ECONOMICAL GAS WORKS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 75, 27 August 1874, Page 4

ECONOMICAL GAS WORKS.

The Age says : —A trial of gas works, on a small scale, toek place yesterday at the Varra Boiler Works, Yarra-bank. The works are constructed on a principle that has been patented in England, and the exclusive right to use it in these colonies has been purchased by Mr Edward O’Keefe. The drawings and specifications of those in operation yesterday were prepared by Mr R, H. Shakespear, C.E., and the works were constructed by Messrs D. Forman and Co, the proprietors of the Yarra Boiler Works. The speciality of the patent is the adaptation of the apparatus to lighting up establishments of either a public or private character that require a large supply of artificial light, and yet are situated in spots where they canrot obtain gas from any gas company. For factories and similar places the invention would also be of service, as what may be regarded as waste heat could be utilised, and gas manufactured at a more economical rate than is charged at present by companies. The apparatus consists of a furnace and retort, a hydraulic condenser, a purifier, and a gas holder. One of those that has been in operation for some time at the works will supply gas for forty burners, but has been worked up to fifty-eight lights. The retort is charged with coal shale from Newcastle, lignite from Lai Lai, or any other gas yielding substance, as bones, and it does not require to be recharged for four hours. The gasholder is a cylinder eight feet in diameter and six feet high, and the cost of the whole is £95. The gas manufactured gives a very white and brilliant light, and the cost is about 3s fid per 1000 feet. Another apparatus of a like description, but smaller, had been built in with brickwork, to show how the gas will be generated by the heat of an ordinary kitchen cooking stove. The retort is fixed over the furnace, and the heat boils the water in a large boiler on one side, and heats a large cooking oven on the other, while a hot plate, with perforations over the whole, will boil the contents of a number of saucepans set thereon. In the oven of this apparatus, a joint of meat with some potatoes was being cooked, but as the brickwork had not been set very long it was still green and cold, and hardly furnished a fair trial. However, it will be dried by to day, and will be tested again this afternoon, when its operation will be shown and explained to visitors. A number of gentlemen were at the works yesrerday afternoon, including the Inspector-General of Public Works and Dr Paley, Superintendent of Lunatic Asylums, and very general satisfaction was expressed at the handiness of the apparatus, and the ease with which it could be used. Another feature is the safety of the operation, all danger from explosion being obviated by the fixing of a small weighted safety valve in the pipe conveying the gas from the retort to the condenser. The absence of unpleasant smell was likewise remarked upon, the only gassous odors arising when the retort is opened to clear out the coke and recharge it. Should this be found objectionable it could be obviated by turning the retort end for end, and building it in over the furnace with its opening outside the premises, and then the whole apparatus could be fixed in a bed outside, and the gas would not enter the premises save in the main pipe from the gasholder.