the relative cost of different kinds of motive power. Disregarding special reasons which may favor the one or the other method of generating power, the net cost per horse-power hour will be considered in each case in order to show which is the least expensive method of generating power in ordinary circumstances.

R. E. MATHOT.

March, 1905.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
[CHAPTER I]
MOTIVE POWER AND COST OF INSTALLATION17
[CHAPTER II]
SELECTION OF AN ENGINE
The Otto Cycle.—The First Period.—The Second Period.—The Third Period.—The Fourth Period.—Valve Mechanism.—Ignition.—Incandescent Tubes.—Electric Ignition.—Electric Ignition by Battery and Induction-Coil.—Ignition by Magnetos.—The Piston.—Arrangement of the Cylinder.—The Frame.—Fly-Wheels.—Straight and Curved Spoke Fly-Wheels.—The Crank-Shaft.—Cams, Rollers, etc.—Bearings.—Steadiness.—Governors.—Vertical Engines.—Power of an Engine.—Automatic Starting 21
[CHAPTER III]
THE INSTALLATION OF AN ENGINE
Location.—Gas-Pipes.—Dry Meters.—Wet Meters.—Anti-Pulsators, Bags, Pressure-Regulators.—Precautions.—Air Suction.—Exhaust.—Legal Authorization 69
[CHAPTER IV]
FOUNDATION AND EXHAUST
The Foundation Materials.—Vibration.—Air Vibration, etc.—Exhaust Noises87
[CHAPTER V]
WATER CIRCULATION
Running Water.—Water-Tanks.—Coolers 98
[CHAPTER VI]
LUBRICATION
Quality of Oils.—Types of Lubricators 111
[CHAPTER VII]
CONDITIONS OF PERFECT OPERATION
General Care.—Lubrication.—Tightness of the Cylinder.—Valve-Regrinding.—Bearings.—Crosshead.—Governor.—Joints.—Water Circulation.—Adjustment 121
[CHAPTER VIII]
HOW TO START AN ENGINE.—PRELIMINARY PRECAUTIONS
Care during Operation.—Stopping the Engine 128
[CHAPTER IX]
PERTURBATIONS IN THE OPERATION OF ENGINES AND THEIR REMEDY
Difficulties in Starting.—Faulty Compression.—Pressure of Water in the Cylinder.—Imperfect Ignition.—Electric Ignition by Battery or Magneto.—Premature Ignition.—Untimely Detonations.—Retarded Explosions.—Lost Motion in Moving Parts.—Overheated Bearings.—Overheating of the Cylinder.—Overheating of the Piston.—Smoke arising from the Cylinder.—Back Pressure to the Exhaust.—Sudden Stops 134
[CHAPTER X]
PRODUCER-GAS ENGINES
High Compression.—Cooling.—Premature Ignition.—The Governing of Engines 153
[CHAPTER XI]
PRODUCER-GAS
Street-Gas.—Composition of Producer-Gases.—Symptoms of Asphyxiation.—Gradual, Rapid Asphyxiation.—Slow, Chronic Asphyxiation.—First Aid in Cases of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.—Sylvester Method.—Pacini Method.—Impurities of the Gases 165
[CHAPTER XII]
PRESSURE GAS-PRODUCERS
Dowson Producer.—Generators.—Air-Blast.— Blowers.—Fans.—Compressors.—Exhausters.—Washing and Purifying.—Gas-Holder.—Lignite and Peat Producers.—Distilling-Producers.—Producers Using Wood Waste, Sawdust, and the like.—Combustion-Generators.—Inverted Combustion 174
[CHAPTER XIII]
SUCTION GAS-PRODUCERS
Advantages.—Qualities of Fuel.—General Arrangement.—Generator.—Cylindrical Body.—Refractory Lining.—Grate and Support for the Lining.—Ash-pit.—Charging-Box.—Slide-Valve.—Cock.—Feed-Hopper.—Connection of Parts.—Air Supply.—Vaporizer.—Preheaters.—Internal Vaporizers.—External Vaporizers.—Tubular Vaporizers.—Partition Vaporizers.—Operation of the Vaporizers.—Air-Heaters.—Dust-Collectors.—Cooler, Washer, Scrubber.—Purifying Apparatus.—Gas-Holders.—Drier.—Pipes.— Purifying-Brush.—Conditions of Perfect Operation of Gas-Producers.—Workmanship and System.—Generator.—Vaporizer.—Scrubber.—Assembling the Plant.—Fuel.—How to Keep the Plant in Good Condition.—Care of the Apparatus.—Starting the Fire for the Gas-Producer.—Starting the Engine.—Care of the Generator during Operation.—Stoppages and Cleaning 199
[CHAPTER XIV]
OIL AND VOLATILE HYDROCARBON ENGINES
Oil-Engines.—Volatile Hydrocarbon Engines.—Comparative Costs.—Tests of High-Speed Engines.—The Manograph.—The Continuous Explosion-Recorder for High-Speed Engines.—Records 264
[CHAPTER XV]
THE SELECTION OF AN ENGINE
The Duty of a Consulting Engineer.—Specifications.—Testing the Plant.—Explosion-Recorder for Industrial Engines.—Analysis of the Gases.—Witz Calorimeter.—Maintenance of Plants.—Test of Stockport Gas-Engine with Dowson Pressure Gas-Producer.—Test of a Winterthur Engine.—Test of a Winterthur Producer-Gas Engine.—Test of a Deutz Producer-Gas Engine and Suction Gas-Producer.—Test of a 200-H.P. Deutz Suction Gas-Producer and Engine 279

CHAPTER I

MOTIVE POWER—COST OF INSTALLATION