Specification of Andrew Kurtz : artificial fuel.

  • Kurtz, Andrew.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Andrew Kurtz : artificial fuel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Kurtz s Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel. described and ascertained in and by the following explanation thereof, that is to say :— “ My Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel consist principally in equalising the strength or combustible quality of the various species of coal by bringing the several varieties to one uniform standard, and thereby impart- 5 ing by artificial means the same powers of combustion in evaporative processes to the inferior sorts of coal as possessed by the best known quality in its crude or natural state.” My improvements are effected by mixing with inferior coals such proportionate quantities of coke (made from coals), rosin, and napthtaline with pitch (made from gas tar) or other bituminous substance as 10 will equalize or counterbalance the combustible strength or evaporative power of such inferior coal with that of the best coal known or found in England and Wales. The proportionate quantities of superior combustible matters to be added to the inferior coals in order to bring them up to the same standard of evaporative power as the best English or Welsh coal, must, of course, depend 15 upon the inferiority of the coal to be improved, and as the British Govern¬ ment standard for contracts for artificial fuel is that one pound of fuel shall evaporate eight pounds of water, I take that as my standard, and the under¬ mentioned experiments will shew the manner and proportions in which the addition of combustible matters must be made to inferior coal. I have found 20 that the evaporative power of coals is as follows (by way of illustration) :— One pound of anthracite coal will evaporate eight pounds of water; one pound of best Welsh coals, 7 lbs. to 8 lbs. ; one pound of Liverpool coals called Smith’s coals, 7 lbs.; one pound of ordinary Liverpool coals, 4 to 6 lbs. ; Newcastle coals are similar in effect to Liverpool coals; so that it will be 25 readily perceived that where the best Welsh coals wants as it were 1 of superior combustible matter, ordinary or inferior coals will require four or more parts, and that the proportions must be suited and varied according to the ascertained quality of the coal when in a natural state. And, secondly, my improvements consist in the application and use of certain machinery or apparatus for the 30 purpose of preparing and mixing the component parts of such artificial fuel, and forming or moulding the same into portable and convenient shapes or bricks for use, as follows:—The natural coal is first to be ground small between an ordinary pair of horizontal grinding stones or in a grinding mill, and is afterwards to be submitted to a drying kiln or apparatus for the 35 purpose of expelling all moisture from the coal. This drying apparatus is to be constructed with three chambers or compartments, say, twelve feet long by nine feet wide and by six feet deep altogether. The flooring of these chambers should be of plate iron, and somewhat dished or sunk in the middle, and also
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