From the eliminator the air passes through the heating coils enclosed in C, where it is heated to the necessary temperature for admission to the rooms.
The regulation of the temperature of the tempering coils and heating coils is accomplished as in the other plants described. The thermostats with their motors operate the valves of the heaters to admit steam sufficient to keep constant temperatures at the different parts. The humidity is maintained at a constant amount by saturating the air at a constant temperature and therefore no humidostat is required.
CHAPTER XII
GASEOUS AND LIQUID FUELS
Gaseous and Liquid Fuels.
—Gaseous and liquid fuels used for domestic illumination and heating may be divided into three general classes—coal gas, including carburetted water gas and producer gas and their various mixtures; oil gas, acetylene and gasoline gas. Of these the first is the most important as an illuminating gas, while for industrial and domestic purposes producer gas is of no importance as a fuel gas. Gasoline, acetylene and oil gases are generated and used to a remarkable extent in isolated dwellings as fuel and for illumination.
The value of any gas for domestic purposes will depend on the amount of heat that is produced when it is burned. In the earlier days of its use coal gas was employed entirely as an illuminant and its value was expressed in illuminating power; at the present time the standard often prescribed by regulation is that of its illuminating capability and is stated in candlepower. There is, however, a tendency to establish the more consistent standard of expressing the value of gas by its heat value. The reasons for this is the general use of mantle gas burners which depend on the heating value alone for their efficiency and the fact that coal gas is very extensively used for domestic fuel.
Coal Gas.
—Coal gas is derived from the solid hydrocarbons of coal transformed into the more convenient, gaseous form of fuel by means of distillation. Coal gas was first made by distilling coal from an iron pot over a fire and to some extent this is still the principle of the present practice. The gas as it comes from the retort is subjected to a refining process of washing and scrubbing to remove the undesirable properties when it is stored in a large gasometer for distribution through pipes to its places of use. Coal gas is now used largely for fuel as well as for lighting. Unless the heating value of gas is regulated by law in any community and determinations of its quality are made regularly by some competent official, the amount of heat contained in coal gas is entirely at the option of the manufacturer and manager’s conscience. The value as given in the table on [page 252] is the number of B.t.u. coal gas should contain. The heating value of any gas is determined by burning the gas in a calorimeter made expressly for the measurement of the heat of combustion for each foot of the gas consumed.