The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
NEED %CARBURETBR
FOR HEAVY FUELS
This. Oil Companies Contend,
Will Solve Gasoline
Problem.
80, 100000 BARRELS IN 1916

IN spite Of their efforts.
the oil companies report the demand Tor
motor gasolene has got ahead Of the
.upp,y. and thus they explain the tact
that easolene prices are mounting 10
the sky. The figures provided BY one
~ tho oil companies relating to the
srouth of gasolene consumption In re-
cant wears show the difficult problem
,hat has confronted the rcf1ners.
In 1900 the total gasolene consump-
.,o, In the United States was 5,OOO,O0o
harrels. In 1905 1t a risen to b,sO0.-
o00. In 1910 1t had practically doupied,
.ho consumption being something over
~ o0O. 600 barrels. BY the end OF 1919
.,ha volume of gasolene consumption had
again practically doubled. the figures pc
ing 10000, 900 barrels. That the CROWN
"a still going on at an Increased ratio Is
Indicated by the estimated CONSUMPTION
Cor 1915, which Is placed at ao'oVV''V'
tarrels. II,
Although the production OF crude OIL
,,s.lf In this country has hardly kept
mace with the demand for gasolene' tne
reoners have beer bile to meet the
s,tuafion through continually perlectlnk
ShcIr processes of manufacture, 40 that
they get "A larger and larger yieid OF
~osolene from the crude OTIS that pro-
duce It. The most notable OF tne I'M
p%scvements In refining processes %n
that made by DR.. Burton. Standard oil
chemist in Chicago. This process, known
as the 'pressure still method. Is new
being used all over the country.
Notwithstanding the perfected meth-
DDS Of refining, the percentage OF gaso-
kne as compared with the percentaee
Of heavier oils extracted from crude
petroleum is small. II no arbureter
could he developed 30 that automopiies
could utilize the heavier products OF
petroleum, 1t Is contended that 1t would
mean there would be Immediately
available for automobile use a tremen-
dous quantity of motor fuel, thus re-
lieying the present lack OF uppiy ana
consequent high prices.
In 10 the present time the oil COM
panies have nrovided such a supply
Of motor fuel that the question OF fuel
has given the automobile manufacturer
practically no concern. II. as now
seems to be the case, the oil companies
have reached their limit in the produc-
ton OF motor fuel of the present type
II would seem that the automobile manu-
facturer must take heed.
Slow progress has been made in the
direction OF utilizing a heavier motor
fuel. One OF the leading authorities OH
motor engineering problems says;
There is no reason to believe that
IN carbureters we have yet reached the
limit of development along the lines
that have been followed hitherto and
which have been In the direction OF the
employment OF the heavier fuel.
1T is not likely that the basic prin-
chile Of the carbureter will be changed,
but that the Improvement or extended
development will be with the view to
deyising a way to divide the fuel Into
still smaller particles, which will be
necessary with the heavier grades.
1T will further be necessary that the
intake he kept warm to prevent re-
condensation 1t Is within the realm
Of possibility that a ~carbureter may be
designed that will handle as heavy a
product even as kerosene oil. Any de-
velopment in this direction would OF
course be OF vital Importance In view
Of the present condition OF the gasolene
market"
During 1916 it is estimated that nearly
q million new cars will be sold In this
country 1t is on this basis that the
oil men estimate that there will be q
demand for approximately 10000, 200
barrels OF gasolene during the sam'
period.
With the visible supply cons!derabl,
under this figure II seems REASONABLE,
certain that g%asolene prices must mount
eth higher unless relief can be obhatnet
from some source. The oil producer
and reincrs are putting forth ever,
effort 10 meet the situation. but the!
say that the automobile manufacturer
too should appreciate the gravity OF thu
present situation n not a It en-
tlrely to the oil companies. The de
velopment Of a new carbureter tina
would permit the use Of heavier grades
OF petroleum would come very nea
solving the entire problem.