The Mechabolic: Technology of Gasification

Gasification is the general term used for processes where heat is applied to transform solid biomass into a "natural gas like" gaseous fuel. Through gasification, we can take nearly any solid biomass waste and convert it into a clean burning, carbon neutral, flammable fuel. Whether starting with wood scraps or coffee grounds, municipal trash or junk tires, pistachio nut shells or avocado pits, the end product is a flexible gaseous fuel you can burn in your gasoline engine, cooking stove, heating furnace and/or flamethrower. Apply a little additional effort through liquefaction technologies like Fischer-Trospch or other catalyst based processes, and methanol, ethelyene, and diesel are possible too a modest complexity.

Sound impossible?

Well, over 1,000,000 vehicles in Europe ran onboard gasifiers during WWII to make fuel from wood, as gasoline and diesel were rationed and/or unavailable. Long before there was biodiesel and SVO, we actually succeeded in a large-scale, alternative fuels redeployment. That redeployment was made possible by the gasification of waste biomass, using simple gasifiers about as complex as a traditional wood stove. Gasifiers are easily reproduced (and improved) today by DIY enthusiasts, using simple hammer and wrench technology. (see www.woodgas.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasification for more background info).

The Mechabolic project intends to reintroduce this technology for contemporary DIY enthusiasts, with improvements in design following from the many sensing and embedded control potentials that were not available during the previous "woodgas" deployment. We intend for this "artistic deployment" to seque into a growing collection of usable wood gas converted cars and other machines for off playa purposes. In fact, we are currently in the process of converting Ritual Café on Valencia street to run entirely on its own coffee grounds waste. Coffee in: electricity, heat and gaseous fuel out. (our current DIY gasification efforts are here and here

I started reading and experimenting in gasification a little over a year ago and have already shown the ease with which basic units can be made to run internal combustion engines and fire effects. In the process, I have found gasification to be an unusually rich alt energy technology. By far the most rich and flexible in its applications that I have found to date. Its conceptual, technical, social, visual and logistical realities are nearly always expansive, evocative and strong tonics for most imaginations that engage it.

Gasification is a unique artistic opportunity for fire artists as it is really a form of partial or staged combustion. In gasification the usually unnoticed serial steps and kinetics of "fire" are controlled and pulled apart, revealing a multiplicity of forms and processes. Where before we just saw fine burning, a knowledge of gasification soon has one seeing the infinitely configurable LEGO system of organic chemistry, refereed by that hard and always unbribable taskmaster, thermodynamics.

In the crucbile of fire, with the tools of gasification, we are invited to play with the raw elements from which all life and natural metabolic/energy systems are made. Oddly, we are given only three measely pieces with which to work (C, H and O; carbon, hydrogen and oxygen). But with this small collection of pieces, and thoughtful thermal, pressure and catalyst interventions, we can start with nearly any organic matter, and make nearly any end hydrocarbon/carbohydrate we desire.

As such, I found gasification to be a tremendously attractive idiom and technology just begging for exploration and creative manifestation by our ever expanding circle of DIY junkyard fabricator pyros. Gasification is uniquely suited to the fire interests and gearhead skill set generally found around Burning Man. In time, I believe it will emerge as the main idiom through which Burning Man can contribute something burning man related to the larger environmental conversation.

"Gasification: Burning our way to a better tomorrow"

After exploring nearly all the known options for power generation and conversion over the last five years, for me gasification has emerged as the most interesting and flexible way to "burn things" in an environmentally thoughtful manner. And with the recent combination of gasification with Terra Preta Bio Char agriculture, gasification has emerged as the ONLY current alt energy technology that can create a carbon NEGATIVE footprint. (see "Physical Specifics" section for details). The proposed Mechabolic project will be using gasifier based Terra Preta carbon sequestration process to fertilize the orchids and other plants in the "lung terrariums".

(for a more technical discussion, see here)