PETROLEUM

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1932, Page 11

PETROLEUM

RELATION TO PROGRESS

LECTURE BY MR. M.

MACBETH

A locturfe, illustrated by motion pier tures, on the petroleum industry, its by-' products and its connection with progress, was given.by Mr. M. Macbeth, 8.E., M.Sc, to. members of the Wellington branch of the jSTew Zealand Institute of Marine and Powor.Engineers on 'Wednesday evening. ._■■'. ' . ' Petroleum, said Mr. Macbeth, was mentioned, as pitch, 3000 years B.C. It was'also'mentioned in the BibW:- In 1859 Colonel Drake struck crude oil at a depth of 70 feet—a lucky strike, when it is considered that some wells'have had to be pierced t6 a .depth of two miles. Since that: date engine designers had mado use of crude.: oil in its various forms. /. In his lecture, last winter.said Mr. Macbeth, he illustrated the two methods of drilling—the percussion method and the rotary .drill method. ' The oil was carried by pipelines from the well to the refinery, and there.'were' 85,000 miles of such pipeline in America to-day. Itt the development of the engine there was external and internal combustion.' External; combustion . meant' heating boilers for the production of. steam, and great develbpmeiitsl had taken place in the steam engine..; Recently there was mention of a.steam.en? gine working at a pressure of 35001b to the square inch in a boat, However, in a steam engine there was at, certain !dss up the smoke-stack aricT in .Other ways: The idea occurredt.6 'scientists of generating the :powe'r from the cylinder of the engine. One of the first experiments was made, in. -1168.0, with gunpowder in the' cylinder. .-.lnternal combustion wag used to-day 5a the -kerosene engine,- the motorcar 'engine,' and tho Diesel engine, etc.. 'BacK.. engine had its {peculiarities, and. needed - different lueis,; ; A f<3w r yeara;>'go. there were quite low pressures and slow speeds. 'Development' had taken' place, and now' imirfense hoatsVand .-pressures are possible. . ~;;.". ...... ■-.: DisfrtiiNackTniEoil; Mr.' Macibetn carried out the eiperi-v ment/of distilling crude oiL Crude oil Was: composed:. o| ' various .! products^ which were given1 off at- various boiling points. At 35. degrees centigrade < the; first vapours we're: given . ofT T>y7 ' the crude oiL .Petrol was taken off up to 150 degrees centigrade; This petrol had to be thoroughly refined before it was •fit for use in;, the .car... .kerosene was take; n off up: to 300 degrees. . The petrol and- kerosene accounted for; 50 per; cent, of' the crudfe oil. 'Lubricating oil-was the nex£product, and to -avoid, f ' cracky ing, it was taken off under a ■vaeuunv The oil was then;ready to b'q.vefinea, ;tp have wax and other compounds' ro* moved. ?.';":..-- ~'~-:: '-T*;: 'V-V •"■" • "■'-'-■ f'i'-' . Mr. Macbbth dealt fully .witll -the processes needed .to produce' the 'beftt, motor spirit. -The cylinder- of a car and its: component: paijts; -'■ TVere shown in.the jßlm; ahd:tlie, various faults ..exposed. The•■ other films Vere. of ..the inarch of progress; in Australia since 1895—the various njearis' and changes of transport were excellently illust^atedr^" progress in; New Zealand exemplified by the .Man'gahao'hydlro-electrig works, the dairying industry,; numbers ,of :,triotor7. cars on the Hutt road, the flax industry, and tlie ferry.steanißr Bangatira.> -The rubber-' industry;-In.' Australia, wHn'-ita; use of petroleum products; was shownj Mr. .P. McKenzio! m'oved.;a hearty yoto of thanks, to,; the, speaker,- which was carried ■ -with ■ acclamation..,;, ~'.■ v