Description of the Process of Manufacturing Coal Gas, for the Lighting of Streets Houses, and Public Buildings / With Elevations, Sections, and Plans of the Most Improved Sorts of Apparatus Now Employed at the Gas Works in London and the Principal Provincial Towns of Great Britain; Accompanied With Comparative Estimates, Exhibiting the Most Economical Mode of Procuring This Species of Light

by Friedrich Christian Accum

Near to N, is an aperture communicating with the stuffing box in which the axis of the machine moves, and through which it should occasionally be supplied with a small portion of melted tallow.

To adjust the height of the gas flames of the burners, so that they be all uniform, open the stop-cock which admits the gas into the metre, and open also the stop-cocks of the burners, and as soon as the air has become discharged by means of one or two revolutions of the metre, light all the burners. Adjust the height of the flames in the first instance by their stop-cocks, that they become all of an equal height, which should be about double the diameter of the flame; if any of the flames be too low when the stop-cock is fully open, a small weight must be placed upon the top of the floating vessel of the regulator, sufficient to produce the required flame at the burner, and then again adjust the remaining lights by their stop-cocks as before stated; this being done, the aperture to which each burner is screwed must be sufficiently narrowed, that it will admit no more gas than is requisite for the required height of the flame, when the stop-cock is fully open. The diminution of the aperture of the stop-cock may be effected by a brass plug fitted into it, with a hole in its centre, which must be gradually widened with a drill until the flame has required the proper height. It is recommended, instead of adding weight to the floating vessel of the regulator, that the tubes which supply the gas be sufficiently capacious to render the weight unnecessary.

The burners should also be examined from time to time. Observe that the plugs, sockets, and every other part of the gas metre and regulator be air tight, and that there be no escape of water or gas.

An escape of gas, either from the metre or from any of the tubes or burners, will be discovered by looking at the index of the metre, as the wheel cannot fail to move whenever there is an escape of gas, if the stop-cock is open which supplies the gas to the metre. The place where the gas escapes will be found in the usual way, either by the odour which the gas produces, or by passing a lighted taper over the apertures and connections of the metre, and along the tubes leading to the burners, which will cause the gas to take fire at the place where the leak happens to be.

The following remarks will assist the workmen in correcting any irregularities which may occur in the lights connected with the apparatus.

A diminution, or extinction of the lights, may be occasioned by a deficiency of water in the gas metre or regulator; when this occurs the necessary quantity of water must be supplied as before directed up to the cypher line on the scale board E, of the metre, and opening the aperture M, where it may be seen when the water has risen to the proper height in the governor.

A diminution of light may also be occasioned by some obstruction or contraction of the tubes which supply the gas, or by a diminution of the pressure of the gas in the mains, to which the metre was originally adjusted.

When the lights increase above their standard height, and are variable with the changes in the pressure or velocity of the gas in the mains or tubes of supply within the house or place, lighted, there is then reason to believe that the governor is not performing, which may arise from the following causes. Its floating vessel u, x, y, z, may have become fast by the friction of the spindle or guide rod, requiring cleaning, or by an accumulation of water in the air-vessel of the floating vessel u, x, y, z. The water may be drained off at a small plug by taking out the floating vessel. The same inconvenience would arise from a diminution in the proper level of the water.

In order to ascertain that the governor performs correctly, observe at the time of lighting or extinguishing any of the burners connected with it, that its floating vessel rises and falls every time the stop-cock is opened, and that the lights do not suffer any material change.

An instantaneous starting or dancing of the lights, is generally occasioned by an accumulation of water in the tubes through which the gas passes; if this should happen in the vicinity of the metre and governor, it may be drained off at the aperture K. A provision for a like purpose is also made at the bottom of the governor when detached from the metre.