General Biomass

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOMASS THERMAL CONVERSION: PYROLYSIS, GASIFICATION AND COMBUSTION PRINCIPLES AND TECHNOLOGY:  First Published in 1970, then republished in 1972, this monumental work has long been out of print.  Nevertheless, it is the most complete survey of this field, written by a stable of scientists and engineers for the new (then) Solar Energy Research Institute to guide their choices of programs.  The facts of biomass life don't change, and most of them can be found here.  ISBN:1-890607-20-7                                                           420 pp         $50 Add this to my shopping cart.  DENSIFIED BIOMASS: A NEW FORM OF SOLID FUEL: Tom Reed and Becky Bryant, A "State of the Art evaluation of densified biomass fuels" with documentation of processes, energy balance, economics and applications. First published in 1978, & still the best (only?) text on theory and practice. Second edition with Paper on Energy of Biomass Densification appended.   Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-16-9	35pp	$20
TREE CROPS FOR ENERGY CO-PRODUCTION ON FARMS: Tom Milne (SERI 1980) Evaluation of the energy potential to grow trees for energy. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-05-3	260pp	$30
TREES: by Jean Giono, 1953. While we strongly support using biomass for energy, we are also very concerned about forest destruction. This delightful story says more than any sermon on the benefits and methods of reforestation. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-89060712-6	8pp	$1

 Gasification - General

Solar power and wind are niche replacements for oil, but biomass gasification powered the cities of Europe during WW II and will make a major contribution to post cheap oil energy...

A SURVEY OF BIOMASS GASIFICATION 2001: T. Reed and S. Gaur have surveyed the biomass gasification scene for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Biomass Energy Foundation. 180 pages of large gasifiers systems, small gasifiers and gasifier research institutions with descriptions of the major types of gasifiers and a list of most world gasifiers.  2nd edition. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-13-4180	180pp	$30
BIOMASS DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS HANDBOOK: T. Reed and A. Das, (SERI-1988) Over a million wood gasifiers were used to power cars and trucks during World War II. Yet, there are now only a few companies manufacturing gasifier systems. The authors, who have spent more than 20 years working with various gasifier systems, discuss the factors that must be correct to have a successful "gasifier power system." Our most popular book, the "new Testament" of gasification. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-00-2	140pp	$30
GENGAS: THE SWEDISH CLASSIC ON WOOD FUELED VEHICLES: (SERI-1979) T. Reed, D. Jantzen and A. Das, with index. This is the "Old Testament" of gasification, written English translation, of "Gen-Gas", written by the Swedish Royal Academy at the end of WW II after successfully converting 90% of transportation of WW II Sweden to wood gasifiers. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-01-0	340pp	$35
PRODUCER-GAS: ANOTHER FUEL FOR MOTOR TRANSPORT: Ed. Noel Vietmeyer (The U.S. National Academy of Sciences-1985) A seeing-is-believing primer with historical and modern pictures of gasifiers. An outstanding text for any introductory program. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-02-6	80pp	$15
SMALL SCALE GAS PRODUCER-ENGINE SYSTEMS: A. Kaupp and J. Goss. (Veiweg,1984) Updates GENGAS and contains critical engineering data and good common sense, indispensable for the serious gasifier project. Ali Kaupp is thorough and knowledgeable. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-06-1	278pp	$35
FUNDAMENTAL STUDY AND SCALE UP OF THE AIR-OXYGEN STRATIFIED DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER: T. Reed, M. Graboski and B. Levie (SERI 1988). In 1980 the Solar Energy Research Institute initiated a program to develop an oxygen gasifier to make methanol from biomass. A novel air/oxygen low tar gasifier was designed and studied for five years at SERI at 1 ton/d and for 4 years at Syn-Gas Inc. in a 25 ton/day gasifier. This book describes the theory and operation of the two gasifiers in detail and also discusses the principles and application of gasification as learned over eight years by the author-gasifier team. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-03-7	290pp	$35
EVALUATION OF GASIFICATION AND NOVEL THERMAL PROCESSES FO W. Niessen et al. A 1996 NREL report by on energy conversion processes for MSW. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-15-0	198pp	$25
CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLIFIED WOOD GAS GENERATOR: H. LaFontaine (1989) - Over 25 drawings and photographs on building a gasifier for fueling IC engines in a Petroleum Emergency (FEMA RR28). Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-11-8	68pp	$15
THE PEGASUS UNIT: THE LOST ART OF DRIVING WITHOUT GASOLINE: 3rd Edition N. Skov and M. Papworth, (1974). Description and beautiful detailed drawings of various gasifiers and systems from World War II.  In this new edition we have reduced Skov's 20 X 30 in plans to 11 X 17 " and bound them in the book, still very readable.  The gasifier was used to drive a Checker car around campus.  Nils Skov was in the Danish Underground and write of his experiences in a new book, see www.kalama.com/~NASKOV/ Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-09-6	80pp	$25
NEW/OLD: MODERN GAS PRODUCERS: N. E. Rambush, the most complete collection of information on the golden age of coal gasification, when every city had a "gasworks" . Lots of food for thought on biomass gasification and why it’s different.                                                                                                       Add this to my shopping cart. ISBN 1-890607-18-5                                                               550 pp             $35 WOOD GAS GENERATORS FOR VEHICLES: Nils Nygards (1973). Translation of recent results of Swedish Agricultural Testing Institute a sequel to Gen-Gas. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-08-8	50pp	$5

Synthetic Fuels

Oil is nice but getting pricey and less available.  Here are a few alternatives that I have worked on.  See also "Fundamental Study and Scaleup..." above.

BIOMASS TO METHANOL SPECIALISTS' WORKSHOP: Ed. T. Reed and M. Graboski, 1982  Expert articles on the conversion of biomass to methanol from a conference in 1982 when we were still worried about oil... Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-10-X	331pp	$30

FROM THE FRYER TO THE FUEL TANK: HOW TO MAKE CHEAP, CLEAN FUEL FROM FREE VEGETABLE OIL:  Second Edition. J. & K. Tickell, (1999) Order from www.veggievan.org or here with our books, same price. J & K Tickell have done an excellent job of collecting both theory and praxis on producing Biodiesel fuel from vegetable oils, particularly used oil. Nice instructions for kitchen or large scale. 
ISBN 0-9664616-0-6                                                         90 pp             $25

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BIODIESEL:  GROWING A NEW ENERGY ECONOMY by Greg Pahl, Chelsea Green Press, 2005.  Greg Pahl has brought the history and technology of biodiesel together in this comprehensive,  well written book.  On pp 152-3 he records the history of the invention of waste oil biodiesel by T. Reed at the BEF, as well as all the other contributions by our friends.  ISBN: 1-931498-65-2       281pp            $18

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Gasifier Tars

Coal gasification is a done deal - see our "Modern Gas Producers". But biomass pyrolysis produces mainly volatiles (tars) that can be a great nuisance unless properly measured and removed.  Here are two books directly addressing that problem....

REVISED: CONTAMINANT TESTING FOR GASIFIER ENGINE SYSTEMS: A. Das (TIPI 1989, 1999). Test that gas for tar! Long engine life and reliable operation requires a gas with less than 30 mg of tar and particulates per cubic meter (30 ppm). The simplified test methods described here are adapted from standard ASTM and EPA test procedures for sampling and analyzing char, tar and ash in the gas. Suitable for raw and cleaned gas. New edition & figures. Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-04-5	32pp	$10
BIOMASS GASIFIER "TARS": THEIR NATURE, FORMATION, AND CONVERSION: T. Milne, N. Abatzoglou, & R. J. Evans. Tars are the Achilles Heel of gasification. This thorough work explores the chemical nature of tars, their generation, and methods for testing and destroying them.  (100 page bibliography also available for additional $10) Add this to my shopping cart.
ISBN 1-890607-14-2	80pp	$25

Other Books

As you can see, I have been involved in energy research all my life.  My book on thermodynamics below prepared me for sophisticated calculations. King Hubbert was my office mate when I worked at Shell Oil...

BEYOND OIL:  THE VIEW FROM HUBBERT'S PEAK by Kenneth Deffeyes, Hill and Wang (March15,2005) Hardcover.  Ken Defeyes is a famous petroleum geologist at Princeton.  In this book he uses the methods that Hubbard developed to predict the 1974 peak in US oil production, to predict a 2005 peak in world oil production.  He then considers what our fuel options will be as the oil prices double every 5 years.  Be prepared for an exciting century!  ISBN: 0809029561            224 pp        $24

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FREE ENERGY OF BINARY COMPOUNDS: AN ATLAS OF CHARTS FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE CALCULATIONS, 2^nd edition, Thomas B. Reed. we published this book with MIT Press in 1971 when I was working in high temperature materials research. The data and charts apply to all of chemistry, so you can calculate the thermodynamics of almost any reaction. MIT Press, 1971. My magnum opus!  

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Ordering

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    CHINA and JAPAN:         $12 plus $2.50/lb

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