GAS HEAT WITHOUT FLAME.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 12 July 1912, Page 3

GAS HEAT WITHOUT FLAME.

CHEAP NEW SYSTEM

Professor W. A. Bone, F.R.fa., Li\esey protcssor of coal, gas, and tuel industries at Leeds "University, in a lec- ■ ture at Leeds described a new method of gas iieating which,, he believes, maywork a revolution in fuel economy, anct have very important industrial effects. Professor Bone is one of the greatest living authorities on the subject of combustion. , . i lhe new process has now been put into practical operation in Leeds. jiot surfaces promote the "combustion of gases in contact with them, and it is *-. i this property that the process is. Odsc-d. An explosive mixture of gas and' uir in the proportions fox- uomplece combustion (or with the air in slight excess) is caused to bum without flame in contact with the surface of a red-hot porous solid, such as a block made of particles of firebrick bound together by some suitable means. —Description of Process-. The new process in the form of "diaphragm heating" may be used for cooking purposes, such as grilling, roasting, and toasting. . A porous diaphragm (made as already described) is mounted in a casing with a chamber, for introducing the gas, at the back. The front of the diaphragm remains uncovered. •Gas, under slight, pressure, is made to Jiow through the porous diaphragm and is ignited as it issues at the front surface, giving a white flame. The inflowing gas is gradually mixed with air until the proportion for complete combustion is obtained. The white flame diminishes in size and loses its white colour. Then it retreats on to the surface of the diaphragm, the particles of the surface of which soon become red-hot. All signs of a flame disappear, and there remains an intensely glowing surface — -a. wall of fire, but without flame—from which radfaTes a genial heat. The diaphragm may, be maintained: at any. temperature up to about 1500deg. Fahrenheit, according to the rate of the supply of gas. In addition to "diaphragm heating," the, process is adaptable to the'heating of furnaces, the raising of steam in mul-to-tubular boilers, and the melting of metals, such as for instance, type metal for newspaper purposes. A variety of combustible gases other than coal gas can be used in th<? process, including petrol-air gas, natural gas, and caTburetted. water-gas. Professor Bone states that the heating effect is economical and easy to control.