The correct name, I believe, for these devices is gas producer.At least that was how they were named in the old engineering books dealing with early Internal combustion engines.Liquid fuel was not so successful in the IC engine until about 1890 and even for a while after that when they were called on in remote areas the fuel would usually be a gaseous fuel and the gas producer was many times supplied by the engine maker.The fuel for the gas producer could be about anything that would burn-from coal or peat to wood products and sugar cane stems (bagasse).In operation a fire would be built in the "firebox" and the draft was choked back so that combustion was incomplete and the smoke or fumes was led to the "mixer" on the engine to be mixed with air and admitted to the cylinder.The efficiency and output quality of the producer/engine was variable and required close management to work.Engine life was poor because of impurities it had to deal with but it was still ahead of the steam engine.We have occasionally seen pictures of buses and trucks in less developed countries with a gasifier hanging on the back bumper and there is a Mercedes (about late 30's) in the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville with a producer built into the left front fender.3 years ago at our local car show in Waverly TN a 50's chevy truck was hauled in with a home built gasifier in the bed.He ran it for us but he was still working on some details to improve the performance and was driving it about in his home town in west tennessee. (Paris or Milan I think).
