Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use | Page 2

Action of
carbide-to-water generators Use of oil in generator Rising gasholder
Deterioration of acetylene on storage Freezing and its avoidance
Corrosion in apparatus Isolation of holder from generator Water-seals
Vent pipes and safety valve Frothing in generator Dry process of
generation Artificial lighting of generator sheds



CHAPTER IV
THE SELECTION OF AN ACETYLENE GENERATOR
Points to be observed Recommendations of Home Office Committee
British and Foreign regulations for the construction and installation of
acetylene generating plant



CHAPTER V

THE TREATMENT OF ACETYLENE AFTER GENERATION
Impurities in calcium carbide Impurities of acetylene Removal of
moisture Generator impurities in acetylene Filters Carbide impurities in
acetylene Washers Reasons for purification Necessary extent of
purification Quantity of impurities in acetylene Purifying materials
Bleaching powder Heratol, frankoline, acagine, and puratylene
Efficiency of purifying material Minor reagent Method of a gas purifier
Methods of determining exhaustion of purifying material Regulations
for purification Drying Position of purifier Filtration General
arrangement of plans Generator residues Disposal of residue



CHAPTER VI
THE CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ACETYLENE
Physical properties Leakage Heat of combustion Explosive limits
Range of explosibility Solubility in liquids Toxicity Endothermic
nature Polymerisation Heats of formation and combustion Colour of
flame Radiant efficiency Chemical properties Reactions with copper



CHAPTER VII
MAINS AND SERVICE-PIPES--SUBSIDIARY APPARATUS
Meters Governors Gasholder pressure Pressure-gauges Dimensions of

mains and pipes Velocity of flow in pipes Service-pipes and mains
Leakage Pipes and fittings Laying mains Expelling air from pipes
Tables of pipes and mains



CHAPTER VIII
COMBUSTION OF ACETYLENE IN LUMINOUS
BURNERS--THEIR DISPOSITION
Nature of luminous flames Illuminating power Early burners Injector
and twin-flame burners Illuminating power of self-luminous burners
Glassware for burners



CHAPTER IX
INCANDESCENT BURNERS--HEATING
APPARATUS--MOTORS--AUTOGENOUS SOLDERING
Merits of incandescent lighting Conditions for incandescent lighting
Illuminating power of incandescent burners Durability of mantles
Typical incandescent burners Acetylene for heating and cooking
Acetylene motors Blowpipes Autogenous soldering and welding

CHAPTER X
CARBURETTED ACETYLENE
Carburetted acetylene Illuminating power of carburetted acetylene
Carburetted acetylene for "power"



CHAPTER XI
COMPRESSED AND DISSOLVED ACETYLENE--MIXTURES
WITH OTHER GASES
Compression Dissolved acetylene Solution in acetone Liquefied
acetylene Dilution with carbon dioxide Dilution with air Mixed
carbides Dilution with, methane and hydrogen Self-inflammable
acetylene Enrichment with acetylene Partial pressure Acetylene-oil-gas



CHAPTER XII
SUNDRY USES
Destruction of noxious moths Destruction of phylloxera and mildew
Manufacture of lampblack Production of tetrachlorethane Utilisation of
residues Sundry uses for the gas

CHAPTER XIII
PORTABLE ACETYLENE LAMPS AND PLANT
Table and vehicular lamps Flare lamps Cartridges of carbide
Cycle-lamp burners Railway lighting



CHAPTER XIV
VALUATION AND ANALYSIS OF CARBIDE
Regulations of British Acetylene Association Regulations o£ German
Acetylene Association Regulations of Austrian Acetylene Association
Sampling carbide Yield of gas from small carbide Correction of
volumes for temperature and pressure Estimation of impurities Tabular
numbers
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTIONS OP GENERATORS
America: Canada America: United States Austria-Hungary Belgium
France Germany Great Britain and Ireland
INDEX
INDEX TO APPENDIX

ACETYLENE



CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY--THE COST AND ADVANTAGES OF
ACETYLENE LIGHTING
Acetylene is a gas [Footnote: For this reason the expression, "acetylene
gas," which is frequently met with, would be objectionable on the
ground of tautology, even if it were not grammatically and technically
incorrect. "Acetylene-gas" is perhaps somewhat more permissible, but
it is equally redundant and unnecessary.] of which the most important
application at the present time is for illuminating purposes, for which
its properties render it specially well adapted. No other gas which can
be produced on a commercial scale is capable of giving, volume for
volume, so great a yield of light as acetylene. Hence, apart from the
advantages accruing to it from its mode of production and the nature of
the raw material from which it is produced, it possesses an inherent
advantage over other illuminating gases in the smaller storage
accommodation and smaller mains and service-pipes requisite for the
maintenance of a given supply of artificial light. For instance, if a
gasholder is required to contain sufficient gas for the lighting of an
establishment or district for twenty-four hours, its capacity need not be
nearly so great if acetylene is employed as if oil-gas, coal-gas, or other
illuminating gas is used. Consequently, for an acetylene supply the
gasholder can be erected on a smaller area and for considerably less
outlay than for other gas supplies. In this respect acetylene has an
unquestionable economical advantage as a competitor with other
varieties of illuminating gas for supplies which have generally been
regarded as lying peculiarly within their preserves. The extent of this
advantage will be referred to later.

The advantages that accrue to acetylene from its mode of production,
and the nature of the raw material from which it is obtained, are in
reality of more importance. Acetylene is readily and quickly produced