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

[54] Now erecting at Birmingham.

The following statement exhibits the result of a series of experiments, made (1816,) at the Westminster Chartered Gas Light Establishment,[55] for the purpose of ascertaining how far, and under what circumstances the decomposition of coal tar is a measure of economy.

[55] Communicated by Mr. T. S. Peckston.

Two tar retorts worked seven hours, produced 3054 cubic feet of gas. The quantity of tar decomposed, amounted to 354 lb. therefore 8 cubic feet of gas, (omitting fractions), were obtained from 1 lb. of tar.

Two tar retorts, worked nine hours, produced 4591 cubic feet of gas. The quantity of tar decomposed, was 525 lb. Hence 1 lb. of tar yielded nearly 8³⁄₄ cubic feet of gas.

Fifteen cwt. 16 lb. of tar, produced 16,112 cubic feet of gas, = 9¹⁄₂ cubic feet of gas, to 1 lb. of tar.

Five cwt. 3 quarters, 22 lb. of tar, produced 6660 cubic feet of gas, = 10 cubic feet of gas to 1 lb. of tar.

Five cwt. 17 lb. of tar, produced 5193 cubic feet of gas, = 9 cubic feet of gas to 1 lb. of tar.

One cwt. 81 lb. of tar, produced 1737 cubic feet of gas, = 9 cubic feet of gas to 1 lb. of tar.

One cwt. 30 lb. of tar, produced 1313¹⁄₂ cubic feet of gas, = 8 cubic feet of gas to 1 lb. of tar.