Research and Education

ALL Power Labs works with universities, high schools, and government institutes around the world to advance the science of gasification, and educate the next generation of gasifier experts and operators. We can can help teachers and students alike build programs, set up research projects, and teach classes on a broad array of biomass thermal conversion processes.

Customer Highlight: Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University uses the GEK PowerPallet to educate students about gasification. They have set up real time gas detection to analyze the wood gas while running the system. In this ~9 minute video, they walk through their experiences with start-up and running the PowerPallet and how it fits with their intentions to sustain their energy needs from local resources from consistent energy sources. They are investigating a variety of their local feed stocks with the system and are looking into larger scale projects at their Renewable Energy Center (http://www.eiu.edu/sustainability/eiu_renewable.php)

“Dr. Jerry Cloward, an Assistant Professor in the School of Technology at Eastern Illinois University, talks about the School of Technology’s Gasifier Experimenter’s Kit.”

In this video, they show a good shot of the way we recommend sampling the wood gas from the system. In order to ensure that condensate does not foul the analyzer equipment, attach a long copper coil in between the sampling port and the analyzer. It is recommended to include a small trap right before the gas analyzer. If you do have condensate, this can be collected for analysis as the liquid fraction by other means.

Click below for other projects by GEK research and educational users.

	Utah state University
	George Markt&Russ Lanchance, PhD West Point, NY thermal imaging camera
	University of Minnesota, Morris Biomass Gasification Project
	John Kinstler’s GEK: Art School of Chicago
	Ethan’s GEK fabrication and research project at Appalachian State Univ.
	Gerardo Diaz: Research at UC Merced
	Adam Asquith: University of Hawaii
	Analysis of GEK wood gas with GC at Mississippi State University
	Rogue Community College: Grants Pass, OR
	University Of West Virginia

 

Full list of research and education institutions with GEKs, BEKs or Power Pallets:

	BEE Lab (Bio-Energy Efficiency Lab) University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
	Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, Illinois, USA
	University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
	Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina, USA
	Aston University Birmingham, UK
	Minnesota State UniversityInternational Renewable Energy Technology Institute
	Louisiana State University Louisiana Forest Products Development Center School
	Masdar institute of Science and Technology Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
	McGill University, MacDonald CampusMontreal, Quebec, Canada
	Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan, USA
	Morrisville State College Morrisville, New York, USA
	Queens University, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Kingston, Ontario, Canada
	Suzuka National College of Technology Japan
	University of Minnesota Morris, Minnesota, USA
	University of Cape Town Western Cape, South Africa
	Griffith University Australia
	University of Rome Tor Vergata Department of Mechanical Engineering Rome, Italy
	University of California Merced, California, USA
	University of California Davis, California, USA
	University of Illinois College of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Urbana, Illinois, USA
	Uppsala University Department of Science Uppsala, Sweden
	West Point West Point, New York, USA
	Laguna Creek High School Elk Grove, California, USA
	Lambton College Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
	Maharashtra Institute of Technology Aurangabad
	Rogue Community College Grants Pass, Oregon, USA
	Windward Education and Research Center Klickitat, Washington, USA
	University of Hawaii Kauai Agricultural Research Station Kapaa, Hawaii, USA
	Pioneer Astronautics Lakewood, Colorado, USA
	State of Israel Agricultural Research Organization Volcani Center Bet-Degan. Israel
	Tyndall Air Force Base
	INX Labs Groveland, Florida, USA
	Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
	US Army Corps of Engineers Energy Office Champaign, Illinois, USA
	USDA Agricultural Research Service
	Mississippi State University Chemistry Department Starkville, Mississippi, USA
	University College of Dublin UCD Lyons Research Farm Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
	Univ. of Exeter Camborne School of Mines, Tremough Penryn, Cornwall, UK
	AnthroTerra Australia
	Applied Research Associates Florida, USA

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Links for educational groups:

Choosing a Project:

If you don’t have any equipment yet, its best to match your GEK system with your educational goals. (We recommend contacting us at sales@allpowerlabs.org to ask about our current lead times so that we can be sure to get you set up before your semester starts). We are now selling a skid-based GEK kit intended for you to add your own engine and generator, or to generate producer gas for any other purpose. While our most current gasifier technology is no longer open source, plans, CAD files and instructions for all our earlier versions are still available from our wiki to allow you to begin research on gasifier design and engineering.

• How to Build and Run the GEK Gasifier
• v5 GEK Gasifer Kit

We get many questions about where to set up the GEK Gasifier and Power Pallets for research purposes. Only operate or conduct maintenance on the GEK Gasifier or the Power Pallet in a well-ventilated place. We have seen universities install hoods, negative pressure flues, or build a small single-walled shed or roof structure to accommodate the equipment.

Other helpful links:

• Multi-Fuel Run Comparison
• Convert Engines and Generators
• Data Logging and Control with the Process Control Unit (PCU)

Next steps:

• Send us a sample of your curriculum or syllabus- While we are interested in how teachers are using the GEK in the classroom, we can also give you advice on time lines, interactive projects, and offer teaching material and documentation. Send to support@allpowerlabs.org.
• Promote your program- Many people contact us that also want to enroll in classes to learn about gasification and other renewable energy technologies. Promote your program by sending pictures of your project to support@allpowerlabs.org so that we can point them in your direction.