The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-16
new GAS PROCESS
Put Into Practical Operation Sat.
urday and Sunday.
IT MAKES GOOD ENOUGH GAS.
The Test watched with Great Deal of
Interest By tho Members OF che Hoard
and others-undsr what ths Promoters
oftho Plant Claim Were Very untavor-
able Circumstance, IL showed Very Fa-
yorabie Results.

on Saturday the new Harvey pro-
cess gas plant at the city works was
tested for the first time. There was an
attempt at test before when clay re-
torts were used. They were made In
two pieces. instead OF one, us the con-
tract called for, and the gas leaked
from the crack. The claim is made on
behalf OF the process that even with
the cracked retorts the work would
have been successful IL the exhaust
pump had been put on. but 1t was not,
and the pressure necessary to force the
gas into the pipes also, forced 1t out
through the cracks. AS fact, there are
few gas retorts In use which are not
cracked to such an extont that the
same degree OF pressure would force
the gas out This was the cause of all
the delay. u
The present experiment was made
with Iron rctorts, The substitution Of
these for the others OF course consum-
ed some time. Friday night. however.
the plant was ali ready TO fire up. and
an experimental run was made Satur-
day. No new process of any kind ever
went on perfectly on the first trial,
but the comparative smoothuess and
success OF this experiment was GER
tRinly gratifying to all who were in-
terested, and promising for the success
OF their plans
The experimental run Saturday was
j witnessed by the members OF the city
gas board with great deal of Inter-
WN -, ~ flAr1nn HFOT1.
ped in and watched the working OF the
process, II was made under the per-
sonal supervision OF Mr.. George Har-
vey. Mr.. William Nice. Drav0, who Is
interested in the company, WINS also pre-
sent The company includes besides
these gentlemen. Messrs, j, l.. Dillin-
ger and others.
LISA peculiar fact about the company
that while 1t is organized to make gas
from oil. II is largely composed OF coal
operators.
Saturdays run was made merely to
get the grease burned out Of the pipes
and things generally in working order
Yesterday two more runs were made.
and the Illuminating power OF the gas
was given the practical test OF being
lighted close besld0/the city coal gas.
The contract OF the company calls for
n gas Of eighteen candle power. This
was reached without difficulty. Among
the experienced gas people present II
YVES estimated by some that the light
reached twenty-five candle power. 1t
makes a white. fine light, burns with
out odor, and leaves nothing to be de-
sired as to quality. II Is free OF sui
phurcted hydrogen, US shown by tests
made yesterday Mt the works, and also
from many other deieterfous sub
stances which often cause much trou-
BILE with coal gus. US Wheeling gas
consumers can testify from personal
experience.
The runs made yesterday were not
made as a test OF the process, but main
~ TO satisfy the gas board and the pub
lie that the process would make gas as
the company claimed. The oil which
was used had been put In the open tank
for the former experiment at least
three months ago, and remained there,
and as everybody at all familiar with
the characteristics OF oil and gas VIII
realize at once, II must have lost at
least Is per cent OF the gaseous qualities
Il contained. The oletines. or tllumi-
narts, in the oil. are quickly dissipa-
Tod by exposure to the atmosphere.
This, OF course. tended to render the
oil less productive Of the gas. Yet, IN
der these unfavorable circumstances
the results were satisfactory. and even
more favorable than had been looked
for by those Interested on the first trial.
Mr.. Harvey said last night that consld-
,ering the deterioration OF the oft.evefi he
was surprised 4sg the way the plant
worked.
The gas produced was made at net
cost OF less than twenty cents per
thousand feet, while the c!ty's con-
tract calls for an average Of thirty
cents.
A plant on the same system has been
operated at Glenfieid. Pa, for some
time, and Prof Thee. Tonnele made
an analysis OF the gas there produced
He made nm elaborate report to some
gentlemen Interested in gas. He says:
II visited the plant on two occasions,
saw the gas made and made tests rs TO
us purity, candle power. etc. found
the gas free from sulphurctcd hydrogen
and other deleterious impurities. The
candle power ranged from eighteen to
thirty according TO amount of oil used
and the temperature Of the retorts The
weather being intensely cold at the
tinne. / found 1t impossible to determine
accurately the amount OF gas made per
hour, nor the amount Of gas produced
from n given volume OF oil. Several
samples OF the gas were taken. how
ever"
one OF the analysises made OF dry
illuminating gas. such as Is TO be made
here, gave the following results:
/, Oxygen ..................... AS percen;
carbonic Aeid..........'.'' 81?
Olefines ................'.'. l3'D4
- a. Ill srI ~ "A