MANY N.Z. USES FOR LIQUID METALS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28618, 21 June 1958, Page 10

MANY N.Z. USES FOR LIQUID METALS

[Specially written for “The Press” by L. C. WALKER.] New engineering techniques in the atomic industry' will have considerable impact in other fields of engineering endeavour, especially in the design of plant involving heat transfer. The Dounreay fast breeder reactor in Britain uses liquid sodium circuits and 1.C.1. is now producing the cheapest titanium metal in the world with a liquid sodium process. Titanium, much lighter than steel, is particularly valuable in aircraft construction. It may be that New Zealand can turn out titanium since it has the raw materials and potential processes.

The Lake Grassmere saltworks could produce many of these valuable liquid metals since sodium is produced by taking chlorine from salt with electricity. Some projected uses of liquid metals are in fractional condensers for metallic vapours, baths for electrical heaters, preheating blast furnace <ur, cooling of rotating machinery (jet turbine blades), pasteurising processes requiring high heat-transfer rates, heat exchange to heathensitive substances, heating for chemical reaction and distillation, the conveyance of heat into or out of high-pressure vessels, the control of mould- and die temperatures, and in glass manufacture. There are plenty of uses 'or liquid metals in New Zealand. Steam power stations could be made more efficient with a fraction of the piping, geothermal steam could be tapped more efficiently. Lake Grassmere could produce more salt, chemicals, liquid and magnesium metals. In addition, .our high-country farming could undergo a big change by linking the high runs to a series of major farms, where livestock could be taken in the four off months in the year. Grasses and fodder could be cut and dried in the unstocked eight months. Drying plants for 500 tons of grass a day would have liquid metal heat systems. The drying of skim and full milks would also be more efficient, paving the way to the day when our dried milk will go in quantity to Asia. Dried lucerne, grass and Russian comfrey could be produced for human consumption. I have eaten some good dried lucerne from Marlborough. The meat companies could cook and spray dry a lot of bones and oddments which could be turned into soups. There are machines which can grind bones into powder, making the basis of a very good soup. Trade with Asia

If , liquid metals were used efficiently in New Zealand, we would not only improve our trade with Asia, but we would, at the same time, forge peaceful links with the Asians.

New Zealand could certainly, with profit, increase its exports to Ceylon, India and Pakistan. Japan would take goods worth £3O million a year from New Zealand if we could invent a way for her to sell us £3O million worth of work or goods and we have scarcely any trade with Indonesia. In 1957 we had to find £27-million to square up Australia. We must use our brains to help the many millions of Asians feed themselves and develop friendly methods of co-operation. We can do a lot to teach the tricks of providing food, clothing, shelter, fuel, light and transport. Rayon Manufacture

Lake Grassmere could be a pivot- for another big development scheme by producing caustic soda for new industries. Caustic soda can be produced, by an electrolysis of brine, in other words, electricity and salt, before it is finally dried. The by-pro-

duct is chlorine, which is used in the pulp and paper industry, as is caustic soda itself. But caustic soda is also used in a big way in rayon manufacture. The raw; materials for rayon are mainly wood chips plus caustic soda. We have the raw materials right here and Britain, Australia, and New Zealand should investigate the possibility of establishing a big rayon industry in New Zealand. It would be of tremendous value, since New Zealand spent £36,281,000 on importing textile yarn, and made-up articles last year. -