ACETYLENE LIGHTING 47 



X. ACETYLENE LIGHTING 



58. The Nature and Preparation of Acetylene. ACETYLENE 

 is a combustible gas burning, under proper conditions, with 

 a white light which is the nearest approach to sunlight of 

 any of the artificial illuminants. As commonly prepared it 

 has a strong, disagreeable odor. It produces an extremely 

 high temperature when burned. It is easily prepared when 

 wanted and it may be stored in metal tanks and used when 

 desired. 



The gas is commonly prepared by allowing CALCIUM 

 CARBIDE to react with water. Calcium carbide is a gray rock- 

 like solid that is prepared in the electric furnace by the action 

 of coke and lime. The calcium carbide may be shipped any 

 distance and stored any length of time so long as it is kept in 

 air-tight, moisture-proof containers. When acetylene is de- 

 sired, the carbide is allowed to react with water in a device 

 called a GENERATOR. 



Exercise 22. Generating Acetylene 



Select a narrow baking powder can or a tin cup and fill it half full 

 of water. Drop a piece of calcium carbide as large as a small marble 

 into the water and notice the bubbling due to the escape of the gas 

 from the water. Notice the odor 

 of the gas. Hold a lighted match, 

 at arm's length, over the top of 

 the can and ignite the gas. Notice 

 the appearance of the flame. 



59. Acetylene Generators. 

 Figure 30 shows a simple 1 \ f 

 generator. It consists of a 



GENERATING TANK and a GAS FlG - 3 '~ A sim P le acetylene 



generator. 



HOLDER. As the carbide 



feeds into the water, acetylene is generated which is de- 

 livered through a pipe to the gas holder. From the gas 

 holder it is conveyed by pipes to the place where it is to be 

 consumed. The gas holder is much like two cans, the larger 

 standing upright and containing water; the other, the smaller, 



