210 ENGINEERING CONFERENCE. [Conference

and the question of the amount of the percolation of the rainfall intothe pebble-bed area was discussed. Another controversial question concerned the distance apart at which wells in the red sandstone might affect the water-levels in each other by pumping. The result of the protracted fight, which occupied nineteen days, was that the Nottingham Corporation were defeated in respect of two of their proposed wells, and the Newark Corporation acquired possession, not of the zone of protection, bounded by an 8-mile circle, which they sought, butof a somewhat more restricted area, together with largerpowers than would seem to have been granted in anyprevious case.l

26 MAY. 1897.-No. l.

‘I Carburetted Water-Gas.” By CORBETWOODALL, M. Inst. C.E. Allusion was made to the revolution brought about in the entire system of the supply of illuminating gas in the United States by the introduction of carburetted water-gas. It was not until 1890 thatsuch gas was firstmade for distributionin this country by the Gas-Light and Coke Company at Beckton, and in 1897 the total quantity made in London and the provinces would pro- bablyreach 50,000,000 cubicfeet daily, or 8 percent. of the maximum output of the United Kingdom for lighting and other purposes. Water-gas was made by passing steam through a deep bed of incandescent coke or anthracite coal, and, while it was non- luminous when burned, itsflame-temperature was evengreater than that of ordinary coal-gas. Carburetted water-gas was prepared for lighting purposes by introducing into the water-gas in process of manufacture a hydro-carbon oil or distillate in quantity varying with the illuminating value desired. The plant enlployed for the manufacture was explained, and the process of first blowing air and then steam through a generator charged with coke to a working depth of from 5 feet to6 feet wasdescribed by reference to a diagram. The gas generated waspassed through twochambers, called respec- tively the carburetter and the superheater,and it was thenpurified

1 After this notewas read the Newark case came before a Lords Committee, who decided not to confirm the protection given by the Commons.-SEC. INST.C.E. 2 The Engineer, vol. lxxxiii. p. 542 : Engineering, vol. Ixiii. pp. 742 and 761 ; The Journal of Gas Lighting, vol. lxix. p. 1241 ; The Gas World,vol. xxvi. p. 903.

Downloaded by [ University of Liverpool] on [11/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. Abstracts.] SECT. VI.-WATERWORKS, SEWERAGE AND GASWORKS. 21 1 in the usual manner. Thecost of this gaswas determined chiefly by the price at which oil could be bought. At the present values of 2pd. per gallon for oil and 15s. per ton for coke, gas of 20-candle power would cost Is. 4d. per thousand cubic feet in the gas-holders. The chief use of carburetted water-gas inGreat Britain had hitherto been in enrichingordinary coal-gas. Among thein- cidental advantages attaching to the manufacture of the gas in question were the small cost of plant for a given output, the light- ness of the labour, and the reduction of the number of men em- ployed, thefact that the plant was available at its full power within three hours of lighting up, and, lastly, the better price obtained for coke.

No. 2.

“ Gas for Power Purposes.” By JOSEPHEMERSON DOWSON, M. Inst. C.E. The advantages of gas-engines, driven with ordinary town gas, as compared with steam-engines were set forth. It was generally admitted that with gas at 38. per thousand cubic feet, the working cost of an engine, indicating more than about 30 HP., exceeded that of a steam-engine of a like power working under ordinary conditions. Forlarge powers it was nowusual to work a gas- generating plant in connection with the engine, which occupied the same ground space as a steam-boiler and needed the same type of fireman. Thefirst engine driven with generator-gas was started in 1879. Engines of good make (indicating 50 HP. and upwards) consumed, whendriven by generator-gas of average quality, about 1 lb. of fuel, whereas good steam-engines required 2 lbs. to 3 lbs. per I.HP. hour. It was necessary to employ anthra- cite coal or coke for the production of the generator-gas for engine work, though bituminous coal could be used to prepare the gene- rator-gas for heating furnaces andother suchwork. Dr. Mond had, however, by working night and day, on a large scale, with special treatment of the gas, produced suitable generator-gas for engine purposes from bituminous coal. An important feature of gas was that it did not lose power on its way to the engine, on

1 ~~~im*~g,701. Ixiii. pp. 742 and 761 : The Engineer, vol. lxxxiii. p. 542 ; The Electrician, vol. xxxix. p. 152; The Journal of Gas Lighting, vol. Ixix. p. 1244 ; The Gas World, vol. xxvi. p. 904. P2

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