Page
MINERAL INDUSTRY
OF CANADA
Nowadays the prosperity of. a country is usually reflected in la mineral Industry, and it is en-
ren couraging, therefore, upon Viewing the reports just publish- ed for the year 1934 by the Cana- dian Department of Mines Mines Branch), to find satisfactory in- crease in production in nearly all more important products, as
the with rompared
preceding year.
The fuels, coal, coke, natural gas, and petroleum all showed im- portant increases in production. The Canadian output of coal in 1934 amounted to 13,795,649 tons, epresenting an advance of 15.9 per cent. a. the 1933 :otal. Ship- lo St. ments of Canadian coal Lawrence porta in 1934 were the largest in the history of the enni trade, Imports of coal into Cana- da amounted to some 18.000 icns more than the home production" and showed an increase over the 20,5 per cent. preceding year of The coal consumption in Capada was therefore abou. four milion tons greater in 1934 than in 1933: subven- Dominion Government tlons enable coal from certain outlying districts to compete in Under the
market. Manitoba these supventions, within certain limits, the difference between the laid-down cost of Canadian coa and imported coal is paid by the Duminion Government. The coal- mining industry also receives us- sistance through the Fuel-Testing Laboratories of the Mines Branch. Department of Mines, where re- search was continued during 1934 on the character of Canadian coals, especially regarding their classification, chemical and phy- sical properles, the effects of washing and sizing on the r mur- ketability, and on their suitability for use in by-product coke ovens. EXPANSION IN COAL FIELDS In the coal-felds considerable expansion is taking place with a view to increasing output. Thus in Nova Scotia capital is being freely expended in Improving ex- 1sting collleries with a view to de- creasing working costs by con- by solidation ut workings and winning coal from overlying or underlying
existing seam to haulage ways and shafts by cross- measure tunnels, particularly in the submarine field off the Syd- леус. A new roillery which wil
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE COAL TRADE AND APPLIANCE MAKERS
It is announced that the na- tional organisations Interested in the manufacture and distribution of coal-burning, appliances have decided to set up a Joint Con- sultauve Board to co-operate with the coa trade. The formation of this body has been occasioned by the fact that coal can only be sold to a purchaser who has an appliance in which he can use
The Cost 01 appliance is, however. #siderable, and once
suci
an
con-
installed is difficult to replace, unless the advantages of a change are un- mistakable and/or unless favour- able terms are offered. Moreover, technical improvement in modern eclid-fuel burning appliances renders desirable, to put it no higher. ihat their distributors should have an accurate know- ledge of their operation and of the characteristics of the various solid fuels for the gombustion of which they are designed. It 16, in fact, common knowledge a the present time that the public' is often allowed to use unsuitable fuel in their stoves and that ex- pense and dissatisfaction are the results. The Joint Board, of which Colonel J. H. M. Greenly, C.B.E., is to be chairman, has been set up as the result of a con- ference at which the British Iron founders' Association, the Builders and Plumbers' Merchants' Asso- clation, the Coal Burning "Ap- plance Makers' Association, the Coal Merchants' Federation ar Great Britain, the Coal Uillisa- tion Council, the Ironmongers: Federated Association, and the National Federation of Builders Merchants were represented. will be responsible for arranging such co-operation between coal mechants, Ironmongers, 'builders' merchants, and manufacturers in different towns, that, users of solid-fuel-burning appliances will be supplied with the best and most economical fuel, In this con- nection it will rilate suitable *find generally do propaganda what i can to stimulate the pub- lic interest.
It
M
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1936.
ENGINEERING AND BUILDING
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THE DRYING OF ROAD TUNNEL UNDER
WASHED COAL
be electrically operated, and for which two large shafts have been sunk near Lethbridge, Alberta, is being opened up by the, 'Canadian Pacific Railway. Mechanisation of collieries is being gradually ex- tended throughout Canada and more attention given to the pre- paration of coal to meet specialis-with ed requirements in the market."
The production of coke. in 1934 is reported as 2,268,757 tona, against 1,773,164 tons in 1933. It ts of Interest to note that the Winnipeg Electric Company. which formerly used United Sta- tes coal exclusively, is now solely theli using Canadian coal in ovdhs at Winnipeg.
The use of natural gas contin. The total pro- ues to increase. duction in Canada, in 1934, was. approximately 22,000,000 cub. ft., of which the province of Alberta In contributed over 65 per cent. Ontario natural gas represents the third largest industry; there are over 2.800 producing wells in the various fields of the Province.
CANADIAN PRODUCTION The total Canadian production of perroleum in the year under re- view is given as 1,417,368 barres, valued at over 3.500,000 dols.; this Is an advance of 26 per cent, over 1933 in quantity and 20 per cent. in value and almost equals the record of 1931, The province which produces the most petro jeum is Alberta, the chief product being naphtha. which is derived, from the wet gas of the Turner Valley feld. Light crude oil is also obtained from this and trom the Red Coulee field, heavy crude being produced in the Wainwright Held. Ontario's chief field is the Petrolla-Oil Spilngs
area, which
has been producing since 1881.
Refinery capacity has been ex- tended in several existing rebner- Jes both in Eastern and Western Canada, Prospects for further steady increase in the demand for petroleum and petroleum products appear to be bright.
Among The more tmportant metals which showed an increas- be ed production in 1934 may mentioned iron, copper, gold, lead. nickel, platinum, silver, zinc, and cobalt; and other economie min- erals include cement. feldspar, graphite
grindstones, gypsum, Ilme, limestone, salt, silica, na tural sodium sulphate. &c.
FAN-DRAUGHT MECHANI- "CAL STOKER
Extended observations In act- ual installations under working conditions, we understand, have shown that the new "Triumph". fan-draught stoker is very suc-
an
cessful. The appliance was in- troduced some ume ago by Messrs. Triumph Stoker' Limited, 86, Kirkstall-road, Leeds, 3, as alternative to the firm's well- known mechanical #:oker with trough bar and steam-jet forced draught. The main features of this grate have been retained in including the new design, the self-cleaning action of the moving grate, but the draught is provid- ed by a direct-coupled motor-fan, which delivers the air not only through the grid air spaces of the bars, but through the spaces be- tween the bars. The air pressure is stated to be low, with conse- quent reduction of power con- sumption. rather less than 3 h.p. being required to drive the com- bined stoker and fans for a Lan- cashire boiler ft. in diameter. The normal efficiency of a boller fitted with the new grate is given as 78 per cent., with an average CO2 content of 13 per cent. The grate, we are informed, has pro ved efficient in burning low-grade fuel without smoke in textile mills in the North of England.
SCOTTISH SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACTS
Moisture present in assoc.ation
coal always impo.es some burden on the user, 4.thouga part of it may serve the useful For purpose of allaying dust, however, not more than about 8 per cent, by weight is needed. and anything in excess of this.. must be regared as undersirable. When wet coal is charged into a bolier furnace, or into coke ovens. the moisture has to be evaporat- ed, heat being absorbed in the process, and the, moisture could probably be removed more econo- mically before charging. In gas works many reasons 'militate against the use of wet coal. "It chills the walls of the retort. makes charging by machinery difficult, and results in complies- Hous in the condensing system and disposal of waste liquors. In view of these considerations, the Ulisation of Coal Committee of Mining Engineers has made the drying of washed coal the sub- ject of one of their interesting series of memoranda. d'scussing series of memoranda, discussing the subject from every angle, In- cluding
for it. the the need possibilities of available plant. and the economic factors invol ved.
A CALORIFIC VALUE In ntroductory remarks it is shown tha: the amount of fuel consumed in evaporating 6 per cent of moisture would be 17 ib per ton, with a calorifle value of the fuel of 12,500 B.Th.U. per lh. A reduction of the moisture con-- tent from 12 per cent. to 6 per cent would result in an increase of the calorific value. from 12.500. B.Th.U. to 13,400 B.Th.U. per .
much giving a
more valuable In the case steath-raising agent, of a coke oven with an efficiency of only 40 per cent. to zu per cent, for, the older type, and of 60 per cent. to 75 per cent. for modern equipment. it is clearly Better to effect the necessary drying in an outside plant, in which an efficiency as high as 90 per cent. may be assured on account of the low temperature of the waste gases. in an old- type coke oven, holding 10 tons of wet coal, the evaporation of 5 per cent. moisture takes about five
modern hours, while in a plant, with a 15-ton charge, from 11 hours to 2 hours would be occupied.
hand. On the other equal results could be obtained In an external drier, taking 15 tons as the standard, in from 20 minutes to 25 minutes. The re duction in coking time effected by reducing the molsure from 12 per cent, tu 7 per cerit. has the additional advantage that the in- crease in the rate of heating im-
1x
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THE THAMES
A Distance Of 35 Miles
30 ft. below Trinity High Water 篩 road The construction of
however, the various obstacles to the construction. of the tunnel have been overcome and to Is hoped that it will now be pas- tween Purfleet in Essex and Dart-sible to invite tenders for chc
tunnel beneath the Thames be-
ford in Kent has long been sug- gested as a means of relieving the traffic congestion higher up the river. D.fferences of opinion about financia, responsibility and. to some extent, engineering diff- culties, have, however, prevented anything being done, though th need for such a link is shown by the fact that between the Black- wall Tunnel and the mouth" of the
35 estuary, a distance of
of com- miles, the only means
the ferries munication are Woolwich arid Cravesend.
ferries these operation of naturally, much hampered by for at Gravesend is only and that suitable for light road vehicles. Heavy motor vehicles are there- fore compelled. even under the most favourable conditions, to go to Woolwich. 21 miles away, ho fore they can cruss the river.
THE POSITION
preliminary work at an early date. With the concurrence bf" the County Councils of Essex and Kent, the Ministry of Transport wil be directly responsible For the construction, and the consult- ing engineers are Messrs. Coode, Wilson. Mitchell and Vaughan- Lee, of 9, Victoria-street, London. S.W.1. and Messrs, Mott. Hay aud tunnel proper will be over a mile
will contain a 20-1 long and carriageway with a patrol path each side. It will be con- structed under compressed a'r from two shafts. 100 ft. deep. situated about: 900 yards apart on cach side of the Thames, and will be of horse-shoe section, the upper part consisting of a semi- Firele 30 ft. outside diameter, with a flattened invert below to support the floor.
st
The
on
تا
The position has recently been acerbated. by the industrial deve- lopment, which has taken place along both banks of the lower At last, reaches of the river.
ELECTRIC HEATING PLANT AT NEW EARL'S COURT EXHIBITION
As a result of an agreement be- tween the Electricity Department of the Fulham Borough Council and the organisers, the whole of the lighting, power and heating Earl's requirements of the new Court Exhibition, will be supplied electrically. The consumption un- der the
will first two headings amount to some 5,000,000 kWh. per annum. and that for heating to between 8,000,000 kWh. and 11,- 000,000 kwn The electric thermal storage plant, which is to be in- stalled, will provide for the air- conditioning of the supplies to the buildings and also for the heating of the swimming pool. It will be automatically operated and ther- mostatically controlled, the supply
the being regulated from Fulham power station so as to en- sure that it is given at hours most suitable to the conditions on the system. Engineering..
new
COLD-STORAGE INSTALLA-
proves the yie'd of gas. benzole, TION AT BULGARIAN PORT and tar. In the Midlands. the term "washed gas mixture” used for a combination of washed doubles, singles and smails, some- times with the addition, of some hand-picked large coal.
With
such a mixture containing 30 pez cent, each of doubles and singles and 40 per cent, of slack. contar- ing, respectively, 3 per cent... 5 per rent, and 12 per cent. of moisture. the moisture, content of the mix- ture, as a whole wou'd be 7.2 per cent. If only the slack were dried to 22 per cent, the moisture con- "tent of the overall mixture worla be 3.2 per cent., a value quite low enough to permit it being fed into retorts by mechanical, chargers.
DRAINAGE
Drainage at bunkers or' 11. wagons, dewatering screens, or the use of centrifuges can all be applied to reduce moisture in washed coal. When both de- dusting and clarification of the
are water:
practised, washery
are eficient, drainage bunkers and the moisture content of Messrs. The Caledon Shipbuild- Ing and Engineering Company, slack can be reduced to about 8 per cent. in from six hours to 36. Limited; Dundee, have received an order
hours. from the Admiralty for a
If clarification is not of the formation adopted, and sture-carrying and distilling vessel.
slurry is not prevented, the pro- This is the first important vessel received by the Caledon Company, cess is slowed down. A period of from the Admiralty since the war. of three days may then be neces- Messrs. Harland and Wolf, Limit- ed, have received a contract from ..the
Line, Lamited, Donaldson Glasgow, to build a 9,000-ton in sulated cargo motorship for their Pacific trade. This vessel will be bulit at the" Arm's" Govan yard, and the propelling machinery, con- sisting of Harland-E. and W. Diesel engines, will be constructed at the hrm's Finnleston Engine Works. Engineering.
sary to reduce the moisture con- tent of 1-in. slack from about 17 per cent, to 10 per cent. by drain- age in wagons, according to re- cant tests. Most coals of nut tize can be with quite effectively at but when dewatering screens. xlack is to be handled it may be necessary to keep down the rate of feed by providing 4 sq. ft. per ton treated. this having to be in- creasing to 18 sq. ft. f slurry is
The Municipal Council of the Bulgarian Port of Burgas, on the Black Sea, has decided to erect, early this spring, a large modern cold-storage installation, close to one of the loading wharves, where perishable and other goods may be collected and stored in quantit- les and held until shipping is available. Ample space will be allotted for meat and poultry, fruit, " vegetables 101d other goods. The Port of Burgas is now the principal shipping centre for Bulgarian exports, and the
are considering authorities
dressed
plans for improving loading fa- cllitics, wharves, &S., to accom. modate vessels of any draught. The cold-storage plant is part of the new extension scheme, which. win take from two to three years to complete.
cen-
present. Experiences withi trifuges has been disappointing. The high speeds necessary to take them effective exposes their. screens to very heavy wear.
considerable amount of fine coal passes through the screen plates with the water, and this increases in proportion as the desired mois ture content in the treated coal is reduced.
From the foregoing it wil be appreciated that drainage and dewatering screens are not nor- mally satisfactory for a reduction the of the moisture-content to desired gure of less than 7 mer cent, for boilers and coke ovens.
gas and below 4 per cent. for coal. Thermal driers of suitable design can, however, be emploved in order to attain these or lower. Agures.
CAST IRON
Cast-iron and concrete Legments backed with concrete will be used as lining, the inner surface being Anished with a glazed waterproof material. The top of the tunnel at its lowest point will be about
AND
PORTI
MERAL
RETE
GEMENT
EMERALCRETE
RAPID HARDENING PORTLAND CEMENT
IN PAPER BAGS OF 94LBS NETT
PRODUCT OF
GREENSLAND CEMENT CO.LTD.
EXCHANGE BUILDING. HONG KONG
mark, Ventilation will be provid- ed by pumping fresh air through a duct in the top of the tunnel, whence pipes will convey it to openings placed at intervals along the kerb IT. The foul air will be extracted from main tunnel. The
be open approaches wil constructed with 凸 max mm radient of 1 in 28, and wil' com
Consider this.
The real cost of any installation never lies in its original price but in its upkeep throughout its normal period of service. During 1935 the following major contracts were awarded to DODWELL & CO., LTD.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, ABERDEEN.
ITALIAN CONVENT.
nect with the Purfleet by-pass and the Dartford by-pass, respec- tively. The northern approach will ultimately be extended to cross the London--Chelmsford road and connect with the North on the Orbital road, while that south wil similarly connect with Lon- the London-Folkestone and don-Hastings roads.
OIL FIRED HOT WATER SYSTEM. OIL FIRED RICE & VEGETABLE BOILERS. FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, · · OIL FIRED HOT WATER SYSTEM. OIL FIRED COOKING RANGES. FIRE FIGHTING" EQUIPMENT.
KOWLOON HOSPITAL, O. P. DEPT. OIL FIRED HOT WATER SYSTEM,
MAGISTRACY, KOWLOON,
SHUM CHUN HOTEL.
OIL FIRED CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM.
OIL FIRED CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM.
#J
OIL FIRED HOT WATER SYSTEM. OIL FIRED CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM.
BRITISH CIGARETTE CO'S FACTORY. SANITARY INSTALLATION,
KNIGE HYDRO-THERAPEUTIC INST. HYDRO-THERAPEUTIC INSTALLATION.
MARINA HOUSE,
HONGKONG CLUB.
STEAM HOT WATER SYSTEM. STEAM BOXES, ETC.
SANITARY INSTALLATION, FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
OLL FIRED COOKING RANGES & HEATING SYSTEM.
There are sound reasons for the widespread acceptance that has been accorded "Dodwell Installations" by Architects, Engineers and Building Owners. Among these reasons the following are noteworthy :-
1. On definite specifications our prices are competitive.
2. We do not sublet work or pay our staff piece-work rates. The danger of scamped work is therefore eliminated.
8. All jobs are supervised by European Craftsmen.
4. In the absence of a specification, all systems are designed with a view to giving trouble free service and low upkeep cost.
5. We do not undersize a job, with the view of
submitting the lowest tender.
FOR YOUR NEXT JOB. ASK FOR OUR TENDER. READ OUR SPECIFICATION, THEN DECIDE.
DODWELL & Co.,
Ltd.
SANITARY, HEATING & VENTILATING DEPT.
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Manager:
A. W. Saltar, MRS.L, MLH.V.E. Supervising Engineer: H. H. Mundy, M.B.8.L