Backstory: This is how the manor house would have derived its electricity before it was available from the national grid - they made it themselves! John Langridge, the boards original creator, was well versed in the equipment required for this and, with Geoff's assistance, calculated the type and size of everything required. He then researched the equipment available at the time and made the gas production equipment that is seen now. The building is divided into two parts. The left side contains the equipment to produce gas. The right hand side contains the engine that burns the gas and generates electricity. The electricity is stored in glass batteries on racks around the walls and on a gantry.
The process: Poor quality coal and coke was used that created a noxious gas (Producer gas) of low calorific value, but cheap and it could be delivered by the railway in volume. The process starts with a vertical retort, just inside the building. The staircase was used to get the fuel to the retort loading door on the top. The exhaust gas was piped through a filter unit and an adjacent 'scrubber'. Finally, it was stored in the gasometer that floats in a water-filled trough, rising and falling with the volume of gas.
The gas was then piped to the adjacent engine room where it powered a 10hp, single cylinder, horizontal, Tangye engine. A belt transferred motion to a generator creating electricity that was stored in the glass-cased batteries around the engine room. This produced 100v DC electricity, enough to supply lights in the manor house. The facility is now maintained as an attraction.
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| Gas production left and electricity production right. |
A working Tangye engine model made by Geoff sits in the engine room on the right and there is an authentic sound loop playing.
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Red dynamo at the back.
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