PRODUCER-GAS TESTS. 
By Robert H. Fernald. 
EQUIPMENT. 
In order that the work outlined for 1905 by the gas-producer division of the fuel-testing 
plant might be completed in the time allowed, it became necessary to increase the capacity 
of the plant. Accordingly, a second producer with its economizer was installed, so that 
the plant now consists of two independent producers, both discharging into the same scrub- 
ber. These producers are worked independently, one being charged while the other is in 
operation. By this arrangement no time is lost in changing from one coal to another at 
the end of any test, as a simple manipulation of valves brings the second producer into 
operation when the first is cut out. The remainder of the operating portion of the plant 
has not been changed, so far as new installations are concerned, though several changes in 
detail have been made from time to time as the nature of the work demanded. Some of 
these changes are noted later in this report. 
Owing to the fact that the chemical laboratory originally installed in connection with 
this division of the plant was far from adequate, a special building was erected sufficiently 
near the gas holder and engine to reduce inaccuracies in gas sampling and other similar 
work to a minimum and at the same time providing comfortable accommodations for the 
chemists. 
PERSONNEL. 
Capt. John A. Laird, a consulting engineer of St. Louis, who has been connected with the 
plant since September, 1904, has continued the supervision of the operating details of the 
tests and since December 1, 1905, has also had active charge of the mechanical operation 
of the producers. Until December 1 the manipulation of the producers was directed by 
Mr. C. O. Nordensson, of R. D. Wood & Co., who remained with the testing plant about a 
year. Since the renewal of operations in May, 1905, Mr. J. P. Quam, of the Westinghouse 
Company, has had supervision of the operations of the gas engine. He has had as assistant 
engineers Messrs. R. E. Peshak and F. V. Roy. The computations have been in charge of 
Mr. W. C. Weidmann, assisted by Mr. Kurt Toensfeldt. Until about July 1, 1905, the 
chemical work of the producer-gas tests was directed by Mr. II. G. Ecker, with Messrs. 
H. A. Grine and J. G. Goodwin as assistants. Since that date Mr.Grine has been head 
chemist, with Messrs. J. G. Goodwin and W. L. Hempelmann as assistants. The observa- 
tions have been made by Messrs. Curt Adler, C. L. Armstrong, L. A. Delano, S. P. Howell, 
W. B. Lemmon, and Julien Teza. 
IMPROVED CONDITIONS OE TESTING. 
The operating conditions from May 1 to December 31, 1905, have been far superior to 
those that were possible during the Exposition period of 1904, and the results presented in 
this report have been subjected to refinements that were not attainable in the previous 
operation of the plant. A comparison of these figures with those obtained during 1904, 
published in Bulletin No. 261 (1905) and Professional Paper No. 48 (1906) of the United 
States Geological Survey, will show the general increase in efficiency of manipulation due 
to the improved conditions. 
The determination of the amount of coal actually burned in the producer for any given 
period is, at best, a factor of more or less uncertainty. To reduce the possible error to a 
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