XIII. A, 3 Ycasiano and Valencia: Producer-gas Plant m 



may occur during these operations. Introduce water in the 

 ash pit at the rate of about 6 liters per hour; open the water 

 supply of the spray nozzles in the scrubber, the discharge valve 

 of the water pump, and its relief valve located in the discharge 

 pipe; and open also the water supply of centrifuge 2 and start 

 the motor that drives the centrifuges and the water pump. See 

 that this motor is clean and that there is sufficient oil in all bear- 

 ings. Close the relief of the water pump. The gas is still dis- 

 charging into the atmosphere, but is ready for use in the gas 

 engine. 



When the plant is in operation, the gas producer must be 

 charged up to a permanent level for each particular fuel. The 

 charging must be done at sufficient intervals to keep the quality 

 of the gas practically constant. An interval of every two hours, 

 which takes about ten minutes of the time of one fireman, is 

 usually sufficient. 



The starting of the producer is simpler if a fire has been 

 previously built. There is no need of using the air blower; all 

 that is required is to clean the fire and draw the ashes and clinkers 

 out, to open all the necessary valves, and to start the motor 

 that drives the centrifuges and the pump for circulating water. 

 Within ten minutes or less the quality of the gas is good enough 

 to start the engine. 



Starting the gas engine. — The gas engine is started by means 

 of compressed air with a pressure of about 12 kilograms per 

 square centimeter. 



When the engine is in operation, the time of explosion and the air 

 throttle valve should be regulated to suit the amount and composition of 

 the gas. All moving parts that require lubrication should receive the 

 proper amount of oil. The water in the cooling jacket should not exceed 

 a temperature of about 60° C, and its temperature should be maintained 

 as uniformly as possible. 



The proper amount and the kind of oil to be used in an internal com- 

 bustion engine are very essential in its successful operation. The rate of 

 feed of oil in the most important moving parts of the gas engine in the 

 Bureau of Science is as follows: Eleven to 14 drops per minute in the 

 cylinder; 15 to 20 drops per minute in the piston pin; and 60 to 90 drops 

 per minute in the crank pin. The cylinder oil should be used only once. 

 If the rate of feed of this oil is properly controlled, there will be very 

 little waste. Surplus oil is not only wasted, but forms carbon deposits on 

 piston, valves, and cylinder head, which should be avoided as much as 

 possible. 



Stopping the operation. — In stopping the operation of the 

 producer-gas plant, the load of the gas engine should be gradually 

 decreased before disconnecting it completely. 



