7* 



PRESinFNTTAL ADDRESS — SECTION A. 



with the air. The same lubricating,^ oil was used in all the tests, 

 the amount used in each 6 hours' test heing about 5/j pints. 



Nature of Exhaust. — Since the exhaust gases in the case 

 of the alcohol fuel contain ii .8 per cent, of steam as compared 

 with 8.3 per cent, in the case of petrol when the minimum or 

 theoretical amount of air is used, on starting \\\) with the alcohol 

 fuel, the exhaust appeared more clouded, especially if the 

 air approaches saturation, due to the considerable length of cold 

 exhaust pipe used in the tests. On the engine and exhause pipe 

 becoming warmed up, however, this entirely disappears, and the 

 markedly clear exhaust was specially noticeable during the tests. 

 This is borne out by other tests. The report of the United States 

 tests referred to contains the following: — 



" In regard to general cleanliness, such as absence of smoke 

 and disagreeable odours, alcohol has many advantages over 

 gasoline or kerosene as a fuel. The exhaust from an alcohol 

 engine is never clouded wdth a black or greyish smoke as is the 

 exhaust of a gasoline or kerosene engine when the combustion 

 of the fuel is incomplete, and it is seldom, if ever, clouded wdth 

 a bluish smoke when a cylinder oil of too low a fire test is used, 

 or an excessive quantity thereof is sui)plied, as so often happens 

 with a gasoline engine. The odours of denatured alcohol and 

 the exhaust erases from an alcohol engine are ^^Iso not likely to 

 be as obnoxious as the odour of gasoline and its products of 

 combustion." 



The exhaust gases collected as a continuous sample over a 

 considerable period showed mcrel\' traces of free hydrogen ;nid 

 hydro-carbons. 



Corrosion. — Owing to the numerous statements which have 

 been made locally with regard to the possible unsnitability of 

 alcohol fuel for power purposes, due to the formation of acids 

 leading to corrosion, special attention was directed to this ques- 

 tion. 



Various chemical tests were carried out. From the exhaust 

 pipe, near the cylinders, gas was withdrawn and jiassed through 

 a worm condenser so as to collect a sample of condensed steam 

 for examination. The result Avas to show a verv slight acidity 

 equivalent to 0.02 per cent, of acetic acid. Taking the mean 

 weieht of exhaust phases formed dnring the tests with the 

 alcohol fuel as 0.99 lbs. ner lb. of fuel, the w^eieht of acetic acid 

 vapour detected would thus equal only 0.00215 per cent, of the 

 weight of the exhaust eases. 



No trace of suljihuric acid was fomid in the water ob- 

 tained bv condensing the steam in the exhaust. The lubricating 

 oil from the crank cliamber wa'? also tested and found to be 

 neutral. 



