T H E J O C R - V A L OF I S D U S T R I A L A X D EA-GIA-EERIlZ'G C H E M I S T R Y
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THE LOW GAS PRODUCER AND ENGINE A. M. Low has invented a self-contained unit for the direct conversion of coal energy into work; it is essentially a producergas engine with a compact gas producer attached to the end of the cylinder. The illustration shows a IOO h. p. unit, which is lb. of said to have developed a brake horsepower-hour on coal. Coal is fed into the hopper A, from which it is conveyed by four worms through the heater tubes T. These tubes pass through the gas chamber G, connected with the inlet valve, the exhaust-heated chamber E , the combustion chamber C, and open into the ash and soot chamber S . The latter is fitted with a non-return valve, which admits air or a mixture of steam and air to the tubes. This air is drawn by the suction of the engine over the incandescent coal, maintained in this state by the heat of chambers C and E , and passes through holes in the tubes T into chamber G. I t is by this time mixed with the gases given off from the incandescent coal, and the mixture passes
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s from chamber G through the inlet valve into the cylinder of the engine. In starting, the coal is brought up to incandescence by running for a few minutes on illuminating or other available gas. The feed of the worms, which are driven through gearing a t the right, may be adjusted to suit the load, and the coal, after it has given off all its gas, is discharged as ash into the bottom of the ash chute S. Trouble from the formation of tar, which might have been expected, has not been experienced, as the tar is not gasified, but passes entirely off as a fine ycllow dust. The rapid heating of the coal in small quantities causes this, and the high temperature and relatively low compression, about 90 Ib., prevent condensation and precipitgtion in the engine passages.
A NEW TYPE OF RECORDING DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE GAUGE AND RECORDING FLOW-RATE METER. The new float type Bristol recording differential pressure gauges are designed to record differential pressure or differences between two pressures, or to record changes of level of liquids in closed spaces under pressure. One of the special features of these new float type recorders is that they can be constructed to accurately record on charts having scales graduated uniformly in terms of velocity or volumes of air, gases, steam or liquids flowing. Another special feature is their ability to withstand sudden fluctuations of differential or static pressure and a t the same time produce accurate records of rate of flow of volumes or quantities of liquids or gases flowing. These float type recorders are made for both high and low ranges of differential pressure, and may bersubjected to either heavy or light static pressures.
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Among the numerous applications fur recording differential pressure gauges, some of the most important are for recording rate of flow of air, gases, steam, water and other liquids, in connection with Pitot tubes, Venturi meters, orifices, nozzles, and combinations of Pitot tubes and orifices or nozzles. The extreme simplicity of construction and the absence of
multiplying devices and all other complicated mechanisms make these recorders especially suitable for practical service under ordinary operating conditions in manufacturing plants and industrial works, such as steel works, blast furnace plants, power plants, gas works, by-product coke plants, water works, natural gas systems, chemical works, etc. The accompanying figure shows a cross-sectional diagrammatic sketch outlining the fundamental principles of construction and operation of one model of float type recording differential pressure gauges. It will be noted that there are two pressure chambers, A and B, intercommunicating through the connection C. I n this way the pressure casing forms a U tube, and the liquid employed for low ranges of differential pressure is sometimes water and the liquid employed for high ranges of differential pressure is usually mercury. I n the pressure casing A, a cylindrical float, D, is outlined, and this is connected rigidly by arms to the shaft F, to which the pen arm G is rigidly fastened. The rise and fall of the liquid in the pressure chamber A, therefore, causes the float and pen arm to move about F as a n axis. The dynamic or high static pressure is applied to the surface of the liquid in the compartment B through the pipe I and the low static pressure is applied to the surface of the liquid in the compartment A through the pipe H. When the static and dynamic pressures are to be applied, the by-pass L is first opened, and then the valves J and K are opened, and later the by-pass L is closed, so that the difference between the two pressures acting on the liquid in the compartments A and B will produce corresponding differences of its level in these compartments, thus causing the pen to record the differential pressure. By making the cross section of the pressure chamber B of certain proportions, as indicated, it is possible to produce a scale whose graduations are uniform for equal increments of flow of volume. The Rristol-Durand Radii averaging Instrument may be used on chart records obtained from this instrument for integrating the total flow during a period of 24 hours.
THE STATUS OF THE CERESIN INDUSTRY The present condition of the ceresin industry is discussed by Lach in Chemiker-Zeitung, 37, No. 56, 573. Owing to the high, price of Galician ozokerite, the ceresin industry is in a serious position; the market price of ceresin has
A.VD ESGI.VEERI-\’G advanced and accordingly the consumption has decreased. Recently two innovations having a technical bearing upon the ceresin industry have appeared. One is a variation in the process of manufacturing potassium ferrocyanide: the other is the introduction of magnesium hydrosilicate as a decolorizing agent. It has been demonstrated at the “Frankonit” works of the Pfirschinger Mineralwerke G. m. b. H., a t Kitzingen on Main, and a t the “Tonsil” works of the Tonwerke Moosburg, A. & M. Ostenrieder, in Munchen, t h a t the ceresin bleached with silicate is superior to t h a t decolorized with bone-black; this may be accomplished at one-half the cost. Partially refined ceresin is treated only once with concentrated sulfuric acid, and a finished product is obtained by treatment with 3 to j per cent of “Tonsil,” instead of subjecting ozokerite to two treatments with sulfuric acid, thereby occasioning a loss of 20 per cent.
HORTON GAS-ENGINE PACKING A new packing for large gas-engines has been designed by James Horton, of the Carnegie Steel Co. It is claimed t h a t excessive friction and wear on the piston rod is eliminated by preventing the closing of the collapsible ring under excessive pressure. As shown herewith, the packing rings proper C and D are in contact with the rod. They are placed in grooves, the walls A and B of which are free t o move in line with the rod and thus
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bind the packing rings against forcible closing a t the time of the highest pressure in the cylinder. I n practice it is found that this side clamping of rings does not affect the sealing quality
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Ron Paciiisa F O R G.4s ESGIXE
of the packing, as contact with the rod is sufficient t o prevent the passage of gas, but yet so light that wear cannot be detected on the rod. All rings and corresponding parts of the packing are interchangeable.
SCIENTIFIC SOCILTIES
PROF. DR. PAUL WALDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF APPLIED CEIEYISTRY
CHEMISTRY
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members, and he is also a n honorary member of the London Chemical Society. He was the Imperial Russian delegate to the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry. By GEORGE FREDERICK KUNZ Prof. Walden’s thorough command of a number of spoken Received Jan. 11. 1913 At the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, languages will greatly facilitate the performance of his duties held in New York, last September, the celebrated chemist Prof. as presiding officer of the International Congress. Russian, Dr. Paul Walden, of Riga, was selected to serve as president French, German and Livonian he speaks fluently, and he is of the Ninth Congress to be held in St. Petersburg in 1915. thoroughly familiar with knglish and Italian as well. His No more fitting choice could well have been made, for the quiet, dignified manner, coupled with a large share of mental great and important services rendered by Prof. Walden to the and physical alertness, can also count as a n important asset. progress of chemical science are universally acknowledged in the Some five feet eight inches in height and weighing about 175 pounds, with blue-gray eyes and fine teeth, and wearing his hair scientific world. Born near Riga in the province Livonia, July 27, 1863, the brushed high up on his forehead, his appearance is very prenew president is by birth a Russian, although of German blood. possessing. When addressing a n assembly, his words come His early education was obtained a t the Real-school in Riga, readily and his forceful, direct delivery brings them home to his and later a t the Riga Polytechnicum. Here he had the privilege hearers. His thought seems to clothe itself spontaneously of studying under the great Ostwald, then professor of chemistry and naturally in well-chosen and effective words and phrases; a t this institution, and he was soon recognized to be one of the there is no touch of ambiguity in his clear-cut sentences and they most apt and brilliant pupils of his master. I n 188j, he was always convey to his auditors the strictly logical sequence of his appointed assistant in the department of physics, and in 1888 ideas and deductions, convincing them that his statements are in that of chemistry. The year 1892 saw him privatdocent, the outcome of ripe reflection and dictated by sound judgment. and two years later he became professor of analytical and I t is for his extended investigations in the field of stereophysical chemistry. He is now, and has been since 1896,assistant chemistry, and for his more recent epoch-making work on nonprofessor of inorganic and physical chemistry and a director of aqueous solutions, that Prof. Walden is best known. H e the Riga Polytechnicum. On Ostwald’s resignation of the began his scientific career, under the inspiration of his great professorship of chemistry there, Walden became his successor, teacher, Ostwald, with a series of investigations directed to the and he still holds this position. His degree of Doctor of determination of the constitution and molecular weights of Philosophy was given him a t Leipzig in 1891;in 1893 the degree salts in aqueous solution by means of electrical conductivity of Master of Chemistry was conferred upon him a t Odessa. measurements. Then followed the degree of Doctor of Chemistry from the After Ostwald left Riga for Leipzig, Walden turned from University of St. Petersburg, and that of Doctor of Engineering physical chemistry to organic chemistry. First in collaborafrom the Riga Polytechnicum. He has laboratories both in tion with his teacher and colleague, Bischoff, and later inRiga and in St. Petersburg. dgpendently, he carried on a long and important series of reRussia has not failed to honor the attainments of one of her searches in the field of stereochemistry. Conspicuous among greatest citizens, Walden having received many important the achievements of Walden during this period may be menRussian decorations. He is commander of the Order of tioned his collaboration with Bischoff in the preparation of the Vladimir as well as of those oi St. Anne and of Stanislaus. well-known “ Handbuch der Stereochemie,” the discovery of the The Russian Academy of Sciences has elected him one of its important phenomenon since known as Walden’s inversion, and
