Gasometer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gasometer, or gas-holder, is a large container where natural gas or town gas is stored near atmospheric pressure at ambient temperatures. The volume of the container follows the quantity of stored gas, with pressure coming from the weight of a movable cap. Typical volumes for large gasometers are about 50000 m³, with 60 m diameter structures.
Gasometers tend to be used for balancing purposes (making sure gas pipes operate within a safe range of pressures) rather than for actually storing gas for later use. Gas is nowadays stored in large underground reservoirs such as salt caverns. Often gas is stored in the summer when it is cheap and sold in the winter when the price goes up.
Gasometers are often a major part of the skylines of low-rise British cities, due to their large distinctive shape and central location.
The term gasometer was originally coined by William Murdoch, the inventor of gas lighting, in the early 1800s. Despite the objections of his associates that his so-called "gazometer" was not a meter but a container, the name was retained and came into general use. The word is also used to describe a meter for measuring the amount of gas flowing through a particular pipe.[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Gasometer Oberhausen, Germany
- Gasometer Vienna, Austria
- Gasometer Schlieren, Switzerland
- 'Cakehunter' a UK based Gasometer fan page
de:Gasbehälter it:Gasometro nl:Gashouder sv:Gasklocka tr:Gasometer
