GAS, HYDROCARBON 



601, 



1061 



From the air-fluo, the entering air is directed by the reversing valve into the air- 

 regenerator, and there becomes heated ready for entering the furnace ; at the same 

 time the gas entering from the gas-flue is directed by the reversing valve into the gas- 

 regenerator, where it also becomes heated to the same temperature as the air. 



The products of combustion, on leaving the opposite end of the furnace, pass down 

 through the second pair of regenerators (as shown by the arrows), and after being there 

 deprived of their heat, are directed by the reversing valves into the chimney flue. 

 When the second pair of regenerators have become considerably heated by the passage 

 of the hot products of combustion, and the first pair correspondingly cooled by the 

 entering gas and air, the valves are reversed by hand-levers, causing the currents to 

 pass through the regenerators in the contrary direction, whereby the hot pair of re- 

 generators are now made use of for heating the gas and air entering the furnace, while 

 the cool pair abstract the heat from the products of combustion escaping from the 

 furnace. The supply of gas and air to the furnace is regulated by the adjustable stop- 

 valves, whereby the nature and volume of the flame in the furnace may be varied at 

 pleasure, whilst a chimney damper is used to regulate the amount of pressure in the 

 furnace in relation to the atmosphere, so as to allow the opening of the doors or work- 

 ing holes of the furnace. 



For a further description of the applications of this gas-furnace and the regenerative 

 system as applied in the Iron manufacture, see IRON and STEEL. 



GAS, HYDROCARBON 1 . This title has been given to illuminating gas 

 manufactured according to a patent granted some years ago to Mr. White of 

 Manchester. The process of manufacture consists essentially in the generation of 

 non-illuminating combustible gases by the action of steam upon charcoal, coke, or 

 other deoxidising substances, in a separate retort, and the introduction of these gases, 

 technically called water-gas, into the 

 retort in which the illuminating 

 gases are being generated, and in 

 such a manner that these latter 

 gases shall be swept out of the retort 

 as rapidly as possible, so as to remove 

 them from the destructive influence 

 of a high temperature. 



The retorts used for the hydro- 

 carbon-gas process may be of various 

 shapes and sizes. The settings are 

 similar to those for the ordinary 

 retorts, and any number which is 

 necessary may be placed in an 1 oven. 

 They differ only from the ordinary 

 retorts by having a horizontal parti- 

 tion, or diaphragm, cast in the centre, 

 dividing the retort into two cham- 

 bers, and extending to within 12 

 inches of the back. This diaphragm 

 is found in practice to strengthen the 

 sides of the retorts, and thus to add 

 to their durability. The water-gas 

 retorts may be cast from the same 

 pattern as the cannel retorts, and 

 may be set in exactly the same 

 manner. Figs. 1060 and 1061 

 represent a setting of two retorts in 

 one oven, and show the same in ele- 

 vation, transverse section, and longi- 

 tudinal section. The retorts here 

 shown have an internal cubical 

 capacity of about 16 feet, and the 

 bed of two is capable of producing 

 about 10,000 cubic feet per diem of 

 hydrocarbon-gas. The temperature 

 at which the retorts are worked is 

 about the average. The water-gas is generated in the retort A, in the following 

 manner : The upper and lower chambers are well filled with, coke or charcoal, and a 

 a very fine stream, or rapid drops of water flowing from the tap, enters the upper 

 chamber through the siphon pipe, falling into a small steam-generating tube, which 

 is placed jnside to receive it, and instantly converts it into steam, The vapour, in 



