The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-05
LIGHT FROM SMOKE.
Method of Using the Waste as an IL
luminant.

M. Tobiansky recently demonstrated
before the Belgian Society of Engineers
the value of an apparatus which is we'll
worth the study of manufacturers
Smoke may be more or less invisible,
but its composition is invariable. 1t is
made up of pulverulent matters, incom
bustible gases, as nitrogen and anhy-
bride oarbonic, combustible gases such
as oxide of carbon, hydrocarbides and
hydrogen. These represent the struc-
ture of smoke, no matter how tranSpar-
ent 1t may be. The fact is, however
that this heterogeneous mixture may be
burnt familiar proof of which is Civ
en- in the paper horn, the smoke of
which is ignited, but after this secoad
combustion the smoke is not again de-
stroyed, the exact point being to make
the smoke disappear absolutely and to
ind some means of making a profita BILE
use of this same destruction.
The method of NJ. Tobiansky is as fol-
dows: First, filtration of the smoke to
rid it of pulverulent matters and of the
condensible hydrocarbides; second, car
Duration of the gases to increase their
facility of combustion. For a long time
attempts have been made to filter the
smoke by Kidding it of its carbonic acid
and to do away with chimneys by re-
placing them with an artificial draught
which sucks or draws back the smoke.
NJ TobianSky has combined the two
systems, ana knowing IndI caTDurdIeQ
air produces an excellent gas he carbu-
rated the smoke which had previously
been filtered and drawn back The prod
ucts of the combustion thus treated gave
him new gas, which he called .pyro-
gas" and which does not condense. For
purposes of lighting, heating and motor
uses the method is invaluable and per-
naits the utilization of detritus of all
sorts.
The operator by means of an instrument
Of 10 70 a
filled with a porous substance which is
saturated with a volatile hydrocarbide
such as naphtha or petroleum. The porous
matter is a combustible for example,
coke and we will see in moment why
this is so.
In passing through the filter the
smoke deposits on the coke a portion of
the hydrocarbides or tars which it con-
tains, at the same time becoming charged
with the vapor of the volatile hydrocar-
bides with which the porous matter is sat
urated. After filtration the smoke is only
composed of combustible gases, such as
oxide of carbon, hydrocarbide vapors and
hydrogen and of fncombustible gas, as
By this method M. Tobianslzy obtains
from smoke of all sorts the greatest pos
is present in the smoke for the purpose
of heating the Undergraduates of the filter,
the volatilization of these Undergraduates
being all the more complete and their en-
ployment all the easier since the heavy
hydrocarbides. such as petroleum. while
being cheap, nay perfectly answer every
the smoke warns the water of the refrig-
orator which surrounds the hitter, and TINS
hot water in turn can feed a boiler FINAL
~ the porous matter, the coke OF the I'll
ter, after having been charged with con-
densed Undergraduates and with the car
bon in suspension in the smoke, forms an
excellent and very rich combuSttble. In
fact the Tobianslxy method makes the
combustion of material employed in what
ever way as complete as possible, and TINS
is no small economy when one CONSIDERS
that in a locomotive where all is combined
/ to produce the smallest loss the return is
! ONLY Is r1er cent.-La Nature.