Suction Gas Producer System

—The operation of a suction gas producer system depends upon the sucking action of the engine piston during its forward or charging strokes, which action tends to draw the air supply through the fuel bed of the producer, and the gas generated into the engine cylinder. The gases generated in the producer pa through an evaporator, which is practically a small multi tubular boiler and furnish the sensible heat required for evaporating the water. The resultant vapor is conducted to the ash pit of the producer through a pipe by the sucking effect in the producer, while the gas pa es from the evaporator to the scrubber filled with coke. As the gas rises through the interstices of the coke, the washing water descends and not only takes up and removes the dust brought over by the gas, but also clears it of ammonia and other impurities which have a tendency to combine readily with water. From the scrubber the gas pa es to a receiver or suction box. The diameter of the receiver being relatively much larger than that of the suction pipe of the engine, the strokes of the engine piston do not therefore cause pulsations between the receiver and the producer. The producer is usually provided with a charging hopper capable of holding enough fuel for several hours’ operation, in the smaller sizes, and allows the admi ion of fuel to the combustion chamber without permitting acce of air thereto during the charging operation. In operating, a fire is kindled upon the grate, the fuel bed built thereon, and the air nece ary for starting combustion supplied by means of a hand or belt driven fan. The poor and lean gas produced at starting is first allowed to escape into the open air through a vent pipe vntil the test cock shows that good gas is being produced This pipe is then closed and the scrubber and receiver are brought into the gas circuit. The engine is now put In operation and as it thereafter performs the function of the fan, the latter is stopped, the operation of the entire system becoming absolutely automatic.