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November, 1920 Producer Gas as a Fuel of high. tuel" costs, bunker economy grows more and more important in jwaritime operations. Under such con- ditions, the performance of the 4-mast, auxiliary engined schooner Bessmr A, Wuutte, affords a record of importance. This vessel arrived in New York fol- lowing a remarkable voyage, upon which her 200 horsepower engine con- sumed producer gas. This ship is 186 Feet long, 3/ feet. beam, .and 13° geet molded depth and registers 600 net tons. She began her trip from New Bruns- wick carrying a cargo of lumber to Preston, England. On her return she brought a cargo consisting of 1073 gross tons of wood pulp into New York, coming back against a head wind. The ship was 28 days on this return voyage, during which time her engines "were kept constantly running. Her pro- ducer plant consumed in this time but 48 tons of Welsh coal. Her sister In these days the question of ship, without auxiliary, required 48 days to make the saine trip. The auxiliary power, therefore, saved the vessel owner 20 days. Estimating this saving at the rate of $300 a day, the total saving on the trip was $6000. Crew of Three Required The power plant on the Bessie A. WHITE requires a crew of three men, whose wages and keep represented a cost of $600 for the 28 days. The fuel burned cost $12 a ton, adding $076, or a total. cost for the opera- tion of the power plant of $1176 against an estimated saving of $6000 in possible earnings of the boat for 20 days. According to the engineers who equipped this boat, the engine cost $12,000, the gas producer plant cost $3500 and the installation $5000, making a total capital outlay for the complete power plant $20,500. The engine used on this boat was manufactured by the Wolverine Mo- tor Works, Bridgeport, Conn. It is a 6-cylinder type with a 11-inch bore, I5-inch stroke and rotates at 300 revolutions per minute. It is a 200 horsepower engine and in calm weather and without sails, can drive the Brssre A. Wuire at 6 knots. It Was said by the engineer on the boat she had made 4000 miles in 21 days, using her engines only when outside the trade winds. A gas producer was used to make fuel for the engine, the whole power Plant being placed far aft and taking up little space from the cargo capac- My of the boat. The engine is aft of the Sas producer plant itself. The ree on this vessel is 6 feet 6 ae 0 diameter and 8 feet high, requires only 8 feet of space fore THE MARINE REVIEW and aft in the boat. It is said that tests have shown the plant burns in 24 hours but from 165 to 195 pounds of coal per hour. Operation Is Simple This particular producer is manu- factured by,. the Gas. Produces & Engineering Corp, New York. It consists of a steel shell with special fire brick lining. A gas elbow con. nects the producer with the gas scrubber and drier combined. At the base of the producer is a cleaning door through which the ashes are 617 of this nature in 1907, and its produc- tion for the current year will the 100 mark. ae At least 100 similar gas producer plants have been in- stalled on shipboard in conjunction with the same type of engines. The same Plant, however, is being used i connection with 20 different makes of engines, and has been sold to boat owners in 20 different countries. The greatest economy from. this type of auxiliary power has been found when the boats are in a service which re- quires long and continuous runs, such It is used as coastwise towing, etc. THE GAS PRODUCER, WHICH REQUIRES SPACE ONLY 8 FEET SQUARE renoved. At the top is the hopper through which coal or fuel is fed with the help of an air seal to the producer. Near the base of the pro- ducer is an air inlet for the steam and air entering the fire box. From the gas scrubber and drier a pipe leads the cleaned gas to the engine. The gas is relayed on its way to the engine in a_ tank, which method of feed gives an even pressure. This plant was designed to secure the compactness and simplicity essential for marine work. The company began making plants on tow boats, freight boats, passenger boats and lighters as well as auxiliary power schooners. The greater econ- omy is said to be found in conjunc- tion with plants of 50 to 1000 horse- power. Built for the Boston Towboat Co., the new harbor tug Mars, slid down the ways recently at East Boston, Mass. Miss Sadie Nickerson, daughter of Capt. Mortimer Nickerson, manager of the company acted as sponsor. The new tug is 72 feet overall, 18 feet 2 inches beam, and 8 feet depth of hold.