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9
The cause of the varying quantities recorded in
the Meters after passing through the governors to the
burners, is due in a great measure to the partial stoppages
in the service-pipes belonging to the Company,
such as water, defective supply-pipes, napthaline, &c.,
as well as different pressures given during the hours of
burning, and more especially to the many atmospheric
changes that take place during the seasons; for instance,
during sudden variations of temperature, numerous
lamps, both metered and un-metered, especially the
latter, will have the gas-way so impeded with napthaline
that scarcely three feet of gas per hour will be
passing, and in some instances they go out altogether,
in consequence of this crystalline substance forming so
rapidly in the fittings, thereby causing incessant inconvenience
and trouble. So soon as discovered, the
lighters have been instructed to remedy the defect by
pouring a ilittle paraffine oil through the cocks and
stand pipes, which generally has the effect of dissolving
this substance.
The following extract respecting Napthaline is taken
from the Journal of Gas Lighting of the 22nd
December, 1874:—
"Coal Gas is never produced without the formation of
some napthaline, and the common belief is a true one—that
the higher the heat, the greater is the production. It is,
in fact, the troublesome accompaniment of poor gas, in
the manufacture of which, "quality has been sacrificed for
quantity." The practical sagacity of gas engineers has
taught them how the inconvenience from the presence of this
body may be avoided. The chief characteristic of napthaline