New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-06
MAKING GAS FROM PEAT.
A PROCESS TESTED SUCCESSFULLY AT
CAMBRIDGE.

c1IEAPNEss OF PLANT AND MANUFAcTuRE-GAs
GAN RE MADE FOR HALF THE PRESENT COST.
Boston. Oct (speciaD-The new process OF max
Ing gas from peat which has been tested pretty 'o
ouehly at the Cambridge works at least two occa-
sons within a month. in the presence OF sciehuhc
and practical business men, seems Likely to nave
an impor;snt influence on the manufacture oil gas
In this country. II its extended use snaH demon
strate that it is valuable a discovery as no"
seems probable. While applicable alike TO the manu-
facture of gas for Illuminating and heating pur-
noses II Is of especial value in the manufacture
of fuel The process was invented by William +.
Browne Of Boston, and seems to have gone De-
yond the merely experimental stage
At a recent exhibition of the operation OF this
new process Cambridge there were present
Professor Henry A. Mott. of New-York; FREDERICK
Fpner of Norfolk Va one Of the leading en-
eineers of the country; Professor Williams, OF
Pittsburg: Messrs h. Is. Clark and Stokes. Tor
merly OF the Patent Office, Washington; PROFESSOR
Elihu Thompson of the Genera! Electric Company
and Or. John A. Tanner, of Boston. formerly
professor of chemistry at the University OF VIZ
gina. Nahum Chaplin, president OF the company
and members Of the Board of Directors and others
interested were also present 1t is understood that
the Cambridge Gasiight Company VIII soon turn
over one of its gas holders TO the new COMPANY
so that a thoroughly practical test may De maue
of the value of the new process for making ilumi-
4
use it, and who Will have no interest In the con-
Germ except so far as it relates to the procuring
of good gas at low rates
This is not the only process for making gas from
peat but 1t is believed to be the best II Is sa'd
that no other process been able to convert all
the Petroleum into gas the residue. either charred
oil or condensed hydrocarbons amounts TO prac-
teal loss of from 10 to 10 per cent BY Mr. Brownies
process ii is claimed that such loss occurs ana
this Of itself is strong recommendation lot the
new method.
The process for the manufacture OF gas used by
this company consists OF first making com
busb.e body gas by the decomposition OF
mixture of oil and water. and In the after enrich
Ing of this body gas, when required FOR ilum-
mating purposes, to any required candle-power;
Practically the process Is continuous, economical
and what Is important. simple and easy OF appli-
| cation. Theoretically 1t is complicated. so mueh
Sciai a scientitic Observers seeming Representatives,
loom up. but the process stands the crucial test
OF practical demonstration on large COM
The apparatus consists of two parts so built as
Chamber contains a coil about three hundred feet
Of sh sn pipe bov this ham6e
communicating with It is second tight hre-o Dick
| preferred and in this chamber is also arranged the
necessary means for the enrichment OF the gas
the oil and water. and then throw II into the con
under hs5 s 50 @ Pap
to take and throw the oil and water in suen per
| a wished,
per cent Of either or both of the Ingredients with
| out stopping the pump:
by the burning Of wood in the coil chamber: this
chamber is then closed tight and 1, the ,e MIXTURE
| crude petroleum Lima preferred) is pumped Under
heavy pressure into the red-hot coil Under this
| sition of the oil and water. and arrangement
h d liked
| Of the coil must be MAINTAINED or the process
the bottom; an approprde ana , h ,his
means combustion of a limited amount of the gases
occurs thus continuing the necessary temperature
| dependent upon the endurance OF the pump to
the spPy Of wasr na , 2
the oil is also derived from a Source different from
rne ess long scentihe latent
| heat and chemical action not called Tor mere.
some oxygen and carbonic acid now pasces into the
peat chamber to heat 1t and cause combustion ana
Of its elements Of carbon. hydrogen and oxygen
this heat. with the surplus of carbon present the
carbonate acid coming IRON me h coz oYd Viii
the crude oil here thrown in for enrcnmeht - ne
composed and fixed the entire mass OF gas
to be cooled down and purified as IN any process
The puriacaton is simple and reduced to a mini
from the fact that the materials uSed ar
phur' The process IS Of such nature and the ap;
paratus so Constructed to admit Of UNINTERRUPTED
OF gas the mixture OF oil and water gong on WIN
out cessation, the peat being fed IN as requires,
| and the small amount OF ash from the peat Deihs
removed without in any way stopping ana ih'efier-
ing with the process . -, ho,h
| One great consideration u the cheapness or Dot1
the plant and the process Of manufacture IL wouin
not be polite for the company TO tell eXacty now
| cheaply this gas be Manufactured, put ~ can
be stated that 1t be done for less than hai the
| coet Of the present coal water gas. The compan!
which has been organized to push this scheme has
n,,rchased one more large tracts or peat III NeW-
| Fneland one of them being in New-Hampshire,
and they assert that there Is peat enough N New
| Enalsnd alone TO supply all the gas that may De
nnsied for illuminating purposes or for fuel Tor a
| .houssnd wears Then there are enormous deposits
OF peat IN North Carolina ana elsewhere
| the country