Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co:1935 Review
Note: This is a sub-section of Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co
Visit of the Iron and Steel Institute to the Iron, Steel and Engineering Industries of Manchester and District
The Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co. Ltd., Levenshulme, Manchester.
The Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co. Ltd. was formed in 1910 by the amalgamation of the Dowson Economic Gas and Power Co. Ltd. of Basingstoke and Mason's Gas Power Co. Ltd. of Levenshulme.
The specialities manufactured by this firm are furnaces of practically every description fired by gas, oil or solid fuel, and gas producer plants. Included in the latter category are suction pressure gas plants to operate on anthracite, coke, sawdust, wood and various forms of vegetable matter as well as gas producers using bituminous fuel for the production of crude gas. The well-known "Duff" gas producer was first put on the market by the Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co. Ltd. and a very large number of these producers are in use at the present time.
The firm has built a large number of furnaces for general steel works purposes and for the reheating, annealing and heat treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The photograph shows an interesting type of coal fired furnace developed by this firm. In this design the waste heat is recovered in the recuperator built in the top of the main furnace arch, the air obtaining its heat partially from the waste gases and partially by radiation from the roof of the furnace. Part of this air passes under the fire-bars, but a certain proportion is admitted above the fire-grate so as to ensure complete combustion. The quantity of primary or secondary air which is admitted to the furnace can be controlled at will by means of sliding dampers.
A distinctive feature is the admission of a water spray to the primary hot air supply. The air can be heated to a temperature of 350° C. and the water injected is at once vapourised, thus partially saturating the air with water vapour which has the effect of entirely eliminating clinker trouble and in addition increasing the efficiency of combustion. The appearance of the furnace chamber in this design can hardly be distinguished from a gas fired furnace.
A separate department is maintained in which tanks and oil and petrol pumps are manufactured.
The works occupy a site of about 6 acres in Levenshulme.
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