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The “Fusion Jr.” Home Energy Reactor is in essence a mini-generator that derives its power off of combustible waste material (like paper, wood, yard clippings, and even some plastics) inspired by “Mr. Fusion” as seen in the movie “Back to the Future II”. The potential for energy generation is great, and, in fact, this technology was used to power many cars during World War II and is a suggested energy source for developing countries (to provide gas to power stoves mainly). This is a truly unique project (never been done before), and, if completed, you can say that you have successfully converted garbage into electricity!
This is a green technology that derives power from an alternative fuel source that can be built by mostly salvaged components (well, not everything).
The Gasifier unit cleanly converts garbage into a burnable gas often called “syngas” or “woodgas,” then burns it creating heat which can be used to cook food (I have personally used this to cook a pot of soup) or Peltier Cells can convert the heat directly into electricity. The current produced by the Peltier Cells is sent to a Charging Module. The Charging Module charges a rechargeable Storage Battery. The Storage Battery supplies energy to run a Power Inverter. The Power Inverter can be used to run electrical appliances. Later we will see that after setting up the battery, inverter, and charger, turning this into a solar project is as easy as substituting the Fusion Jr. with any solar panel.
The minimum energy expected from one unit is dependent on how many peltier cells are used. Each cell contributes about 3 continuous watts. Potential energy from a Fusion Jr. system is well over 2000 watts, but harnessing all of that energy is difficult, especially since peltier cells are at less than 3% efficient.
Appliances with high watt ratings can be run even with low input because energy is stored in the Storage Battery.
This is a green technology that derives power from an alternative fuel source that can be built by mostly salvaged components (well, not everything).
The Gasifier unit cleanly converts garbage into a burnable gas often called “syngas” or “woodgas,” then burns it creating heat which can be used to cook food (I have personally used this to cook a pot of soup) or Peltier Cells can convert the heat directly into electricity. The current produced by the Peltier Cells is sent to a Charging Module. The Charging Module charges a rechargeable Storage Battery. The Storage Battery supplies energy to run a Power Inverter. The Power Inverter can be used to run electrical appliances. Later we will see that after setting up the battery, inverter, and charger, turning this into a solar project is as easy as substituting the Fusion Jr. with any solar panel.
The minimum energy expected from one unit is dependent on how many peltier cells are used. Each cell contributes about 3 continuous watts. Potential energy from a Fusion Jr. system is well over 2000 watts, but harnessing all of that energy is difficult, especially since peltier cells are at less than 3% efficient.
Appliances with high watt ratings can be run even with low input because energy is stored in the Storage Battery.
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The Gasifier Unit is one of the most crucial components of the Fusion Jr. system. The Gasifier Unit comes in 3 parts, labeled as A (chimney), B (housing), and C (reactor). Each part comes apart.
Trash is put through the chimney and is ignited using an igniter (a lighter). The trash begins to combust with oxygen supplied through holes at the base of the housing. The oxygen travels from the outside into the housing, then into the reactor through the lower holes. As temperature rises and more trash is supplied, the oxygen supply is cut off as the lower holes are blocked off by embers and ash and the trash can no longer combust. The high temperatures cause the creation of “syngas” which primarily consists of the combustible gases carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The “syngas” does not combust, even though there is a high enough temperature, until it reaches the combustion zone labeled by the diagram. The “syngas” combusts with oxygen supplied by a series of holes. The result of this combustion is the release of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat. The Gasifier Unit effectively burns garbage without excessive pollution and smoke. Unfortunately, when starting up the gasifier, when the gasifier runs out of fuel, and during windy conditions, smoke is produced. The Gasifier will provide heat for up to a half hour after the flame dies down.
I used a coffee can, a bean can, a small cookie tin can, and a camping pan to make this setup, but you can experiment with different setups. Puncture holes as dictated by the diagram. More holes provides more oxygen and thus a better burn, while less holes allows for more partial combustion which is needed for the formation of gas. The key is to experiment with oxygen intake. Gasification relies on what is sometimes referred to as "partial combustion," which means that, to produce intermediate flammable gases, you must adjust oxygen available in the combustion zone (the number and size of holes).
The Gasifier Unit is one of the most crucial components of the Fusion Jr. system. The Gasifier Unit comes in 3 parts, labeled as A (chimney), B (housing), and C (reactor). Each part comes apart.
Trash is put through the chimney and is ignited using an igniter (a lighter). The trash begins to combust with oxygen supplied through holes at the base of the housing. The oxygen travels from the outside into the housing, then into the reactor through the lower holes. As temperature rises and more trash is supplied, the oxygen supply is cut off as the lower holes are blocked off by embers and ash and the trash can no longer combust. The high temperatures cause the creation of “syngas” which primarily consists of the combustible gases carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The “syngas” does not combust, even though there is a high enough temperature, until it reaches the combustion zone labeled by the diagram. The “syngas” combusts with oxygen supplied by a series of holes. The result of this combustion is the release of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat. The Gasifier Unit effectively burns garbage without excessive pollution and smoke. Unfortunately, when starting up the gasifier, when the gasifier runs out of fuel, and during windy conditions, smoke is produced. The Gasifier will provide heat for up to a half hour after the flame dies down.
I used a coffee can, a bean can, a small cookie tin can, and a camping pan to make this setup, but you can experiment with different setups. Puncture holes as dictated by the diagram. More holes provides more oxygen and thus a better burn, while less holes allows for more partial combustion which is needed for the formation of gas. The key is to experiment with oxygen intake. Gasification relies on what is sometimes referred to as "partial combustion," which means that, to produce intermediate flammable gases, you must adjust oxygen available in the combustion zone (the number and size of holes).
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Would it be safe to run a turbine off the top of the chimney to generate power if the turbine is heat resistant?
thanks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_sulphate
The stuff as a decahydrate melts at 32.4 C and stores heat quite nicely, is cheap and/or easy to make. This might be able to be pushed through a larger container and more fit to mesh with peltier cells for a much longer period.
I've been wanting to take the scooter apart, 150 cc and fuel the engine with gasification. Idea was to make a 3 wheeler with a single drive rear wheel, low profile ride. Thanks
No, not seriously, but I am new to power generating and really want to learn more about running a small engine on non-petrol fuel.
A few years ago I attached an alternator [generator?] from an auto to a bicycle and mamanged to get enough electricity to charge a 12 volt battery to run a radio and some lights during a week long power failure, in the winter, without frying myself. A Miracle I suspect!
This idea would seriously save my legs and back!
I don't mean to be a bugger but maybe if we built a green wall stucture to house your design (as seen in other instructables here) one might be able to self - Carbon offset too.
Just an idea!
Nice toy though.
Jme
Have you attempted attaching a "sterling enine" to your burner atall? ... the reason that I ask is that I live in Brazil and things like Peltier cells are not very easy to come by. Ordered off the internet things cost double here because of import tax - so we tend to have to fabricate things ourselves, the easier - the better.
At the moment I'm toying with adding your burner to a sterling engine of somesort - or gearing it up for an inverted washing machine motor-generator - or even a permanent magnet windmill type gig, I'm not sure yet but I really appreciate your work here, thankyou very much for this instructable.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common type of fatal air poisoning in many countries.[21] Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, but highly toxic. It combines with hemoglobin to produce carboxyhemoglobin, which is ineffective for delivering oxygen to bodily tissues. Concentrations as low as 667 ppm may cause up to 50% of the body's hemoglobin to convert to carboxyhemoglobin.[22] A level of 50% carboxyhemoglobin may result in seizure, coma, and fatality. In the United States, the OSHA limits long-term workplace exposure levels above 50 ppm.[23] Within short time scales, carbon monoxide absorption is cumulative, since the half-life is about 5 h in fresh air (see main article).
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may resemble other types of poisonings and infections, including symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and a feeling of weakness. Infants may be irritable and feed poorly. Neurological signs include confusion, disorientation, visual disturbance, syncope and seizures.[7]
Some descriptions of carbon monoxide poisoning include retinal hemorrhages, and an abnormal cherry-red blood hue.[24] In most clinical diagnoses these signs are seldom seen.[7]
Carbon monoxide binds to other molecules such as myoglobin and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase. Exposures to carbon monoxide may cause significant damage to the heart and central nervous system, especially to the globus pallidus,[25] often with long-term sequelae. Carbon monoxide may have severe adverse effects on the fetus of a pregnant woman.
If you want to read more about carbon monoxide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide
If you pay wood gas enough attention and use it safely it is both fun and all that stuff. Nice instruction btw, GJ!
I am in the process in creating a “eco practical” off the grid game ranch in South Africa, and this is part of a solution to two of my biggest problems.
#1 getting rid of the guests and my garbage.
#2 generating electricity.
Any other Ideas from the good citizens of Instructables are welcome.
Thanks.
Actually I invite anyone to have a look and see if this can be done for real...just where I am in Zim it's a real bind to get the stuff in!
LOL
To the author: Can you specify what your temperature differences are and the output of your peltier devices at the temperature differences so we can get better estimates on what we can expect to see in a real life application?
This page explains the process as well as the formulas.
It is known as the "seebeck" effects.
As we all know refrigeration, cooking and water heating for showers are the main consumers. So this is what I am concentrating on.
Shower water is easy with solar heating system (maybe need gas for supplement)
Cooking is possible with solar devises but not all practical and not usable “indoors” so gas will have to do (For now).
Refrigeration, now this is what I want to concentrate on here. Solar panels with a battery system will work but batteries are hi maintenance and the right batteries are “hi cost”.
So this is my Idea and would like to know any comment from you guys where one may make it more efficient. This is still in Idea form so don’t judge me to loudly LOL
Two copper plates separated with spacers for water to flow between and painted black on the outside mounted on the roof. Water pipes running (as short as possible and insulated) down to my fridge (standard with all working parts removed). Mount Peltier cells inside the fridge with “warm side” protruding to the outside.
The “hot side” of the Peltier’s will be heated by the hot water from the roof, creating a current to run #1 a fan inside the fridge and #2 a small circulation pump to circulate the water.
The problem is to get the fridge cold in the first place to start the action. The fridge being an insulated and mainly closed unit could be started with ice or frozen anything. This should get the cycle going. Maybe even have an additional Cold water system running inside the fridge.
Now that I actually sit and type this from my thoughts it is sounding a bit like perpetual motion, even the fact that the sun is providing energy.
Maybe have Peltier cells on the copper plate powering Pelrier cells in the fridge, to replace the water piping system and using a water system to cool the Peltier cells on the roof and in the fridge.
Maybe even have an additional Cold water system running inside the fridge.
Let me know what you guys are thinking, remember its only an Idea and from here We can work.
In fact you are mostly dumping sun heat into the fridge outright after a small amount of heat has been converted into electricity by the peltiers
You need a definite place for the heat coming out of the peltiers to go, somehow getting it into the ground would be a good place to start