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THE: COLLIERY GUARDIAN

September 24, 1915.

CURRENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

Burning Coke on Travelling Grates.

In Germany, everything that is possible is being done
to encourage the substitution of coke for coal in house-
holds and elsewhere, the object being to conserve the
by-products for military and other purposes. The
difficulties in the way of burning coke on the ordinary
type of travelling grate are claimed to be obviated by
the addition of a Belani fore-grate. As shown in the
drawing, a sloping grate b is set up in front of the
travelling grate a, and on this fore-grate the coke
admitted through the hopper c is ignited. The gases
generated by the combustion pass through corresponding
openings in a water-cooled damper d, which regulates
the depth of the layer of coke on the travelling grate.
After passing under the ignition arch, the gases bathe
the glowing coke on the travelling grate, the combustion

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of which is accelerated thereby. The travel of the grate
is regulated so that by the time the coke reaches the
further end practically nothing is left but the cinders,
which pass over the scraper e, and are moved along the
ashpit in the usual way. By means of this arrange-
ment, broken coke (0 to 2J inches), as supplied by the
cokeries, can be burned direct. Trials made by the
Westphalian Coal Syndicate at the Dusseldorf Elec-
tricity Works gave 341b. of steam per square yard of
grate surface with a consumption of 2J cwt. of broken
coke per hour, a seven-fold evaporation being obtained.
The flame developed during combustion is bright and
fairly long, extending about three-quarters the length
of the grate. Apart from the cost of attaching the
sloping grate and damper, no expense is entailed; and
the apparatus can be attached to any ordinary travelling
grate. No artificial or bottom draught is required.

Purchase of Coal in the United States.

In a paper recently read before the Purchasing
Agents’ Association in the United States, by O. W.
Palmenberg, and published in The Black Diamond,
August 7, 1915, an account is given of the change
gradually coming into practice in the purchase of coal
by specification, mainly as a result of the Geological
Survey investigations at the St. Louis Exhibition in
1904. On that occasion the United States Government
provided an appropriation of 60,000 dols. for the purpose
of boiler tests and analyses of American coals and
lignites. It is pointed out that the purchase of coal on
a B.T.U. basis can only be satisfactory where proper
methods of sampling are employed. The same thing
applies in the case of chemical analyses, which are often
vitiated by faulty methods of sampling and pulverising.
Attention is also called to the various kinds of coal
specifications. Of recent years increased importance
has been given to the fusibility of the’ash. Mr. Palmen-
berg says that there is no question that the fusing test
throws much light upon the most important physical
characteristic of coal. There remains, however, much
to be learned in connection with the application of this
test to the purchase of coal. This subject is now being
investigated, and it is hoped that it will not be long
before the laboratory test will be applicable to practice.
It has been a common practice to judge the clinkering
quality of a coal by its sulphur and iron content, and
even to-day too much stress is laid upon the sulphur in
coal, when selecting a fuel for steaming purposes.
With some coals the constituents of the ash may be a
gauge for judging the value, but often much harm is
done by adhering too closely to this practice. Operating
conditions and type of furnace must be considered
when selecting a coal. To debar a coal from being-
used simply because it may be high in sulphur, without
taking into consideration its state of combination and
effect of combustion under given furnace conditions, is
a wrong policy. The sulphur in the coal may be in
such a state that it does no harm whatever. In fact,
the sulphur as such has no bad effect, and it is only the
iron, after the sulphur has been set free, that may cause
clinkering trouble. The author has shown that the
iron and sulphur are no gauge for the clinkering quality
of a coal. High sulphur and iron coals may clinker,
but there are many coals low in these constituents that
clinker also. A fusing test in this case will give a
valuable index as to the clinkering quality. If the
average working temperature of the furnace is known,
which can easily be ascertained, it is then quite possible
to pick the coal most suitable, providing the fusing
temperature of the ash is known, so that with a fair
degree of accuracy the experienced person can tell which
coal will be most suitable for fixed furnace conditions.

Storage is also an important factor when coal is
purchased in large quantity. Weathering is stated to
be unimportant in the case of United States coals, the
loss in heating value from this cause being insignificant.

Spontaneous combustion, however, is a more serious
trouble. This depends largely upon the friability of the
coal, and it is often caused by local heating, such as the
proximity of a steam pipe. Sulphur and moisture are
held to have but little bearing upon liability to spon-
taneous combustion, for coal piles, which have been on
fire, have shown but little oxidation of sulphur even
where the heat was greatest. Coal piles should be kept
low, preferably not more than 10 or 12 feet high, and it
is advisable to turn them over once or twice a year
when the coal is liable to spontaneous combustion.

THE GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN COAL
AND IRON TRADES.

We give below further extracts from German
periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of
the coal and iron trades in Germany and Austria :—

Siegerland Iron Ore and Iron Market.

The relation between output and demand remains
almost unchanged in all branches of the local industry,
and though enquiries for some products are less active,
this has little effect on the general situation, in view
of the orders in hand for some time ahead. The require-
ments of the military authorities are expected to decrease
in importance, as is already the case with foundry pro-
ducts. Prices remain fairly steady, and the products
controlled by associations and unions have been selling
for delivery up to the end of the year at unaltered
prices, the only exception being iron ore, which has
again advanced in price.

Iron Ore.—The demand continues unabated, especi-
ally in manganiferous ores, and cannot be fully satisfied.
The report of the Siegerland Iron Ore Association
announces a projected increase of output through the
engagement of additional hands. This would be very
welcome to the iron works, which have been suffering
from an insufficient supply of spathic and brown iron-
stone ores. Sales for the last quarter of the year are to be
conducted on the basis of an increase of 0’70 ink. per
ton for raw, and 1 mk. for roasted spathic ore. The
demand for substitutes for the scarce manganiferous ores
is still great, and many hitherto neglected dumps have
become of importance. Small quantities of red and
brown ironstone from Hesse and Hesse-Nassau are being
offered for prompt delivery at high prices. Contracts
for the coming year are reported to have been placed
at 190 to 200 mk. per 10 tons for red ironstone (50 per
cent, iron), free on rails in the Dill district. For
Hessian ironstone, same delivery, 140 mk. and more
are asked, and the mines are said to have sold nearly,
the whole of their output. Enquiries for Luxemburg
and Lothringen ores are easier, requirements having-
been covered up to the end of the year. In many places
this ore is only used as a stop gap, and will decline in
importance as soon as the works have better qualities
available.

Pig Iron.—The Pig Iron Union reports an increased
demand for manganiferous grades (steel, iron, and
spiegeleisen) and hsematite pig, and a decline in phos-
phoriferous grades. Selling prices for the final quarter
of the year have been left unchanged. The pig iron
output in the Siegerland, Hesse-Nassau and Wetzlar dis-
tricts during July was 2,369 tons per diem, an increase
of 6,2.51 tons for the month. The non-union works pro-
ducing cold blast pig are not so busy, the demand for
army purposes having receded. Business in scrap is
quieter, and prices tend downward, core scrap being
quoted at 48 to 52 mk., bundled plate mill scrap at 50
to 52 mk., good turnings at 50 to 53 mk., and grey cast
iron scrap at about 45 mk.—all per ton, delivered at
works. An early improvement is anticipated, when the
stocks of imported scrap are used up.

Semi-Manufactured Products.—On the whole there is
little change to report. The Steel Union has not issued
its price list for the last quarter of the year, but no
further rise is expected, and accordingly the Siegerland
open hearth steel makers will continue to sell on the
old rates. The whole output of raw cast and rough
rolled semis continues to be absorbed immediately, for
the most part by rolling mills.

Plate.—The heavy plate mills have decided to make
no change in prices for next quarter, the present basis
price of 150 mk. net, ex Siegen, being maintained. The
mills are very busy, and do not promise delivery in
less than four to six weeks. The trade with neutrals
keeps about on the old level. Medium plate sells at
170 to 175 mk., ex works, up to the end of the year,
four weeks and more being required for delivery, whilst
the fine plate mills require two months’ notice of
delivery. By far the largest proportion of the output is
for army purposes. The basis price for delivery up to
the end of 1916 ranges between 180 and 190 mk., ex
works.

Bars.—The basis price of 140 mk. for merchant bars,
ex Oberhausen, is retained, but as open hearth bars
alone are produced in this district, the basis price
obtained is 145 to 150 mk., ex works. The works are
engaged to their full capacity, and most of the output
is for war purposes, there being little demand otherwise.
In consequence of the long time required for delivery
by the Rhenish Westphalian iron works, merchants, who
have considerable stocks in hand, are able to do a largo
business for prompt delivery. Girders are in small
request, the building trade being stagnant, and without
prospect of improvement during the war.

Maximum Prices.

The Vorwdrts, the leading Socialistic organ in Ger-
many, urges the Government to introduce a scheme of
maximum prices without delay. The Kolnische Volks-
zcitung says that, as the Coal Syndicate announced that

prices would be raised on September 1, there has been
a great rush on the industry in the last few months, and
the mines have no supplies of coal on hand. The
demand has now fallen off, but many of the large coal
owners have postponed delivery. The Vorwdrts says
that the Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate estimates
the output in its mines in the month of July at 6,567,151
tons, as compared with 8,855,292 tons in 1914. The
reduction is mainly due to scarcity of labour. It is
stated that, although large numbers of prisoners of war
are employed in the mines, the results have not been
entirely satisfactory, partly because the prisoners do not
understand German methods, but mainly because they
have no inducement to work at full pressure.

Ruhr Coal Market.

Both during July and August the daily output of coal
showed a decline, though the aggregate production was
higher than before. For any improvement it is neces-
sary to have an increased amount of labour, in order to
carry cut the preparatory operations in the workings, so
that there may be a possibility of meeting the larger
demand for coking coal that will ensue when existing
stocks of coke have been exhausted—probably by the
end of the year—since it is desirable for the coke output
to be maintained on account of the by-products. Busi-
ness in house coal has been very active, consumers
wanting to lay in supplies before the September rise in
prices, and also through fear of scarcity later. All other
grades of coal and briquettes are the subject of brisk
enquiry, and washery sludge is being taken in place of
small, where freight is not too high. Railway wagons
being scarce, pits having canal sidings are increasing
their deliveries by water. With regard to the com-
pulsory syndicate question, the general opinion is that
if the Government had not intervened with such sudden-
ness, the renewal negotiations would have been
amicably completed, and that such intervention was
very ill-timed, and calculated to hinder, rather than
assist, the attainment of the purpose for which it was
designed. To a miners’ deputation the Minister of
Commerce recently proposed that, in order to determine
the capacity of a colliery, it would be necessary to weigh
the output. In the case of a pit raising 3,000 tons a
day, this would mean the weighing of 6,000 half-ton
tubs, and then weighing the empties to ascertain the
tare, that is to say, 12,000 weighings in a day—an idea
very fine in theory, but practically impossible to carry
into effect. The new export regulations prohibit the
export of broken coke, and the consignments of Ruhr
coal to Switzerland are to be cut down to one-third, the
rest being replaced by coal from Belgian pits. Both
these measures have been decided on without consulting
the mine owners and merchants, and the former of them
is expected to cause much inconvenience in Switzerland.

Interim Coal Syndicate.

The draft agreement for an interim Syndicate, which
was submitted for the approval of the coal owners at
their meeting on 10th inst., proposes that the new
Syndicate shall remain in force until March 31, 1917; if
the agreement has not been renewed by January 1 of
that year, the members shall be at liberty to make their
own sales arrangements for delivery after the end of
March. The Syndicate shall also be dissolved, on one
month’s notice by any member, whenever the output by
the pits now outside the Syndicate during a period of
three months amounts to 3 per cent, of the total pro-
duction in Rhenish Westphalia. The execution of the
agreement is subject to the condition that the pits at
present outside come in. These include the State
collieries (except Ibbenburen), and the Trier, Hermann,
Adler, Admiral, Auguste-Viktoria, Jacobi, Lohberg,
Rhein I., Sachsen, Teutoburgia, Vereinigte Welheim,
Westfalen, Wilhelmine Mevissen, and De Wendel con-
cerns. The articles of association relating to the organi-
sation of the Syndicate, the participation of the
members, the selling arrangements, and the fixing of
the pits’ own consumption of coal, are to remain
unchanged. With regard to the question of prior con-
tracts, it is proposed to distinguish those entered into
with actual consumers and those arranged with middle-
men. Contracts with consumers must be fulfilled by
the pits themselves, a monthly statement being lodged
with the Syndicate of the amount so delivered, which
amount will be regarded as forming a portion of the
participation, and as liable for Syndicate dues. Con-
tracts with dealers, on the other hand, will be fulfilled
by the Syndicate. The State mining administration
may terminate connection with the Syndicate at the ’
beginning of any quarter, by giving four weeks’ notice,
after giving the Syndicate an opportunity for discussing
the reason for such withdrawal. Selling for delivery
after the beginning of said quarter shall not begin prior
to 14 days before the expiry of the notice. When notice
has been given, the Syndicate shall not continue to sell
coal from the State collieries for delivery after the date
of expiry. Contracts resulting from Syndicate negotia-
tions pending at the time notice is given shall be taken
over by the State administration. When at least 30
per cent, of the members favour a reduction, or oppose
an increase, in the settling prices, the decision shall be
vested in the Minister of Commerce. The State shall
be allowed to deliver 450,000 tons of its participation
for State purposes, without paying any other than
tonnage dues to the Syndicate; and this amount may be
exceeded, on payment of certain other dues, if any State
department has an unexpected pressing need of fuel.
The State shall not be liable to pay any dues relating
to the acquirement of mining properties or shares, the
erection of plant, or to participation in any enterprise
concerned with the storage, preparation, distribution, or
conveyance of mining products.

With reference to the above, it may be pointed out
that negotiations for the transfer of the Hibernia Com-
pany to the State are expected to be carried through,
in which event the State will have the largest individual
allotment under the Syndicate, viz., about 11,300,000