PETROLEUM AS STEAM FUEL.

West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

PETROLEUM AS STEAM FUEL.

The London " Standard" gives the result of some experiments at Woolwich, by Mr C. J. Richardson, a civil engineer, who has strenuously advocated tho use of petroleum in the capacity of steam fuel. Tho matter has now passed into the hands of the Admiralty. There is reason to hope we shall shortly witness a very appreciable amount of efficiency added to the already extraordinary powers of our modern steam engines: — The French Committee (on the subject) found that four pounds and a quurter of crude petroleum would raise as much steam in seventeen minutes as nW pounds and a third of coal would raise in thirty minutes. It was calculated that in sea-going steamers the adoption of this oil a& fuel would save 250 per cent, in bulk, and that whore fifty men were employed in tending a boiler heated with coal, ten would be sufficient if the fuel were petroleum. It was proved that in tho latter case the fire could be raised to a blast in one minute and a half, and extinguished with like celerity. The American Commissioners reported, as the result of their ' inquiries, that the steamgenerating power of petroleum was more than twice that of anthroctic coal, and that the steam itself could be raised by petroleum in less than half the time which was necessary when coal was consumed. To, this evidence we may hope to see ah encouraging addition when the facts of the Woolwich experiments become officially reported. Of the importance ! of these investigations the reader may form an idea by reference to a statement made by a very good engineering authority to this effect — that were it possible to devise some method by which a good steam boiler now working up to 200 horse power could be made to work up to 220, each pound of coal evaporating eight pounds of water instead of seven, the fortune' of the inventor would be made By tho use of oil instead of coal in the Woolwich experiments, it would seem that an engine of 100 horse power becomes exalted into one of 140, and even beyond that ; the gain, therefore, being 40 to 50 per cent, insted of 10. Three pounds of water were evaporated at the speed of 500 pounds every twenty minutes, every pound of oil serving to evaporate thirteen pounds of water. Not only petroleum, but all the hydro-carbons are said to be utilized by the Woolwich apparatus The danger of petroleum as an article in store on board war ships has been urged . with some pertinacity. But " petroleum is a term of several significations, it has little or not!, ing to do with the volatile explosive liquid which I is generally associated with the name.

As stored in .tanks the fuel is not to be ignited even though a rod hot cannon ball went through the mnss. In foot \\\o flpnnoe \m to bo wavmotl as

it were, with a more inflamtuablo com pound in order to prepare the way for the regular fuel. Among the advantages of petroleum as a steam generator, may be reckoned the very compact form which is given to tho furnaces. It requires comparatively but a small firebox, no iron grate bars, and no ashpit. Two of its fire-boxes, with a water space'between them, can be constructed within the area necessary for one fire-box in a steamer worked by coal. When used as fuel petroleum requires very little air, and if this is properly regulated there is no smoke and no waste. It is conducted into the furnace uuder the most perfect control, and admits of a remarkable degree of cleanliness. • In fact it promises to accomplish for the steam engine what gas has conferred upon us in the illumination of our cities.