German Highe cienc
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Page 46
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Gas Producer
The Wisco Plant, Expressly Built for Commercial vehicle Work, Consumes 0.82 lb. of Charco6 per b.h.p.-hr. and Weighs 385 lb.
CONSIDERABLE improvements have been achieved in Germany in the development of gas pro-. clucers. Makers have during the past few years accumulated much valuable experience and, . as these plants are encouraged by the Government, incentive for work in this direction is not
wanting.. . . .
A new type of gas producer working on charcoal, gas-coke or peat-coke, has just been introduced, which supplies a gas stated to be 10 per cent. richer in • thermal units than that generated . by previous apparatus. The plant is also -simpler and superior from the installation point of view, the generator being provided with welded-on lugs, which facilitate mounting in all types of motor vehicle. Another • important point is-that the new producer requires less frequent charging.
It is of interest that the German industry now manufactures transport vehicles with engines, which, from the beginning, are designed for work with producer gas.
Addition of Hydrogen.
The new producer is named the Wisco. It supplies gas enriched by the addition of hydrogen obtained by decomposing steam, that is-automatically mixed, in the right ratio, with the main gas and renders it more readily combustible in high-speed engines, for which " the new plant has primarily
been developed. • It will be seen by reference to the accompanying drawing that the lower section of the furnace is brick-lined. The grate bars are loose and are provided with drop levers engaging with a horizontal rod inside the ash-pan. The rod protrudes from this and is automatically pulled out by a cam mechanism, which, at the end of the stroke, suddenly releases it, so that under the tension of a spring it shoots back, causing a vigorous turning movement of the firebars. In this way the spaces between the bars are kept clear. Above the brick zone, the furnace is surrounded by a water-jacket, in which the level is maintained by a float and valve, that admits, when required, fresh water from a high-placed tank. From the bunker above the furnace new fuel enters through a conical funnel, around which there is an annular air or gas space just above the waterjacketed section. In this the gas collects and is drawn oil through a lateral pipe.
Beforereaching the fire the entire air supply has to pass over the water in the jacket, to the upper part of which it is introduced ;through a riser tube. The air carries along with it the steam generated here, and enters the
ifire from underneath. In passing through the fire zone, the steam is decomposed, the resultant hydrogen forming a constituent of the gas mixture generated. This is then drawn through a pair of cleaners, forming a unit. in the first it passes through water and in the second through a filter made of oil-moistened steel shavings. Thence the purified gas passes on to the mixing valve and engine.
An interesting feature of the plant is its great flexibility. It can remain damped down for a long time, and yet he ready at any moment for almost instant service. There is no need for a carburetter and fluid-fuel system for starting or for emergency.
This advantage is obtained, in part, by a funnel which rises from the pipe connecting the producer with the cleaner unit. It is provided at the 1 with a gas-tight cap, which can opened by the driver from his se When open, the funnel acts as chimney stack, and its dimensions such that it causes a draught just su clout to keep the fire glowing wi the vehicle is stationary—for examy when discharging or loading good Starting Procedure.
The funnel also serves as a gas t pipe when starting -the plant from co The air required for combustion is -LI supplied, with the funnel cap opi by an electric blower. By holdin match to the outlet, the driver r ascertain whether the gas supplied I become rich enough for the engine run, or not The air pipe from I blower is automatically closed by throttle valve so soon as the blov
is stopped. Simultaneously anotl air pipe is opened.
The cleaner unit is formed so ti the hot gas has first to pass throu the water and then through a thi layer of small corks. The object of i last-named is to prevent water in being drawn along with the gas. horizontal pipe then conveys the to the compartment !filled with st shavings, which it enters from bele The layout renders it practically i possible for water -Co be drawn alo with the gas, even when the vehicle
ming downhill. Generally the cleaner fitted on the side of the vehicle Lerc the engine has the inlet mauld, whilst the producer is located on opposite side.
Dia certain plants, flexible pipes ve been necessary in the gas line. e Wisco apparatus is so designed it normal flanged iron pipes can be
which naturally reduce initial ;t. When running purely on cylin. charcoal, no provision for the -iodic automatic shaking of the forers is necessary. It is sufficient if the ver, once a day, shakes them by Lid. Only when coke or peat coke employed is it recommended to inporate the gear described, which can driven by belt from a pulley on
propeller shaft of the vehicle or m the gearbox, if this be equipped :h a power take-off, to substantiate the statement that tsiderably smaller units than merly can he used for any given en.e size, the producer for an 80 b.h.p. .;ine is described as requiring an area 25.2 ins. by 20.8 ins. Furthermore, where formerly 0.88 lb. to 0.99 lb. of cylinder charcoal was required per b.h.p.-hr., now 0,81 lb.
to 0.83 .1b. is used. The higher allround efficiency and smaller size has
also influenced the weight considerably, which has been reduced by almost one-third. The SO b.h.p. producer just described, for instance, now weighs only 385 lb. empty.