How to run your engine on wood

Discover Wood Gas Generators — the emergency engineering solution that turns ordinary wood into combustible gas to power trucks, tractors, and generators when liquid fuel disappears. We break down the Oak Ridge National Laboratory / FEMA stratified downdraft gasifier design, the chemistry of gasification (turning biomass into hydrogen and carbon monoxide), how to build one using common materials like garbage cans and plumbing fittings, real-world performance, maintenance, safety protocols, and the critical physics that separate a working gasifier from a dangerous, smoky failure.

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This technical report from the **Oak Ridge National Laboratory** serves as a comprehensive manual for building and operating a **simplified wood gas generator**. Developed for the **Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)**, the document provides instructions for converting **solid biomass** into a combustible gas to power internal combustion engines during a **petroleum emergency**. The text highlights the **stratified, downdraft design**, which is an improvement over World War II models because it utilizes **common materials** like garbage cans and plumbing fittings. Readers are guided through the **chemical principles of gasification**, where incomplete combustion transforms wood into **hydrogen and carbon monoxide**. Beyond fabrication, the report addresses essential **maintenance routines** and critical **safety protocols** to prevent fire or toxic gas poisoning. Ultimately, the source preserves historical engineering knowledge to ensure that **tractors and trucks** can remain functional if liquid fuel supplies are ever disrupted.