Producer Gas … & the Australian Motorist … an alternative fuel during the “crisis” of 1939-45. A presentati A presentation to on to Engineering Heritage (Sydney) Engineering Heritage (Sydney) by Don Bart Don Bartlett lett … part of the part of the EHV Guest Speakers’ EHV Guest Speakers’ Series Series 2 June 2008 2 June 2008
1. Introduction … • Wartime users now octogenarians . Modern drivers have no concept of “frontier style” motoring . • Good to retain the anecdotal byways. • This is a “Talk” not a “ Technical Dissertation ”. • Time constrains => Generalizations . • Producer gas was used significantly in Australia from 1939-1946 but was used pre-war – particularly in rural areas and in transport.
2. Producer Gas … • Producer Gas is rich in carbon monoxide. – Comparatively easy to generate. • Wartime fuel restrictions due to national inability to bulk- store fuel – and …. – Pressure from British Government… and… – Currency problems. • International Situation – 820 000 GP Units worldwide – Germany 43%, France & Russia 13%, Sweden 9%, Aust 5%, UK 1% – Aust Petrol rationing introduced July 1940 (40 miles/week). – June 1941, motorists' rations cut to 1,000 miles per year. – Many motorists put their cars up on blocks for the duration. Others turned to Producer Gas…. – Use of GPU peaked in Europe in 1942 - soon after that in Aust. • Primary Obstacles to PG use: – Public confidence in supply of fuel (quality and quantity). – Suspicions about lack of Power and excessive Engine Wear.
2.1 Some terms … • A Gas Producer is a • 1 HP = 2560 BTU/hr. device that converts • 1000 BTU/hr = 0.293kW • 1kW = 3400 BTU/hr carbon into a gas. • A Gas Producer Unit • The GPU is only 25% (GPU) is a unit mounted efficient so … on a vehicle and uses • 1 HP <=> 10 000 BTU/hr charcoal (carbon) to produce gas. • Use of a GPU results in about 50% loss of power • Charcoal comes from compared to petrol, for the wood and is 90% carbon. same engine revs.
3. SOCIAL SNAPSHOT … 1901 1939-40 Population (NSW) 1.35 M 2.77 M Private Cars <50 216,400 Commercial Vehicles 85,700 Taxis 1,340 Buses 825 Tractors (on farm) 14,000 Driver’s Licences 422,000 Motorcycles 23,000 Motor Cycle Licences 31,000 In 1940, five people were killed in NSW while riding scooters or billy-carts! In 1985, there were close to 2.9 million vehicles (all types) on NSW roads.
… SNAPSHOT CONTINUED • Petrol was 22 d per gallon in 1920. - 20 d per gallon in 1938. • • Projected CPI - $1.09/litre in 2001 (Actual $0.93). • ?? 18 d per gallon circa 1956. • Minimum Weekly Wage 1939-40 about $10. • Tests gave 80% saving for PG over Petrol. • GPU cost : £45-70 (in 1939). • New Austin : £250 (in 1938), • New Buick : £525 (1938) – if you could get one. • In 1940-41, MMTB increased net earnings by 36% for only 2% extra tram miles.
4. Chemistry … • Oxygen & Carbon combine to form 2 gases – Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) & – Carbon Monoxide (CO). • Carbon Monoxide is : – Combustible & explosive. Photo courtesy Mal Rowe 2008 – Odourless and colourless, – Highly poisonous – Nasty stuff indeed!
… Charcoal from Wood • Varies only marginally between species. • Wood contains about 50% carbon. • Good quality Charcoal is 90% carbon. • Charcoal made in a Kiln. • Process involves heating the wood in an atmosphere deficient in oxygen (air). • 1 Telegraph pole � 1000 miles. Photo courtesy Michael Schrader 2008
4.1 Producer Gas • Producer Gas is a mixture of mainly Nitrogen (N 2 ) and Carbon Monoxide (CO). • Ration of 2:1. CO is the working gas. • Pass air over a bed of hot charcoal and you create Carbon Monoxide. • Bed temperature should be above 900 o C • Temp of the gas as it leaves the Hopper is about 700-800 o C. • Nitrogen (inert) is a freeloader.
4.2 Water Gas • Pass STEAM and AIR over hot charcoal to get pseudo Water Gas (N 2 CO & H 2). • The production of Water Gas takes heat out of the system. This can be bad. • Moisture in charcoal induces some WG component in most situations. • Add water at the rate of 1 drop per second for each HP being developed – at the time.
4.3 Dangers of Using CO. • Perceptible effect on humans at concentrations in air as low as 0.01% • Dangerous to life at exposures of only 0.1% for one hour. • Explosive limits of CO are between 12.5% & 75%. – Compared to Propane 2.4% - Effects of Exposure to CO 9.5%
5. GPU COMPONENTS … • Three basic parts … – Hopper – Radiator – Filter The Weight of a GPU varies between 400-500 lb (empty). … think of the BRAKES!
5.1 TYPES OF UNITS • Three basic types depending upon the flow of air through the Hopper. – Updraught (heavy and large combustion zone). – Downdraught (base is a good “muck” trap). – Cross-draught (light and quick). For simplicity, this talk uses the cross-draught type for illustration. General principles are the same regardless of gas flow direction.
5.2 HOPPER • Made of Steel (3mm) • Large enough to take 1 bag (50 lb) of Charcoal. • Has a Lid, Cleaning Door and Air Intake (Tuyere). • Charcoal burns in a zone around the inner end of the tuyere.
5.3 RADIATOR • The gas is hot (700-800 o C) when it come out of the Hopper. • Cool gas has more energy per unit volume than hot gas. • Radiator simply takes heat out of gas. • Some liquification of vapours due to temperature drop. • No chemical change. • Put Radiator before the Filter.
5.4 FILTER • Purpose was to remove particulate matter and some tars. • Numerous types used – Water, oil, fabric, mechanical (cyclone). • Must be kept clean – and dry. • Advisable to allow extra 30% tolerance if reboring engine for PG use – due to tackiness in the oil caused by tar in the gas.
5.5 CONDUIT • Merely a pipe or tube connecting the GPU with the engine. • Usually seamless steel with rubber bends. • Because of cooling effect, needed drain plugs at low points. • Leaks could be a problem – carbon monoxide poisoning of occupants particularly when idling.
5.6 MIXING VALVE • A Mixing Valve and or Gas Flow Control valve were mounted between the carburettor and the inlet manifold of the engine. • A fuel stopcock was highly recommended.
5.7 BLOWERS � Some units had hand operated blowers to aid the initial start-up. � Electric blowers were available and could also be used to generate airflow when the engine was not drawing enough to maintain the production of gas. • Electric blowers were very dangerous if used in stationary conditions.
5.8 FLAME TRAP • Blow-backs did happen! • Regulations required covering of all points where air entered the system (ie at the outer end of the tuyere). • Flame trap had to be at least 15 inches from the combustion zone. • No opening (including hopper cover and cleaning door) to be closer than 2 feet from a window or door in the vehicle.
6. Vehicles Mounts … • On the Rear (conventional). Remember – these things weighed 400-500 lb plus!!
… and for Trucks
… Trailers were used But for all round efficiency, an endless supply of natural gas could be tapped through …..
… your local MP Sketches and captions courtesy of the RACV Journal, “The Radiator”.
6.1 Other Uses • VR operated an array of vehicles on PG including Rail Motors and Rail Cars. • Motor Cycles on PG. • Tractors (then and now). • PG Powered Bentley at Mt Panorama 1939. • Road race at Applecross WA. • Power generation. • UK Buses on Anthracite. • MMTB ran 17 buses on town gas. Photos courtesy of Michael Schrader (VR AEC Railmotor) and Bill Matheson (Bike)
7.1 History • Early development - Europe • 1839 – Bischof (Germany) • 1857 – Siemens Bros • 1860 – Lenoir (first successful gas engine) • 1872 – Haenlein used Lenoir engine to power an airship. • 1901 – first PG powered car (Parker UK). • 1914-18 War – PG not even considered.
7.2 Rennie (1930) • Mainly technical matters relating to vehicles and tractors. • Probably work was driven by the economic effects of the Great Depression. • Paper detailed units from Europe – they were fairly complicated. • Concluded that GPU were practical where work involved long runs, charcoal was cheap and petrol dear. • Mentions Guy Motors – operating at a saving of 75% over cost of petrol.
7.3 Woods (1938) • Review of “recent” development because of looming international situation. • Looked at systems in Europe. • Noted Australia’s vulnerability to fuel supples. • Mentions Wishart units (see later). • Evident that systems had been simplified since Rennie (1930).
7.4 Bowden (WA – 1941) • Mainly related to Tractors. • Noted >700 units operational in WA. • Several WA Manufacturers. • Charcoal readily available from local (WA) timber. • Retort burned Chidlow white gum charcoal at £2.5s per tone (1 s /bag FOR) used for comparative tests.
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