Produced by Richard Prairie, Tonya Allen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team ACETYLENE THE PRINCIPLES OF ITS GENERATION AND USE A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK ON THE PRODUCTION, PURIFICATION, AND SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF ACETYLENE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHT, HEAT, AND POWER Second Edition REVISED AND ENLARGED BY F. H. LEEDS, F.I.C. FOR SOME YEARS TECHNICAL EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL "ACETYLENE" AND W. J. ATKINSON BUTTERFIELD, M.A. AUTHOR OF "THE CHEMISTRY OF GAS MANUFACTURE" PREFATORY NOTE TO THE FIRST EDITION In compiling this work on the uses and application of acetylene, the special aim of the authors has been to explain the various physical and chemical phenomena: (1) Accompanying the generation of acetylene from calcium carbide and water. (2) Accompanying the combustion of the gas in luminous or incandescent burners, and (3) Its employment for any purpose--(a) neat, (b) compressed into cylinders, (c) diluted, and (d) as an enriching material. They have essayed a comparison between the value of acetylene and other illuminants on the basis of "illuminating effect" instead of on the misleading basis of pure "illuminating power," a distinction which they hope and believe will do much to clear up the misconceptions existing on the subject. Tables are included, for the first time (it is believed) in English publications, of the proper sizes of mains and service-pipes for delivering acetylene at different effective pressures, which, it is hoped, will prove of use to those concerned in the installation of acetylene lighting systems. _June_ 1903 NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION The revision of this work for a new edition was already far advanced when it was interrupted by the sudden death on April 30, 1908, of Mr. F. H. Leeds. The revision was thereafter continued single-handed, with the help of very full notes which Mr. Leeds had prepared, by the undersigned. It had been agreed prior to Mr. Leeds' death that it would add to the utility of the work if descriptions of a number of representative acetylene generators were given in an Appendix, such as that which now appears at the conclusion of this volume. Thanks are due to the numerous firms and individuals who have assisted by supplying information for use in this Appendix. W. J. ATKINSON BUTTERFIELD WESTMINSTER _August 1909_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY--THE COST AND ADVANTAGES OF ACETYLENE LIGHTING Intrinsic advantages Hygienic advantages Acetylene and paraffin oil Blackened ceilings Cost of acetylene lighting Cost of acetylene and coal-gas Cost of acetylene and electric lighting Cost of acetylene and paraffin oil Cost of acetylene and air-gas Cost of acetylene and candles Tabular statement of costs (_to face_) Illuminating power and effect CHAPTER II THE PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE REACTION BETWEEN CARBIDE AND WATER