NEW OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE FACTORY
Photographs by Staff Photographer.
CHINA OXYGEN & SUBSIDIARY OF THE
General view of the enterprise from the entrance gateway.
Pursuing their policy of post-war expansion, The British Oxygen Company Ltd. some time ago formed a Subsidiary Company in Hongkong under the title of China Oxygen & Acetylene Co. Ltd. This paralleled development on similar lines in Egypt and Malaya. representing additions to its existing large Overseas Organisation throughout the British Commonwealth.
Some delay arose due to the difficulty of finding a suitable site in Hongkong. but eventually K.M.L.69, situated in the Hung Hom district of Kowloon and having a sea frontage, was selected in the year 1948.
The principal scope of the Factory built on this site was the production of Compressed Oxygen and Acetylene and, as a safety measure, the respective buildings for these processes had to be kept 400 feet apart; this fact largely dictated the suitability of any site. In view of the location chosen, it was also deemed advisable to create floor levels considerably above the existing foundation level to obviate the possibility of flooding. In view of the fact that the site is reclaimed land, the possibility of Piling had to be considered, but this was not found necessary except for the Office Block where the calculated load allows for a second story should this be required at some future date.
The original intention was to employ factory buildings of steel construction with part brick and part asbestos board walling. However, in view of local climatic conditions, it was deemed advisable to use R.C. Construc- tion and brick walling throughout. The finished appearance, though strictly utilitarian, is indeed pleasing.
EXISTING GRANITE WALL
OFFICE ILOCK
LO. BUILDING
GARAGE
DLA K
WALS
Lieke zemlje
EXIST.
WALL
View of the oxygen production building.
The two main buildings are those housing the Acetylene and Oxygen Production and Compressing Plants res- pectively. Their dimensions and layout are naturally dictated by the nature and type of machinery they are required to house. In view of the fact that the floor levels are considerably higher than the foundation level, particular care had to be taken in the design of machinery foundations; these had to be put in situ before filling took place on which the floor rests. Each building has a wooden floored cylinder handling and loading dock, the height from road level being designed to facilitate loading and offloading cylinders from vehicles.
Both buildings have a self-contained water supply, comprising a reservoir and appropriate cooling system. This not only ensures economy of consumption by re-using the water, but allows for the possibility of main's failure. In the case of the Acetylene building, the reservoir is external to the main building where necessary Float Switches are employed to control the supply feed, which is through the medium of electrically driven pumps.
Another ancillary to this building is a Sludge Pit and Pump House, required to handle the residue arising from the generation of Carbide.
(Above) Plan showing the position and arrangement of the various buildings which comprise the establishment.
(Right) The building in which the acetylene is generated and compressed.
-
35
NO SMOKING