1102 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN May 31, 1918. MARLEY HILL COKE OVENS. Mr. Wm. Diamond, chairman of the Northern Section of the Coke Oven Managers’ Association and manager of the coke ovens and by-product installation of Messrs. John Bowes and Partners Limited, at Marley Hill, county Durham, conducted a party of the members of the Section over the Marley Hill works on Saturday, May 25. It was stated that the coal dealt with was received at the works from various collieries in the locality— Marley Hill, Byermoor, Burnopfield, Dipton, and Andrew’s House. This coal had all been previously screened. Ninety-five per cent, of it would pass through a half-inch screen and 60 per cent, of it through a quarter-inch screen; altogether, it was in a state of very fine division. Before carbonising it was washed in the washery, of the Blackett type, which consisted of five drums, each capable of washing 80 tons per hour. The coal from the washery was con- ducted by conveyors and elevators into a drainage bunker of a capacity of 1,200 tons, wherein it was allowed to drain for a period of 24 hours before car- bonising, thus reducing the moisture content to 10 per cent. The bottom of the drainage bunker was cone-shaped, and fitted with malt kiln tiles. From there the coal was conveyed to crushers, which were in duplicate, one being used at a time. The crushed coal was elevated from the boot of the crusher to storage bunkers, of a capacity of 750 tons. The bunkers were divided into two parts, one storing the coal for the 60 Huessener ovens and the other that for the battery of 20 Huessener ovens. The latter bunker was a ferro-concrete construction, supported upon four pedestals of a span of about 45 ft. The coal was delivered to the compressing machine on the 20 ovens by a rubber belt conveyor, and the coal to the stamping machine of the 60 ovens by a scraper conveyor, the latter being found much less costly in maintenance. The general practice at the works was to compress all the coal before placing it in the oven, top-loading being only resorted to in case of a severe breakdown, which would mean reducing the output; so that, practically speaking, all the coke produced at Marley Hill was compressed coke. The average dirt in the coal for the ovens was, as it came from the collieries, about 15 per cent., tested by a solution of 1-4 specific gravity. After having been washed, how- ever, the dirt was only about 3 per cent. The coke had an average quality and approximately an ash percentage of 8 — more often than not the usual analysis showed it to be much less. The gas was conveyed from the ovens by cast-iron mains. The tar depositing in the mains by natural condensation was collected in sumps and conveyed to the store tanks. The gas was further cooled by passing through seven air coolers, and afterwards three water coolers, reducing the temperature to the lowest possible degree. It then passed through two exhausters of Waller type and one of Bryan Donkin type, each capable of dealing with two-thirds of the total output; in general, one was left idle as a stand-by. At the exit of the exhauster was fixed another condenser, with the object of reducing the temperature of the gas still further. On leaving the coolers the gas was at about 70 degs. Fahr., but, in passing through the exhausters, the compression raised the temperature by about 8 deg., and as low temperature was a material factor in the absorption of ammonia and benzol, it was necessary, by means of the cooler just referred to, to lower it again. From there the gas was passed, for the recovery of ammonia, through three vertical wood-filled scrubbers of old type, and then through one rotary washer of the Kirkham type. It then passed into two vertical scrubbers (similar to the ammonia scrubbers) for the absorption of benzol, after which it was used for heating the ovens. The surplus gas and waste heat passed under boilers, where .all the steam was generated for the working of the by- product and coke plant. Surplus steam was consumed in a 600 kw. turbo-generator of the Parsons type, working together with a condenser of the Mirlees Watson type, whereby sufficient electricity was generated to supply all the requirements at the Marley Hill and Byermoor collieries; in addition to working several motors on the by-product and coke oven plant, where the majority of the machinery was motor-driven. The ammoniacal liquor recovered in the scrubbers was converted into good grey sulphate of ammonia after treatment by a plant of the Wilton type. As an alter- native, a concentrated liquor plant was erected wherein liquor of any desired strength could be produced— usually about 25 per cent, strength; this latter plant was designed by Mr. Diamond himself, and had given satisfactory results. The waste liquors from the stills were practically free from ammonia. The benzol recovered from the scrubbers by washing was conveyed down to the benzol distillery, where it was fractionated into 90 per cent, benzol, 90 per cent, toluol, and 90 per cent, solvent naphtha—Government standards. The residue naphthalene was conveyed to the tar dis- tillery. All the tar produced at the coke works was distilled in a series of four tar stills of the pot type, the fractions being separated and delivered into different storage tanks—naphtha, creosote, naphtha- lene, anthracene, and paste—the residue pitch being run into large bays, wherein it was allowed to cool and solidify, afterwards being wedged out and loaded into wagons for transport. There was now being erected a sulphuric acid plant of the Moritz type. A burner of the Harris type had been in use, but an additional burner was being put into use for oxide burning, as a stand-by. A telpher conveyor was being erected to save labour in the handling of the oxide from the railway to the store-house. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 30. ____________________ ________ Scotland. Western District. COAL. In the west of Scotland the demand for all classes of fuel is fully maintained. Local requirements both for household and industrial use cannot always be fully met, and consequently the export business, which has expanded somewhat of late, is not getting the attention necessary. Shipments for the past week amounted to 82,292 tons, against 115,092 in the preceding week, and 109,426 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. _______ ______________________________________________ Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ ............ Double do............... Single do. . ........... | Current ' prices. 27/6 I 26/6-28/ I 28/ -30/ j 23/ I 22/ 21/ iL’st week’s! Last year’s ! prices. I prices. I 18/ -23/ j 18 6-21/ I 27/6 i 26/6-28/ i 28/ -30/ 23/ ! 22/ ! 21/ 18/ -26/ 23/6 22/ 20/ IRON. Conditions in the Scotch iron trade are unchanged. Out- puts generally are still almost exclusively on war account, and the capacity of the works is being fully taxed. In the pig iron department the call for haematite still occupies first place. Foundry qualities continue scarce, some grades being entirely off the market except for Government work. Forge iron is not quite so tight, and big quantities are goingto the malleable works. Home values are unchanged, while export quotations, despite the absence of business, are on a high level. Approximate prices remain round the following figures: — Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 140s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Govan, No. 1, 135s., No. 3, 130s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 150s., Nos. 3, 145s.; Glengarnock at Ardrossan, No. 1, 140s., No. 3, 135s.; Eglinton at Ardrossan or Troon and Dal- mellington at Ayr, Nos. 1, 145s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 150s., No. 3, 145s. per ton. At the malleable iron works numerous orders are being received for small sections, which are in particularly heavy demand at present. It is said that there is a prospect of cheaper material in the steel departments, with a more regular and generous supply to home consumers. Light castings are in big demand at present, and the turnover in agricultural machinery is of considerable dimensions. ________ _______ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. The collieries in the Lothians are more than fully booked up and deliveries are falling into arrears. Admiralty requirements are very large and local consumers are having great difficulty in arranging adequate supplies. Shipments were 16,620 tons, against 19,358 in the preceding week, and 19,703 in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices 26/6 26/6 20/6 25/6 25/6 18/ 20/ 23/ 23/ 22/ 22/ 22/ 20/ 21/ 21/ 19/ Business in Fifeshire is also particularly brisk. Tonnage is in much better supply, and values for neutral countries are ruling high. It is said that as much as 45s. per ton is being paid for first class steams and 35s. for third class qualities. Shipments were 38,655 tons, against 54,562 in the preceding week, and 34,553 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. 1 Best screened navigation coal Unscreened do First-class steam coal Third-class do Treble nuts Double do Single do. Current prices. 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ 28/ 24/ 23/ 22/ 21/ L’st week’s prices. 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ 28/ 24/ 23/ I 22/ 21/ Last year’s prices. 30/ 24/ 25/ 20/ 24/ 22/ 19/ _________ The prices quoted only apply to French and Italian business ; for all other orders 2s. 6d. or more per ton must be added for all Fife and Lothian large coal and washed material with the exception of second class Lothian large coal. 5 _________ _________ ___________________________ British Engineering Standards Association.—The Engi- neering Standards Committee, has now become incorporated under the Companies Acts, 1908-1917, the word “ Limited ” being omitted by licence. The committee therefore be- comes now a corporate body with a legal entity, and is thus enabled to maintain its position in regard to its brand, which has been largely used in a number of the British standard specifications. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. The boom ” in the local coal trade continues unmodified. Collieries are all fully engaged in a strenuous effort to cope with the great demands for fuel on Government, Allied, and home accounts, and their output is absorbed with the utmost speed. The supply of requisitioned tonnage is excellent. Orders from neutrals are pouring in, but these can scarcely be dealt with at present, for there is very little coal or coke available for foreign customers for the next two months. For such small odd lots as do chance to be thrown on the market, fancy prices are being readily secured. Thus, best Blyth steams are now quoted, for neutral consumption, at up to 60s. per ton, f.o.b., an advance of 10s. on the week. Unscreened steams are up to 40s., a rise of 10s.; Blyth smalls to 40s., an increase of 15s.; Tyne smalls to 35s., an advance of Ils. 6d.; and special smalls to 40s., an increment of 14s. 6d. Gas bests and specials are listed at up to 45s., an increase of 10s. The top price for Durham unscreened bunkers is now 40s., a rise of 5s. Households are mentioned at 45s., an advance of 10s. All other descriptions of fuel are strongly maintained at last week’s figures. Further advances in quotations may confidently be looked for if the relative positions of supply and demand be maintained, as there is every likeli- hood will be the case. The contract to supply the Norwegian State Railways with 16,000 tons of Northumber- land and/or Durham best steams, at buyers’ option, delivered to stipulated ports over July-August, has been equally divided between two Newcastle exporting firms at about 50s. per ton for best Blyths, with the usual 5 per cent, for merchants’ commission. This price represents an advance of 15s. per ton on the previous highest paid in respect of such a contract. The Swedish State Railways are enquiring for 35,000 tons of best steams—Northum- berland, Durham, Yorkshire and/or Scottish—for shipment over the second half of the year. Tenders, which are due in on June 6, will, however, be made in respect of three months’ delivery only, in accordance with the recent ukase of the Coal Controller. Later.—Since the foregoing was written, the market has shown even greater strength. All descriptions of fuel are offered very sparingly to neutrals for shipment over any part of the next three months. Quotations have been varied, so far as neutral business is concerned, to the following:—Best steams, Tynes, 60s.; gas bests, 40s.; seconds, 35s.; coking coals, including smalls, 35s., and households, 55s. Neutrals are being asked 40s. for any description of bunkers. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. ^Current Steam coals :— prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30' -60/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 29/6-60/ Secondary, Blyths .... 25/6-45/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 27/ -45/ Unscreened __.......... 23 6-40/ Small, Blyths ........' 20/ -40/ Do. Tynes.......... 18/6-35/ Do. specials ....... 20 6-40/ Other sorts:— Smithies............. Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coais! (Pelaw Main or similar)1 Special gas coals ......... Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbrians Coking coals......... Do. smalls ...... House coals ......... Coke, foundry ........... Do. blast-furnace....... Do. gas ................ L’st week’s Last year’s I prices. * prices. : 30/ -50/ ; 30/ ; 29/6-50/ 28/ -30/ i 25/6-45/ j 22/ -23/ ’ 27/ -45' i 22/6-23/ ’ 23'6-30/ J 18/ -20/ I 20/ -25/ J 13/ i 18/6-23/6 i 16/ -17/ i 20/6-25/6 19/ -20/ 25,6-33/6 j 25/ -33/6 25/ -40/ 25/ -35/ 23/6-35/ 26 6-45/ 26/6-40/ ; 23/6-30/ ■ 26/6-35/ 26/6-35/ 26/6-40/ 26/6-37/6 24' -35/ 24/ -30/ 24/ -35/ j ! 24/ -30/ 28/6-55/ ; 28 6-35/ 21/ 25/ -26/ 17/6-19/ 30/ -31/ 16 6-19/ 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 16/ -18/ 27'6-30/ 42'6-50/ ; 42/6-50' 40/ -42 6 42/6-50/ ' 42/6-50/ ' 40/ ' 35/ -40/ j 35/ -49/ 30/ -32/ Sunderland. COAl, The market continues in a very firm and active condition. The supply of shipping is larger, and in some cases steamers are waiting for cargoes, so that further freight supplies are unobtainable. The official requirements are large, and in addition the neutral enquiry is good, in spite of the sharp rise in prices. Good Durham gas and coking coals for ship- ment average 32s. 6d. to 35s., and bunkers 30s. to 35s. Coals of all classes are scarce, with the output rapidly absorbed and inadequate to the home and foreign trade demands. Wear special gas coal is now 40s. to 42s. 6d. Coke values are firmly held at late figures, with the enquiry brisk and the supply short. The Swedish State Railways are in the market for 35,000 tons of best steam coals, June until December, for Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire and Scotch coals—tenders to be sent in next week. Schedule prices are unaltered. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Supply of coal falls short of the very heavy demand, and values are firm. Official absorption continues very large, and enquiries on behalf of neutrals are extensive and increasing. Prompt coal is almost unobtainable, and practically all business attention is directed to forward transactions, operations being mainly centred on June and July. Steams are much sought after. Gas and coking coals are in heavy request, and for neutrals range from 32s. 6d. to 35s. Bunkers of good quality continue active, and prices above minimum figures are being paid. Durhams are quoted at 30s. to 35s. Otherwise than neutral trade schedule figures generally are undisturbed. Coke is scarce and in very large demand. For neutral trade high figures are quoted, nothing below 50s. being named for foundry and furnace descriptions. For home use foundry kind is 38s.; average blast furnace quality 33s. at the ovens, and low phosphorus sort 35s. 6d. at the ovens. IRON. With the commencement of issue of the June allocations home buying of Cleveland foundry iron has been resumed on a rather extensive scale, and as means of distribution continue to steadily improve, deliveries over the coming month promise to be heavy. Home demand for forge iron is unabated. This quality does not come under the allocation system, and consumers are quite keen to make contracts ahead, but makers are disinclined to commit themselves forward to any great extent. Expansion in home transactions has coincided with marked improvement in export trade. All the shipping places on the river present a very lively appearance, and loadings are on a heavier scale than for some time past. For home consump- tion, No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all quoted at 95s.; and No. 1 is 99s.; whilst for shipment to France and Italy No. 3 and the lower qualities are 114s. ; and No. 1 is 119s. The somewhat unexpected though very welcome improvement in the tonnage situation has created a not unlooked-for temporary difficulty in the east coast haematite branch. Much of the iron licensed for export has been distributed to home steel makers owing to the absence of facility for shipment, and now that vessels have become available, iron for the moment is very difficult to obtain. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d. for home use, and 147s. 6d. for export to France and Italy. The manufactured iron and steel trade is active in all branches, and produc- tion, though very large and still expanding, fails to keep pace with the enormous demand. Prices are very strong. _______ _______ Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. Business is exceedingly brisk in all departments, but the situation throughout the coal field is still far from being satisfactory. No business from outside districts is now accepted. It is stated that absenteeism has become more serious of late at some of the collieries, more particularly in