The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1873-09-02
Pc troleum VS.. Coal as a Fuel.

VI Slb HSi -
Lamokin, where the machine shops Of
the Baltimore and Central Railroad
Company's works are located. The
results or the experiments are most
decidedly encouraging, as Indicating
future uses for oils, which, at no dis
tant day will offer an outlet for all the
crude material that may be produced, at
prices which shall justify the risk taken
in its production. Read the article
carefully, which we hear append:
petroleum has for some time past
engaged the attention Of some Of the
most scientific and skili'ul inventors of
the age, in the developing and apPlica-
ton OF its known qualities fot heat.
Many mechanical devices for The pur-
pose have been constructed, which
possessed more or less merit when
worked in small way, but signally
failed to accomplish the desired end
when practically tested on a large
scale: In response to an invitation
from I. Hendricks; Esq, Of Philadel-
phia, the inventor Of a new and i'm
proved device Tor burning petroleum
and Us products, we visited the ma
chine shops of the Philadelphia and
Baltimore Central Railway Company,
at Lamokin, and witnessed its opera
ton. We found tke apparatus placed
in the fire-box. ofthe stationary engine
used to drive the works Ct the shop in
question (being forty-horse power
in full operation. No special change
or alteration in the furnace was made,
further than the removal Of the CRATE
bars, and substituting in their place
the oil vaporizcr and burner. The APP
paratus is very simple in construction,
and easily applied to heating purposes
at little cost. The principle Of the
device consists in the decomposition
OF water into its component elements,
oxygen and hydrogen, and uniting the
same under intense heat with the by
dro-carbon vapors Of petroleum, thus
furnishing from water the equivalent
Of hydrogen; NATURALLY deficient in
oil,) necessary to perfect combustion.
For this purpose two walled iron cyl
inders are made use Of with .he burner
placed Immediately underneath, OF
which novel arrangement the fame
from the burner is made to superheat
the steam IN one and decompose both
steam and oil In the other, and from
hence passes to the place where the
heat is required; one and the same
flame doing the entire work desired, no
other fuel being made use of.
The trial in its practical workings
proved eminently successful in every
respect. Every appliance was brought
to bear upon it to break down its force
that the shops could command, but a
head Of steam was keptup without any
deviation. In every respect it was
fully demonstrated to the entire Salts
faction OF a number OF practical gen
;lemen present, that its adaptability
for generating steam for motive power
and manufacturing purposes generally,
was beyond question, and that too, at
about one-third less cost than coal.
The advantages claimed by the use
of petroleum over coal as a fuel, are
less cost and labor in handling; the
oil once turned on burns until
turned steam Off; no cutting out OF
clinkers; no stoking required-no
ashes, no cinders, no sparks, no smoke
less time required in getting up heat.
1t can be started in few minutes, and
extinguished instantly, with no danger
whatever. as tine tank holding the oil
may be located fifty or hundred yards
away from the building. 1t is perfect.
" under control. Its freedom from
produces very superior quail
ty of lion, when applied to pudding
furnaces. These are few Of the adj
vantagcs that experiments have de-
monstrated can be accomplished. 1t
is also claimed that superior article
Of gas can be made BY this process at
less than one half the present cost, and |
as we'll as for heating houses, and for