GAS FOR THE OPERATION OF PUMPS

GAS FOR THE OPERATION OF PUMPS

It is a matter of common knowledge that the gasoline-operated fire engine is fast displacing the horse-drawn, steam-operated type, which for so many years did excellent service, but it is not so generally known that gas has also displaced steam to a very much larger extent, and with more marked economy, in stationary water works and pumping stations. That the gas engine is a success as a power unit for all classes of work is no longer a disputed fact, hut few outside of those actually in touch with that class of engineering realize the strides that gas engines nave made within the past few years. Actual results and specific installations are always of more interest to the public than scientific data, and it is therefore desired to enter into the practical side of the case by giving information of work already accomplished in daily service, so that one may learn the very great economy obtainable by the use of this form of power. Of course., it is not desired to create the impression that the steam plant is obsolete and about to be relegated to the scrap heap; far from it; but it will be shown how in many (blit by no means all) cases gas power will do the pumping as reliably and much more cheaply than can otherwise be accomplished.

Let us first consider “high pressure” fire service. Here we have a class of work to perform where the plant spends most of its time idle, hut must be instantly available to its full capacity. Jt is obvious that it is desirable to have the minimum “standby losses," such as keeping fires ready under a battery of boilers, with fireroom crews at all times on duty. But, with a steam-operated installation, such standby loss cannot be avoided. When the city of Philadelphia first considered a high pressure lire service this very point was raised, and after mature consideration it was decided to install a battery of gas engines, each geared to a triplex pump. In Fig. 1 is shown the original engine and pump room, and the following data as to practical operating results are instructive. The plant, which was placed in service in 1904, consisted originally of seven 300 horsepower Westinghouse, three-cylinder vertical engines, each geared to a 2,000,000 gallon Dean triplex pump, and two similar units of 125 horsepower, each geared to 750,000 gallon pumps, all to operate at 300 pounds water pressure. The acceptance test under service conditions was run on March 1, 1004, and gave the following satisfactory service.