TAKING THE MEASURE OF COAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 98, 28 April 1930, Page 10

TAKING THE MEASURE OF COAL

THERMS, SCALES AND FOOTRULES Before the Householders receive their coal from the coalman many sorts of measurements have to be taken. These measurements do not. end with the 1121 b. weight on one side i of the scale and a bag of coal on the other. Other measurements besides lbs. avoirdupois have to be made. Householders to-day are different from those in the past. They understand all about calorific values of coal and Thermal units, and how accurate estimates are formed of the proportions of warmth coal possesses. The first to estimate the value of coal as a warmth, agency is the analyst. He ascertains the proportions of the fixed carbons and the hydro-carbons that are the valuable warmth conveying constituents of coal, and the water and ash which are the waste.

Taking Egmont coal as an example because it is mined nearby and is therefore one which most interests Wanganui people, it is found that the calorific value is high, higher than many New Zealand coals. The Dominion Analyst found it to contain 11,880 British Thermal Units per lb, that its ash and water content was low; in other words, it is an extraordinarily warm coal and possesses very little waste.

Coal is graded to the inch. Over 3inch coal is graded as House coal, over inches Kitchen slack. The high quality of Egmont coal may be gauged by the fact that 70 per cent, of Egmont Coal is capable of being graded as “House” or 1 ‘Kitchen.” —Advt.