Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-11-23


Steam from Petroleum.
The Brookland Navy Yard was
lately the scene Of some experiments
relative to q new production of in
tense heat. Many distinguished Of
ficers Of the Naval Bureau Of Con-
struction. together with eminent rep
resentstives of the leading iron and
glass establishments, were present
on the interesting occasion. The
secret Of the whole affair is simply
the fact that the spray of oil is used
for combustion and the production
Of heat, instead of coal, as usually
made use of in its crude state. MIR.
s. c. Salisbury, the inventor Of this
new application, had fitted up a
temporary apparatus in the boiler
room of the machine shop for ex-
hibiting 70 his visitors the principle
OF his wonderful innovation. The
residuum of petroleum and coal-tar
is mixed to about the consistency of
molasses. From the containing ves-
sci, this mixture is carried to the
furnace by means of q gas-pipe at
the extremity of which is fixed a
nozzle in which the fuel is converted
in to fine spray as it darts into the
fire. The walls of the furnace were
kept alta white glow by heintense heat
evolved by this simple continuance.
The heat actually registered amount
ed to 5000 degrees, sufficient to
melt pig iron in ten minutes instead
of requiring two hours, and con-
verting the proper ingredients into
liquid glass in two hours instead OF
sixteen, as by the old method. Many
experiments with glass and iron have
been made, and in every instance with
the happiest results. Estimates show
conclusively that, in single voyage
across the Atlantic there can be q
saving of at least s., 900, in freight
room on account of the absence OF
coal. The extreme safety of this
fuel mixture may be inferred from
the fact that it will not start into q
fame when thrown upon a bed OF
live Goals. The principal advantages
of this new process may DO summed
up as follows: A saving OF three
fourths of the labor now employed in
handling the common forms of fuel;
the fire doors are not required to DO
opened after the furnace is once set
in operation; combustion being per-
feet. there is no carbonization of the
boiler tubes as, is now so common,
and the necessity of often scraping
them clean will be entirely done
away with; nil the smoke being act
ually consumed, there is neither
SCOTSMAN nor danger from sparks.
In addition to these advantages,
many other important considerations
may be noted. In the old method
of making iron, large quantities of
carbon and sulphur are ever present
in the melted mass and they are with
great difficulty removed. BY the
new process, the iron is absolutely
pure. At present, ten charges are
run off in a day and night; by the
new process, the same number OF
charges can be run off in ten hours.
In all the old furnaces, owing to the
presence of sulphur, the fire.brick
are often destroyed or rendered use
less in a day; by using the spray
heating method, the friedrich will
last three months in vitrified COM
pact and polished condition. Not
only is the quality of the iron i'm
proved, but from the same amount
of ore, one hundred pound more to
the ton may be obtained. One half
of the aggregate amount of labor is
saved. Finally, reckoning coal at
three dollars per ton. the cost of
fuel is reduced one-half. All in all,
this Is one OF the remarkable inven-
tons of the century.