CARBIDE LAMP

carbide lamp: translation

   A carbide lamp, also known as a miners’ carbide lamp or acetylene lamp was introduced into mine use at about 1897. It consists of two chambers, a water tank above and a removable carbide canister below with a connection valve to permit controlled seepage of water into the calcium carbide. The carbide and water react to generate calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] and acetylene gas. The gas is passed through a filter into a tube and through a tiny burner-tip orifice designed for the optimum mixture of air and acetylene. Once ignited, it burns with a brilliant yellow-white flame produced by the incandescence of tiny carbon particles. A reflector concentrates the light in a particular direction [13].