September 22, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 563 CURRENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Gas and Power from Torbanite. In a paper read before the Victoria section of the Society of Chemical Industry, Mr. E. V. Espenhahn, chemist to the Metropolitan Gas Company of Melbourne, said kerosene shale or torbanite is a mineral known only to exist in three countries—viz., Scotland, France, and Australia (New South Wales and Tasmania). The following table shows the comparison between New South Wales, Scottish, and Canadian shales :— Composition of Shale and Cannel Coal. Volatile matter. Per cent. Fixed carbon. Per cent. V.M. F.C. Richest N.S.W. kerosene shale .. 88*9 . .. 6*25 ... 14’2 Average „ „ ,, .. 69*9 . .. 14*10 ... 4*9 Scottish ,, ,, .. 55*4 . .. 12*5 ... 4 4 Canadian stellorite 66*6 .. 25*2 ... 2*6 Scottish shale oil .. 26*2 . .. 5*18 ... 5 ,, cannel coal .. 40*1 .. .. 40*4 ... 1 U.S.A. „ .. 44*1 .. .. 41*4 ... 1*06 N.S.W. „ .. 36*3 . .. 36*8 ... 1 Tests carried out under -actual working conditions showed that the New South Wales shale gives a large yield of gas (15,000-17,000 cu. ft. per ton) of high illuminating power (43*62-46*35 candle-power). The coke being high in ash, was useless for ordinary firing purposes. Further, with the shales about 30 per cent, of the total thermal units escaped as tar (from 30 to 40 gals, per ton), which was not in a form suitable for economical use as a heating or power agent as gas without further treatment. An investigation was carried out by Dr. W. Seeger and the author to ascertain the conditions for the production of a gas possessing a gross calorific value of 520 to 560 British thermal units per cu. ft. by utilising the total volatile matter available in the mineral. A shale con- taining 63*32 per cent, of volatile matter, 14*18 per cent, of fixed carbon and 22-2 per cent, of ash, yielded only 7,120 cu. ft. of gas per ton, at a temperature of 1,000 degs. Cent., the yield of gas went up to 24,360 cu. ft.,-and the calorific value was 558 British thermal units per cu. ft. To recover the deposited carbon in the form of water gas, thereby increasing the yield and the total calories .available as gas, the volatile products were cracked in an atmosphere of steam; and in this way, at a temperature of 1,200 degs. Cent., a yield- of 77,50.0 cu. ft. of gas per ton was obtained, of a calorific value of 346 British thermal units. the gas was :— Specific CO2. CuHm. CO. H2. gravity. Perc. Perc. Per c. Perc. The composition of CH4. Per c. No. Tar. -Poi? C C ~0*45 y*04... 1*21 ... 17*99 ... 01*67 ... 7 13 ... 2*96 ... 0*0' The following method for the carbonisation of the shale is suggested by the author. The crushed shale is delivered into hoppers and is fed into the series of verti- cal retorts. The shale, being non-caking, passes through with little resistance, and is abstracted at intervals into the lower bunkers, from whence it is supplied to the generator. This is of the revolving type, with air blast, whereby the formation of clinker and waste of fuel through incomplete combustion of the coke is prevented. A constant bed of fuel can be maintained by means of sight holes. The producer gas, after meeting the pre- heated secondary air, passes through heating flues form- ing the superheater, which are maintained at any desired temperature. Part of the producer gases serves for dis- tilling the mineral in the retorts, which are heated in the lower section to 700 degs. to 850 degs. Cent. The sensible heat of the remainder is taken up in the regene- rator for pre-heating the secondary air. Steam is admitted into the retorts below the hottest zone, thereby preventing the decomposition of the oil vapours and assisting the formation of ammonia. With oil shales a higher percentage of nitrogen is recovered in the form of this by-product than from bituminous coals on destruc- tive distillation, although it is characteristic of the Australian torbanite that the nitrogen content decreases with falling percentage of volatile matter in contrast to the Scotch oil shales, which hence yield more sulphate of ammonia. The permanent gases on leaving the retorts . are separated from the oils, condensed at lower tempera- tures, and are treated for the recovery of sulphate of ammonia, preferably by absorption direct with sulphuric acid. From a reservoir the oil is fed with the proportion of steam into the superheater, where its fixation into per- manent gases occur. Travelling through the reaction flues, the gases are chequered, so that a greater surface is offered during their passage. The recovery of the waste heat contained in the gases and excess of steam is effected in condensers, the water of which is fed into the boilers, under which any excess of producer gas is burned. The permanent gases formed in the first instance are passed with the oil into the superheater, or they may be used for carburetting the oil-water gas. No attempts seem to have been made to utilise the mineral itself as fuel in the form of producer gas. The simple form of producer would not lend itself for this purpose, as distillation would result, and a large propor- tion of the calorific power be lost as tar carried off by the gas. The conversion of the total calories, including the volatile products, into permanent gases could be effected by the use of the twin form of producer. The utilisation of all grades of the mineral by this means, however, would not prove economical, nor does it seem feasible, since in the case of the first-class shale the fixed carbon would probably not suffice for the maintenance of a combustion zone. With shales containing less than 60 F.(J per cent, of volatile matter, the ratio ^7— ‘ is consider- V.M. ably higher, so that, in spite of an ash content of 50 per- cent. the calorific value of a mineral with 35 per cent, of volatile matter could be made available in the form of producer gas. The Scotch shales with falling percentage Li r i of volatile matter maintain a constant ratio , V.jyj. differing in this respect from the Australian mineral, since the former, with the same proportion of volatile matter, contain a considerably higher percentage of ash. This factor would probably preclude their use for gaseous firing, without taking into consideration the economic value of the mineral for the production of oil. THE GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN COAL AND IRON TRADES. We give below further extracts from foreign periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of the coal and iron trades in Germany and Austria :— Coal Syndicate Report for July. Total coal raised, 8,161,726 tons (7,347,464 tons in June), or 313,913 tons (328,378 tons) per working day. Calculated distribution, 6,502,775 tons (5,852,811 tons*), or 250,107 tons (261,578 tons) per working day, being 69*19 per cent. (72*36 per cent.) of the participation. Total coal distribution, 8,342,287 tons (7,589,623 tons), or 320,857 tons (339,201 tons) per working day. Deliveries, including local sales, miners’ house coal and supplies to pits’ own ironworks : Coal, 4,436,983 tons (3,884,853 tons), or 170,653 tons (173,625 tons) per work ing day; coke, 2,356,213 tons (2,249,839 tons), or 76,007 tons (74,995 tons) per working day; briquettes, 323,334 tons (294,357 tons), or 12,436 tons (13,156 tons) per working day. Steel Union Deliveries in July. The total deliveries, expressed in weight of raw steel, amounted to 282,875 tons (as compared with 298,753 tons in June), including 69,386 tons (77,483 tons) of semi- products, 130,465 tons (134,584 tons) of railway material and 83,024 tons (86,686 tons) of sections. Austrian Iron Works Output in June. During the month of June the Austrian ironworks sent out 47,004 tons (36,036 tons in June 1915) of bars and sections, 9,438 tons (6,789 tons) of girders, 7,102 tons (4,964 tons) of heavy plate and 6,961 tons (6,033 tons) of rails. THE STATE AND COAL SUPPLIES CONTROL. Coal for Neutral Markets. [From our Mining Correspondent.] The “ conversations ” which are taking place between Lord Milner, as representing the Government, and representatives of coal owners and miners, aim at the control by the State of coal supplies for the home market, the export trade for our Allies, and the trade in neutral markets. The basis of the negotiations is the price fixed by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act of 4s. per ton above the pre-war price, with an additional 2s. 6d. per ton for export coal. The colliery owners in the various producing districts would sell their output to the State at the rate fixed by the Board of Trade, and the State would -arrange with the distributive trade as to prices at which the coal should be sold to the public in the home market. The control of coal supplies would give the Government -an entirely free hand as to the price at which coal should be sold to Allied countries, according to the purposes for which it was required. By this means the causes of difficulties which have arisen with Allied countries -and which have to some extent ■ been removed by the arrangement made by Mr. Runci- man with the export trade as to selling prices would be entirely removed and the relations between our own country and those who are fighting with us put on a better basis. The coal export trade with neutral markets is on a somewhat different basis, and colliery owners have considered themselves entitled to the additional profit which comes from that source. The contention of the men’s representatives has been that they are entitled, and will insist upon their right to participate in any profits made by the colliery owners from this source by forcing proportionate increases of wages. In Scotland wages are now 3s. a day above the wages of July 1914, and 150 per cent, above the standard wage. In Northumberland and Durham wages have also sub- stantially increased, and the workmen are sharing in the prosperity. The negotiations so far as the men are con- cerned have been on the continuing of the present rate of wages during the war, and the appropriation to the State of any additional profit made on export coal sold to neutral countries. The miners’ representative»s con- sider that as neutral countries are profiting so largely by the war, and taking the highest prices possible for their commodities, that surplus British coal, beyond the needs of home consumers and Allied Powers, should be sold at the highest possible figure. Mr. Smillie, presi- dent of the Miners’ Federation, has stated on more than one occasion that the men were prepared to bargain with the State on the basis of existing wages and prices. At the conclusion of the meeting of the Miners’ Federation executive on Wednesday afternoon, it was not expected that any further consultation would take place, and there was no statement to communicate. Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. An Anxious Week—Government Proposal to Control the Whole Output—Coal Trade is Disorganised—Coal Trade B,eal Profits Very Little Better than 1913—Ebbw Vale Company’s New Ore Properties—Huge Profits of Ship Owners—Miners’ Objection to Income-tax—Two Colliery Fires. Both the Government and the railwaymen have, during the past few days, caused disturbance to the coal trade; the Government by Lord Milner’s enquiry which indicated full control of the whole output; whilst the railwaymen, by their threat to strike, have shown the risks arising from existing abnormal conditions. The indication that the Government would exercise closer control over the output was speedily recognised to have more direct application to South Wales than to any other part of the country, because, under the operation of the limitation of prices, disproportionate demand is made upon the supply of the best steam coal. It is only a matter of course that when one fixed price ruled in the market, the buyer would take the best coal that was available, and thus put greater pressure on the South Wales pits and ports. This is the point of view from which the negotiations of the past few days have been regarded on the Cardiff Exchange. Under existing restrictions, a quantity of free coal has been on the market, the sellers able to get full price ranging up to perhaps 40s. per ton, and this when best Admiralty under Govern- ment pre-emption was round about 25s. to 26s. per ton. There prevailed also the limitation of price in respect of home supplies. If the whole of the output came under Government control, and there were no free coal (for which a high price could be obtained), what would be the position of the work- man, seeing that his wage-rate is to a large extent governed by the market prices? To the man on ’Change, the ques- tion presented itself : What will be the position of salesmen in regard to making contracts ahead? Also, what becomes of the merchant when distribution is solely made by the Government ? From London came the South Whales representatives on the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain who had met Lord Milner; and to their own executive, at’ a meeting in Cardiff on Saturday, they re norted what had taken place, it being understood that Lord Milner’s proposals were tentative only, more in the nature of enquiry designed to elicit opinion. The Government idea was to control the whole output, employers’ profits and workmen’s wages to remain as at present, both export and home supplies to be regulated as to quantity, destination, and price. Lord Milner had pointed out the necessity of arranging disposal of output, and the necessity of preventing overlapping by several committees now dealing with the supply and distribution of coal. Under this proposal, the control, wdiich at present is exercised over Admiralty coal both for the British Govern- ment and for the Allies, would be extended, and the free coal which is now supplied to neutral countries at higher prices than those of the Admiralty, would be distributed by the British Government, who by this means would be able in some measure to control the nature of return cargoes, having the power to refuse supply to such neutral vessels as would not come under agreement. The South Wales men are now being paid 40-83 per cent, above the standard of 1915, but it will be remembered that quite recently they made application for 12j per cent, advance, which was negatived by the independent chairman. Nevertheless, strong feeling still prevails among them that they are entitled to substantial increase, and therefore the suggestion that no further alteration of wages should take place during the war was repudiated. They decided, conse- quently, to place before Lord Milner this fact, and to point out that wages in other districts were at a maximum, or had been recently advanced, and their representatives were to argue that before the South Wales men could agree to the. suggested arrangement there should be “ a more equitable division of the wealth produced.” On Tuesday, after a meeting of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain executive, the miners’ representatives again saw Lord Milner, in London. The point of view of the South Wales men came up for discussion, their argu- ment being that to agree that the wage rate should remain unchanged was, in effect, to establish a maximum, against which they had been hostile, and that they were at the present time entitled to a further advance, seeing that, whilst other districts had received advances recently, the South Wales application had been rejected. Lord Milner will report the result of the interview with the men’s representatives, and later opinion is that it is improbable the suggestion will go further, owing to the lack of unanimity. The Government have ample powers at present, and could extend their operation as far as may be necessary. Emphasis has to be laid upon the fact that Lord Milner’s intervention was of the nature of enquiry rather than an indication of decided purpose on the part of the Government, whose aim apparently has been one of concen- tration and simplification. As a result of the operation of the sub-committee at the different pits, full information has been published as to the proportion of absentees in the different collieries. The figures deal with returns from 275 associated collieries which have 134,000 men employed underground, and it is stated that • the avoidable absenteeism in the week ending August 5 was 8-98 per cent., whilst in the Bank Holiday week it was 16-77 per cent. On Mondays, during the eight weeks dealt with, the number of absentees varied from a minimum of 9,954 to a maximum of 40,044. Over the period of eight weeks the total number of turns lost by avoidable absenteeism amounted to 520,518. Exaggerated ideas have prevailed because the exceptional absenteeism of the holiday period has been estimated as applying to the whole year, but the reality is bad enough