Talk:Sewer gas destructor lamp

Untitled
The lamps are distinct from ordinary gas street-lighting in that really they are part of the sewerage system, so I think they are worthy of an article of their own.

I have included a reference to a JE Webb patent & a recent article in the Sheffield Star newspaper, plus references to various online sources.

Perhaps there should be an introductory paragraph? G J Coyne (talk) 09:04, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Odour control
These devices are described in Humphreys, G.W. “Main Drainage of London”, London County Council, 1930 as odour control devices since they are used to draw out the gasses from the sewer below through buoyancy of the heated air and not to combust or incinerate the odor compounds. The primary purpose being to exhaust the foul smelling gasses above the heads of pedestrians on the street. In fact, sewer gasses are largely inflammable (do not ignite) even when methane is present. Methane generation in sewers, while commonplace, does not generate sufficient concentration to be flammable. Only one minor explosion in Tyneside has been confirmed as arising from methane generated completely in the sewer environment. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Odorguy (talk • contribs) 17:09, 16 February 2014 (UTC)
 * What you say may or may not be true, but it definitely needs citations from WP:RS, which should be added to the article. Also, you should look up the definition of "inflammable", as this misunderstanding could potentially be fatal...  See Flammability for details. Cheers!  Reify-tech (talk) 18:18, 16 February 2014 (UTC)
 * A 1909 book says sewer gas destructors (not necessarily lamps) in general "cremated" the sewer gases (page 381), but were found to be too costly to operate. It describes Webb's "extractor and destructor" on page 370, saying it "destroys the noxious properties of sewer-gas", and that the patent claims it uses no additional coal gas to power the lamp, and that the sewer gas gives "increased light". It mentions that they were widely used in Great Britain, as well as "abroad in Paris, Naples, Melbourne, etc." Being some 25 years after the apparent introduction of some destructors, and nearly 20 years after Webb's patent, it would have the benefit of hindsight. While it's an old source, it shows significant expertise on the issue of sewer gases, and I'd consider it a reliable source on this issue. It also describes various ventilating shafts, and on page 381 what Odorguy may be referring to, in the section “Lamp Columns as Ventilators”; these are simply sewer vents running through lamp posts, with no ignition of the gases.
 * Man, did they ever have run-on book titles back then! Agyle (talk) 03:30, 4 March 2014 (UTC)
 * Man, did they ever have run-on book titles back then! Agyle (talk) 03:30, 4 March 2014 (UTC)