New-York tribune., 1903-05-04
HOW TO BURN OIL.

In the May number or 'Ihe engineering
Magazine" Professor Arthur L. Williston pre-
sents some Of the fruits of experience with oil
fuel In the United States. At some future time
he means to consider the economic aspect or
the matter. Just now be confines himself to
the mechanism employed. The fact is, even in
such an apparently simple operation as burning
petroleum under steam boiler. many points OF
much Importance can be determined only after
several years of actual practice. Until recently
q history of this sort was lacking in America.
The tests made in 1887 by the pennsylvania
road showed the feasibility of using liquid fuel
on locomotives, but the matter went no further.
Oil was not adopted. Another interesting ex-
pertinent was the operation Of the big steam
plant at the Worlds Fair, in Chicago, ten years
ago. by the same agency. Yet the example
thus set was not followed extensively. only
after petroleum was discovered in abundance in
California and Texas did the art of burning it
develop in this country to notable extent IN
three or four short years scores OF steamers III
American waters and hundreds OF locomotives
have been equipped with apparatus Tor that
purpose. At last therefore, the basis is afforded
for profitable study.
Freedom from smoke and ashes has long
been recognized as among the advantages OF
LIQUID fuel So. too. has been the fact that 1t
occgIpies only about half as much space as the
coal needed to generate the same amount OF
heat At sea- both IN the merchant marine and
the navies Of the world this is a strong recon-
mendation. plore room is thus left for freight,
which helps TO pay dividends; or, a double sup
pIv having been taken aboard, vessels range
of activity is correspondingly extended A
merit with which engineers are less familiar,
perhaps, and which will further commend
petroleum to naval officers, Is mentioned by
Professor Williston Fires can be forced TO
a greater degree with oil than with coal. Inc
significance of that possibility is seen at once
when 1t is remembered that in many crises our
ing war much depends on slight increase IN
a warship's steaming capacity, either for short
period as during the chase after CerYeraS S
fleet at Santiago. or a long voyage like that OF
the oregon from the Pacific Coast to the West
Indies. 1t is not to be wondered at that Ad-
miraI Melville favors considerable introduc-
tion of oil burning apparatus into the fire
rooms of the American Navy.
No one suggestion has contributed so much to
the efficiency of liquid fuel as the idea of atom
izng it before trying to burn it. Whether the
work should be performed by means or COM
pressed air or steam, though, is a question upon
which experts differ. If only light pressure
is adopted air will probably be the more eco
nomicaI but Professor Williston comedies that
the advantage disappears with hlgh presS1res.
Still. it appears that the prevalent notion about
water vapor possessing some fuel value of Its
own is fallacy, whereas air is essential to COM
bustion Indeed more of it should be sup
nlied than that which carries the jet OF spray
into the furnace. Other channels, leading past
or through brfckwork such as are used in the
Siemerls steel process, desirable, so that the
air will be heated before reaching the COM
bustion chamber. Something can be gained,
moreover by raising the temperature of the oil
before atomizing It.
In the amount Of detailed information, espe-
cIalIv about burners, which is here afforded,
Professor Williston meets a rapidly growing de-
mand Nothing so full and satisfactory has ap-
peared in the technical press during the last
year or two. Professor Denton's interesting
tests. twelve or fifteen months ago, related only
to the burning qualities of Beaumont oil. His
report concerning them did not touch the me-
chanical requisites of the art. Since the be-
ginning of the coal strike of last summer many
owners of steam plants have been wishing to
find some such piece of literature as is now
put at their disposal. This may not answer all
of the questions which have arisen in their
minds. but It will repay careful examination.