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By M. Muskat, H. G. Botset

Any information that will increase the accuracy of our knowledge of the conditions prevailing in petroleum reservoirs should be of direct value in the determination of the proper operating technique as well as in the estimation of reserves and of ultimate production. The obvious method of obtaining this information is by studying a sample of the reservoir rock and its contents. In any such study, the problem of primary importance and maximum difficulty is that of getting the core to the surface in such a manner that its original fluid content is undisturbed, which has so far proved to be an impossible task. Though it might be rash to say this will never be done, it is certainly safe to assume that a, method for the recovery of a core at the surface in its undisturbed original state may not be developed in the immediate future, and certainly will not be forthcoming without a great deal of costly experimentation. Therefore any information that may be obtained that will help to correlate the state of a core (its fluid saturation) at the surface with its condition at the time it was drilled should be of value to the petroleum industry. The experiments described in this paper were undertaken with the purpose of determining, if possible, any relationship that might exist between the saturation of a core at the surface and its original fluid content. No consideration has been given to the question of contamination by penetration of drilling water, since this problem has been extensively studied by other investigators.1-3 Furthermore, it was regarded as outside the scope of these experiments, which were concerned only with the effect of pressure reduction upon the liquid content of cores. In an experimental study of this sort involving a large number of variables, accurate control of all factors is very important. The essential and obvious procedure is to vary systematically one factor or condition while keeping all the others constant, which necessarily involves a rather protracted and sometimes tedious experimental program. The procedure adopted was essentially very simple, and consisted merely in filling a given core with fluid (gas and oil, gas and water, or

Jan 1, 1939

By R. S. Shoemaker, F. W. McQuiston

In this Monograph are presented operating data, operating costs, plant descriptions, and detailed flowsheets of twenty seven different cyanidation plants around the world. Twenty three of these are gold producers and four are primarily silver producers. With one exception, (Pueblo Viejo scheduled to start up in late 1974), all of the plants are operating at the time of this writing. Selection of operations was based on metallurgy and were grouped into free milling lode ores, other free milling ores, ores requiring sulfide flotation in addition to cyanidation, ores requiring roasting, telluride ores, South African ores, and silver ores. Each of the plants described illustrates some unique form of cyanidation metallurgy. It is the hope of the authors that publication of this Monograph will be an aid to metallurgists in bringing new and successful cyanidation ventures into operation.

Jan 1, 1975

By E. P. Mathewson

THE OLD Pueblo smelter is being dismantled after 43 years of continuous operation, from 1878 to 1921. It was built by Mather and Geist, on a bluff overlooking the Arkansas River just below the, city of Pueblo. At the time of its construction Pueblo was considered a most favorably situated town for a custom smelter. Coal, coke, fuel, limestone, iron ore, lead, silver, and, gold ores were plentiful. It was a "downhill pull" from all directions to Pueblo. Labor, both common and skilled, was plentiful and efficient. Leadville was in bonanza and there were not sufficient furnaces in Colorado to handle the ore offered. The plant prospered from the start. It soon required more capital; so the owners; with the assistance of Thomas Nickerson of Boston, at that time prominent in the affairs of the A., T. & S. F. railway, formed the Pueblo Smelting & Refining Co. About this time, also, very heavy shipments of rich silver ore from New Mexico began to come in. Agencies were established for the purchase of ores in the most important mining camps in the country from Kingman, Ariz., to Butte, Mont. Highly siliceous silver-bearing ores from Butte were shipped to Pueblo in train loads. This was used chiefly in the concentration of leady mattes. RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. GEIST, FOUNDER OF PLANT Mr. Geist is living in Guadalajara and has sent the following brief letter: "Early in 1878 the firm of Mather & Geist, which had been operating in Utah and had then closed their smelter there, after diligent search for a new location selected Pueblo. We erected the first smelter in the valley, blowing in the first furnace in 1878. Mather & Geist carried on until January, 1882, when they transferred all their business to the Pueblo Smelting & Refining Co., which had been organized in December, 1881. Full details of this transfer are given in the enclosed Report, which was issued early in 1882, for the purpose of interesting more capital, in which we succeeded admirably. "I personally did all the work of manager and super-intendent, some job in these days. My technical quali-fications were that I was a member of the class of 1866, Yale Sheffield Scientific. I was born in 1848, so was the youngest member of the class.

Jan 11, 1923

By B. E. Terkelsen, B. J. Piearcey

A study has been made of the effect of unidirectional solidification on the creep behavior, stress-rupture properties, and thermal shock resistance of four nickel-base superalloys. The alloys Mar-MZOO, B-1900, IN 100, and TRW 1900 show improved rupture ductility and thermal shock resistance when tested with the columnar grains parallel to the major stress axis during test. The relative improvement in creep-rupture properties depends on the intrinsic strength of the alloy, a property which depends on composition, heat-treatnient, and crystallographic orientation. The data clarifies some of the factors affecting the properlies of the cast nickel-base superalloy. COMPONENTS designed for high-temperature use have, in recent years, been fabricated by precision casting techniques using nickel-base alloys developed specifically for use in the conventionally cast condition. This development was a result of both the increasing complexity of the component and the recognition that high-temperature strength was incompatible with workability. The use of castings can be economically favorable, but, more important, the recent complex designs of air-cooled gas turbine blades and vanes in alloys which possess the necessary high-temperature strength cannot be forged. Common modes of failure of high-temperature components are excessive creep, creep rupture, and thermal fatigue. If rupture occurs then the mechanism is usually by inter crystalline cracking along those grain boundaries oriented transverse to the major stress axis. In the stronger alloys, rapid propagation of intercrystalline cracks result in apparent premature failure demonstrated by the absence of third stage creep in a creep-rupture test and low rupture ductility. Tensile ductility shows a similar trend, that is, decreasing ductility with increase in strength. It is not surprising, therefore, that increases in creep strength have only been obtained with a loss in resistance to thermal shock, a property which shows a dependence on tensile ductility. VerSnyder and ~uard' showed that the application of unidirectional solidification to a brittle Ni-Cr-A1 alloy both improved the rupture life of the alloy and increased rupture ductility. Since this casting method results in columnar grains, it appeared that the solution to the lack of ductility in nickel-base alloy components was the elimination of the source of failure, namely the transverse grain boundaries. This concept was recently developed2 to produce cast-to-size gas-turbine blades and vanes consisting entirely of columnar grains oriented parallel to the major stress axis of the component. Not only did the process impart increased rupture life and ductility to the components, but it also increased their resistance to thermal shock. During this development, the effect of unidirectional solidification on the properties of several alloys was investigated. The resulting data allows certain conclusions to be drawn regarding the factors affecting the creep and stress-rupture properties of the cast nickel-base superalloy and also its resistance to thermal shock. Detailed information was obtained on the alloys Mar-MZOO, B-1900, In 100, and TRW 1900. The composition of the alloys studied are shown in Table I. MATERIAL PREPARATION AND TESTING The conventionally cast alloys are cast as +-in.-diam bars in innoculated shell molds under conditions designed to maintain control of grain size. Unidirec-tionally solidified casting were produced in the form of 3-in.-diam ingots. Specimens from the latter were machined such that the axes of the columnar grains were parallel with the axis of the test bar, except in certain cases where the transverse properties of the material were being evaluated. The specimens were tested in an axial loading creep machine.' Temperatures were measured with thermocouples, attached just outside each end of the gage length, to assure uniform temperature along the entire specimen. Chromel/alumel thermocouples were used up to 1800"F and Pt/Pt-10 pct Rh thermocouples above 1800"F. The specimen temperature was recorded and maintained within i2"F throughout the test. Creep extensions were measured automatically with extenso-meters attached to ridges on the specimen and recorded continuously using linear variable differential transformers and multipoint recording equipment. MICROSTRUCTURE The microstructures of transverse sections of the four alloys studied are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows optical micrographs of the alloys, both in the conventionally cast and unidirectionally solidified conditions. Each alloy displays a cored dendritic structure, a distribution of MC carbide, and the presence of the y — y' eutectic constituent.~ In the case of IN 100 and B-1900, Fig. 1 indicates that in these specimens the eutectic is degenerate. That is, it consists only of y' pools indicating that the y constituent has been solutioned during the cooling period after solidification. The major effect of unidirectional solidification on the microstructures of the alloys is a tendency to promote a more dendritic form of MC carbide and an increase in dendrite arm spacing, both effects being a result of the slower solidification rate in the unidirectional solidification technique. V, lec tron micrographs of transverse sections of the four alloys in the two cast conditions are shown in

Jan 1, 1968

By T. P. Papazoglou, N. A. D. Parlee, W. C. Phelps

HE high vapor pressures of metals such as lead, calcium, lithium, bismuth, and magnesium at steel-making temperatures present experimental problems which have thus far rendered it almost impossible to obtain really reliable data for their solubilities in liquid iron. Many investigators have attempted to equilibrate liquid iron in the same crucible with the undissolved liquid phase of such volatile metals. The published results,l-6 although useful, are often questionable on the grounds of not being obtained under true equilibrium conditions. Such information is not always of practical value in any case since the equilibrium vapor pressure is often several atmospheres and steel is not currently made at these pressures. Solubility measurements at lower partial pressures (< 1 atm) appeared to be more practical and easier to make. These data could be used to calculate solubilities at other pressures where Henry&apos;s Law is obeyed, and to estimate solubilities under other conditions of temperature and pressure with useful accuracy. This note outlines the development of a general technique for the measurement of solubilities in systems of this kind. The method involves equilibration of the high-boiling metal at known temperatures with the vapors of a low-boiling metal at known partial pressures. Analyses of quenched samples provide vapor pressure-solubility data and make calculations of alloy thermodynamics possible. The principle involved is similar to the closed-system diffusion-transport method which is difficult to apply with most high-melting liquid metals like iron, due to closure problems. A two-zone horizontal (molybdenum wire element) tube furnace, Fig. 1, provides two constant-temperature zones in a reaction tuve (3/4 in. ID by 1 in. OD by 36 in.). A high-boiling metal sample, 9, introduced in the higher-temperature zone, is maintained at temperature T1, and a volatile metal sample, 7, in the lower-temperature zone, is held at T2. A stream of argon with 10 pct hydrogen is passed via flowmeters, 1, and mixing-drying towers, 2 and 3. through the reaction tube at a favorable flowrate and acts as a carrier gas which entrains vapor from the volatile liquid metal at a specific constant partial pressure. The gas mixture passes through a system of constrictions, 6 and 8, to the higher-temperature zone, establishes intimate contact with the high-boiling liquid sample, 9, and exits through a small condenser tube. The entire system is at (nearly) atmospheric pressure and the volume of carrier gas passed is measured with a wet gas meter. When the high-boiling sample attains equilibrium with the vapor phase, both samples are removed and quenched. Analysis of the high-boiling sample for solute content reveals its solubility for the low-boiling metal at a vapor pressure calculated from carrier-gas volume and either a) weight loss of volatile metal or 6) weight gain of high-boiling sample plus condenser (which collects the undissolved vapors). To test the capabilities of the method, liquid silver at 1403&apos;C was equilibrated with lead vapor at various partial pressures. The relatively simple Pb-Ag system was particularly suitable for uncovering experimental problems and providing the first step toward investigations with more volatile metals and more difficult combinations.

Jan 1, 1965

By Francis T. Christy

One aspect of ocean mining that is frequently overlooked in discussions is the problem of establishing some form of legal control over the seas. Much of the discussion centers on mining in territorial waters, which are controlled by the various countries according to the Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, and perhaps by political subdivisions of countries such as the individual states of the U.S. But as technology improves and the mining of deeper waters becomes feasible, the problem of rights outside the continental shelf and territorial waters becomes a significant factor for anyone expending the time and capital for development. Several schemes are possible for regulating ocean mining but as yet none have been instituted, except what might be termed the "wait and see" approach. Even some of the coastal states in the U.S. have no regulations governing mining in the territorial waters under their jurisdiction. Until some regulation is formulated, there may well be little development in ocean mining due to the high risk of capital involved, both with respect to companies wishing to invest their own funds and financial institutions funding a venture to develop offshore mineral deposits.

Jan 7, 1968

Discussion of the paper of H. M. WARREN, A. S. BIESECEKER and E. J. POWELL, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 110, February, 1916, pp. 181 to 193. R.. V. NORRIS, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.-For many years the power requirements of breakers designed in the Anthracite. Region have been based on calculations made from indicator diagrams taken during operation, with various sections of machinery idle; these, while giving reasonably accurate figures, gave no intimation of the peak loads which have been shown so clearly in the paper. The high-speed flywheel for breaker rolls is new and shows a remarkable saving in peak power required, besides eliminating the stalling of the rolls from overload. The figures given are so far in advance of anything previously published that they will undoubtedly be used as a basis for future breaker design. It is to be hoped that the authors will continue this investigation and extend their paper by a description of the motors found best suited for this work. WILLIAM KENT, Montclair, N. J.-I notice on p. 187 reference is made to one of the difficulties being the starting torque, and it is proposed to use roller or ball bearings in order to decrease the high starting torque. I suggest that. before the roller or ball bearings are put in, an investigation be made as to the amount of the starting torque, as shown by wattmeter measurements and as to what the starting torque ought to be, theoretically, according to the energy formula; that is, how much starting torque is required to accelerate the rotating mass in a given number of seconds up to full speed. Having secured this information it may be found the amount to be saved by roller bearings is not very great. If it appears that roller bearings will not greatly decrease the starting torque, the next thing to be done is to have a special design of motor in which there is a field that can be made very strong at the start, by the use of extra poles or other means, and the next thing that may be done is to increase the speed from 10,000 r.p.m. to 25,000, which can be done with wire-wound flywheels, especially if the wires are made of vanadium steel.

Jan 5, 1916

By James Douglas

Discussion of the paper of James Douglas, presented at the New Haven meeting, February, 1909, and published in Bulletin No. 29, May, 1909, pp. 439 to 451. JAMES DOUGLAS, New York, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary*) :-In my paper on the Conservation of Natural Resources, I referred to the slow replacement of bee-hive ovens by the by-product ovens as a most notable instance of waste. And I quoted from Mr. Parker&apos;s report for .1906 an explanation given by him in accounting for the small production of by-product coke. It was that the markets for the by-products of the coke-ovens was so limited that some of the ovens constructed were out of operation. His report on the manufacture of coke in 1908 1 does not record an improvement, and attributes the strange fact that we alone, of all the industrial peoples, delay the adoption of this cardinal improvement from the continuance of the same almost inexplicable cause. To quote again from his report, lie says (p. 241): "The year 1908 was not marked by any notable gain in the construction of by-product coking plants, though some new work was done. There was a net increase of 115 in the number of completed ovens in 1908 over 1907, the totals for the two years being, respectively, 3,892 and 4,007. The additional equipment consisted of 140 Koppers regenerative ovens built at Joliet, I11., by the United States Steel Corporation, but this increase was partly offset by the dismantling of Y5 Semet Solvay ovens at Sharon, Pa., the net gain being 115 ovens. Included in the total of 4,007 completed ovens in 1908 are 152 Newton-Chambers ovens at Vintondale, Pa., but as no recovery of by-products was made at this plant in 190S, the production of coke is included with that from beehive ovens. The 56 ovens of the same type at Pocahontas, Va., have not been in practical operation since they were first. installed. In addition to these there was one other by-product plant of 120 ovens. Oat. was not operated during the year. The number of retort ovens producing coke in 1908 was 3,679, as compared with 3,811 active ovens in 1907." In describing the anomaly he says (p. 249): It has been contended that the development of the by-product coking industry would have shown more rapid progress if markets for the by-products were * Received Feb. 2, 1910. Mineral Resources of the United States for 1908, Part I1., U. S. Geological Survey (1909).

Apr 1, 1910

By J. J. Pfeiffer, A. A. Oming, J. W. Myers

The method used to process washery refuse for use as a building material aggregate is described. Results of studies made in investigating this process are summarized. The Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with two commercial coal producers, studied the feasibility of using coal washery refuse in manufacturing lightweight aggregate for building materials. Lightweight aggregate is used in making masonry products of lower bulk density than can be produced from conventional aggregate such as sand, gravel, and crushed rock. Among the advantages of lightweight masonry are reduced deadweight loads which reduce materials cost, lower cost of construction labor, and improved thermal and sound insulation. A process for making lightweight concrete aggregate from coal-washery refuse appeared attractive because of the availability of raw material which contained sufficient fuel to carry out the processing. Vast quantities of such refuse have accumulated throughout the coal-producing areas of the U.S. Generally it is stored in unsightly piles, creating a problem of air pollution and using space that could be devoted to other purposes. Conversion of the refuse to lightweight aggregate could remedy these conditions and effectively utilize a material normally considered waste. The first part of the program was conducted in cooperation with the Truax-Traer Coal Co. to determine the feasibility of utilizing refuse from the company&apos;s coal preparation plant at Ceredo, W. Va., in manufacturing lightweight aggregate. The aggregate was to be used in making cement blocks comparable to those known in the building trades as cinder blocks. This project was completed in 1954. Based on the results of this work, the cooperator began commercial development and formed the Trulite Corp. for this purpose. A plant capable of handling 120 tpd of refuse was constructed for approximately $120,000. It began operating on June 1, 1955.&apos; In 1959 a similar study was made, under a cooperative agreement with the Carbon Fuel Co. of Charleston, W. Va., to rrscertain the suitability of refuse from its plant for conversion to lightweight aggregate. Under this program various modifications of equipment were made, and the investigation of process variables begun in the previous project was extended. PROCESSING METHOD The formation of lightweight aggregate from coal-washery refuse js governed, in part, by the fusion characteristics of the mineral constituents of the refuse when heated above their softening temperatures. The heat required for this purpose is supplied by the combustihle matter in the refuse. Some of this combustible matter is coal with high ash content, but most of it is carbonaceous shale. Whereas the density of aggregate prepared from clay or shale depends largely on expansion, the density of aggregate made from refuse is reduced by burning out the combustible matter and, to a lesser extent, by expansion of the residue in the fuel bed. A chain-grate stoker with an updraft air system was chosen for the conversion process in preference to a downdraft sintering machine or a rotary kiln. In down-draft sintering, which operates on the overfeed burning principle, the volatile matter from the refuse would distill off without burning, resulting in inefficient combustion and interfering with proper operation of the equipment. The rotary kiln is designed primarily for processing material that lacks, or is low in, combustihle matter with the heat of reaction supplied from external sources. Washery refuse, which is relatively high in carbonaceous material, could burn at the wall of the kiln causing clinker formation with resultant decrease in throughput and increase in production cost. With an up-draft air stream on a chain or traveling-grate stoker, the volatile matter would be carried into the ignition and burning zones where the heat could be utilized more efficiently. The combustion procedure in this type of unit may be considered as consisting of four periods: 1) initial ignition of the top of the bed by furnace radiation, 2) ignition travel through the bed until the whole bed is ignited, 3) burnout of the combustible material with high air rates to fuse and expand the residue, 4) a cooling period. Investigation of the process required a study of the variables that affect both

Jan 1, 1962

By O. N. Wampler

UNDERGROUND lighting in the zinc mines of the Tri-State district can be separated into four di-visions. 1. Foot of shaft. 2. Pumps, fans. incline hoists and other stationary machinery. 3. Haulage ways. 4. Headings and stopes. One of the main improvements in lighting around the bottom of the shaft is in the use of skidoo flash lights, which have replaced the old electric skidoo bells. These bells were used as signals from the hoisterman to the tub hooker. In the event that a can bumped the side of shaft or a rock spilled from the can when dumping; the hoisterman rang the skidoo bells as a signal for all to leave the vicinity of the shaft bottom on a dead run. These bells were much better than no signal at all, but many of them were often out of order; the worst feature being that when out of order this fact was not immediately indicated. The electric flash-light signals work on the opposite principle and are burning at all times except when the hoisterman breaks the circuit when signaling danger. Therefore should a break or short occur in this arrangement, the shaft bottom is immediately thrown in darkness. Since the reaction from the eye is quicker than from ear, there is a slight saving of time- to the men escaping from the point of danger. Even this brief period of time may save a life. One other, point, to be emphasized, is that all lights near the shaft bottom should be on the signal circuit so that the entire area is momentarily darkened. I. have inspected mines where only one or two lights are used as signals, with the remaining lights around the shaft on another fixed circuit. In this case the flashing of the signal lights is almost drowned out by the stationary lights. These flash signals must be as startling as possible, which can only be done by flash-ing all the lights.

Jan 6, 1928

By John C. Smock

The rich deposits of magnetic iron-ore in the Highlands of northern New Jersey attracted the attention of iron-workers at the time of the earliest settlements in that region. The outcrops of the oreshoots at the Dickerson mine, at Mount Hope, and at Hibernia, in Morris county, and at Ringwood, in Passaic count,y, which were doubtless such as would lead to discovery, location and development of nearly all the large iron-mines in that part of the State, appear to have had their beginnings where the ore cropped out on the surface or where it was scarcely concealed by a thin mantle of earth. In the early history of New Jersey iron-mining, the careful explorations and surveys made by the agents of the famous London Com-

Jan 1, 1892

By William H. Shockley

[SECRETARY&apos;S ]NOTE.-The following notes, arranged and edited in this office, but not yet revised by the author, were placed at my disposal with much modest hesitation (due to their incomplete and fragmentary character), upon my earnest request, and my argument that such recent and trustworthy data concerning a new and important mining industry ought not to be withheld from our Transactions, simply because they are not sufficient to constitute a, complete academic treatise on the subject. This argument is recommended to the attention of many other members, who are waiting for the opportunity to contribute something "monumental" to our Transactions. In a number of instances, death has nulli¬fied this ambition, and the intended "monumental" contribution has turned out to be an obituary notice by the Secretary, instead of a valuable record of the professional experience thus hopelessly lost to the world.-R. W. R.] The official publications of the the Russian Government give fairly complete statistics of the dredges operated in the Empire; and in a recent English bluebook, Mr. Cook&apos;s report on Siberian Trade presents a brief account of dredging in Siberia. The data in Table I. (not given by Mr. Cook) have been taken from the Gold Mining Messenger (Russian) for July, 1905. These interesting statistics, though incomplete, show that the Yenisei dredges are working on poor ground and yield small returns. According to report, but few yield a profit exceeding 10 per cent. per annum on the capital invested. In the summers of 1904 and 1905, I traveled in the Urals as far north as lat. 61° N., long. 61° E., on the the Lozva river, a part of the vast system of the 01) river. This clear-water stream starts from the summits of the Urals at an altitude of 4,000 ft., and flows through a flat country, densely wooded with larch, spruce, pine, fir, birch and poplar. The river is full of fish, and is navigable for good-sized steamers as far as Ivdell. Winter lasts from early November to late April, the temperature rang¬ing from -60° F. to a summer maximum of 90° F. The rain¬fall is 20 in.. The climate is healthy, although mosquitoes,

Jul 1, 1906

By M. J. Spendlove, H. W. St. Clair

The problem frequently arises, particularly in refining metals or smelting scrap metals, of separating metals in the metallie state. Many metals may be separated by taking advantage of their difference in vapor pressure. Such separations can be made at atmospheric pressure, but the separations are much more selective and can be carried out at considerably lower temperatures if the distillation is done at pressures of a few millimeters or less in an evacuated enclosure. Until recently, this has not been considered feasible as a metallurgical operation, but the recent improvemcnts that have been made in vacuum technology have broadened the applicability of vacuum processes and have prompted re-examination of low-pressurc distillation of metals as a practicable process. The distillation of zinc from lead is one separation that has already been reduced to practice.l This paper is the first of a series of studies being made on separation of nonferrous metals by distillation at low pressures. Although these experiments were confined to the separation of zinc from aluminum, the significance of the results is by no means confined to these two metals. The purpose has been to investigate a metallurgical technique rather than merely to devise a means of separating specific metals. The experimental work on distillation of zinc from zine-aluminum alloys at reduced pressure grew out of earlier work on distillation at atmospheric pressure.2 The earlier work indicated that it would not be practicable to decrease the zinc in the alloy much below 10 pct owing to the high temperature required. Therefore attention was turned to distillation ah low pressures, at which lower temperatures are required. After preliminary tests were made in a small, evacuated tube furnace, a larger furnace having a capacity of 100 to 150 Ib of metal per charge was constructed. Distillation tests were first made on pure zinc and then on aluminum-zinc alloys of various composition. Particular attention was given to the limit to which zinc could be reduced in the residual metal. Data were also taken on the rate of evaporation, and heat balances were made for both the crucible and the condenser. Distillation Furnace The vacuum-distillation unit is illustrated schematically in Fig 1. The major components are the induction furnace, the condenser, the vacuum system, and the power-conversion unit. Power is supplied to the induction furnace from a 50-kw 3000-cycle motor-driven alternator. The pressure in the furnace is reduced by a vacuum pump having a nominal pumping speed of 10 liters per sec. When in operation, the metal vapors travel upward from the furnace to the water-cooled condenser where they are collected in amounts of 50 to 100 lb. The condenser is removed with aid of an electric hoist. When the system is under vacuum, the condenser is made self-sealing by a rubber gasket between the smooth-faced, water-cooled flanges at the top of the furnace and the bottom of the condenser. The pressure of the atmosphere is more than sufficient to insure sealing. At the conclusion of an experiment, the residual metal can be removed from the furnace by removing the condenser and tilting the furnace with the electric hoist. The metal was cast into the molds carried on a mold truck. A photograph of the furnace and auxiliary equipment is shown in Fig 2. The details of the vacuum furnace are illustrated in Fig 3. The furnace proper is made vacuum-tight with rubber gaskets placed at each end of a fused quartz cylinder. A clamping plate at the bottom and a ring at the top are made to squeeze the rubber between the metal and the end of the quartz tube. A large graphite crucible placed inside the quartz cylinder is thermally insulated and physically supported by refractory insulating bricks. A thermocouple in a quartz protection tube is located at the bottom of the crucible: the leads pass through a rubber seal in the bottom plate. The supporting structure for the furnace is an angle iron frame with transite board sides. The condenser is made in the form of a water jacketed cylinder with an opening to the vacuum line at the top. The bottom has a projecting skirt inside the machined flange to provide additional cooling for the rubber gasket. Condenser sleeves are made in the form of two semicylindrical pieces of sheet metal that fit snugly inside the cooling jacket. The split sleeve facilitates removal of the condensate. Measurement of Temperatare and Pressure The metal temperature was measured by a platinum-platinilm rhodium thermocouple inserted in a well extending up into the bottom of the graphite crucible. During rapid evaporation there is a wide difference in temperature between the surface and the main body of metal in the crucible because of the large amount of heat that must be conducted to the surface to supply the heat of evaporation. The heat of

Jan 1, 1950

By W. A. Dunkley, W. W. Odell

The sulfur content of coal is perhaps more important in the manufacture of illuminating gas than in any other coal-using industry. Whether the gas is made by the distillation of coal in retorts or ovens or by steaming incandescent coal or coke in the water-gas process, a portion of the sulfur present in the fuel always passes into the crude gas. Practically all the sulfur that remains in the finished gas is transformed into sulfur dioxide (SO2) when the gas is burned. Sulfur dioxide is a pungent suffocating gas and, if present in the air in any perceptible amount, is deleterious to health and comfort and damaging to house furnishings. SO universally is this recognized that laws regulating the amount of sulfur that may be permitted to remain in the gas are very generally in force. The capacity of a plant to purify gas frequently limits the selection of coal for gas making. This condition may arise from different causes. Some plants were originally designed to handle a certain grade of low-sulfur gas coal, and very little leeway was allowed for growth or for the use of inferior coals. Other plants, when built, had ample capacity to purify gas from relatively higher sulfur coals, but their output has grown so rapidly that their purifying capacity is now limited and only the low-sulfur coals can be handled. There is a great quantity of coal in the United States that would satisfy the requirements of the gas manufacturer, were it not for the high sulfur content. The coals containing less than 1 per cent. sulfur are becoming scarcer year by year and, in time, the gas industry will probably be compelled to use coals that are now considered out of the question. Sulfur Compounds in CRude Gas Sulfur exists in unpurified illuminating gas in a variety of compounds; chief of these are hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon disulfide (CS2). In crude coal gas H2S is usually present to the extent of 0.5 to 2.0 per cent., by volume, equivalent to about 300 to 1200 gr. per 100 cu. ft. of gas. In carbureted water gas, the amount of sulfur compounds depends not only on the sulfur content of the coal or coke used, but also upon cite

Jan 1, 1920

By N. E. Maccallum

Almost half a century has passed since the Siemens brothers, after tedious and costly experiments, finally began the manufacture of open-hearth steel. The furnace of that time was very small, having a hearth-capacity of from 3 to 4 tons, and we can appreciate the wonderful development that has taken place in those 50 years by the knowledge that to-day furnaces of 50 times the original capacity are in operation. As the new steel process assumed importance, and furnaces began to grow in number and in size, a question arose, to which no satisfactory answer has ever been given, and that was: aWhat is the safe and economical limit of the open-hearth furnace ?" Various stopping-places have been suggested, and 20, 30, 40, and 50 tons have each been advocated, but all such arbitrary restrictions have been passed, and 60 tons would probably represent the average furnace, although in a few instances from 70 to 80 tons are regularly tapped into one ladle. The furnaces which are the subject of the present paper have gone far beyond even these limits, and since, in my opinion, they mark another step in the progress of open-hearth steel, they will be considered fairly and frankly, in order that those to whom the matter may be of interest may be able to judge and form their own conclusions. Short accounts of the work of these furnaces have appeared from time to time in various technical journals, of which the following is a brief résumé. These furnaces are the property of the Phoenix Iron Go., of Phœnixville, Pa., and their distinctive and important feature is, that they charge to twice the capacitl of one ladle, and tap simultaneously into two ladles, with a device for controlling the flow into either. In this way the capacity of the furnace is not limited, as formerly, but heats of any size within the capacity of two ladles may be charged.

Jan 1, 1913

By R. W. Bartlett

DISILICIDE coatings, MeSi2, on refractory metals are usually grown by a solid-state diffusion reaction similar to the parabolic oxidation of metals. Two or more silicide compounds occur in each of the binary silicon-refractory metal systems. When an adequate source of silicon is available during the coating process, the lower silicide compounds are usually not formed.1 However, during service application of the coated refractory metal, continued heating causes further diffusion and growth of the lower silicides. A study of the growth kinetics of the lower silicides in the molybdenum and tungsten binary systems with silicon was previously reported.2 The present study is concerned with the growth kinetics of Ta5Si3 and Cb5Si3, formed as conjugate layers between TaSi2/Ta and CbSi2/Cb diffusion couples, respectively. Diffusion couples consisting of disilicide-coated tantalum and columbium sheet coupons were subjected to diffusion heat treatments, cross-sectioned, and scanned by an electron-microprobe analyzer to determine the relative X-ray intensity profiles. These profiles correspond closely to concentration profiles for the constituents, and were used to identify phases and locate phase boundaries. The analysis of a single specimen after a diffusion-anneal provides only one value for the Me5Si3 phase thickness, corresponding to the time and temperature of the diffusion treatment. Consequently, each isothermal curve showing the rate of accumulation or depletion of silicide phases required several samples with identical diffusion temperatures but different diffusion times. The disilicide coatings were prepared by pyrolizing commercially pure silane in a hydrogen carrier gas. The hydrogen was purified by passage through a palladium membrane. Commercially pure tantalum and columbium sheet metal coupons, 0.005 by $ by 2 in., were used. All of the coated specimens for each system were prepared together in a single group in order to minimize coating variations among individual specimens. During pyrolysis, the brightness temperature was maintained at 1200°C. With suitable flow rates at this temperature, only the disilicides of tantalum and columbium were formed in detectable amounts. Coated specimens were subjected to diffusion an-neals in a tube furnace with automatic proportional control within ±10°C. A H2-Ar mixture, deoxidized and dried over anhydrous magnesium perchlorate, was used to prevent oxidation during the diffusion anneal. Diffusion couples were cross-sectioned, polished and examined with an A.R.L. electron-microprobe X-ray analyzer. Both metal constituents in each specimen were simultaneously scanned using a 1-p beam spot size and either 1- or 2-µ steps. Analyses were performed using the Ka radiation of columbium and silicon, and the La, radiation of tantalum. For all specimens, an acceleration voltage of 30 kv was used, and integration was made against the specimen current. LiF and A DP monochrometers were used to isolate characteristic radiations. Three or more traverses were made on each specimen. The intensity scales were adjusted using the constituent metals and standard samples of the silicide compounds which had been verified by X-ray diffraction. The relative intensity profiles were used directly, in conjunction with the standard samples, to identify compounds and phase boundaries. The stoichiometries differ considerably between the silicide compounds in both systems, and the homogeneity range for these silicide compounds is narrow. These characteristics result in marked differences in relative intensities of the fluorescing elements—differences which permit ready identification of phases and phase boundaries. Projections of both electron back-scattered images and characteristic

Jan 1, 1967

By G. E. Johnson

E. D. HYMAN*—How much sorting of scrap is done ? G. E. JOHNSON (author&apos;s reply)—We do practically no sorting. We charge "run of mine" scrap to the furnace. The unmeltables, mostly iron, are in such demand today that there is no difficulty in disposing of them. It may soon be desirable to sort out from the unmeltables as much of the brass as possible. J. J. BRUGMAN†—We have somewhat similar problems in the secondary aluminum business. What is your method of removing the unmelted material from the furnaces? Why have you such an apparently small space in which to charge your materials? Do you find that you have to seal that opening, or can you have it open and continuously charge at one end and pull out the other ? G. E. JOHNSON—Our means of melting scrap is efficient only to the extent that we use the waste heat from the vaporizing chamber to do the job. It is a batch process. We open the charge door and place the scrap on the hearth by hand shoveling. The door is then closed during the melting down period. After the melting is complete, the opposite door is opened and the unmeltables are raked out. The doors are approximately 3½ X 4½ ft and are not sealed during the process only closed. They are nominally tight. Some metal is oxidized in the process. We have visualized a means of conveying the materials through this melting unit with the metals that are melted trickling out during its travel. T. H. WELDON‡—Mr. Johnson, in line with the last question, is it necessary to seal the furnace between the melting down and the vaporizing unit, or have you got an inverted syphon in the bottom of the chamber? G. E. JOHNSON—That was one of the first things we encountered. We had to have a sealed opening, and it is a molten metal seal. You have indirectly asked me another question, which was: "Do you have to seal up the melting unit?" I would say we should exclude as much air as possible, although we are not too efficient in doing that. We allow the melting unit doors to be open when we charge and when we remove unmeltables. You can readily see that that would lead to the idea of having a controlled atmosphere in the melting unit, and I think this would do a more efficient job of melting the scrap. T. H. WELDON—How often do you charge the furnace? G. E. JOHNSON—We charge the melting unit, and rake out the unmeltables, about every hour. H. R. HANLEY*—Are any provisions made for controlling the rate of oxidation for the production of various size particles for certain characteristics of the zinc oxide product? G. E. JOHNSON—Yes, there are many. You are getting pretty much into the fine points of zinc oxide manufacture. Some of us still think we have something to learn about that. In general, this muffle furnace as I have described it to you produces a rounded particle of zinc oxide which is generally formed by a rapid oxidation of the zinc vapor, followed by rapid cooling. We have gone to the other extreme in some of our experiments. We have changed the furnace to produce a type of zinc oxide, such as we thought was peculiar to American process zinc oxide, by controlling the temperature at the point of oxidation and maintaining that temperature for a much longer period of time than we do when we make the rounded shape. There are other relationships that this furnace readily provides. One of the important factors is the ratio of air to zinc vapors. We can vary that by varying the air supply to the baghouse, or vary the rate at which we are vaporizing the zinc by the simple expedient of regulating the temperature over the carborundum arch. We have a number of variables that permit us to produce all of the grades of French process zinc oxide from lead-free up through the highest grades of seal oxides. There are many controls that we can apply to the operation. What I have said is but a brief condensation. K. MORGAN*—Can Mr. Johnson give us some idea of the fuel consumption of the furnace ? How much oil does he use per ton of zinc distilled? I am also interested to know what sort of heat transmission he gets through the arch? What is the thickness of the tiles used to construct the arch? Some time ago we built a small furnace for a different purpose, using a carborundum arch, and we found that the reflectivity of the molten zinc surface was so great we had to use a very high arch temperature. We found we made an improvement by having a layer of carbon on the surface of the zinc. Has Mr. Johnson had any experience on these points ? Does he make any sort of insolu-bles which he leaves in the furnace which he cannot tap out ? G. E. JOHNSON—I believe your first question was the fuel consumption. If I recall, somewhere in this paper there is a test that I quote. I believe we used 800 gal in a given period of time. Offhand I cannot translate that into tons of metal. I might also state that we have this understanding; that the carborundum arch, as the temperature becomes higher, becomes more efficient in heat transmission. As a matter of fact, I believe it is at about 2600°F or higher that the highest efficiency of heat transmission becomes available. We have calculations that I cannot quote from memory which indicate that the carborundum arch does a really very fine job for this type of furnace. Another point that we had considered was the fact that this furnace could be readily constructed so as to furnish an ideal source of heat for waste heat boilers. If a carborundum arch was used over the melting unit, we would have no zinc vapors in the gases at all— just clean combustion gases from which we would have removed some of the heat. L. P. DAVIDSON†— The insolubles

Jan 1, 1950

By G. J. Wilson

Review of difficulties experienced in drilling directional wells in the offshore Grand Isle Block 43 field showed most failures of drill pipe, drill collars and casing to have been associated with excessive dog-legs. Alleviation of difficulties was approached by synthesizing theoretical and practical concepts in a planned dog-leg control program. Preventive measures necessary to control dog-leg severity and corrective measures used to reduce unacceptable doglegs are discussed. When other measures fail, deliberative measures as outlined can be employed after the probable cumulative fatigue damage to be sustained by the drill pipe has been determined. Results of a program successful in virtually eliminating problems stemming from excessive dog-legs indicate that control of dog-leg severity in directional wells is feasible and will cause no decrease in the over-all drilling rate. INTRODUCTION Prompted by an increasing frequency of drill pipe, drill collar and casing failures, a study of 50 directional wells representing 592,000 ft of hole, including 444,000 ft of deviated hole, drilled in the offshore Grand Isle Block 43 field was conducted in early 1965. A number of drill pipe washouts and six keyseating problems were recorded and a detailed review was made of 16 failures which had required fishing effort in 10 of the 50 directional wells drilled prior to June, 1965. These problem wells are exemplified by Wells G and F for which pertinent data are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Data pertaining to all of the 16 failures are summarized in Table 1. Inspection of these data shows most of the problems to have been associated with dog-legs in excess of theoretical limits suggested by Lubinski&apos; and excessive dog-legging is indicated to have been concomitant with whipstocking in several of the problem wells. Results of the investigation agreed with those reported by Schenck2 who had concluded that problems could be expected when dog-leg severity exceeded limits proposed by Lubinski. Since Schenck had demonstrated the desirability and feasibility of drilling directional wells without excessive dog-legging, a dog-leg control program was established in June, 1965 for wells drilled in the Grand Isle Block 43 field. This paper reviews the methods by which theoretical and practical concepts were synthesized to develop a program of preventive, corrective and deliberative measures which virtually eliminated problems stemming from excessive dog-legs in directional wells. Dog-legs of a magnitude causing no damage are referred to as permissible +1CONTINENTAL OIL CO. HARVEY, LA.

By James A. Soles

Concrete is a complex, multicomponent mass whose stability is dependent on three principal variables: quality of the mix, its composition, and environment of the site. The aggregate is only one component, but its constituent minerals may react in unfavorable regimes and, given sufficient time, destroy the concrete. Therefore, besides ensuring that a concrete will meet the strength requirements of a structure, the concrete engineer must be confident that the mortar and aggregates will resist destructive processes. This paper reviews the principal causes and effects of aggregate instability, notes reactions of certain phases, and suggests precautionary measures that can be taken to extend the useful life of concrete structures.

Jan 1, 1984

By Alexander Bowie

Of the following problems, some have been suggested by recent articles in technical journals, which have led me to believe that the mathematical discussion here submitted may be of use to mining engineers. Problem I. To Find the Grade or Angle of Inclination upon which the Power Required to Move a Loaded Car Down-hill Will Haul an Empty One Up-hill. Let a be the desired angle of inclination; C, the coefficient of&apos; friction; W and w, the weight in pounds of the loaded and of the empty car, respectively.

Jan 1, 1902