FUEL RESEARCH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 13

FUEL RESEARCH

PETROL FROM TAR

PULVERISED COAL

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, Juno 28.

About 200 scientists visited the Fuol Research Station at East Greenwich at the invitation of Sir Harold Hartley, chairman of the Fuel Research Board, and saw refined petrol of high antiknock value being produced from coal and tar. That was ono of a series of the new enterprises, based on coal and its derivatives, being developed at Greenwich under the aegis of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The highest possible yield of valuable products is tho aim of every department. From one treatment of tar 45 per cent, of motor spirit is derived, and by reprocessing the total yield of motor spirit reaches by volume 98 per cent, of the original tar. Another field of experiment has resulted in an increased production of coal gas in horizontal retorts. It has been found possible to inercaso the amount of coal carbonised in a sotting of retorts by 50 per cent. Further, by passing steam into tho retorts the yield of gas has been increased by seven to ten therms per ton of coal, roughly 10 per j cent.

This aim at high productivity affects not only petrol and gas, but pulverised fuel, lubricating oils, gas coke, and other smokeless fuels for the domestic grate. To carry through this laboratory method of perfecting a process on a works scale over 8000 tons of coal a year are used. In one department Lancashire boilers are fired with powdered coal through the "grid" burner, and its latest development, the "Multijet," assuring such steady and perfect combustion as to suggest possibilities for the future use of vast quantities of small size coal. Close by a series of small rooms is assigned to measuring the radiant heat and other qualities of domestic fuels manufactured from coal.

Tho International cablo news appearing In this issuo is published by arrangement with the Australian Press Association and the "Sun, "Herald," News Office, -JUmited.