REPLACING PETROL

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1940, Page 8

REPLACING PETROL

• ^ ■ USE OF PRODUCER GAS An efficient, light and economical plant for producing gas for motive power is to be seen on a 10 horse-power car at Waitara. The owner, Mr. W. H. Howlett, who has had considerable engineering and electrical experience, has installed two neat drums of about nine inches diameter and 18 inehes in height made of plate metal on the carrier. From there he obtains producer gas that so far has given very satisfactory results in providing power for the car. The plant appears to be a simple one. One of the- cylinders contains charcoal, which Mr. Howlett has burnt himself and underneath is a small fire grate. At the side of this cylinder there is a tiny receptacle for motor spirit, from which a jet is run for the purpose of starting the fire in the charcoal. The other cylinder contains a small water tank on top of a "scrubber" containing- coke for cleaning the gas. The water, after being heated, passes through a steam raiser at the bottom of the fire grate and passes over the charcoal and the resultant producer gas then goes through the "scrubber," from which it passes by means of an inch pipe to the carburettor. The motor-car is first started with benzine, after which a slight alteration to an attachment. at the carburettor is made and the car then runs on producer gas. Trial runs made so far have given every satisfaction.