A NEW FRENCH GAS PRODUCER.
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THE Societe Franeaiae M.A. and I,, of Vierzon, Cher., recently sent to Paris by road a lorry carrying a load of 2-1 tons, which was run on producer gas. The illustration, which we reproduce on thia page, gives a general view of the vehicle with the generator installed on the near-side, behind the cab. The motor is an ordinary De Buire, which develops 20 b.h.p. when running on petrol. The chief characteristic of the Vimzon system is the fact that the generator is designed to burn any kind of wood debris, branches, twigs, etc., and that no water whatever is required. On the contrary, it is generally found that wood contains too great a percentage of moisture, and, consequently, it then has to be Mixed with charcoal, in proportions varying with the state of dryness of the wood.
Another point is the extreme simplicity not only of the generator but of the whole outfit. Except for a grate near the lower extremity, there is no division or partition of any kind. The gen. erator is just a cylindrical stove of slow and controllable combustion. In order to set it going, a quantity of kindling is thrown down the funnel, and when it is well alight the remainder of the cylinder is filled with wood chips, etc. The cover of the funnel is then shut, and the handles, which will be noticed at the lower end of the generator, are turned to exclude entry of air. A small hand fan will also be observed, the purpose of which is to assist in setting the fire going, or in resuscitating it subsequently, if necessary. There is a similar pump on the other side of the cab, but this is in.etalled to draw the gas round from the generator to the motor before starting the latter on gee, after that, of course, the cylinders provide the suction in the usual manner.
Between the generator and the engine there is nothing but a triple range of pipes to cool the gas, these pipes being fitted snugly to the frame of the chassis. The complete weight of the whole equipment fully charged is stated to be 8 cwt. This includes the special branch to the engine, which is provided with a three-way cock (controlled from the dash), and a separate air inlet, so that the motor may be run on petrol, petrol and gas, or gas. The De Buire engine on which the trial alluded to was carried out has four cylinders of 90 mm. stroke and 160 mm. bore.
The reduction in power when the engine is run on the poor gas alone is about 40 per cent., that is to say that the engine gives from 60 to 65 per cent. of the power obtained on petrol. . It is claimed that a load of 2 tons can be conveyed 31 miles for less than 2s. 6d. with the vehicle running on producer-gas, as against lls, with petrol. It must be borne in mind, however, that in France wood debris is comparatively cheap, and petrol dear. Reduced to other figures we have :—Distance 120 miles, tare weight 4 tons, load 2 tons; fuel, wood, dry and cut in small pieces, 358 1k; charcoal, 108 lb. It is stated that otherwise the engine would have consumed, for the same load and distance, some 15 gallons of petrol. The writer has not had the opportunity of personally checking any of the figures given, but it is claimed that they are based on a report of a representative of the Minister of Agriculture. Further trials, with approximately the same results, have been carried mit in the neighbourhood of Vierzon. In this instance, the generator was fitted to a tractor with a four-furrow plough, and the economy effected was claimed to be 80 per cent. In connection with the above, it is worth noting that the technical committee of the A.C.F. have decided to organize a competition for portable producer plants. This will commence with bench taste on June 1st, and Continue on the following days at Neuilly-surSeine. The only changes permitted to the standard petrol motors will he : carburetter may be replaced by special mixing chamber, together with necessary alterations to piping, compression may be increased, and greater range may be given to timing and ignition.
Subsequently tests will be carried out on the road with lorries of 3 tons. Two journeys of about 40 miles each at an average speed of not lees than nine miles per hour are stipulated, over a course and to a time-table to be determined later. Entries at single fees (210) close on March 1st, and with double fees on May 1st.