![]() ![]() Even in non-combatant countries, such as Sweden or Brazil, gasogene was popular, as oil became hard to obtain. Germany produced Gazogene units for vehicles including cars, trucks, artillery tractors and even tanks, to preserve the limited supplies of fuel. ![]() Some World War II era wood gas generators were of the "Imbert" downdraft type, designed around 1920 by French inventor Georges Imbert. Commercial generators were in production before and after the war for use in special circumstances or in distressed economies. In Great Britain, France, the United States and Germany, large numbers of such generators were constructed or improvised to convert wood and coal into fuel for vehicles. Due to the lack of gasoline from petroleum, older people recalled how to build gasifiers for both wood and coal, and how to convert internal combustion engines to run on gaseous fuel, and wood gas generators were in active production. Unlike the common coal gas, or coke gas which was used in municipal service, this gas provided a more efficient heating fuel.ĭuring the late 19th century internal combustion engines were commonly fueled by town gas, and during the early 20th century many stationary engines switched to using producer gas created from coke which was substantially cheaper than town gas which was based on the distillation (pyrolysis) of more expensive coal.ĭuring World War II, gasoline was rationed and in short supply. Lowe developed and patented the water gas process by which large amounts of hydrogen gas could be generated for residential and commercial use in heating and lighting. The potential and practical applicability of gasification to internal combustion engines were well understood from the earliest days of their development. ![]() Adoption accelerated after the Otto engine's patent expired in 1886. When stationary internal combustion engines based on the Otto cycle became available in the 1870s, they began displacing steam engines as prime movers in many works requiring stationary motive power. Town gas produced from coal was widely used, mainly for lighting purposes. Gasification was an important and common technology during the 19th and early 20th century. Historically wood gas generators were often mounted on vehicles, but present studies and developments concentrate mostly on stationary plants. A wood gas generator is a gasification unit which converts timber or charcoal into wood gas, a producer gas consisting of atmospheric nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, traces of methane, and other gases, which – after cooling and filtering – can then be used to power an internal combustion engine or for other purposes. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |