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.**Keywords:** wood gas generator, biomass gasification, downdraft gasifier, FEMA wood gasifier, wood gas generator plans, stratified downdraft gasifier, emergency wood gas, biomass to syngas, wood gas powered engine, gasification chemistry, alternative fuel emergency, Oak Ridge wood gas, homemade gasifier, survival wood gas, mechanical engineering gasification, off grid power wood, producer gas generatorThis 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.