gasgenerator

A gas generator is a device that converts a fuel source into a combustible gas or gas mixture that can be used to produce power, heat, or propulsion. The term covers several technologies across different fields, most notably gasification-based producer gas generators and propulsion gas generators used in rocket engines. In industrial and energy contexts, gas generators may supply a fuel gas for engines or boilers; in aerospace, a gas generator is a dedicated combustion chamber that drives a turbopump.

Gasification-based gas generators operate by partially burning solid or liquid fuels in a controlled, oxygen-limited environment to produce producer gas or syngas. The resulting gas, containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane, is cleaned and then burned in an internal combustion engine or gas turbine. Applications include off-grid electricity generation, combined heat and power systems, and rural energy supply. Efficiency and emissions depend on feedstock, reactor design, and gas-cleaning steps.

In rocket propulsion, the gas generator is a separate small combustion chamber that burns propellants to produce hot gas to drive a turbopump. The turbine exhaust is vented separately and does not contribute to thrust. This gas-generator cycle is relatively simple and compact, but can be less efficient and may require careful management of heat and materials due to the hot, reactive exhaust.

Some contexts also use the term for gas-fired power units or natural-gas–fueled engines used as generators, often called gas gensets, which convert gas fuel into electrical power for backup or remote use.