A NEW GAS MACHINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6511, 9 January 1882, Page 5

A NEW GAS MACHINE.

The following description of a new gasproduoing machine, the invention of Mr Alexander Binnie, bricklayer, of Henry etreet, Maori Hill, near Dunedin, is given in a Dunedin paper The subject of the invention is' one which has attracted great attention in various quarters for a considerable time, but the attempt to produce gas from animal carbon has not boon previously attended with success, and Mr Binnie’s machine is only the result of careful study and experiment extending over a period of four years, and involving considerable expenditure. The machine is a most ingenious combination, and occupies comparatively little space, its length, including pipes and purifiers, being 6 feet, and its breadth 2 feet 6 inches, while the highest part is not more than 5 feet above ground level. The first portion of the machine to which we shall refer is the furnace, which is 18in square and 2ft 6in in height, enclosing pipes and part of the retort —an oblong one, 2ft in height, and fitted perpendicularly on the surface. A very small quantity of coal sullloes to feed the furnace, and the draught is obtained by moans of an ordinary chimney fitted with a damper for regulating it. Adjoining the retort arc three upright pipes fitted with nozzles, into one of which water is poured, the second being used for receiving the animal carbon, and the third as an outlet tube. The water and carbon pipes are oarrisd through the furnace—where they are heated to a red heat—into the retort, and after passing through them the superheated steam and gaseous carbon are brought into combination with a current of air led from an airholder j and by some ingenious arrangement, [great pressure is imparted to the gas thus formed. The secret of success

lies, we ere informed, in the introduction of superheated steam. The animal carbon is melted in a receptacle attached round the retort, and is thence fed slowly into the pipe leading from the furnace. From the retort the unrefined gas is conveyed to the purifying chambers, of which there are two, and thence to a gasholder capable of holding about 130 cubic feet; but gasholders of much larger capacity can be utilised when necessary. The machine can produce at the rate of about two cubic feet of gas per minute; and as carbon can be cheaply obtained, and the consumption of fuel—of which any kind may be used —is very small, the cost of production is reduced to a minimum, the original cost of the machine being the principal item. A further advantage claimed for the invention is that the furnace and its connections can be fitted to a kitchen range, the fire of which can be utilised. The gas is exceedingly pure, and free from any unpleasant odour in burning, while the flame is very clear and bright. Should it be necessary to further purify it, an additional chamber may easily be added. The apparatus can be fitted op in all buildings, and as any quantity of gas can readily be manufactured with little trouble, the invention should soon establish itself. Mr Binnie has bad bis house fitted up with pipes and jets, and everything seems to work satisfactorily. Steps have been taken to have the machine patented, the drawing of the plans having been entrusted to Mr U. Watt, engineer, of Stuart street.