Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-02-25

would be possible on a coal burning lo
oomotiye. For this reason II is diff
cult 10 give arbitrary instructions as
TO the regulation Of the steam and oil
supply TO the atomizer, the adjustment
Of hampers or the temperature Of the
oil in the tender These details must
be left 20 the intelligence Of the engine
crew, and their experience must die
tate manipulation Of the apparatus to
suit the constantly changing condi-
tions Of locomotive operation. EXper-
i,nce has shown that proper care is not
usually exercised by enginemen in the
discharge of these duties connected
with economical oil burning, and Il
good measure OF proper manipula-
tion is the extent OF the production OF
black smoke. although this is not al
ways tho attendant of lack of eco
nomy.
The usual method in stationary boil
er practice in oil burning is to turn
on the oil until there is just slight
indication Of smoke, and 1t is then
know that there sa sufficient flow
of oil. with the strong draft in the
locomotive and an insufficient oil sup
ply, an excess Of air Will flow through
the furnace and tubes. tending to cool
the surfaces, and there Is again a loss
in economy
As result of the excessive use of oil
or the lack of sufficient air supply,
the tubes become coated with SCOT and
It is necessary to clean them at fire.
quent intervals by a sand blast, which,
though a very simple device, IL very
effective. The fact that this operation
Is continually necessary would indicate
that SCOT Is constantly forming on tho
tubes and that they are badly coated
when the sanding period arrives. The
average covering of SCOT, which is the
normal condition OF the tubes of oil
burning locomotives is sufficient TO
interfere with the efficient transmits
sion of heat from the hot gases
through the tube wall to the water.
The hot gas must therefore, escape at
a high temperature and the rate Of
evaporation per pound of oil is low
compared with that resulting from
proper combustion and clean tubes.
There is little prospect that the en-
ginemen, especially the firemen, will
materially improve this condition, as
II involves a degree of constant Wig
lance and personal interest in the
work such Is is not often obtained
from the average workman Some at
tention should, therefore. be given to
improvements in the burner and pro-
ces of combustion which will secure
an automatic regulation Of the oil and
air supply so that it is not entirely de-
pendent on the work Of the fireman.
The required fuel supply in loco
motive is closely related to the inten-
sity Of the draft. The draft pressure
could, therefore, be utilized as a
means for obtaining the desired reg
ulation. With the ordinary locomotive
oil burner the liquid is atomized by
steam blast, and when properly ad-
justed the oil is divided into a fine
spray, but IL there is a surplus feed
numerous drops of oil are driven
along with the blast, and there is not
an adjacent supply of air for their
combustion. 1t is oven difficult to
regulate and direct the air supply for
the proper combustion or the oil which
is completely atomized and there is
frequently a flow of gas through the
tubes which is surcharged with carbon
and-tarry products which gradually
deposit on the tubes in the form of
SCOT. Such conditions cannot be re-
garded as satisfactory for economical
oil burning and the burner and the
method of air supply should take its
share of the blame. In search of some
Improvement in the method of oil
burning for fuel something can be
learned from the practice in burning
liquid fuel in automobiles and gas
burning in gas engines. In this prac-
tice there is found the automatic reg
ulation, which is desirable, ARD should
if possible, be applied to oil burning
locomotives.
In the automobiles there Is a more
frequent change of load on the en-
gines than with the locomotive, and
ii is not necessary to constantly reg
ulate the flow of both air and gas
oline. There is frequent adjustment
va Nii' iiiui'' yht bN biit use VI u Nbl =
bureter the air supply Is made auto
matte by its connection to the vac
uum produced by the pistons OF the
engine. BY this means also there is
more intimate mixture of the air
and liquid fuel at the carbureter, and
il enters the cylinder more in the form
of gas which is In condition for COM
plete and economical combustion. It
is probable that the extensive and
growing use of oil for locomotive fuel
will have tendency to raise the price
OF oil TO such q point that the present
wasteful methods cannot be continued,
and this will stimulate invention in the
direction we have indicated. If this Is
not done and the price of oil becomes
too high for locomotive use under pres
ent conditions it will have another
effect which has been suggested by
motive power officers. and that is the
utilization of water power in the west
ern mountain regions and its appli-
cation to electric locomotives.
way Age Gazette.
Notice to the Public.
We have been Informed that the
rame of Bowen Brothers is being
mentioned in connection with the