"Government" Producer Making Good Headway
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rONSMERABLE success in opera tion is being obtained with the so-called " Emergency " or " Government " producer-gas plant. for the design of which the Fuel Research Station was largely responsible. A manufacturer who has been engaged on its production since early this year is Neil and Spencer, Ltd., 43, Clapham Crescent, London, S.W.4. This company is now turning out between five and 10 units per Week, and it is significant of the satisfactory performance of the product that one plant per week is being delivered to a single operator. Other repeat orders have been received.
There seems to be little to choose between the popularity displayed for the two types made—the trailer unit and the built-in plant. The demand, we are informed, for the latter is, perhaps, slightly greater. In standard form the plant costs £95. For the trailer and fitting, a figure of -E30 is charged, and in addition to this there is the price of converting the power unit, which varies according to the work that has to be done. It is not the usual practice to raise the compression ratio.
An outstanding feature of the apparatus is its sturdiness, and unquestionably this plays a prominent part in its success. Notably, heavy gauge steel is used throughout, 10-gauge material being employed for the actual producer. Clearly, substantial parts are highly desirable, for the walls of the producer have to withstand considerable heat, whilst covers, doors and so forth must make gas-tight joints and be proof against distortion under the fairly high stresses and rough treatment that may be imposed upon them.
In the case of the trailer models, the chassis also is of high-class construction. It is supplied by J. Brockhouse and Co., Ltd., and the installation of the plant in the chassis appeared to us to be thoroughly sound.
Of straightforward design, the unit operates on the cross-draught principle, using, for preference, Progasite or Coalite. It has a mild-steel watercooled tuyere, which, we understand,' has given no trouble. To cool it, there is an annular tank surrounding the pro-• ducer. This contains 14 gallons of water and has corrugated walls to afford a large cooling area. Between the inner wall of the tank and the pro.ducer is an air space. Through this air circulates naturally owing to the heat imparted to it and contributes to the effective cooling of both the tank and the producer.
The filtering mediums employed are oil coke and sisal, and the mixing valve is a Zenith instrument made to Government design. There is no interconnection of air and throttle valves.