23 



The first six solutions above flashed at room temperature 70 

 degrees F. The richer solutions, however, burned very freely 

 with a steady flame. Numbers 7, 8, 9 and TO burned quite freely, 

 but in order to ignite them it was necessary to touch the liquid 

 with the flame, thus generating enough vapor to support combus- 

 tion. It was necessary to heat No. n to about no degrees F. 

 before it could be ignited, but it burned for some time. No. 12 

 was heated nearly to the boiling point before it could be ignited, 

 after which it burned only a short time, showing that a 25% 

 solution is about as weak as will burn at ordinary temperatures. 

 In other words, if enough cold water be added to burning alcohol 

 to reduce it to 25% purity, the flame will cease. 



SUMMARY. 



The following is a summary of the results of the experimental 

 work as far as completed in regard to the comparative values of 

 alcohol and gasoline in the production of light and power. 



1. The higher heat value of 94% alcohol is but 68 to 71% 

 that of gasoline. 



2. The lower heat value (the value more nearly attained in 

 practice) of 94% alcohol is but 66% to 69% that of gasoline. 



3. When used for the production of light, 94% alcohol will 

 produce from 53% to 85% as much light as an equal volume of 

 gasoline. 



4. Alcohol of 94% purity must be sold for from eleven to 

 seventeen cents per gallon to compete with gasoline for lighting 

 purposes at twenty cents per gallon (the present retail price of 

 gasoline in Ames). 



5. Alcohol, when used in a generator lamp, will produce from 

 two to four times as many candle power hours as kerosene in a 

 wick lamp. 



6. It was found impossible to soot the mantels of any of the 

 lamps with alcohol. 



7. Alcohol of 94% purity, when used in engines designed for 

 gasoline, has but 68% to 85% the value of gasoline in the pro- 

 duction of power. 



8. To compete with gasoline at twenty cents per gallon for 

 use in gasoline engines, 94% alcohol must be sold for from thir- 

 teen to seventeen cents per gallon and 90% alcohol from eleven 

 to fifteen cents per gallon. 



9. None of the engines could be started readily with alcohol, 

 although a few could be started with less difficulty than others. 



