| a gas composed of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen, obtained by passing air and steam through incandescent coke: used as an industrial fuel, in certain gas engines, and in the manufacture of ammonia. |
| producer gas n. A combustible mixture of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen, generated by passing air with steam over burning coke or coal in a furnace and used as fuel. Also called air gas. |
producer gas
mixture of flammable gases (principally carbon monoxide and hydrogen) and nonflammable gases (mainly nitrogen and carbon dioxide) made by the partial combustion of carbonaceous substances, usually coal, in an atmosphere of air and steam. Producer gas has lower heating value than other gaseous fuels, but it can be manufactured with relatively simple equipment; it is used mainly as a fuel in large industrial furnaces.
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