coal gas

noun
1.
a gas used for illuminating and heating, produced by distilling bituminous coal and consisting chiefly of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.
2.
the gas formed by burning coal.
Origin
1800-10
Examples from the web for coal gas
  • It is almost as invisible as a jet of coal gas or hydrogen is in air.
  • The coal gas is put back into service as a fuel, not only for the coke making but also for the iron and steel operations.
  • The samples will be tested in a bench-scale reactor using simulated coal gas compositions.
  • Operated mainly as a gasifier, the reactor vessel produces coal gas that is tested downstream.
British Dictionary definitions for coal gas

coal gas

noun
1.
a mixture of gases produced by the distillation of bituminous coal and used for heating and lighting: consists mainly of hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide
Encyclopedia Article for coal gas

gaseous mixture-mainly hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide-formed by the destructive distillation (i.e., heating in the absence of air) of bituminous coal and used as a fuel. Sometimes steam is added to react with the hot coke, thus increasing the yield of gas. Coal tar and coke (qq.v.) are obtained as by-products.

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