What is the best biomass to grow to burn?

I've heard that algae is the best. What do you think?

Permalink Reply by PlushPetals on August 7, 2008 at 11:07am: I've heard it's algae. Check out the video on it here at this social network. Something like 50% biodiesel and the other half is biomass perfect for gasification. Burn baby burn of course I don't quite know how to burn things yet but I'll get there. Sizzling hot in fact...OUCH!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kim jessen on August 7, 2008 at 2:01pm: i have bin experimenting a littel with coconut shels, thats the way, les tar cleaner gas, and ner nothing left after burning everi thing ise gon.....
1 problem ve dont grow them in denmark, boot it coult be afordebil to import it, i am vorking on it....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gale on August 24, 2008 at 4:22pm: Yes I've heard that to for growing. Far greater yield than all the corn the U.S. government is subsidizing. What's great about algae is that it can flourish with the most polluted toxic waters and purify them in the process. Waste water is a great one. In Las Vegas, Ethel M. Chocolates uses a bio system to clean their waste water. They turned it into a garden area to help educate people on how its done. Right on!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amanda Wexworth on August 26, 2008 at 9:36pm: Simple important question but not so simple answer to do it right. Check out my blog and you will see 5 critical things to consider before getting started!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ron Harwood on September 7, 2008 at 4:52pm: Amanda; for the past 4 summer seasons, I've been cutting and chipping roadside brush for local communities (Maine). From what I'm seeing, there is an absolutely HUGE amount of biomass that is really a liability to communities, rather than an asset to someone who could use the chips as fuel, etc. This resource is present in every community in the country (world!), and is largely overlooked. This winter, I'm planning to build a gasifier to power the chipper I use on the road, and I'm hoping for some input from other members including yourself.
Re; Algae, that's an interesting possibility! Aside from the fact that it would require a lot of drying, it might just be a good option! How about Milfoil, or any other invasive species of plants? Putting a genuine value on something that's a liability anyway might have the secondary benefit of cutting down on the encroachment of the invasive species.?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Schofield on November 27, 2008 at 7:36am: Hi Amanda,

Algae is very fast growing. liquid fuels have been extracted from finished cultures. With exception of animals eating the dried squeezings after oil extraction. For example: cows have 5 stomachs, and are very efficient in energy conversion, thus poop has low chemical-energy content compared to the algae squeezings itself.

In my gasifiers, fuel size, and moisture must be within certain limits. Infrastructure to dry and briquette would be needed.

Mr Wane Keith had some success using switchgrass-briquettes in his gasifier. He is working on important problems that remain.

I shipped Dr Reed some cherry pits to test a gasifier he is building for Brazil acai-seeds (to simulate acai seeds). He likes cherry pits. They work well in his camp stove too.

I have sequestered some large bags if you are interested. The physical-size is good for about a 2kwe gasifier.

For a 40kwe gasifier I use wood-blocks.
Meanwhile, I continue to saw and chop renewable Michigan wood. Consider it the best solar-energy battery.

Andy
GL-RFSystems; ▶ Reply to This