I remember my grandfather telling stories of the not-so-good old times and holzgas powered vehicles. They operated a small pickup that way - and rotated the duty of maintaining the kettle (right term?) weekly between the participants, because that was the most ****ty and unthankful job one could think of. He talked about some stinking, black, tar-like residue and soot that had to be cleaned out regularly out of the bottom of the kettle, and also maintaining the right smoldering temperature for the wood and keeping it going for a while was a little science of itself. The little truck had hardly any power and the participants/co-drivers had to get out on certain well hated uphill grades and help to push the pickup up and over the top...
I don't think that works with Diesels, since the "working component" in Holzgas is mainly carbon mono-oxide and methane and that won't self ignite at Diesel compressions. Correct me if I'm wrong. You also can't use any wood, in Germany you were only allowed to burn certain controlled beech wood types and certainly not fresh wood - it has to be dried thoroughly or you don't get the process started or get too much condensate which adds to the frustration of the kettle-cleaner. Also, in the soot is formic and acetic acid, which is a hefty corrosion problem to the kettle and the whole system, including the motor.
All in all its a very unefficient fuel type: only 10% of the "dry-destilled" gas is methane, the rest is carbon-dioxide (50%), and carbon-monoxide (33%), acidic water depending on the moisture of the wood, and small amounts of ethene and variations of hydrogen. Percentage depends on the type of wood, the temperatures, process, and so on.
Oh well.
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in dubio, pro reo!
roger-wilco-66 aka Mark
1966 M35a2 w/w whistler turbo
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