294 
TMf? TROPICAL AGRIOULTURIST. 
[October r, i8go. 
PETROLEUM AND OTHER LIQUID FUELS 
FOR USE IN TUB WORKING OF 
STEAM ENGINES, 
We have always taken a great interest in the 
question of utilizing petroleum as a seuree of steam 
production in engines and, also, if that should 
be found possible by the repression of the odour 
as fuel for drying furnaces in tea factories. 
We have written often and quoted largely on 
the subject, and latterly we have been waiting 
for more light on the question before noticing some 
important papers with which wehave been furnished, 
in order that we might deal with them. We are 
disappointed that a reliable authority to whom 
we sent a paper on the Priestman oil engine 
should return it with the statement that he 
had not seen a Priestman’s oil engine or heard 
any definite particulars about its working ; 
but he has promised to make inquiries and 
communicate the result. Meantime he writes 
— “ If what the makers say about it is correct, it 
is just the thing we want for estates with no fire- 
wood left.” As our readers are aware, this is the 
only oil engine which has yet been put to the 
test of actual trial in Ceylon, and it has been 
favourably reported on. The serious questions herein 
Ceylon of course, will be the cost of the oil and the 
quantity required per horse-power. We have always 
felt that the prospect of a large use of petroleum 
in Ceylon, for engines or furnaces, depended on the 
possibility of using the waste or refuse product result- 
ing from the refining of the crude oils. To admit of 
the import of such waste substance, we suppose 
the Ordinance No. 6 of 1887 would require to 
be amended, for by that Ordinance petroleum is held 
to be dangerous when the flashing point is below 
76 of Fahrenheit’s thermometer. We cannot doubt 
that means could be devised, by chemical treatment 
or mixture with other substances, whereby waste 
petroleum could be rendered safe (the danger of 
explosion and contaminating odour being equally 
obviated), and the prospect is that we need not be 
dependent on America or Russia for this class of 
engine fuel. It has been found and is being 
constantly discovered in various parts of India 
and Burma and is used in locomotives on the 
Indian State railways. Meantime, with reference 
to our Ceylon standard of safety, it is curious 
to find in the description of the Priestman en- 
gine the statement that there can be no danger, 
because “oil can be used, having 800 specific 
gravity and upwards, with flashing point from 
75dfg. (Ideg. below our safe point) to 150deg. ” 
But we suppose 75deg, as flashing point is safe 
enough, because our Petroleum Ordinance provides 
“That when all or any of the petroleum on board 
a ship or in the possession of a dealer is declared by 
the master of the ship or the consignee of the oarg.i, 
or by the dealer, as the case may be, to be of one 
uniform quality, the petroleum shall uot be deem, d 
to be dangerous if the samples selected from the petro- 
leum have their flashing points, on an average;, at 
not less than sovtnty-six degrees of Fahrenheit’s ther- 
mometer, and if no one sample has its flashing point 
below seventy-three degress of that thermometer.” 
As to coat of petroleum and kinds of oil or fuel which 
can ho used, the paper on Pries' man's engino states; 
“0:1 used is about 12.5 pints per actudb.p. per 
hour f(.r the larger, and about 1.0 pints for tlie smaller 
engin.'H with full load. Mineral oil can be piuvha ed 
in England at about O.Jd per gallon, ci sting from Id 
t>) 1 1 rl I- r tclual li.p. per hour. Any ordinary mhietal 
:-i| niUbh-. ll'jy-'.l Daylight, Ruseian, Orient , Tearo.se, 
King'd E'ouiity, M^aU.: White, WhKo Camelia, Pipe 
.ico i-'i Par.'illin, I’riine Wiiile, AmericHnFnel,&c.” 
We suppose that tho quotation “ Id. to IJd per 
actual lioriic powor per hour ” for petroleum oil 
would have to bo increased by at least 50 per cent 
for Ceylon, say lid to l|d, or say to 2d per 
h. p. per hour. It crude oil or waste product 
could be used, the cost would, of course, be less. 
It is claimed for the engine that it is perfectly 
safe, because “ Oil and not spirit is used.” Amongst 
the merits claimed for this engine are “ No 
gas, 110 ste.am, (?) no danger, no chimney, few 
working parts, no extra insurance, piston 
self lubricating, quickly started, no coal, no 
boiler, no fire, no diioer, (?) no water consumed, 
repairs very email, little space required, works 
anywhere.” And then as to mode of working ; 
“The working; of the Priestmau Oil Engine is bo 
simple that an unskilled person can give all the 
attention it requires. The motive power is obtained 
from Mineral oil, one or two days’ supply being placed 
in a closed iron vessel inside the foundatica ot tho 
engine. The oil having been mixed with :dr under 
pressure, is drawn into the cylinder and ignited by 
an electric spark from a small ordi.oary battery sup- 
plied with the engine. To start the engine, after 
heating the vaporizer a few minutes, it is or.ly neces- 
sary to admit a sm ill quantity of oil into the cylinder 
by taking a turn or two of the fly-wheel. Little or 
no attention is required in working the engine, and 
there is no risk in leaving it unattended, ns, should 
the oil become exhausted, the engine wil then only 
cease to run. Detailed working instructions are sent 
with every engine.” 
There are certificates from such scientists as 
Sir Wm. Thomson, and testimonials from persons 
who have used the engines for widely differing 
purposes, one gentleman stating “ In a i lace like 
mine where water is scarce, and a high pressure 
engine unsuitable, your engine is indisp msable.” 
The prices seem fairly moderate, but these the 
local agent can supply. We may, however, quote a 
note to the effect that 
“These prices inclu ie, besides the engine, all the 
plant required for creating oil vapour, mu king the 
user entirely independent of boiler or gas works. 
The>-M is little or no expense in fixing thf-se engiues, 
as they are self-contained.” 
So far in regard to Priestman’s engino, in which 
oil only is used. But we have also before us a 
paper on 
“ Holden’s Patent System ” of using l.quid fuel as 
auxiliary lo i-o!iJ fuel in the firoboxes of locomotives or 
boilers of similar type. 
The advantages here are that a mixture of fuels, 
or a particular fuel alone, can be used according to 
circumstances, the calorific value of coal or wood 
being apparently greatly increased by a mixture 
of “ green oil,” (?) or coal gas tar. We quote as 
follows : — 
“ By this system, liquid fuel sn 1 air .ire introduced 
into the firebox above a thin layer of solid incan- 
desemt fu 1 by means of a .special injector, aud 
b rut in combination witli the solid fuel, without 
any alteration of the firebox, other than the inser- 
tion of one or more tub s through the casings, 
the holhr so fi-tsd being equally suitable for the 
1 so of ordii ary fuel. The use of this method re- 
.sults in eff otual combustion, onHro absence of smoke, 
intense ;.md regular hea% and great economy of fuel. 
Slack, inferior coal, lignite, cinders, wood, peat, or 
sawdust may with equally good results be used as solid 
fuel. The a r necessary f .r combustion, uot having to 
he introdn el through the fire, a very small amount of 
draught is requir. d, and in the case of locomotives 
tlio orifioo of the blast pipe may advantageously be 
enlarged from ,'50 to GO per cent, reducing the wear and 
to.r of _ the fir, ‘box, fuocs, smokebox, aud chimney, 
proventing the eraisdon of sparks and asheq i.nd con- 
ducing to ec inomio aud efficient working by the dimi- 
nution of back pressure. 
Fr. m a description of the patent in Engineer- 
ing, we learn that 
“ The first experiments of Mr. Holden on liqui l fuel 
burning were made at the Stratford works of the 
Great Eastern Railway Company on a boiler in the 
