April 5, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

691

exceeded the production of all other countries com-
bined. In considering this figure, however, it is to be
remembered that Germany has had great quantities of
inferior coal and lignite to deal with, and the bulk of
the briquettes are produced there from lignite.

Other countries which are concerned with the manu-
facture of briquettes are France and Belgium, both of
which have produced more than the British Isles. The
United States of America also are now giving attention
to the manufacture to a greater extent; Whilst Italy,
Spain, Sweden and Austria are other producing
countries.

It has already been mentioned that the manufacture
of patent feel in South Wales amounts to about two
millions tons per annum and that it is almost entirely
exported. The total exports for the year 1913 amounted
to 2,053,187 tons, of which quantity about 496,000 tons
were consigned to France, including French possessions,
about 249,000 tons to Italy, 189,01)0 tons to Spain, and
no less than 573,000 tons to South America. To
indicate the changes in the exports, which are doubtless
largely attributable to the war, it should be noted that
the total exports for 1917 amounted to 1,526,272 tons,
of which no less than 1,049,500 tons were consigned to
France, and the exports to Italy amounted to about
229-,000 tons; but the shipments to Spain were reduced
to about 27,000 tons, and the difference is particularly
noticeable in the case of South America, due to shipping
difficulties and shortage of tonnage, the figure being
about 76,700 tons. It will thus be seen that whilst the
shipments to France in 1917 were more than double
those in the year 1913, the consignments to South
America fell to less than 12 per cent., and in the case of
Spain, to about 14 per cent. Other markets for
briquettes include India, the West and East Indies, etc.

Uses of Briquettes.

Briquettes exported from South Wales are mostly
used on railways—the South American railway com-
panies, for example, being large users, as also are
French, Spanish and Italian railway companies. It may
be added that the railway companies of the British Isles
are now adopting the use of patent fuel in lieu of large
coal, so that South Wales briquettes are no longer likely
to be almost entirely exported. It has been ascertained
that no more difficulty need be experienced with
briquettes than with large coal, either in handling on
the railways or using for locomotives. On some of the
railways the same equipment is used at the locomotive
coaling stations as for coal; the wagon loads being in
some cases tipped into a hopper, elevated and delivered
on to coal stages, or direct to the locomotive tenders;
in other cases the briquettes are discharged into trolley
tubs and wheeled on the stages, as with coal, or they
are thrown direct from the railway wagons into the
locomotive tenders, the breakage being less than with
coal. Stacking in the tenders, however, allows of a
greater quantity being carried.

The impression which is generally found to prevail,
when the use of patent fuel in lieu of large coal is
considered, is that the boiler furnaces will not be suit-
able, that excessive dust will be produced in com-
bustion—necessitating frequent cleaning of the fires, or
that difficulties will be experienced in raising steam to
meet the requirements. These disadvantages having
been experienced in some cases, however, does not
justify attributing those characteristics generally to
briquettes. Qualities, of course, vary, but a discriminate
selection indicates that equally good results are obtain-
able with the use of briquettes as with high-class coal.
For locomotive use it has been proved that patent fuel
is able to deal with heavy traffic and steep gradients,
and that a deep fire can be maintained without difficulties
of combustion being experienced; also that frequent
cleaning of the fire is not necessary, and, in fact, that
briquettes burn well with little attention. The large
blocks are of course broken into several pieces when
firing. Patent fuel can also be adopted for industrial
requirements, such as steam production, and their use
in hand-fired boilers is increasing. The same applies
in the case of at least some mechanically-stoked
boilers—providing the briquettes are broken into smaller
pieces; further, they can be utilised satisfactorily
in heating furnaces. In some cases a mixture of
one-third or half of patent fuel (broken) is used with
coal. So far as British merchant shipping is concerned,
briquettes are not usually taken for bunkers, but abroad
they are used to some extent for steamship fuel, and
German briquettes are shipped extensively for bunker
supplies. For the naval requirements of several
countries, however, briquettes are stored and used for
reserve bunker supplies. The objection to the use of
patent fuel for steamship requirements is the uncertainty
which exists as to its steam-raising qualities, and also
to the extra time taken to load and trim in the bunkers.
It must be mentioned, however, that owing to the
cleanliness in handling and storage of briquettes, they
can be readily stacked on deck and in any available
spaces, for use as extra or reserve bunker supplies. An
increased demand for patent fuel will result in greater
attention being given by manufacturers to quality to
ensure less variation in character, and for discrimination
in supplies for particular requirements ; also, as already
mentioned, the practice of washing of the small coal
used will doubtless extend.

It should be added that the manufacture of ovoid
briquettes is also likely to be considerably increased, as,
although there are only one or two works in South
Wales at present producing this fuel, it certainly
possesses merits, particularly for industrial requirements
as well as for household use.

Briquetting* at Coaling Stations.

In concluding this reference to patent fuel, particu-
larly in connection with its export, the writer would
mention that opportunities offer to utilise briquetting
plants at many maritime coaling stations. The capital
outlay involved is not considerable, and a means would
be provided to utilise the small produced in the course
of shipment and storage of large coal. Markets for
briquettes would readily be found for industrial uses in
particular, and pitch in some instances would be obtain-
able locally from gas works. The manufacture of ovoids

rather than large blocks would probably better meet
the conditions. The disposal of the small coal in this
manner would improve the bunker supplies without
disadvantage to the depot owners.

SOUTH WALES INSTITUTE OF
ENGINEERS.

The 60th annual general meeting of the South Wales
Institute of Engineers was held at Swansea on Thursday,
March 28, 1918.

On the motion of Mr. Sydney L. Gregor, seconded
by Mr. Guy Warren, the annual financial statement
was adopted ; and Mr. Martin Price, secretary, and other
officers were re-elected.

The following candidates for admission to the institute
were elected :—As members : W. J. Buck (Pontypool),
D. R. Davies (Blackwood, Mon.), W. Llewellyn
(Abersychan, Mon.), D. Prosser (Pentre, Rhondda),
H. S. Sefton Scott (Pwllgwaun, Pontypridd), J. S.
Vincent (Llwynypia), and J. Whitticombe (Tonypandy).
As associate member: B. A. Pardon (Penarth). As
associates: H. Buck (Llwynypia), E. W. Davies
(Aberdare), H. J. Ivens (Tonypandy). As student: T.
H. Gwilt-Cotsworth (Gathurst, near Wigan).

The institute’s gold medal was presented to Mr. G.
D. Budge (Aberaman), for his paper on “ Stone Dusting
in Steam Coal Collieries,” the President (Mr. J.
Fox Tallis) remarking that Mr. Budge had such faith
in what he advocated, that he was stone dusting at all
the collieries with which he was associated.

Origin and Composition of Coal.

Prof. George Knox, F.G.S., Principal of the School
of Mines, Treforest and Crumlin, threw on the lantern
screen and explained a series of micro-sections of coal
which have been reproduced in his paper “ Some Notes
on the Origin and Composition of Coal,” in the pro-
ceedings of the institute.

In the course of the subsequent discussion, the
President stated that many of them had thought
they knew all about coal, but the address proved how
little they really did know. The subject had its com-
mercial as well as its scientific aspect, for by the new

C Carbocoal

I briquettes

I 1,4001b.

I

Raw coal I	f Vapours 360 lb.

lton2,0001b.1Gasesand

vapours <
| 5601b.

|	Permanent gases

L	L 200 lb.

TTar oils.

I

| Ammoniacal

L liquor.

light thrown upon the constituents of coal they would
be able to put the mineral to further and more profit-
able uses.

Mr. 0. A. Seyler, B.Sc., F.I.C. (Swansea) said the
line upon which Prof. Knox was conducting his investi-
gation was one from which a great deal of progess was
to be expected—namely, a combination of the micro-
scopical method with geological considerations, coupled,
of course, with chemical research. In view of the
undoubted presence of resinous constituents in coal, and
the important part they played in the micro-sections,
some chemical line of attack, such as that of the action
of solvents, would be exceedingly valuable. He
suggested that no investigation of this kind could be
deemed complete which did not attempt to explain how
the great change came about from tne bituminous to
the anthracite character of coal in the course of a few
miles in South Wales. On a previous occasion at an
institute meeting, he had suggested whether this change
might not be due to some solvent action of water, and
that to some extent the change was related to the
amount of resinous matter in the coal. It was in this
direction, he believed, that the most promising results
would be obtained.

Mr. H. W. Halbaum (Cardiff) stated he was
interested in the way in which Prof. Knox had
marshalled his facts, and the paper ought to be of
value. He noted that the professor adopted a non-
committal attitude with respect to the relative claims
of the in situ and drift theories. No doubt these
theories were once considered as rivals for popular
favour, but that day had long gone by. There still
remained a few men who imagined that if either of the
theories were once admitted to be true, the other must
of necessity be rejected as false. Such an attitude
could not be justified at the present day. Why should
we imagine that vegetable growths in the past flourished
and decayed under laws which differed from those
prevailing in the present ? The conditions might alter,
but the laws were immutable; and this was a distinction
which every geologist should always bear in mind. He
submitted that the known facts proved that both the
in situ and drift theories were true, and would continue
to be true. They were complementary theories, both of
which must be accepted and neither rejected by any
man who paid due regard to the obvious facts by which
he was daily surrounded. These remarks on the im-
mutability of law, however, took no account of
changes in the conditions under which the same
law, or laws, applied. The drift theory, of course,
was merely one aspect of the wider theory of general
denudation. The in situ theory was merely a botanical
detail of peculiar interest to the coal miner. As for the
astronomical theory of glaciation, it imparted a
symmetry to geological teaching which could not be
otherwise attained; and it was matter for the greatest
regret that writers of text books on geology, and other
teachers of that science, so often failed to perceive either
its simplicity and beauty or its importance and efficiency
as an instrument of education. The bulk of Prof. Knox’s
paper was highly valuable and thoroughly practical, and
he (Mr. Halbaum) sincerely congratulated the author.

Prof. Knox, asked by the President to offei’ some
observation on the present occasion, reserving to him-
self a future opportunity of a more detailed reply for
insertion in the 'Proceedings, said it whs true he did not
commit himself to an endorsement of either the in situ
or drift theory as being the true explanation of
the origin of coal in all cases. For instance, the drift
theory might be accepted in the case of cannel and
similar coals, but it was difficult to adopt in considering
bituminous and anthracite seams. His main object
was to induce everybody concerned to investigate and
try to find out more regarding the general condition of
deposition and to make use of this idea of sedimenta-
tion. As to the suggestion of Mr. Seyler, he had stated
in his paper that a great deal of research work had been
carried on by the use of solvents, but the great difficulty
was that the resultant solvent mixture was more com-
plex than the coal itself. Instead of breaking up coal
into a powder and dissolving portions of it with pyridine,
phenol, etc., they were making large transparent sections
to see exactly each of the ingredients. With regard to
anthracite, it was easier, down to a certain point, to
make micro-sections of this coal than of bituminous
coal, but when the section was nearly thin enough to
transfer, it suddenly flew to pieces. Once they overcame
this difficulty they would be on the way to determine the
difference in the constituents of anthracite compared
with bituminous coals.

In closing the discussion, the President moved, and
Mr. H. T. Wales seconded, a vote of thanks to Prof.
Knox, and the motion was carried with applause.

The discussion of Mr. T. M. Hunter’s “ Some Notes
on Gas-Firing Boilers” was held over to the next
meeting of the institute at Cardiff.

“ CARBOCOAL”: A NEW AMERICAN FUEL.

The International Coal Products Corporation, New
York, is putting on the market “ Carbocoal,” a new fuel,
adapted for both domestic and steam use, which is pro-
duced from bituminous coal by a new method of
distillation at relatively low temperature, furnishing a
sufficient quantity of valuable coal tar products (see
table) to offset largely the cost of converting the raw
coal into this refined smokeless product.

("Benzol, toluol, naphthas, motor spirit, creosote
I oils, tar acids, lubricating and fuel oils, anthra-
cene, pitch and other tar oil products.

Ammonia (concentrated).

Sulphate of ammonia, cyanogen, pyridene bases
_ and other, nitrogen compounds.

( Heat required for distillation process or available for
( commercial uses.

The process is the invention of Mr. C. H. Smith, of
New York, a well-known mining engineer, who began
work on the proposition more than three years ago, in
conjunction with Messrs. Blair and Company, of New
York, who have very large interests in coal.

To develop the process, a plant was built several
years ago at Irvington, New Jersey. Here exhaustive
tests under actual operating conditions have been made.
The unit finally evolved by these experiments has been
in operation during the past 11 months, and reliable
data regarding working costs, maintenance, and other
features of operation, have been established. The
equipment of the plant includes full by-product
recovery apparatus, which has enabled accurate measure-
ment of yields on a commercial scale to be obtained
from about 25 different coals from various parts in the
United States.

Carbocoal is said to be the nearest approach to a
perfect fuel. It contains only from 11 per cent, to 4 per
cent, of volatile matter, and consists mainly of fixed
carbon. In combustion it is smokeless, it ignites with
comparative ease, burns freely and completely under all
draught conditions, is dense, dustless, clear and uniform in
size and quality.

Many tests of the fuel have been made on railroads,
and it is found to be particularly suitable for the
following purposes:—(1) Marine and locomotive service,
where limited grate area and restricted boiler capacity
demand an efficient coal, and where smoke is objection-
able, for ships in time of wrar; (2) stationary boilers,
where smoke pollution of the air is offensive and
dangerous to health; (3) domestic uses, including
furnaces, stoves, ranges and open grates, where cleanli-
ness and an even, radiant heat, without odour, is sought;
(4) kilns, drying and roasting ovens, and all purposes
where intense, even, radiant heat makes for efficiency;
and (5) gas producers.

Plans are also under way for the rapid construction
of plants at strategic points, so that large quantities of
Carbocoal can be given to domestic and steam con-
sumers, and that the output of the very valuable
by-products which result from this process, which are so
essential in the manufacture of explosives and for
other uses, can be increased.—Black Diamond.

The Coal Sales Department of Messrs. John Brown
and Company Limited (proprietors of the Aldwarke Main
and Rotherham Main Collieries), will be transferred on
April 8 from the Atlas Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield,
to Roundwood Colliery Offices, Rotherham, where the
business will be conducted in conjunction with that of
the Dalton Main Colliery. All communications relating
to the sale of coal and coke should be sent to that address.

Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces
dissolution of the partnership of Richard Walmsley,
Reginald Walmsley, and Ernest Walmsley, trading as
Thomas Walmsley" and Sons, iron manufacturers, Atlas
Forge. Bolton. The business will be continued by Richard
and Reginald Walmsley. The business of Whitfield and
Co., steamship brokers and coal exporters, 35, Quayside,
Newcastle, and 19, Ridley-street, Blyth, has been dis-
solved, and the two partners, G. E. Tynemouth and R. C.
Donaldson, will trade separately in their own names.