Report of proceedings of the Cremation Conference : held at Friends House Euston Road., London ... July 18, 19, 20, 1946.

  • Cremation Conference (1946 : London)
Date:
[1946?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of proceedings of the Cremation Conference : held at Friends House Euston Road., London ... July 18, 19, 20, 1946. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    commencement of the day’s cremations is a factor of great importance. There are, of course, wide differences in the state of bodies received for cremation, sometimes dependent upon the disease which was the ultimate cause of death. There may be, for example, excessive quantities of water vapour to be dispersed, and, at the other extreme, where death has occurred through one of the wasting diseases, the body has already been “ burned up”, to some extent, by the fierce combustion which has run its course in life, and, in these cases, the dehydrated and emaciated remains require much longer treatment at a higher temperature and even, possibly, some localised combustion to complete the resolution. All these facilities, however, are readily obtainable with a properly- designed gas furnace, which can be provided to meet any required conditions, e.g., (a) With open grid hearth. (6) With closed hearth and auxiliary inciner- ating chamber for completing the cremation. (c) With recuperators, where fans are available. (dq) With natural draught burners, in districts where fans cannot readily be provided. All are characterised by ease of operation, and can be manipulated by any man of average intelligence. CONSUMPTION OF GAS The amount of gas used varies, of course, with the frequency with which the furnace is employed. The following table has been compiled, by the courtesy of a superintendent of wide experience, ‘using a furnace installed about Io years ago. It is useless, however, comparing gas consumption figures, unless the conditions are exactly similar. Temperature and Introduction Time degrees Gas Time Taken Centigrade Therms Start During 10.15 a.m. 1 hr. 40 mins. Cold 650° FO 12.5) aDstn, 1 hr. 20 mins. 540° 720° 4°75 By) . jahiail I hr. 35 mins, 620° 800° 3°80 4.0 p.m, I hr. 45 mins. 600° 800° Pew] When using the latest insulated air-blast furnaces, gas consumption figures from 2.7 to 3.5 therms per consumption have been obtained from furnaces in frequent use, MAINTENANCE An immense amount of research work has been carried out upon refractory materials required for heat processes in general. In consequence, there is a wide choice of highly- suitable refractory linings available to the furnace engineer. At the comparatively low temperatures at which a cremation furnace works, the life 10 that the cost of replacement is but a minor item in upkeep, when spread over the years and the number of cremations which can take place in a furnace between periods of re-lining. It is, therefore, not anticipated that the maintenance or running costs can be materially improved. Attention is now being given to improvements in technical operation, in the application of heat and the provision of recuperation for heating the air required for combustion. Moreover, increasing interest is being taken in the outward appearance of furnaces, which are now totally enclosed, so that unsightly pipework is concealed. DESCRIPTION OF MODERN CREMATING FURNACES Radiant Heating Company The Radiant Heating Company, of London, specialises in furnaces employing surface com- bustion, or, at least, Radiant panel combustion, as against open flame burners. The furnaces are built up in the usual manner, with an outer steel case, which can be, and often is, finished in vitreous enamel. There is an inner lining of insulating material surrounding the refractories forming the incinerating chamber, and _ the recuperator, which is housed above the arch. There is an ash chamber beneath the grid hearth, and radiant heating combustors line the inciner- ating chamber and also the ash chamber beneath. The Radiant Heating Company have had a wide experience in designing furnaces for many purposes, and have several satisfactory installa- tions, the maintenance costs for which have proved to be very low over a number of years. This furnace has recently been re-designed. Askam Cremating Furnace This furnace has been entirely re-designed since the war, and is now shown in a totally- enclosed form, which can be in vitreous enamel finish, if so desired. It employs town gas, at normal pressure, and the burners are placed in the combustion chamber in such a manner that the flame is directed in a downward direction against the furnace walls, which are rapidly brought to a state of radiant heat. There is an ash chamber below, and leading to a small receptacle in the front, where localised combustion can be carried out. The hot waste products leave the incinerating chamber and pass upwards to a secondary chamber above the arch, where the recuperator tubes are housed. Air from a turbo-blower is passed through the recuperator, picking up the waste heat on its passage, and is then blown downwards from the centre of the arch, causing intense oxidation. This arrangement is most satisfactory in eliminating smoke which might be given off in the early stages. Incineration can be carried out, in this furnace, with the aid of pre-heated air only from the
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