|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 32
This same idea of making the air blast pass up through the fuel, while
in the subsequent operation the steam passes down, is also to be found
in the Loomis plant, and is a distinct advantage, as the fuel is at
its hottest where the blast has entered, and, in order to keep down
the percentage of carbon dioxide, it is important that the fuel
through which the water gas last passes should be as hot as possible,
to insure its reduction to carbon monoxide.
The Flannery apparatus is again but a slight modification of the Lowe
plant, the chief difference being that, as the gas leaves the
generator, the oil is fed into it, and, with the gas, passes through a
D-shaped retort tube, which is arranged round three sides of the top
of the generator; and in this the oil is volatilized, and passes, with
the gas, to the bottom of the superheater, in which the vapors are
converted into permanent gases.
The Van Steenbergh plant, with which I have been experimenting for
some time, stands apart from all other forms of carbureted water gas
plant, in that the upper layer of the fuel itself forms the
superheater, and that no second part of any kind is needed for the
fixation of the hydrocarbons, an arrangement which reduces the
apparatus to the simplest form, and leaves no part which can choke or
get out of order, an advantage which will not be underrated by any one
who has had experience of these plants. While, however, this enormous
advantage is gained, there is also the drawback that the apparatus is
not fitted for use with crude oils of heavy specific gravity, such as
can be dealt with in the big external superheaters of the Lowe class
of water gas plant, but the lighter grades of oil must be used in it
for carbureting purposes.
I am not sure in my own mind that this, which appears at first a
disadvantage, is altogether one, as, in the first place, the lighter
grades of oil, if judged by the amount of carbureting power which they
have, are cheaper per candle power, added to the gas, than the crude
oils, while their use entirely does away with the formation of pitch
and carbon in the pipes and purifying apparatus--a factor of the
greatest importance to the gas manufacturer.
The fact that light oils give a higher carburation per gallon than
heavy crude oil is due to the fact that the latter have to be heated
to a higher temperature to convert them into permanent gas, and this
causes an over-cracking of the most valuable illuminating
constituents; and this trouble cannot be avoided, as, if a lower
temperature is employed, easily condensible vapors are the result,
which, by their condensation in the pipes, give rise to much trouble.
The simplicity of the apparatus is a factor which causes a great
saving of time and expense, as it reduces to a minimum the risk of
stoppages for repairs, while the initial cost of the apparatus is, of
course, low, and the expense of keeping in order practically _nil_.
When I first made the acquaintance of this form of plant, a few years
ago, the promoters were confident that nothing could be used in it
but American anthracite, of the kind they had been in the habit of
using in America, and a light naphtha of about 0.689 specific gravity,
known commercially as 76 deg Baume.
A few weeks' work with the apparatus, however, quickly showed that,
with a slightly increased blow, and a rather higher column of fuel,
gas coke could be used just as well as anthracite, and that by
increasing the column of fuel, a lower grade of oil could be employed;
so that during a considerable portion of the experimental work nothing
but gas coke from the Horseferry Road Works and a petroleum of a
specific gravity of about 0.709 were employed.
Having had control of the apparatus for several months, and, with the
aid of a reliable assistant, having checked everything that went in
and came out of the generator, I am in a position to state
authoritatively that, using ordinary gas coke and a petroleum of
specific gravity ranging from 0.689 to 0.709, 1,000 cubic feet of gas,
having an illuminating power of twenty-two candles, can be made with
an expenditure of 28 to 32 lb. of coke and 21/2 gallons of petroleum.
The most important factors, i.e., the quantity of petroleum and the
illuminating value of the gas, have also been checked and corroborated
by Mr. Heisch and Mr. Leicester Greville.
Total gas made = 8,700 cubic feet.
Time taken: Blowing. 1 hour.
Time taken: Making. 50 minutes.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|