1936-05-25 — Page 7

OIL FROM COAL

The Present Position In Great Britain

(By DAVID BROWNLIE.)

During the past half century probably over 100 processes have been tried on the laboratory, semi-commercial, and commercial. scale in Great Britain for the treatment of bituminous coal and the production of liquid fuel. The importance of this does

not 'require emphasis in view of the fact that practically the whole of the British Navy, automobile transport, and aircraft, as well as a considerable part of the Mercantile Marine, depends almost entirely upon foreign liquid fuel that has to be imported from thousands of mlies away.

il

then

It is as well to point out also that, oil, and heavy oth, leaving a solid the British Empire, produces less residue. The heavy oll is than 2 per cent of the oll of the used to mix with the coal for the world, and in Great Britain and next charge, while the muddle oil the British Empire, bituminous is again hydrogenated at 930°F. coal, torbanite, cannel, oil shale, and other material should have been used long ago upon an ex- tensive seasé for the production of motor spirit, Diesel oll, and other

liquid fuels.

ture

.

*

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 25, 1936.

EMPIRE DAY

Ships In Harbour Were Gay With · Bunting

J

All warships in harbour and many merchant ships were dressed yesterday and were gay with bunting in celebration of Empire Day.

ning

No official function was held to mark the day, although a special church service was held at St. Andrew's, Kowloon, yesterday or

when boyscouts and girt guides attended in"big numbers and listened to Rev. J. R. Higgs spenk

"Ideals of the Empire." Last night a special open-air ser- held in the WAS

church Brounds, Rev. E. Wittenbach, of Canton, taking the service.

V.ce

| 1500°C) and converted largely into light oil. It should be pointed out in this connection the hydrogena | ilon process is equally suitable for

converting any heavy oil, includ-pected to be present. Ing petroleum fractions, Into light

To-day a special service for school children will be held in St. boy scouts ans girlguides are ex- John's Cathedral at 9 a.m. Many

oil.

THE NETT RESULT "The net result of the process is that from 100 tons of ash and

In this connection it will be in teresting to give a concise descrip-

Jon

tlit present. position (April/1936.) in Great Britain Essentially attention is being con-water-free coal, or 105 tons of ash centrated here upon the treatment free coal, there obtained 62 tons of coal according to three main

motor spirit, 28 tons of gas. 14 methods. The first of these is the tons of liquor, and 12 tons sclid well-known "Coality" process. residue. Further, one ton of coal which consists in the low tempera-requires in addition the consump carbonisation of coking or tion of tons of coal for operat- semi-coking bituminous coal for suitable blends of coal) in simple,

Ing that is the production of heat and power, while the 28 tons of vertical, intermittent, externally gas formed heated, cast iron retorts of pip-

is used for making like type, narrow in diameter. The charge is carbonked at a rempera- ture of about 1000°F. 1538°C. for say four hours, and under these conditions a fairly hard, coherent, smokeless fuel is formed, since the charge is given a considerable de xree of compression caused by the resistance of the iron walls to the swelling charge during the plastic stage.

AVERAGE YIELD

The average yield per ton of good grade coal is about 5,000 cubic feet of rich gas (700-800 B. Th. U. per cubic foot), 3 gallons crude light ol, 18 gallons low temperature tar, and 75 per cent (15 cwt.) of re- sidual smokeless fuel, known as "Coalite," which has about 10-12 per cent. volatile matter. The three gallons of light oil are refined to form approximately two gallons or high-grade motor spirit, while over 50 per cent of the tar can be

used for Diesel engines,

nydrogen for the process,

The difficulty with hydrogena- tion, as with low temperature car- bonisation. spirit and other iiquid fuels at a is to produce motor price comparable with petroleum products, and the plant at Billing- ham is heavily subsidised in the shape of a rebate taxation on the motor spirit produced."

Incidentally ärother, and even more important, method of manu- facturing synthetic liquid fuel is belog operated on a huge scale in Germany, based essentially upon the conversion of a solid product. such as coal or lignite, into water Bas, and the reduction of the car- bon monoxide in the water gas to complicated liquid products, the simplest of which is methyl alcohol wood spirit). It is stated that one works in Germany alone is pro- ducing over 100.000 tons of motor spirit per annum by this method, but as usual public subsidies are

required.

The "Coalite" process, with many different types of retort. has had

THE THIRD METHOD a long and chequered career for ing great attention here in Great Finally the third method occupy- over twenty-five years past, and Britain is that of heating mixtures numerous plants have been oper- of pulverised coal and oil, either ated and strapped, the difficulty being, because of the competition say 200 lbs. per square inch. Many at atmospheric pressure or up to of petroleum, to make the process wild and ridiculous claims are be- pay. Now at last, however, Lowing made for exceptional yields of Temperature Carbonisation Ltd.,light oil, the main contention be- controlling the "Cdalite" process, ing that if bituminous coal and are operating as a commercial pro-heavy oll are mixed and carbonised position and making an appreciable then the yields of light oll obtain proft, while three large scale ed are much higher than if the plants are working at Doncaster coal and the oil were heated se- (Yorkshire), Barugh (acar Barns-parately to the same temperature, ley), and Greenwich (London), Whether this is actually the case is carbonising over 5,000 tons of coal

a matter of opinion and much more per week. This of course is only independent and rellable evidence a drop in the ocean compared with is required. the 150,000,000 tons of coal con- sumed per annum in Great Britain. but all the same it is an outstand- ing Indication of the correct na- onal pelley to adopt. with over 40,000,000 tons of coal per annum used in the domestic field alone.

BAND CONCERT

MARRIAGE

ORDINANCE

PROPOSED CHANGES

GAZETTED

contains

the

The "Gazette" draft of an Ordinance to amend the Marriage Ordinance, 1875,

EXTRACTS FROM GAZETTE

APPOINTMENTS ETC.

The name of Mr. Wong Yu- has been added to the register if chok, of the King's Dispensary. |

chemists and druggists.

ነፃ

.

Governor

re-

A bankruptcy notation states that a anal dividend of $2.50 per tent, has been declared in the case of e Wing ing Bank and LWing-kwong and Li Shum-fan, partners therein.

Ah amendment o. the New Ter- ritor.es Regulation Ordinance pro- vides that the keeping of any cart.e, swine, sheep or goats with- Market Tal Wo Sh), Un Long in the noundaries of Talpo New

New Market and Hang, Hau, s

rchibteu,

It is explained that Section 29 of the principal Ordinance "pro- vides that any minister, who (1 His Excellency, the the case of a minor without such be a wilfully celebrates a marriage in has appointed Dr. F. R. Ashton 10 member of the Midwives written prescribed or (2) wilfully cele-vice

consent Rs. 5 therell Board for a term of three years.

Dr Annie Sydenham. brates a marriage contrary to any signed. ather provision of the Ordinance, or knowing that any provision ul the Ordinance has not been com- plied with, shall be guilty of u misdemeanor and shall be able to imprisonment. without

hard labour, for any term nöt exceeding amending BI is to provide for

The two years.

object of

the

alternative to imprisonment, the Impostition of a fine. as, an

The maximum fine is placed at $1,000 as that is the Many people attended the con- maximum fine in the case of mk- normal cert given by the East Lancashire's i demeanors-see Ordinance. No. 1 band in the Peninsula Hotel lounge of 1898, s. 5; but last night when the following pro- is

If the case

March "The Empire"..........

dealt with" summarily gramme was played:- Overture. "Tannhauser" (Wagner).dinance No. 41 of 1932.

maximum would be reduced (Tulip). $250 under Section. 84 (1) of Or- valse. "Destiny" Piccolo Solo. "The Joy of Living" ministers of

His Excellency the Governor, .......................(Baynes).

Cases have occurred where under Instructions received from

Selection. "La Gioconda" ·

region have dis- the Secretary o. State for the (Cale).

regarded the requirements of the Colonies, has recognised Mr. Ho- Ordinance to an extent meriting ward Donovan, provisionally and Clarinet Concertino. ........(Weber). but which did not justify pro-xequatur. as Consul of the United

(Ponchielli). Selection. "H.M.S. Pinafore"

the imposition of some penalty ending the issue of His Majesty's

ceedings leading to imprisonment.

States of America at Hongkong. (Sullivan), Cornet Solo. "Land of Hope and Excerpts from the Opera "Aida"

Glory"

.....(Elgar))

(Verdi). Selection. "The Student Prince."

(Romberg). Entr'acte. "La Paloma" (Yradier). Fantasia. "Festival of Empire"

(MacKenzie-Rogan). Regimental Marches:-"The Attack

and "Lancashire Lad"

It was an excellent programme of music and applause greeted each i item from the large gathering pre- sent.

the to

sanction of this alternative penal- It is hoped that legislative

ty will have the effect of. promot-

His Excellency the Governor ing a closer attention by the per-ubject to His Majesty's pleasure, nas appointed, provisionally and sons concerned to the requirements Mr. Antonio Ferreira Silva-Netto of the principal Ordinance..

MEASURES AGAINST FIRE

£3,000,000 DAMAGE IN 3 MONTHS

to be temporarily an Unofficial Member of the Legistative Coup-. cil. in the place of the Eon. Mr Braga, O.BE.. who is temporartly absent from the Colony.

J

Excellency the Governor

has appointed Mr. F. C. Hall to be a Member of the Urban Coun- cil for a further term of three years.

te

at creosote as make-up. Nothing. however, appears to have been Damage by Mre during the first. ter of the quality of this motor Britain alone accounted for no lessed from $10 to $12. stated with regard to the vital mat-three months of this year in Great celving licences has been increas-

The cost of broadcasting

spirit."

taan £3,051,000-more than £600,- 000 above the figure for the first quarter of last year.

An experimental "Mitford" plant fordshire), but this has since been was operated at Cannock, (Star- dismantled and re-erected at Tip-tary, Sir John Siman, made a state- Only recently the Home, Secre- ton (Staffordshire): Detailed in- ment at a conference held at the formation as to the actual results House of Commons, explaining a ditons, including both the quailty specially prepared by Home Office obtained under commercial con new pamphlet on fire protection

and the wear and tear on the re- that last year about 800 lives were and quantity of the motor spirit. experts for householders. He said torts, are awaited with great in- lost and many thousands injured

His Excellency

act as Pulsne Judge until fur- the Governor has appointed Mr. E. H. Williams

ther notice,

that no vessel shall enter or by Regulations just issued provide

thin any part of Bowrington anchored or moored within a dis- Canal, and no vessel shall be

tance of 100 feet to the north of

was

terest,

and added that much of this catas- been

The "Stephenson" process has trophe was due to carelessness and

a minor sensation here for ignorance of the action to be taken the bridge on Gloucester "Road past, with a large plant erected at ing. He emphasized the fact that a considerable number of months should a fire break out in a bulld-over Bowrington Canal. Seaham Harbour (County Dur- prevention was, better ham). No detailed technical in- action

than any formation, however, has yet been pointed out that lives could re-

The Gazette" contains the draft after the outbreak and

proposed amendment of the made available concerning

Protection of Women and Girls this peatedly have been saved had cer- known is that it consists of some known. process, and all that seems to be tain precautions and methods been

Ordinance the main object of which to get

rid of a group

tures. whether under pressure or John referred stresses the impor-ulfame were to:rrated, when they method of heating coal-oil mix-

sections which belong to The new pamphlet to which the days when houses

"processes in Great Britain on the At the time of writing the chief

otherwise. Only one patent has so tance of isolating fire in the event were far been published, which relates of an

not disorderly, dangerous outbreak and of avoiding or a nuisance. and to substitute coal-oil mixture principle are the this is the method actually used

to pressure operation, but whether draughts. The passages and stair new sections which are more ap- "Mitford," "Greenstreet,"

ways in a house form a kind of propriate to the policy of com- les,"

"Know- at Seaham Harbour cannot be as-natural flue, drawing the flames plete suppression of such estab- "Stephenson," "Carbonol." certained. and "Bluemner." It should be em- to statements in the presa, large- circumstances a Bestobell are cur-

Meanwhile, according from the seat of the Are: In these lishments. phasised, however, that the idea SECOND METHON

of heating all-coal mixtures is very for a considerable time by a fire.

scale operation has been held up tain, fixed to the celling and drop- The second method of importance ancient, and in more recent times

ped into place by pulling a cord,

A financial statement for the "KNOWLES" PROCESS is the recent starting-up by Im-some processes that have

acts as an effective screen to a month of February shows been

that perial Chemical Industries Ltd of

tried and falled in the

In the "Knowles" process, which passage and checks the fire for a the Colony's credit balance at the United comes from the United States, pri-valuable periód in an emergency. the large hydrogenation plant at States include the "Ryan" (dating.marily the invention of the late A.

end of the month was $13,002,893, Billingham-on-Tees. This is stated from 1914) the "Hampton-Ryan." Stephen Knowles of Chicago, al-bestos for such things as panelling, end of January.

The general employment of as- compared with "$13.262.973 at the to have a consumption of about and the "Thomson-Becler." 360,000 tons of coal per annum.

though based on the previous work rugs and Most attention has been given in of Zwillinger, the principle con- greater attention every year. Since $2.288.061. compared with $2,008,-

curtains is receiving

Revenue for the month and to be able to produce on

the dally and also the technical sists in heating coal-oll mixtures the beginning of the commercial 696 in February. 1935, whilst the maximum output about 45,000,000 press here to the "Stephenson" and in long ovens having a flat floor history of the mineral in 1870, it respective expenditure figures were gallons el motor spirit per annum.

the "Mitford" processes. The lat-made of refractory tlies, the com Again this is a drop in the ocean

ter consists in heating a 50-50 mix-bustion chambers being under- limited possibilities wherever the

has been found to have almost un-$2,548.141 and $2.051.833. since about 1.200,000,000 per an-

ture of pulverised coal and oil in neath on the "sole flue"principle. risk of fire exists, and hundreds of num. Again this is a drop in the rotary steel plate cylindrical reThe coal-oil mixture is poured in articles are

since about 1,200,000,000 torts, like small cement klins until a layer of coke is formed tured from the substance.

manufac gallons of petrol per annum are These are raised empty to & tem about 6 inches thick, which is then consumed in Great Britain, so that Ferature of about 840°F. (450°C.) hardened by continual beating, and Billingham has an output of only and then the coal-oll mixture, is

an experimental plant of this type been reduced to such a fine stage about 3.7 per cent of the consump poured in (until a considerable is operating at the new Corby Steel of division in the liquid that they

amount of residual coke is formed, It will be remembered the hydro- while all the gases and vapours are

works, near Kettering (Northants), constitute a true colloidal fuel, from the "Carbonol" and the which solid particles will never se- genation process is based primarily driven off and condensed. The re- "Bluemner" processes operate on the parate by gravity, on the same! on the pioneer work of the now sulting heavy oil is then fraction-general principle of heating coal- lines as give dissolved in water. well-known German scientist. ated to about 300°F. (200°C.) and of mixtures to about 840-930°F. Friedrich Bergius. In general te the light off driven off and purified (450-500°C) under pressures up to vention of Dr. A. Woldich,

The "Carbonel" process is the in- conaldis in heating pulverised for motor spirit, while the remain- several hundred pounds per square American fuel technologist resident bituminous coal, mixed with some ing 90 per cent. of the heavier of inch and so arranged that the heat in Paris, whic the Bluemner pro heavy oil, in the presence of a is used again for mixing with more treatment still leaves a thick liquid, cess is the work of Dr. Brich considerable amount of hydrogen pulverised COAL, Also areosote while all the light oils are driven Bluemner, an Austrian fuel techno- gas to a temperature of about

(coal tar fraction) or any other off. That is the carbonisation does logist resident in Germany. It is 840°F. (450°C) and a pressure of quid products are added as make-not proceed at this stage to the understood that in connection with 3412 lbs. per square inch (240 up. atmospheres), natng also a catalyst

solid, which would appear to be a both processes attempts are being EXPERIMENTAL "MITFORD" such as oxide of iron. The action.

very much more acienting idea. made to establish commercial Is carried out in heavy forged steel

The thick liquid can then be car-plants in Great Britain. According to a report by Dr. "bonised in some simple type of re- Finally, a certain amount 91 "bombs" and a considerable part Cecl H. Lander, late of the Fuel tort or is available for burning in benzole and other liquid fuel is also to the solid coal is converted into Research Board, there is obtained the liquid condition a complicated thick liquid, resem- In this way 15.3 gallons of high- bling crude petroleum. This liquid grade motor spirit per ton of coal is fractionated to light oil, medium carbonised, and about 15 gallons

ocean

tion.

PLANT.

"Both

under these conditions the residual A highly interesting claim is that

semi-carbonised coal particles have

now being

ant

being produced from coaf in Great

bonisation in towns gas retorts and Britain by blab temperature car-

metallurgical ovens,

MR. E. 0. DRAKE

Funeral Postponed To Next Friday.

The funeral of the late Mr. E O." Drake, who died on Friday. has been postponed until Friday' to enable his wife to attend."

two children. left Hong Kong last Mrs. Drake, accompanied by her week for the United States but had gone only as far as when news of Mr. Drake's death was cabled to her,

Kobe

She will return to Hong Kong'on the General Sherman, which la due on Friday.

The late Mr. Drake, who was 53 years of age, was manager of the

pany in Hong Kong and had been British-American Tobacco Com

with the organisation since 1909.

TENNIS

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