PETROLEUM AS FUEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5634, 6 December 1879, Page 7

PETROLEUM AS FUEL.

i A method of using petroleum as fuel for steam boilers has been recently tried t,t Pittsburg (Q.S) with, it is said, complete success ; and, as oil can be had anywhere in the region of the wells for about 70s. a barrel, the company who hold the patent believe that the invention will be readily taken up, especially by the own°rs of steamboat?. It resembles, we learn from the journal of the Franklin Institute, in its principal features, many of the forms previously described—air, steam, and oil-spray being ejected into a suitable fire-box. The spray is said to be immediately converted into inflammable gas, becoming a pure, bright, powerful flame, devoid of smoke and producing intense heat. To accomplish this result extremely simple machinery is used. A small bole is drilled into the iron front of the fire-box, and into this passes a tube, which branches as it leaves thn point into two pipes. One of these connects with the boiler itself, and the other with the receptacle containing crude oil. At the junction of these pipes there is an aperture for the admission of atmospheric air. Valves of peculiar construction reculate the quantity of steam or oil admitted into the surface. This is all the machinery required, but its operation, according to the Pittsburg Telegraph, is wonderfully complete and remarkably successful. The little steamer Billy Collins was selected for the test, and was fired up at 9 a.m. A preliminary blaz* of wood under the boil-r raised the small quantity of steam necessary to start the burner into operation. The oil valve wa* opened a trifle, the steam valve ditto. The petroleum trickled into the feed pipe, was caught up by the steam, aud both pluuged into the depth of the fire box, a ma«s of many tongued, roaring, brilliant flames. As the pressure of steam increased, this flame grew in fury and intense heat, roaring through the entire length of the boiler with a ?ouud like the coming of a thunderstorm. The needle of the steam guago climbed rapidly up the dial, and in 20 minutes the saftty-valve blew off at 1201b. pressure. It was a remarkable sight. Here was a boat puffing through the water with no sign of smoke from her chimney, no speck of soot in flue or fire-box, no fireman, no opening of furnace doors, no dirfc, no c »al going in, no clinkers or ashes to be s en anywhere. A turn of the hand regulated the terrible fl une that seemed trying to overpower the limits of the furnace, and another tarn of the hand brought the fire down to a quiet little flame a foot or two long During the forenoon occupied by the test about 20 gallons of crude oil were consumed, and it was estimated that with oil Idol, per barrel, thi3 fuel was equivalent to coal at 0 c. (quality not stated) in value, oth'*v things being equal. Hut other things are not equal, by any means, the journal referred to declare?, and everything is in favour of oil as against coal. The 1 ibo ir and expense of 4< firing up" are dispensed with, and the engineer can regulate the 11 une as he does the steam in his engine. The dinner from sparks and flying cinders is entirely done *way with. The space occupied by oil, as compared with an equal quantity of coal, is wry much less, and this much is gained foroar*;o. Further, the wear and tear upon boilers, grate bars, &c., is infinitely l'ss, and, it seems scarcely necessary to add, the comfort of passengers is greatly enhanced bj T the absolute freedom from dirt of all kinds. To ocean-going steamers this device mast prove of extraordinary interest. A tank of oil bituated at a remote end of the ship would hold foci sufficient for a double trip and supplaut the great coalbuukers, with their attendant dirfc. It is also maintained tint the new furnace is full of promise for railway locomotives also.