UNUSUAL SOURCES OF POWER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 December 1926, Page 6

UNUSUAL SOURCES OF POWER

That many materials which can be used as fuel in large plants are not suitable for use in small or portable plants is a well-known fact, but recent develbpirients in gas producer construction have shown that this is no longer the case. Ari English company is now supplying gas producers which range from 5 B.H.P. upwards, and which operate successfully on such fuels as wood, hard or soft, wet or dry, maize cobs, cocoanut or other nut shells, rice husk, lignite, peat, cotton seed, etc. The consumption of these fuels for a given power is about 75 per cent less than would be required for a steam plant and all the boiler and water troubles are eliminated, no water being required for the Compound Gas Producers.

Trials carried ou with coeoanut shells show that 1 H.P. can be obtained for just over filb of shells per hour, maize cobs 31b per hour, hard dry wood 2£lb per hour. Naturally these producers will only work satisfactorily with suitable engines, and any engine which is not fitted with electric ignition is not suitable • With South Devon lignite, a consumption of 2£lb per hour gave 1 8.H.P., the residue remaining in the producer being a fine sand, amounting in weight to approximately .02 of the fuel. There are very few countries where one or more suitable fuels are not indigenous, so the high cost of oil or petrol need no.longer prove a drawback to all developments needing power. A special producer has been designed to suit the Ford range of engines, either the van, truck or tractor, and while the full power obtainable with petrol cannot be obtained with gas, it enables the vehicles to do a large portion of their work wholly oh gas. The petrol installation, which is in no waj interfered with, can be used when the full power is desired, either wholly or to supplement the gas.