Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-08
LIGHTING ny ACETYLrxH.
Said 10 He IN Ideal 1lluminpnt for
Isolated nnIIdinnn

At present IL does not appear likely that
acetylene will become a serious competitor
OF electric light or city gas in the larger
towns, but in small towns aud villages
where the amount of lighting done will not
warrant the expenditure called for by cleo
trio or city gas plants acetyleue is
eminently well adapted. For isolated build
ings Of various kinds IL is an ideal illumi-
nant. If tho user of an acetylenc gas ma
chine will but bear In mind the fact that he
Is operating his own gas works and will act
accordingly. there is no reason why acety-
lene should not prove n reliable and satis-
factory form OF iluminant, writes Theo-
dore Tamey in Casters Magazine.
Much has been written of the dangerous
character OF the gas itself, even without
mixture with air, but Il has been pretty
definitely determined that the pure gas.
when properly generated and maintained
at low pressure will not explode from
shock or fire. When compressed to two
atmospheres IL begins to show explosive
qualities when heated. when, however, air
Is mixed with acetylene, 1t becomes vio-
lently explosive. the range OF cxplosivenese
extending from about 81 per cent of gas
to "a per cent some authorities placing tho
upper limit as high as SO per cent. In tho
form OF burner usually employed the open
ings In the lava tips are very small, and
match may be applied to such burner,
passing mixture OF gas and air. without
II the burner tip be removed from the Ak
danger or explosion but such is not the case
ture. Bearing these facts in mind the gem
orator must be constructed to contain n
minimum OF dead air space when first
started. The lesson OF experience has been
that the person starting the apparatus fire.
quently becomes impatient in waiting for
the small blue flames to reach their full
size and brilliancy, and he removes the
burner tips TO accelerate matters. trying the
openings with n match This method, whilo
invariably effective in determining whether
or not the air mixture has passed off, can
not be employed with safety TO the person
or surrounding property. Many sucs In
stances are on record and have, correctly
enought, been set down to carelesBness. but
the primary cause of the difficulty is de-
fective design of the apparatus. II is en-
tirely possible to construct apparatus which
will give almost pure gas Immediately.
Further than this. the portion of the ma
chine which must be open for recharging
should not introduce large amount of air
into the system.
With view to increasing profits. makers
OF machines are frequently induced to rate
them above their real capacity; that ia
pToNlsion IL not Udue lor tne quantity OF
carbide necessary to supply the specified
number OF lights. The charge becoming
exhausted the lights go out. necessitatlng
recharging at night, This Is a dangerous
operation by artificial light. and should bo
avoided. In purchasing n machine the
buyer should see that an allowance Is made
in the generator for at least eight tenths
OF a pound OF carbide for every half-foo
burner. For dwelling this allowance
would probably suffice for the daily light
ing period. but for other conditions OF
service the amount should be increased ac-
cnrdinpIy