The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-11

Petroleum as steam Fuel.

IL mas already been announced that
petroleum has been used as fuel for
boilers in England, with good
results. The following interesting de-
tails of recent experiments at Wool
wich are given by the London Mechan-
icS' Magazine:
"The general results of the expert
ments carried out at Woolwich Dock
yard, with the view of establishing the
superiority of petroleum over coal as n
fuel for steam purpose, led to several
important conclusions. They showed
that the most valuable oils for the pur-
pose were those containing the largest
amount OF paratIine, and further, that
their rstean-producing power above our
best coal was fully twice and half.
The inhammable spirit and burning
oil can be extracted from the crude
with advantage, thus rendering it per-
fectly harmless. 1t was also shown
that steam could be got up with great
rapidity and maintained with little or
no labor. A clear intense flame envel-
oped every portion of the boiler ex-
posed to its action, and which could be
lowered or raised at will, and main
tanned for any length of time. But not
withstanding all these apparent advan-
tageS, the petroleum boiler experiments
do not appear 10 have led to any prac-
tical result in the way of advancing the
position of oil as Il steam fuel. Since
luS W OOIHACu GA IJGEluItulS, however,
Mr.. Richardson has taken another step
in the matter. He has invented a port
able CRATE for burning petroleum, sbale,
crude, or heavy oil, residuum or grease,
creosote and gas tar, without smoke.
During his experiments Mr.. Richard
son found the necessity for such an APP
paratus, by which the manufacturers
and retiners of shale oil might use up
the very refuse of oil-stills as fuel, in
stead of slack or coal, in their retorts.
The CRATE consists of two iron boxes,
one within the other. The inner one
contains the porous material, the steam
Jet and the oil, and in the outer box
water is placed. AS the water boils tho
steam mixes with the oil vapor; this
burns and thus adds to the amount of
oxygen and hydrogen gasses produced
by the inner box.
"In practice, the CRATE is placed level
in the furnace, the outer case being
the funnel allows. Oil is kept con-
stantly running in, but only in sufIi-
cient quantities to saturate the porous
material. Residuum, or solid cold
cakes of the oil, may be placed within
the CRATE in moderate quantities. Steam
is let in when the oil is in full flame,
the proper amount being indicated by
the cessation of smoke. The proper
quantity of oil can be constantly main
tuined in the CRATE, as a glass register
always records its height. The flame
is extinguished by running out the oil
and allowing the steam to play for
few minutes. In re-lighting it, if the
CRATE is quite cold, hot water is run
through the outer case, and IL little
spirit of burning oil used in the trough.
The CRATE can be used either by itself,
or as an auxiliary to a coal furnace.
Wherever large, powerful, clear fire,
making no smoke and equalizing the
temperature throughout the whole fur
mace is an advantage this CRATE certainly
Steam would seem to be the grand
agent in eHecting the complete combus-
ton of liquid fuel without producing
smoke. The water vapor introduced
in Jets below the CRATE sides and is de-
composed into its constituent gases
oxygen and hydrogen. These burning
with the vaporS of the hydrocarbon
cause the flame to become wholly de-
carbonized, and its temperature to be
greatly increased.
1.-The several kinds OF petroleum re-
quire variable quantity of steam;
But then such Is the volatile nature OF
this oil that it seldom vaporizes more
than 121< pounds OF water to l pound
of oil. On the other hand the British
shale, crude, or heavy oil, creosote, or
gas tar requires more steam, but then
some OF these OILS SapOrlZo from 4S
pounds to 20 pounds of water to pound
of oil. The slack coal used by refiners
offers marked contrast to this, L pound
vaporiZing only about pounds of
water. Water vapor, then, appears to
be the key to the secret of utilizing
liquid fuel with the non-production OF
smoke, and soon as the public recOg-,
nize this fact, its extended use will
doubtless ensue. Mr.. Richardson is
certainly paving the way to this condi-
ton of matters by the Introduction of
his portable petroleum CRATE"
ONE of the Recommendation of Gov.
MortOn's message to the Indiana Legis-
lature, il is said, will be in favor of the
adoption of q registry law in that State.
The beneficial effects of registry law
in Illinois have already been demon
strated by the experience of two years,
and will appear more evident as the
people become accustomed to its opera
ton. It is one of the most powerful al
lies of Repnblicanism, because, where
properly enforced, frauds are iInpossi-
bIe. Had such a law been in force in
Indiana at tn late election, the Repub-
licaR majority would have been ffVetO
y. -.