Wood gasifier may offer help with rising fuel costs
Last week I was at the Co-Op buying some dog food and ran into a bunch of local boys talking about the rising fuel costs. Everyone was concerned because of the increase in fuel and food costs and some heavily suggested we were heading for a massive depression. I guess the average age of each male member was somewhere around 50.
As I stood there thinking about their comments, I realized this problem has been faced by our grandfathers during World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
During the war, fuel was rationed and very expensive if you could get it. As a kid I can remember my grandfather running an old tractor using chopped up wood. I didn’t say too much about the subject and decided to investigate the issue when I returned home.
After returning home I got onto my handy dandy computer and looked up wood gasifiers. Wood gasification is the process of taking the smoke from burning wood and using the hydrocarbons from the smoke as a fuel source for running gasoline or diesel engines.
YouTube has films showing the process and FEMA actually provides workable plans on how to build a wood gasifiers. Go to the FEMA website and type in “wood gasifier,” you will be directed to a page that has the plans for construction of a simplified wood gas generator for fueling internal combustion engines in a petroleum emergency.
Folks, I sincerely hope we do not have to face a massive depression; however, if we do, there are ways to keep the power on and fuel in our tanks if we absolutely need it. It may take a little time and physical energy but it can be done.
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Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified indoor environmental professional, forensic, fire, flood, mold Inspection and remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.