The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1888-07-19

pfaet'cai de'alls Whtcu complicate the
actual process. /. depends upon the
fact that, when bituminous coal con-
tanning carbon and hydrogen is sub
jscted to heat III retort, il is parti.
ally d.compcsed. giving off gaseous
Hydrocarbons and other products, and
leaving a mass uf carbon commonly
known as coke. But many other
compounds are formed at the sau,e
time, which mus. be separated fr.sa.
the gas before it is lit to be sent into
the pipes, and delivered to the con.
SIN a.. The products Of the dislilla-
tion Of coal may be divided roughly
into four classes coke, coal-tar, am
noniacal liquor. and illuminating gas.
Coke contains from ninety 10 ninety
five per cent. Of pure carbon. the re-
mainder being ash aud sulphide OF
iror. The anlnloniacal liqnor contains
at least five different salts Of am
monis. The coal tar contains about
forty different liquid aud solid hydro
carbons and he illuminating gas
twenty five or more gaseous hydro
carbony--a total If over seventy dis
tiiact chemical substances, all pro-
unced by the distillatiou of piece OF
soft coal 1t must be remembered
that few or none of these exist by
themselves in the coal, but are all
formed hy the chemical reactions
which take place during the distilla.
tion. The returts IN which the coal Is
distilled are made OF cast iron or
fire-clay; they are about ninety feet
long aud ole aud half feet in diam
eter. Alter being tilleI with coal,
they are raised to red heat, or even
higher. The impure gas thus formed
passes of through All upright pipe.
which counecis with horizontAl one
partly filled with ~ater. known IN the
h,d 'aulic main. The pipe from the
+, retort dips under the water. 80 that all
al. gas must PASS through II. The
coarser aud less volatile impurities.
n,lud,ng large proportion "f the
{ AZ, are colidei,se 1 Ia tins nlain. The
g,s. however, i. still at high temper
ature. and very impure; No It Is sent
Though set al y.rieal pea COLI
aest1a with each other like u steam
,,iiatvt, which are either exposed to
the AR, or cooled arll,icialiy. Many
ut the impurities are Condensed aDd
separated frunl the gas Ia tbs ,oier,
but ~ IL siaetinIcs slill further pur,-
nsd by besns passed through large iron
vessels nh.d vita Jumps of eoa- over
which a stream Of culd water is coh.
anily Il ,~,ng, Iu,s stlii further
pu.iiIss the ga,, especl'.iiy by absorb-
log tue aininonlacaI coup tuuds, nut
t..u Oti.Lsise and dangerous sulphur
compounds rcinaii, aud IL remove
,hes. the gas is sent through large iron
boxes containing movable trays
covered WI h isois fieshiy Stacked
lime. The lime apsorUs the greater
part of the COMPOUNDS Of sulphur, aud
he gas is then ready to be stored ~
the large holders, improperly called
"a o.nelers. aud from thence delivered
10 the customers. After absorbing
The impurities, the gas-lime, as 1t is
called, possesses most horrible odor,
aud IN thckly settled localities its
disposal without creating u nuisance
Is AN important aud sometimes
d ,iheult matter. A more effective
and simpler means Of purifying gas is
much to be desired What Is known
as water gas has been substituted to
some extent Tor that distilled from
coal. ts essentially a mixture of
hydrogen aud carbonic oxide, and Is
formed by curious reaction which
takes place ahen steam is passed over
red hot Goals. The steam 10 decon-
posed, and hydrogen is SGT free, while
the oxygen unites with the carbon of
the coal To form carbonlc oxide (CO).
As this gas burns with a non-lumin-
Gus flame, il must be- ''enriched' with
ght-giviug hydrocarbons. which are
usually obtalned from the distilation
oi crude petroleum. II is claimed
that thus gas is much cheaper than
that produced by the old procss', but
practical trials have not as yet con-
tir.ned this, and the presence OF the
highly poisonous carbon'c oxide rem
dcrs i. a much more dangerous agent
to introduce into dwellings. Popular