The Washington times., 1907-12-08
S Fght Against Gas MONOPOLY Enists Aid From All Classes
CHEAP GAS FIGHT A SUCCESS
IN OHIO TOWN AND 90 CENTS
LSALL PATRONS ARE CHARGED

coke. gas is generated in the ovens
This is taken of through large mains
that extend along the edge ct the
top Of the ovens. The gas produced
during the first ten to fourteen hours
Of the cooking process is OF high dual-
ity. while that produced later is not
so rich in illuminants. The low quality
gas has the same heat units and the
same heat-producing qualities as the
high grade gas, but IL is not as high in
candlepower, and therefore would not
be as salable as the higher quality gas
Dampers in the iues of the big ovens
which lead to the big mains control
the separation Of the two gases. One
damper sends the high quality ga.
into one main. and when the quality Of
gas is lessened. after about ten 70 four
teen hours OF the coking process. this
damper Is closed and another opened.
which sends the gas into the low ousi-
ity main. Extreme care is taken In the
separation OF these two gases, because
II is the high quality gas that is sold
10 the consumers in Hamilton.
Collecting Tar and Purifying Gas.
When the gas leaves the ovens il IS
OF course, OF the same temperature as
the ovens, but II cools rapidly as IL
passes through the big main. which is
exposed 10 the atmosphere. As he gas
cools the tar which II contains ,ettIes
because 1t is heavier than the gus AT
various points along the line OF he big
main the tar drops from the main into
huge pits or pans containing water.
Whleh prevents the gas from escaping
with the tar. The gas is almost entire
~ renewed or tar before Il reaches the
cooling, washing and scrubbingl tanks
out II IS In these tanks that the last OF
the tar and all traces OF ammonia are
removed from the gas. When the gas
gets into the coolers. II passes
through pipes that are surround
ed by water. This process condenses
the gas and removes all Impurities.
From the coolers It enters the washers
and scrubbers. where IT passes through
water which takes out the ammonia.
Then 1t goes through a purifying pro-
cess and into a pipeline ready for dis
tribution.
Use Of the Low Quality Gas.
The low quality gas that comes from
coking process is used for fuel for the
coke ovens 1t goes through the same
process from the removal OF tar and
ammonia as does the high-grade gas.
and the amount Of tar and ammonia OBJ
tained from IL is just the same as from
the high-grade gas But the low-grade
gas Is not purified. 1t is pumped into a
gas holder and from there into mains
that take II 20 the ovens. where. when
combined with air that is forced in by
a huge fan. It forms a combustion and
heats the ovens.
All the gas that is piped of and sold
IS known as surplus gas. because the
primary use Of all the gas produced iSI
for fuel for the ovens. but a plant does
not require all the gas that Is gener-
ated. 80 tho high-Krade gas is purified
and sold. This Is why II is so generally
remarked here in Hamilton that the
coke compan., could make money even
II it did not sell a foot or gas. There IS
no way TO prevent the generation OF
gas in the manufacture or coke. there
fore, Il Il simply a question % whether
the gas shall be s3,d at some price or
allowed TO shoot into the air and be
wasted. That Is the whole secret OF the |
cheap gas proposition. II the plant were
operated for the sole purpose Of max |
ing gas and nothing else Il could not
be sold at that price. but when gas is
a by-product along with tar and ammo !
MIA. It is easy to see how it can be sold !
at GO cents at a profit.
che Hamilton Otto coke plant is very |
economically managed. There is not a |
bit OF anything wasted. Everything |
about the place must be put to some /
use. AS an instance Of this, take the |
coke breeze" In the handling of coke I;
there is always produced a lot Of coke |
dust which l. not salable. This is called /
breeze" II will burn. however. and !
the coke plant uses IL under the ovens |
in it's powerhouse. Thus the waste from /
the plant supplies the fuel at practically |
nc cost.
And this power plant which is a !
necessary part of the institl ton, is also /
made to pay for itself. The company has !
put IN use two generators and is now |
selling its surplus electric current in a |
commercial way at a handsome profit, |