The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-06
Millions Visible i'm
New r1OtiVe Power.
Great Things Are Expected of Liquefied
Carbonic Acid Gas.

ly $060,000 Is invested these tubes,
the valves with which they are fitted
and the cans which screw down over
the valves to protect them.
In filling these tubes with the gas a
strange transformation takes place.
The gas comes from the liquener so
rapidly and under such great pressure
that its temperature falls to between
300 or 400 degrees below zero, and be-
comes what is called liquefied. The
gas is forced into the tubes until they
show a pressure of $500 pounds to
the square inch, and under this pres
sure are said to contain 20 pounds Of
lIquefied acid. The inside area of the
tubes is about 3is inches by feet,
Now, If you open the valve on a tube
after 1t has been filled, no liquid issues,
as one might expect from the term
"liquefled" as applied to the gas in it's
compressed state, but instead, a
steam-like Vapor rushes out so in
tensely cold and with such great force
that burning sensation is produced
en- the hand, and 1t is velvety and
cry-not a trace Of moisture. 1t is al
most odorless, but such as is detected
rs like the smell of soda water with
out syrup. The gas compressed into
the small space of one of those tubes
is equal to 162 cubic feet at atmos-
pheric pressure: or, in other words, a
volume of gas sufficient to fill a space
51a feet long, 5ls feet wide, 6 feet high
is compressed into a tube feet long
and 3la inches in diameter
ITS VARIOUS USES.
The tube, filled with the proper
quantity of gas, is then commercially
valuable, and the gas is ready to begin
| the work intended for 1t. 1t is wei
known that carbonic acid will eXtin-
| guish fire, and extinguisher tanks filled
with water are being charged with II
under heavy pressure. In case of fire
in coal mine quantities of gas have
| been introduced into the mine with
| the effect that the fire was smothered
| In the form described 1t is being used
! in the chemical departments of schools
| and colleges in assisting in expert.
| lnentS and demonstrations with much
! success. Used in soda water it is the
! ingredient or agent that gives it the
| sparkle and the pungent taste ant
| forces it from the soda water drum II
! the cellar Of the fountain. For all tina
| the acid tube is charged to 2,50
pounds per square inch a controlling
| gauge is attached to the pipe tina
| connects the tube with the soda waite
drum and the pressure is regulated a
will. One hundred and fifty pounds 4
the usual pressure for soda wate
drums.
Carbonic acid gas Is the "life" o
beer. and when the gas escapes tn
beer becomes fiat. But tube of liqui
gas attached to a barrel of beer jus
as it is attached to a drum Of sod
water, keeps it "alive," and also force
the beer from the barrel in the ice ho
or cellar to the bar Only fiftee
pounds pressure is used for beer. Tw
pounds of the liquid gas will charge
ten gallon soda water drum. In tn
old days marble dust was used to gen
crate the gas in bottled pop" an
cheap mineral waters, but now nearl
all carbonated and draft beverages ar
treated by the new process.
AS a power little is known as yet o
appliances invented for the utilizato
of carbonic acid gas. A company, capi
talized at 100000 has been organize
in Baltimore. 1t is understood that a
the beginning the liquefed gas will h
applied to motorcycles and street rail
way motors. 1t is only a question of
short time, it is believed, when it wi
be used in remote places where stear
is impracticable or too costly to driv
motors, drills and similar machinery.