WATER-GAS. PROPOSED INTRODUCTION INTO AUCKLAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 377, 15 June 1889, Page 4

WATER-GAS. PROPOSED INTRODUCTION INTO AUCKLAND.

A DANGEROUS ILLUJSJJNANT.

Auckland, June 12, Coxsidckajjlk interest has been aroused in Auckland by the announcement that a Melbourne lighting company were proposing to take steps tointroduccintotluscifcy, if favourable concessions were mado, an illuminating and heatintr power as yet new to the colony, in the form of what is known as water-gas. The statement that the gas can be producod here at the low rate ot 4d per thousand feet, as compaied with tho Auckland 01 as Company s charge of 7s 6d per thousand feet, is a powerful factor in tho desire evinced bj Aucklanders to learn more about tho mooted objects of the Company and the natuie of the now li^hb.

INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR BROWN. With a view to eliciting 1 some information from a scientific source as to the manufacture and properties of water-gas, a E.tar representative saw Pi ofessor Brown, Professor of Chemistry, at the Auckland Univeisity College Buildings yesterday, and was supplied with some interesting particulars relating to the illuminant. The- professor first explained the process of manufactuie, winch is a very simple and comparatively inexpensive one- The gas is generated by passingsteamoveracylinder, orcupola, filled with hot carbon or coke, the product being- led off by pipes to a gasometer. The gas gives out a powerful heat, rather greater than that of the ordinary coal-gas, but when unimprcgnated with any other substance tho light is a poor one, being merely a blue flame, exactly similar to that of a charcoal tire. However, whero water-gas has been used as a light, a gi eater brilliancy of illumination has been secured by impiegnatiug the carbon in the cylinders in the piocess of manufacture with crude petroleum, which has the otiect of making the gas yield a white light. A good light has also beenobtained byplacingmagnesium wire in the centre of a network surrounding the gas-burner, which is similar to that used in the ordinary coal-gas system. The water gas first came into use in Euiope about sixteen years ago, and since then has been adopted as the heating power in many factories, foundries, and ironworks, and is now extensively employed in steelforging in the north of England. It has also been in requisition for the same purpose in America.

A POISONOUS GAS. Professor Brown said there was a very great drawback to the use of water-gab as an illuminanb in dwelling-houses, hotels, and, in fact, for all household purposes, and that was that it was a very dangerous fluid — poisonous, in fact — much moie so than coal gas, its nature being exactly the same as the fumes of bui'ning charcoal, and the effects equally deadly unless great care be taken. This is clue to the very large proportion of the fatal carbon oxide or monoxide — as much as 50 per cent. — contained in the gas, generated by the process of its manufacture from heated carbon. The proportion of carbon oxide in | coal-gas is on the average considerably less than 10 per cent. What addb infinitely to the danger is the fact that water-gas is perfectly non-odorous, not giving foith the least smell as indication of its presence. Various attempts have been made from time to time to impregnate it with a smell which should act as a warning of its escaping through a leak inthe pipesor through the gas not being properly turned off, but all these attempts have so far failed ; ! curiously enough, ifc seeming to be im- | possible, owing to some peculiarity in the nature of the fluid, to render it perceptibly odorous.

EXPERIENCE OF TORONTO. As illustrating the baneful effects which may result from the household use of watergas, thiough this dangerous component of monoxide, Professor Brown detailed what had. come under his observation when in Toronto (Canada) about eighteen months ago. For some two years previous to this, water-gas had been the sole illuminating power in the city. It was found that the heaC given foroh was considerableandsatisfactoiy, and the light, when the gas had been impregnated with crude petroleum or magnesium wire used, was good, but it was soon ascertained that the non -odorous gas was an especially dangerous one, owing to the tatally large proportion of deadly carbon oxide which it contained. Numerous deaths had occurred in hotels and dwelling-houses I through leakages or inadvortence in not properly turning off taps and meters. In such case=, with closely-shut doors and windows the deadly fluid worked as suiely and as

FATALLY AS CHARCOAL FUMES, and quite imperceptibly. In the case of ordinary coal-gas, the strong unpleasant smell gives timely warning 1 in the case of an escape, b.ifc even did the water gas possess such an odour it would not be a sufficient safeguard. The danger is in the nature of the gas itself ; there is always a, risk run by those who utilise it in their dwellings for household purposes. This risk was eventually, after constantlyoccurring fatalities from the gas, brought home to the minds of the citizens of Toronto, and they determined to DO AWAY WITH THE WATER-OAS system of lighting forthwith, and adopt in its stead the old coal-gas, and when Piofessor Brown left the city they were pulling down the extensive and costly works and gasometers, and starting the erection of large and more expensive coal-gas retorting works. This was mainly owing to the dangerous nature of water-gas as used for household purposes, and as no great charge has been announced as having been effected in the manufacture and nature of the gas, Aucklandcrs, should they adopt the new lighting power, would ha\e to be prepared to run a considerable risk as the price of the large decrease in the cost of their gas. It has been stated by the various water-gas companies and syndicates that it is possible to impart a distinctive odour to the fluid in process of manufacture, but the consummation has not as yet been attained

UTILITY IN FURNACES. The only really important use to which water-gas can bo turned, says the professor, is to supply the heating power tor furnaces, etc., in foundries, manufactories, mills and other factories, in getting: up and generating motive power for machinery. For this purpose it is better suited than coal-gas, giving out a somewhat greater heat, and the cheapness of the gas would be another consideration in its favour. It might also be adopted as a means of heating rooms and buildings, provided proper draughts stove-pipes, etc., were carefully attended to. Until some means are discovered of rendering the gas odorous, and les3 iniurious in its effects, if that be possible, the inhabitants of towns will hesitate to adopt it as their means of beating and lighting, although its exceeding cheapness is a very great factor in its favour in these days of heavy gas bills. Further information as to the nature and safety or otherwise of the water-gas will no doubt be forthcoming from Australia before long.