Little Sulphur In Ham Coal

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 16

Little Sulphur In Ham Coal

The sulphur content of coal used in the boiler at the University of Canterbury’s Dam site varied slightly between .5 per cent and .7 per cent, a fuel engineer for the Mines Department (Mr J. J. Seymour) says in comment on a letter to the editor of “The Press.” , I The correspondent, John i Forster, says in the letter: “With regard to the : comments by Mr J. J. Seymour concerning the type of ' coal being used in the Ham

boiler, I would like to know what type of coal is being used at Ham and what is the sulphur content of this coal. Air pollution in Christchurch is a genuine menace to health and the public are entitled to know which is the best and safest coal to use. The true reason for the static condition of the sulphur dioxide content of the Christchurch air is due to the fact that so many sensible people have in recent years been building all-electric homes.” Mr Seymour said that coal used at the boiler was extracted from the number four seam at Reefton. “It seems that Mr Forster has missed the point made in the last article," he said. “It was said that, in spite of the fact that the total sulphur content of coals used in the Christchurch area had been drastically reduced, it is maintained that the sulphur dioxide content of Christchurch air has remained static. If this is so, where is the sulphur coming from? “May I suggest that a substantial increase in the use of oil could make a marked contribution?” Mr Seymour noted the sulphur contents of three grades of oil fuel of: light diesel (35 sec), between .4 per cent and .8 per cent: medium furnace (220 sec between 2.6 per cent and 3.2 per cent; heavy furnace (950 sec between 2.8 per cent and 3.5 per cent. “I am entirely in agreement with Mr Forster that pollution must be kept to tolerable standards,” Mr Seymour said, “but I do not agree with the popular idea that another name for pollution is coal."