Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/465

 Popular Science Monthly

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��How to Economize in the Use of Coal Gas

OWING to the increase in the con- sumption of coal gas both for cooking and lighting, any means of reducing the cost of it will be welcomed by the con- sumer. The illuminating power of gas by the use of the common tip burner is not considered so much as its heating properties. Whether it is the incandes- cent mantle or the gas mixed with air in the atmospheric burner of the gas stove, the effect is due to the heat produced by the combustion of the com- bined gas and air.

It is upon this heating effect that the intense luminousness of the mantle depends. With the use of the apparatus shown in the illustra- tions both the lumin- ousness of the common burner and the Seating effect may be increased considerably by mixing a volatile hydrocarbon with the gas after it leaves the meter and before it is burned. Any free carbonic oxide con- tained in the gas will combine with a rich hydrocarbon, carry it to the point of consump- tion and there develop degree of heat and light, cost will be very much

���An economizer coal gas with

��a remarkable Moreover, the lower than if simple coal gas or a mixture of coal gas and what is known as water gas is employed.

When either coal gas, or a combination of coal and water gas, or water gas charged with hydrocarbon is passed through a carbureter or economizer, as described, a quantity of the hydrocarbon with which it is charged will be carried off in vapor form, thus increasing both the heating and lighting effect wherever it may be consumed. This carbureter is not at all expensive to construct, as it is mainly constructed of tin plate with a few ordinary gas fittings which any good tinsmith or plumber can make.

The illustration clearly shows the ap-

��paratus in section. This apparatus has been well tested. The hydrocarbon used in charging it may be benzene, benzol, benzolene or gasoline. Kerosene must jiot be used.

How to Make the Economizer

The outer cylinder is made of heavy tin plate while the distributing inside cylinder A may be made of lighter stock. A wire cylinder B, made of a ^^ or ^-in. mesh galvanized wire netting is placed between the cylinder A and the outer case. The space between is packed moderately tight with dry white cotton waste, shown at C. The outer case is 9 in. high and 7 in. in diameter, with a cone-shaped cover at- tached to the upper edge. The inlet pipe D is provided with a stop- cock. This inlet and the outlet tube at E are both made of heavy tin plate, the latter being fitted with a brass gas union soldered at the top. The tubes are also soldered to the cone, while the inner cyUnder A is fastened with sol- der at the point where it touches the cone. A hole is made at F, 1 in. above the bottom of the pipe G. This is to allow the gas to pass into the carbureter in case too much hydrocarbon has been introduced, which chokes the bottom of the tube and causes bubbling through the liquid, thus hinder- ing the passage of gas. The tube H at the top of the cone is covered by a brass cap / in the interior of which is a leather disk to make a gas-tight joint.

An excellent method of filling the ap- paratus is to substitute two metal stop- cocks in the place of the tube H and an- other tank also made of tin plate, as here shown. By turning the two stop-cocks, the apparatus may be filled without wasting the fluid. One handle may be made to open and close the two. The tank J is filled with the carbonating fluid. The top of the carbureter, or economizer, is represented at A. A small

��for charging hydrocarbon

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