PITMANS COMMON COMMODITIES AND INDUSTRIES OIL POWER SYDNEY -- PREFACE -- THE great expansion which has occurred in the adoption of oil for power production during the last few years appears to call for a work of small but comprehensive dimensions, which, while covering the scope of the subject in a general manner, does not aim at entering into great detail on its many and complicated aspects. It is believed, however, that the engineer, the ship- owner, and the industrial user of oil for power production, as well as for heating purposes, will find this modest a work of considerable utility. The economic advantages of oil as compared with coal have been fairly widely traversed under the respective adaptations, and these will be an admirable guide to those who are doubtful on this point. I have aimed at providing a concise treatise suitable both for the uninitiated and the experienced user, and have selected those data and descriptions which appear to me to fulfil this idea. S. H. N. IV. v. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. PAGE PREFACE V INTRODUCTION 1 THE HOME PRODUCTION OF FUEL OILS . 11 DIRECT OIL FIRING . . 19 OIL FUEL ON SHIPS . 42 OIL FUEL ON RAILWAYS . . 53 TEE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 61 THE MOTOR SHIP . . 81 OILS FOR POWER PURPOSES . 88 OIL FOR POWER AND HEATING IN INDUSTRY 95 OIL STORAGE . . 98 DISTRIBUTION OF OIL . 106 APPENDIX . 114 INDEX . . 120 THE BRITISH MARINER l THE HOLDEN OIL FUEL BURNER THE KERMODE STEAM JET BURNER . THE KERMODE PRESSURE JET BURNER THE KRTING BURNER . THE ORDE BURNER. THE RUSDEN AND EELES BURNER . THE THOMPSON ATOMIZER THE THORNYCROFT OIL-FUEL SPRAYER THE WALLSEND BURNER . THE WHITE LOW-PRESSURE BURNER . THE J. SAMUEL WHITE BURNER BATTERY OF OIL-FIREDWATER-TUBE BOILERS STOKEHOLD OF THE EMPRESS OF BRITAIN l COAL PAGE Frontispiece UNDER . 44 STOKEHOLD OF THE EMPRESS OF BRITAIN UNDER OIL . . 45 R.M.S. MAJESTIC . 49 THE CAMELLAIRD-FULLAGAR ENGINE . 69 THE M.S. YNGAREN . . 85 OIL STORAGE DEPOT OF BRITISH PETROLEUM CO., AVONMOUTH . 101 OIL POWER CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION SINCE the outbreak of the Great War the provision of cheap fuel supplies has been the chief problem of this country, and economic conditions have arisen which appear to have made the probability of a return to these somewhat remote. These conditions have, how- ever, been responsible for the great extension which has occurred in the adoption of oil for power production and have brought the price of coal and oil into close approxi- mation. Indeed, if all the economic advantages attain- able by the use of oil be taken into consideration, the price of the latter is lower than that of coal when used in the internal combustion engine. This state of affairs has been an unprecedented opportunity for oil, and the great restriction in the supplies of coal compelled fuel users to resort to thht description of fuel of which large and comparatively cheap supplies are available. The relative position of these two forms of fuel at that time was such that it constituted a serious problem for this country. The superiority of oil over coal in many directions has been confirmed over and over again, and it may be asserted without fear of contradiction that oil must be counted as one of the chief factors in the success of our arms on land as well as on sea in the recent European conflict. Viewing the future in its broad aspects, 2 OIL POWER another assertion may be presented, with equalassurance, namely, that oil will play a very prominent part in the ultimate result of the commercial and industrial struggle which is now only in its initial stages. The vital point on which this more extended develop- ment is dependent is that of supply. There have been, from time to time, assertions made casting doubts on the continuation and expansion of petroleum pro- duction...