, 1923-10-19
How to Burn Gas

" D1
Ever since the invention of manufactured gas
we have had with us the person who blows II
~ - Tn The wears gone past this person has fire.
duently paid the penalty with MS lie anu mas
been the butt of the newspaper paragraphers
Jokes. With the advent OF natural gas users
made a more careful study of heating and light
ing and manufacturers improved appliances un,
til they are today practically proof against al
accident. Ignorance, of course is dlfflcult 10
combat. Inventive genius has done It's utmost IN
Appliances and the press has done its part to
dispel misunderstanding. Technical experts nave
lent their assistance to splendid purpose.
Casper has had In recent weeks several deaths
resulting largely from lack of understanding
Of lust what and what cannot be done with
natural gas with safety to tho user.
Notwithstanding the fact that natural gas has
been in general use in the city for several years,
aewcomers are constantly arriving and those un'
acquainted with its employment are installing 1t
In their homes, that a brief chapter on the use
Of gas seems almost imperative.
Manufactured gas is mammal by "transmu-
tation of crude, dirty inert coal into energetic
gas" Natural gas is made by nature and is
transmitted to the consumer in its natural state.
The heating value of natural gas is about twice
that of manufactured gas. That is, 1t takes two
cubic feet of manufactured gas to furnish the
heating energy of one cubic foot of natural gas.
Because of its higher heating value, natural gas
requires twice as much air for combustion as Is
required by manufactured gas, otherwise the
two gases are handled just the same in the home
appliance. Natural gas does not have a distinc-
tive offensive odor like manufactured gas, and
this makes the detection OF natural gas leaks in
the home more difficult. The flame temperature
Of the two gases Is practically the same.
Large volumes Of gas, to be burned, must have
some Of the air mixed with the gas before the
gas reaches the flame. In Bunsen or blue flame
burners, the air is sucked into the mixer by the
aspirating action of the gas. The air shutter
must be adjusted until a clean blue flame is pro
duced. A yellow flame with this type of burner
in an indication of waste.
Small volumes of gas forced out through a
mail hole, about the diameter of q pin, can get
enough air to insure perfect combustion with
q yellow flame. This type, known as the lumin-
Gus flame burner, can be used only for room
heating purposes and then only in positions
where the flames do not impinge on each other
or any surface.
Grid or open-top stoves are desirable for good
ssrvice SO as to get the most direct path for the
heat from the flame to the food. Many natural
gas cook stoves have solid tops and burners 212
to 49, inches away. This is wrong. Such stoves
always waste gas and frequently will not give
any service when the pressure is low.
Natural gas appliances should always be ad-
justed for low pressure only, and only low pres
sures of one to two ounces used. This would save
gas and give better service during the newt
able low pressure conditions when the demand
is greater than the available supply.
Even with perfect combustion, 1t is not desir.
able to have carbon dioxide and water yapor,
that must always be formed, remain in the room.
If the burners are not correctly adjusted, if
something goes wrong so that the heater begins
to generate carbon monoxide gas, which is a poi.
son, the use of adequate flues is a good insur-
ance against accident
Gas lighting should be from incandescent
mantle lamps only. 1t is squarely against the
public's interest for any community to maintain
a candle power standard for manufacturing gas
SO as to permit the use of open flame burners.
The lamp must be closely adjusted If efficient
and satisfactory results are to be obtained.
Kissing or roaring sounds are indicative of ex.
cessive or bad adjustment. Adjust the lamp by
adjusting the air shutter and gas needle valve
of the burner so as to obtain the maximum illu.
mination and a quietly burning lamp.
The ten commandments for the use of gas NAV
be found in the following compiled out of the
experience of experts the country over:
BLUE flame burners must be properly ad.
justed and burn blue only.
2IThe inner cone of the blue flame must not
strike any surface.
3-Solid tops on cook stoves should not be
used; use grid or open tops only.
4ITop burners on cook stoves should be only
IA inches below the cooking vessel, and gas
used at low pressures only.
5-Radiants in radiant fire heaters should
never be operated so the radiants glow more
than threequarters Of the distance from bottom
TO top.
6-The flame on uminous-flam heaters
must not strike each other or any surface.
1-Incandescent nantes must not hiss or
roar.
s-Flues should be used on all water heaters
and room heaters used continuously.