Note 19 — Chapter IX · COMPOUNDS OF CARBON WITH OXYGEN AND NITROGEN

Fig. 63.—Gas-producer for the formation of carbon monoxide for heating purposes..

In gas-producers all carbonaceous fuels are transformed into inflammable gas. In those which (on account of their slight density and large amount of water, or incombustible admixtures which absorb heat) are not as capable of giving a high temperature in ordinary furnaces—for instance, fir cones, peat, the lower kinds of coal, &c.—the same gas is obtained as with the best kinds of coal, because the water condenses on cooling, and the ashes and earthy matter remain in the gas-producer. The construction of a gas-producer is seen from the accompanying drawing. The fuel lies on the fire-bars O, the air enters through them and the ash-hole (drawn by the draught of the chimney of the stove where the gas burns, or else forced by a blowing apparatus), the quantity of air being exactly regulated by means of valves. The gases formed are then led by the tube V, provided with a valve, into the gas main U. The addition of fuel ought to proceed in such a way as to prevent the generated gas escaping; hence the space A is kept filled with the combustible material and covered with a lid.