RESEARCH ON COAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 8

RESEARCH ON COAL

A DIESE^POSSIBIfciiy

The possibility of running Diesel engines on coal ;4ust instead of oil is one of the subjects discussed in the annual report of the Fuel Ilesearch Board issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research m Britain.' ■■■•■■ ; , , Such a development as found to depend chiefly on. discovering for engine parts materials capable of resisting the abrasive effect of dust. Some 27 different combinations of materials have been tested, and the results, according to the report, "suggest that by suitable choice of materials It may, -be possible to reduce the wear to reason^ able proportions," . v . Total gasification of coal has resulted in the production of motor Vgpirit by synthesis of the gases. The spirits thus obtained, it is stated, are suitable for secondary treatment to make lubricating oils. These jQils, while > comparing favourably with: commercial lubricants in many respectsyfcave certain*defects;, It is expected-that further: research; can eliminate these. New scientific methods of examining the physical characteristics of coal are described, and may be of great importance in the coalfields. ' The identification of a particular coal seam in a geologically disturbed area may be very difficult. Valuable help. is afforded by microscopic; examination of minute plant remains in coal. The occurrence of. tiny spores of different types is a characteristic feature of each coal seam, and in this way a seam can frequently be identified. ' The porosity of different kinds of coal and their suitability for breaking are studied by X-rays. • The coal is first impregnated with lead salts impervious to the rays, and X-ray photographs then reveal the cracks, fissures, and porous parts,of the> .coal.

Experiments conducted for tyre noise revealed that the hum emanating from tyre treads varied with different road surfaces and speeds. Tyre noise under certain conditions was not seriously noticed, but immediately the car travelled on a smooth surface an unpleasant hum became audible. It was discovered that this hum was caused by air trapped between the tread pattern and the road on account of the pattern of the tread being composed of blocks identical in size which were evenly spaced. The degree of noise created by the.air was determined by the even pitch or wave length asi • the speed of the vehicle varied. The technologists , experimented j with tyres made with various sized blocks and this led to the production of a silent tyre without in any way sacrificing maximum safety features.