La Junta tribune., 1917-03-15
GAS FROM COAL
New system of Supplying Gas just
Installed by Otcro Gas Company
at Expense of $4,000


the manufacture of gas from coal.
The company has been supplying the
people OF La Junta with gas since
March 10. 1915, and in the manu-
facture of this household necessity
has been using crude oil, but the
great advance in the price of crude
oil made this process almost pro-
hibitiev without raising the rates,
so 1t was decided to install equip
ment for the manufacture OF gas
from coal, which was the method
utilized when gas was first discov-
cred
The credit for the first attempt
at utilizing the gaseous product of
coal appears to have been due to
Murdock. who in 1792 introduced 1t
into his house and offices for illu-
mination purposes. More than a cen
tury before. however. the gas OBJ
tanned from coal had been expert
mented upon by DR.. Clayton, who in
1899 conceived the idea OF heating
coal until its gaseous constituents
were forced out OF II. He described
then black oil. and finally
spirit" as our ancestors were wont
to term the gas. This. TO his surprise,
ignited on light being applied to
II. and he considerably amused his
friends with the wonders OF this in
flammatory spirit. For century
afterwards II remained in its early
condition. chemical wonder.
thing to be amused with. but II re-
quired the genius of Murdoch to
show the great things of which II
was capable.
When We look at a dry, firm lump
OF coal IL does not look as II It CON
tanned any gas. for there are no
visible spaces for the gas TO be in
Gas does not exist In the coal be-
fore something is done to IL. when
coal is heated. II is largely changed.
partly by the heat. and partly by
its being burnt, and then the gases
are made which II Is possible TO get
separately and burn. and which gives
It's cheerful flames to an ordinary
coal fire.
The first and perhaps the most Inn
portant portion OF the apparatus
used In gas making is the series OF
'retorts" into which the coal is
placed. and from which by the appii-
cation OF intense heat. the various
bi-products. such as tar. sulphur In
various forms. and coke. are elm
mated. The coal does not burn. II Is
baked and becomes so very hot that
II partly melts and dissolyes Coke
is what Is left after the gas is ex-
traeted. This Is one OF the chief bi-
products. The baking converts the
yield as much as eighty per cent
coke. but II seldom does. Coke kin
dies easily and burns rapidly. and Is
especially useful when quick hot
fire Is wanted.
Each retort has an Iron exit pipe.
through which the gases generated
by the furnace are carried off The
gas finally passes to the washers or
scrubbers. n series OF tall towers.
from which water IL allowed TO fall
as n fine spray. and the gas is puri-
fled From the scrubbers the gns
passes into the gas holder. Al the
bottom OF the Eashoider IL n body
OF water over which the gas floats.
The yasholder IL poised between n
number OF upright pillars. which
allow OF Its easy ascent or dissent
according as the supply Ia greater or
less than that drawn from II by the
gas mains. As the gas rushes in the
sashoider rises to make room for II:
when the gas goes out through the
mains the gnshoider goes down.
The otero Gas Company is now
equipped so II can use either coal
or oil to manufacture gas. and the
volume will be sufficient for the
needs OF the territory supplied for
a good many years. From present
indications about 400 new services
will be Installed by the gas company
during the coming summer. Coke.
one Of the principal bi-products
where gas II manufactured from
coal. viii be introduced In this CON-
munity o. . new fuel. and II 10 said
g. AA~na