Visit my youtube page for more cool projects: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksEFn8xaLP0z4rsiHa9zcA?feature=mhee
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.
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.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Get a Coffee Can
(See Diagrams)
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).
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
But if you are handy enough to make this project then you are handy enough to know what devices you can get peltiers from.
Car Fridges " not the big ones" normaly 43L ect, USB Fridge << yeah i know crazy right?
How ever this maybe a low voltage 5 volt version or less, Wine Fridges also have them i hope this helps your search, oh rare but some old cpu coolers used to have them, but very RARE.
i seen they posted that there is no MR Fusion, and a remembered a very complex version of your project running a car on this site, and now your simple version, Great work, as this is a simple project to get the basics, i look forward to tinkering.
PPL stop reading my mind about using peltiers to generate electricty LOL.
Thanks!
CO2 is food for plants, trees, etc and in turn they produce oxygen.
The problem with CO2 is Humans! We don't like to replant trees after we clear our rain forests for lumber, money money money ....
Green House affect is a naturally occurring phenomina. Did you know that since the Green Intiative started, the Earth's tempature has dropped almost 1.5 degrees globally. Hmm, why is that?
Keep up the creative work and any time you can be free from the tyranical utility conglomerates, you should take it!
Spelling Disclaimer: I am really sorry if I mis-spelled any words or misused gramar rules in this statement, it was not intended to be graded nor a submission as home work assignment, so back off, LoL!
As a matter of fact, there are far more trees in the United States now than there were at the time of this country's founding, as we no longer use wood as fuel.
As for why the temperature changed, make sure that you don't fall for "post hoc, ergo propter hoc:, or in other words, correlation doesn't prove causation. Or in still other words, could it be that - even inaccuracies or inconsistencies in temperature measurement methodologies and inconsistencies - that global temperatures can and do change all by themselves, as they clearly did long before homo sapiens sapiens was even on the scene, let alone industrialized.
Objective data prove that the waring trend ended in 1998.
While there are more trees in the country than there were 100 years ago, I would love some citations to back up your claim of more since the founding, that still does not mean that we don't contribute to the changing climate.
There is "post hoc, ergo propter hoc", and then there's ignoring an evidentiary argument because it draws upon cause-and-effect. It could also be said, in those same regards, that my typing on a computer keyboard doesn't type because, sometimes, the screen changes on it's own, and i shouldn't be assuming my typing has anything to do with it.
Please display your "objective" data. As NASA, while possibly being "Biased", has put out it's own graph that shows the temperature was still rising at the same rate in 2001: http://pubs.giss.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi?id=ha07110b (see fig. 1a)
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!