Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-28
Piping NATURAL GAS.


Transporting II Long Distances.
PITTsBURG, PA, Jan. 22.-Before the
Civil Engineers society of w estern Penn
sylVania Col. J. z. Roberts read paper
on Long Distance Transportation Of
Gas" After showing that long distance
transportation was possible he said:
"My proposed method Of gas transporta-
ton is simply the adoption of the exhaust
system as employed to ventilate mines.
If the little furnace in the English coal
mine. or the exhaust fan set near the
top Of the outcast shaft is able to
cause air TO be circulated Through
forty miles OF tortuous and
iTegularly shaped passages,
can conceive of nothing to prevent its
working an indefinite distance, and
al ways, 1t is to be remarked, that better
results are reached with eXhaustng fans
than with COMPRISING machinery. |
would not with my present light, in case
OF adopting sheet iron pipe, propose to
exceed five feet in diameter nor urge it
when OF that size to deliver more than
one million cubic teet per hour, at or just
under usual pressure. The velocity in
this case should be maintained at about
ten miles an hour.
Il was somewhat surprised TO find that
this proposed size Of gas conduit Is ex.
actly that prescribed by the laws OF
Pennsylvania for the intaking of air
shafts for anthracite mines, no mat
ter what was the extent OF the work
ing. This size has been proved TO be in-
sufficient to supply the requisite volume
OF air, and 20-horse power fan at the eX-
haust shaft is generally more than sufti-
cient TO draw in over 1000, 600 cubic feet
OF air per hour. | am not afraid that when
the circulation is OnrQ he'd u "a
given direction, no matter how feeble,
That the expanded gas will display tend
ency TO work back against a denser me-
dunn. 1t Will assuredly seek the direc-
ton which presents the most favorable
conditions. The location of these heating
stations or exhaust fans. there being but
little difference in the effectiveness Of the
methods on long line Of pipe, would be
determined by circumstances. Expert
ment would then discover the pointa
where there was tendency to
the accumulation OF pressure.
Atmospheric conditions might have
something to do with this in case
OF an exposed plpe-a warm sunshine at
one point COntrasted with clouds md cool
ness at another point on the line; or posi-
Oily over 4 mOuntain,a pneumatic exhaust
or gas syphOn would have to be perma-
nently maintained by heating aud rarity
and increasing the gravity of the gas on
the other side.
But with the confidence | have in fig
ures made up from reports Of mine, venti-
latlOn under more trying conditions. be-
lleve that the intervals between assisting
stations will not ordinarily be less than
twenty miles. The equivalent of
twenty-hOrse power engine every TWEEN
ty miles Is insufficient as compared
ggI n hn of 3.
pressure system. | Will not detain YOU
with figures on the pumping plan, but it
can easily be shown That to gather up
100000 cubic feet of normal gas per hour
anc pump II at 200 pounds pressure would
require an hourly p.uuger capacity of
$4,000 cubic feet Al the delivery end. Two
OF our gigantic Negley run WaterwOrks
engines working together are not quite
equal to the task. Two Of these working
with two in reserve al intervals of every
fifteen miles would do The work. pro-
vIded they did not blow up the pine Joints.
FleXbiity of the pipes must be secured
before any system IS perfected.
"InlS seems altogether impossible in
any plan OF jOinted pipe. According to a
formula handed me by a friend, an expert
IN gas calculations, a pipe OF five feet In
diameter will discharge 100000 cubic
feet per hour at the end of 100 miles with
an lulJldl pressure OF LOO pounds. In this
example we have total initial constant
pressure OF 1924 pounds and a velocity of
about fifteen feet per second, which would
be equivalent to about 197-horse power.
J would not advise this system. ANY
pressure in lar2e conduit much above
the normal involves great expense for
pipes and points. If 167-hOrse power per
hundred miles were required | would d.
VIDE the power among a number of smaller
engines, stationed at intervals along the
line solely for the purpose OF etfecting the
enormous saving which flexible sheet
iron pipes would permit Of in toe cost of
pipes To furnish q 00000 cubic feet of
gas daily to- say Philadelphia. with, say
20 miles OF conduit, would cost 81. go. coo.
to Cleveland would cost less than one
third that amount. With the distribution
system ana contingencies the outlay
wOnld probably be not less than $6,0O0,O00
to reach even the cream OF trade
LAS for income, the gas should certain
ly yield 10 cents per 600, making 100000
per annum. Allowing for maintenance
and renewals there should be enough for
a fair dividend. OF the 10000 coke ovens
in the Connelsville region probably 5000
are charged daily. A charge OF coal av-
erages about five and a hall tons, which
for the region would make a totaIot Is. 800
tons daily. BY this 1872 ,000. 900 feet of gas
are wasted daily in the coke regions. Out
Of this probably - per cent, or 100, 00O. 600
cubic feet could be utilized profitably for
heating purposes.