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i couldn't discern from wikipedia, but is this a more efficient means of harvesting the energy potential in wood? As opposed to a very efficient wood burning stove that is burning very hot?

i couldn't discern from wikipedia, but is this a more efficient means of harvesting the energy potential in wood? As opposed to a very efficient wood burning stove that is burning very hot?

It's a process for creating a gas mixture (H2/CO/CO2/, others) that can power combustion engines (among other things). That's why it became "popular" again in WWII (in Europe) as oil became more scarce. As far as I know (which isn't far) you don't need any dramatic changes to power an internal combustion engine, besides the gasification unit itself.

What a great video, fun to watch. But I wonder how much more efficient this is than using the wood to power a steam engine.

Here's a little nerd thing I did on making woodgas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V9FRAqpV2A

@The Thompson Five

Yeah, that is kind of what i was getting at.

In case you'd like to see a VERY large example of this in action, head over to perpetual Burning Man artist Jim Mason's website.

http://whatiamupto.com/mechabolic/technology.html

way awesome. I'd love to do this.
how efficient is it? and how realistic is it to use/store the woodgas?

Travelling across Australia in a woodgas converted car.
http://www.linux-host.org/energy/woodfire.htm

At the end of the video, in the credits, they provide a link to Open Source plans for this.
http://www.gengas.nu/byggbes/index.shtml

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