East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-26


tions in Pendleton, from an indus
trial and scientific standpoint, has
just been completed in the gas plant
which is now ready for operation as
soon as sufficient patrons have been
secured to justify the Northwestern
Gas & Electric company in building
fires under its gas retorts.
While the East Oregonian has
printed numerous details concerning
the plant and the progress of its con-
struction, yet the actual method of
making gas, the process of transform
ing coal into an invisible substance
which heats and illuminates, has
never been printed in this city, and
an entertaining description of this
progress has just been given the East
Oregonian by Superintendent II. NJ.
Hunt, who has had charge of the con-
struction OF the plant, and who is
general superintendent of the gas
plants for the Northwestern Gas &
Electric company throughout the
northwest.
The Process in Detail.
In the manufacture of coal gas
there is a beautiful and fascinating
system Of compensation or economy.
After the gas is once extracted from
a quantity of coal, the coke remain
ing after the extraction may then be
used to heat the retorts, the gas may
be used to illuminate the plant and
thus It becomes an endless chain of
Transformation.
The process of manufacture begins
with placing coal, (Roslyn coal will
be used here) in retorts, made Of fire
clay and holding about $50 pounds
each. These are Theoretically sealed
and are heated to 1000 degrees for
from four to six hours. This intense
heat in the air-tight retort extracts
the glass from the coal, leaving an
excellent quality of coke.
About so per cent of this coke is
in turn used in heating the retorts.
From the retorts the gas or smoke
from the decomposing coal is forced
into the hydraulic main, which is
sealed by water pressure which pre-
vents the gas from going back into the
retorts. From the hydraulic mains
1t is forced into the exhauster, where
It is reduced to a temperature of so
degrees and from where It passes into
and through the tar extractor, which
takes from the smoke the tar which
1t contains.
Condensed and Purified.
From the tar extractor 1t emerges
an invisible substance, and is now
passed through the condenser, which
is in the form of a tubular boiler,
and from which it passes through the
washer, which Is a hollow cone filled
with coke, through which the gas
passes under constant dripping
spray of clear water. This process
washes the remnants Of tar and other
substances from it and leaves 1t free
from ammonia and ready to be used
as an illuminant.
From the washer II passes through
the purifier, which contains a solu-
ton Of oxyde Of iron. which absorbs
the carbonic acid gas and makes It
safe and ready for use.
From this purifier 1t passes through
the station meter into the gas tank
and is ready for the mains distributed
over the city.
In large plants the by-products,
such ammonia and sulphuric gas are
sold in large quantities, thus reduc-
ing the cost Of manufacture: but in
small plants It Is too costly to put in
place the machinery needed to save
these products and consequently they
are wasted.
What a Ton of Coal Will Make.
One ton of ordinary bituminous coal