Novel Design in New Gas Producer
Page 19
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Shorrock Plant of Up-draught Type hut with Tuyere Air Admissi011 Shows Good Promise on Bench Tests RESULTS of considerable interest are being attained with the use of a producer-gas plant manufactured by Messrs. Cheswick and Wright, Blackpool, with which firm Mr. Shorrock, of Preston, is co-operating on the technical side. He is interested in the further development of the scheme, and is respohsible for the design of the gas plant. Highly promising results have been obtained.
Tests with a Bedford 2-litre engine have shown that the b.h.p. curve peaks at 39 b.h.p. and 2,900 r.p.m. with petrol, and at 26.5 b.h.p. and 3,000 r.p.m. with producer gas. During dynamometer tests attended by a representative of The Commercial Motor an engine of similar capacity showed 36.75 b.h.p. at 3,250 r.p.m. on petrol and 25.4 b.h.p. at 3,250 r.p.m. on producer gas.
There are several interesting features in the plant The producer is of the up-draught type, but has neither grate nor refractory lining. Air is introduced through a horizontal tuyere, the nozzle of which is at about the centre of the producer and 4 ins, above the bottom. It has a bore of
in., is water cooled, and is made of a nickel-iron alloy.
The fire zone is relatively small and is mainly confined to a space almost directly above the nozzle. This positioning of the heat centre results largely from the fact that gas is drawn off from several points at the top. No water injection is used. For starting up there is a small well holding about one egg-cupful of petrol; this is lighted with a match and provides the necessary means for ignition.
On leaving the producer, the gas passes to a set of expansion chambers, -measuring 24 ins, long by 9 ins. diameter, and connected in series, and thence to a vertical scrubber, which it enters at the bottom and leaves from the top. In this there are butter-muslin disc-shaped bags containing wood chippings, one each at top (withtwo felt washers) and bottom, and the intervening space is similarly filled with chippings, a perforated disc supporting the weight. After a few days' running, the lowest disc becomes discoloured and may need replacement.
With regard to the cooling effect of the expansion chambers, their efficiency is denoted by the temperature of the gas after leaving them. The figure averages 40 degrees C., at which it enters the scrubber.
Good results have been obtained with Suncole, Coalite and Progasite. Starting up from cold takes only 11 mins., and was actually achieved in 1 min. 20 secs, during tests we witnessed. An indication of the efficiency with. which the gas is purified is afforded by the fact that, whilst during the experimental period a slight deposit of " pale vaselinelike " substance (Mr. Shorrock's own description) was to be found in the induction pipe, it is now clean and bone dry.
To enable petrol to be used under conditions, whenit is desirable to enrich the producer gas by this means, a control for the change-over valve is mounted on the dash. There is an adjustment on the mixing valve, which permits a variation of the proportions of the air-gas mixture.
The price of the plant is £60 at agents, plus fitting costs. Loxham's Morriservices, Ltd, Sudell Cross, Blackburn, has been appointed sole concessionnaire for the United Kingdom.