

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-- f (q@s.m), December 06, 1999.

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-- m (a@s.m), December 07, 1999.

-- b (a@d.m), December 07, 1999.

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-- n (a@m.m), December 07, 1999.

-- j (a@m.m), December 07, 1999.

-- k (q@n.m), December 07, 1999.