TUB LATEST RIVAL OF COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 9

TUB LATEST RIVAL OF COAL

HOW THE NEW PEAT FUEL IS MADE.

This first factory has now been' erected at Kilberry, in Ireland, tocarry out the newscientific process of,..preparing peat.;' fuel.* The chief point in the new process ia th» passage of an electric current through the peat, which release's certain remarkable chemical agents, and changes it from its! mossy condition into a hard substance, closely allied to coal. :. . .. A visit, to this factorv, situated hard by the famous Hog of Allen, is described by Mr. Frederick A. Talbot in World's Work. A huge power grab excavates the peat from the bog, picking it up at the rate of thirty tons per hour. The material is whirled in tramears into the factory, and shot forthwith into a machine which eliminates its water, and reduces it to one-third its original weight and bulk. It is nowready for the electrifying action: —

"It falls into the electrifier, and when the requisite charge has been inserted the current is switched on. Either a continuous or alternating current can be utilised with equal success, for the ultimate result is precisely the same. In this case, however, the alternating current is employed, the pressure being 250 volts and 130 amperes, more or less as is found necessary. Tho myriads of minute cells are completely broken up, and their chemical contents released in a manner which is uot possible by any other agency or mechanical appliance. The operation occupies about twenty minutes, and the cost in regard to consumption of electric current is insignificant, approximating only threepence per ton." .. ~ * ..:..,. ;. :■.

Electrified and freed of the last remaining drop of water, the;peat goes.to- the kneading machine, and thence into the moulding machine, which turns it into bri- , quettes of any desired shape and size, at the. rate of 6000 briquettes an hour. The cost of production is much cheaper than' that of coal; and it in thought that "themanufacture of the new fuel will have a .' great, future in Ireland, 'the pioneer fac- ' ton- can turn out 2.000.000 tons of prepared peat in a year: — *,'■''

'Trials have shown that as regards , its calorific value this electro-peat fuel is equal to the Scotch mid American coals, though it is slightly inferior to the Welsh steam coal. 'At the same, time it possesses several qualities in which the latter is deficient. It emits no smoke during combustion, burns brightly, leaves no residue of any description such as sulphur and phosphorus, leaves no soot, clinker, or cinder, and but little ash.

"When ignited it immediately gives * long" bright flame arid intense heat, and the combustion is even, perfect, and complete. It is it much denser fuel than coal, a cubic foot of this peat weighing 76 pounds, as compared with 45 to 50 pounds in the case of coal. Furthermore, it is clean to handle, stacks well, does not crumble, and transports without any material loss."