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By G. S. Scott, G. W. Jones

Economic waste caused by mine fires may become considerable,l5 especially if a fire is allowed to spread or temporarily to get beyond control. It is important, therefore, to act promptly whenever a fire is suspected and to make every action count. To contribute toward its extinction effectively it is necessary to know at the earliest possible moment, and continuously thereafter, what is happening at the seat of the fire, which may be in a remote or inaccessible area, and also to recognize what may be expected as a result of any proposed combative measure. In combatting a fire the mining engineer and the chemist should cooperate, first deciding upon the course of action to be taken and then drawing upon the mining engineer's intimate knowledge of the physical structure of the fire area, the cost and time required to carry out proposed operations, and the probable efficiency with which these operations could be performed, and upon the chemist's knowledge for the results to be expected therefrom. After the initial steps to be taken have been decided, it devolves upon the mining engineer to see that they are carried out and upon the chemist to evaluate the results and to keep the mining engineer continuously informed in regard to a variety of matters—such as the composition and toxic or asphyxiating properties of the atmosphere in which the men may be working, whether the fire is increasing or decreasing in intensity and its probable temperature, the quantity of air leakage and the explosion hazards of the fire area. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what the chemist can and cannot contribute as a member of the fire-fighting personnel. The technical literature contains several hundred papers relating directly and indirectly to mine fires, and this fact alone is testimony to the complex nature of the phenomena involved in the birth, life, and final demise of a fire. A fire may be stopped (I) by preventing oxygen from reaching the coal or (2) by removing the conditions necessary for the rapid reaction of coal with oxygen; i.e., decreasing the temperature. All methods of prevention or control necessarily must be based upon one or the other, or both, of these two principles. The chemistry of a fire may be understood readily if the low-temperature oxidation of coal is considered as a starting point; then oxidation at higher temperatures (or combustion); and with these, the composition of the solid and gaseous products resulting from the oxidation or from the effects of the heat liberated. This discussion refers particularly to Pennsylvania anthracite, although much of the material applies equally well to coals of lower rank. Oxidation of Coal Oxidation of coal fundamentally is confined to the surface; that is, the rate at which oxygen penetrates into the interior of a solid block of coal is so slow that it may be ignored."16 Oxidation starts when a fresh surface is exposed, and the rate is

Jan 1, 1942

By M. J. Williams, C. P. Proctor, J. T. Crawford

The purpose of this paper is to present some data and comparisons regarding three types of Rheolaveur plants washing bituminous coal from the Pittsburgh seam. It deals only with the sections that handle coarse coal. The Rheolaveur system consists of launders or troughs in which coal and its associated impurities are conveyed by water. The impurities. being heavier than the coal, settle toward the bottoms of the launders and are drawn off through specially designed openings called Rheo boxes. Fundamentally, each plant consists of straight-sided, flat-bottomed launders of varying width and length, each launder equipped with one or more Rheo boxes for the removal of high-grauity fractions of the feed that are undesirable in the cleaned coal. Each launder has at least two longitudinal sections, the first with a slope of from 11/2 to 4 in. per foot of length, called the classification section. The single-box launder has a classification section followed by a washing section ahead of the box. A two-box launder is a single-box launder followed by a washing section and a second box. The slope of the washing section between the first and second boxes is determined to some extent by tonnage. At the end of the classification section, which may. vary from 8 to 15 ft. in length, the slope abruptly flattens out to a slope of from 92' to 1 in. per foot of length. This flatter section of the launder, called the washing section, may vary from a few feet, in a single-box launder, to 15 ft., in a two-box launder. Raw coal entering the head end of what we choose to call the "primary" launder or launders is pushed down the classification section by a stream of water entering the head end of the launder with the coal. As it strikes the washing section, of lower pitch, the velocity of flow is retarded and the heavier particles of slate, pyrite, bone, etc., take their places on the bottom and are drawn off as they pass over the Rheo boxes. The clean coal, of lighter gravity, remains on the top of the stream of

Jan 1, 1938

By M. J. Williams, C. P. Proctor, J. T. Crawford

The purpose of this paper is to present some data and comparisons regarding three types of Rheolaveur plants washing bituminous coal from the Pittsburgh seam. It deals only with the sections that handle coarse coal. The Rheolaveur system consists of launders or troughs in which coal and its associated impurities are conveyed by water. The impurities. being heavier than the coal, settle toward the bottoms of the launders and are drawn off through specially designed openings called Rheo boxes. Fundamentally, each plant consists of straight-sided, flat-bottomed launders of varying width and length, each launder equipped with one or more Rheo boxes for the removal of high-grauity fractions of the feed that are undesirable in the cleaned coal. Each launder has at least two longitudinal sections, the first with a slope of from 11/2 to 4 in. per foot of length, called the classification section. The single-box launder has a classification section followed by a washing section ahead of the box. A two-box launder is a single-box launder followed by a washing section and a second box. The slope of the washing section between the first and second boxes is determined to some extent by tonnage. At the end of the classification section, which may. vary from 8 to 15 ft. in length, the slope abruptly flattens out to a slope of from 92' to 1 in. per foot of length. This flatter section of the launder, called the washing section, may vary from a few feet, in a single-box launder, to 15 ft., in a two-box launder. Raw coal entering the head end of what we choose to call the "primary" launder or launders is pushed down the classification section by a stream of water entering the head end of the launder with the coal. As it strikes the washing section, of lower pitch, the velocity of flow is retarded and the heavier particles of slate, pyrite, bone, etc., take their places on the bottom and are drawn off as they pass over the Rheo boxes. The clean coal, of lighter gravity, remains on the top of the stream of

Jan 1, 1938

By M. R. Hatfield, F. J. Vosburgh

In a recent article, it was shown that in the blast furnaces in Germany that are lined with carbon blocks no cooling plates are used, and that shower cooling is employed on the hearth and bosh sections. While one of the authors was in Germany he was told that one furnace was being operated without even the shower cooling on the bosh section, though the hearth section was shower-cooled. In discussion of this interesting situation with a number of blast-furnace operators in this country, it was made clearly and promptly evident that shower cooling was very unpopular, probably because of its messiness and its ineffectiveness. Both of the causes for the dislike of shower coolings are reasonable ones. Shower cooling can be and frequently is messy, but the present cooling of blast furnaces leaves much to be desired on that score. Shower cooling is ineffective as compared with plate cooling, so far as its usefulness in keeping the bricks cool enough not to melt or fall to pieces is concerned. However, the introduction of carbon linings changes the situation. No one is concerned with keeping a carbon lining cool, for no temperature in the blast furnace has any effect on carbon, which is just as stable at 3000°F. as it is at 70°F. The only concern is for the shell—to keep it cool enough for safety and comfort— and for that shower cooling is sufficient. Of course, with only the shell to cool, instead of the shell plus all the refractory material, much less water would be required, and the necessity for constant attention to the flow would be lessened, as the hundreds of inlets and outlets would be eliminated. Probably half of the water used in cooling a blast furnace is used for cooling the shaft and tuyeres and the remainder for the bosh and hearth sections. However, in view of the dislike of shower cooling in the United States, and particularly because at least one German blast furnace is operated with no cooling of the bosh section, thought was given to the possibility that a carbon-lined blast furnace might be operated without any cooling of the entire carbon-lined portion. For that reason a series of experiments was performed to determine what might be the temperature of the shell of a blast furnace protected by a carbon lining and operated under varying conditions up to a maximum inside temperature of 3000°F. Experimental Procedure A schematic diagram of the experimental setup is shown in Fig. I and a photograph of the entire assembly in Fig. 2. The heating element was a a tubc nominally 25/8 in. 0.d. by 2 in. i.d. by 30 in., used as a resistor. Power was furnished by a I5-kva. transformer operating

Jan 1, 1942

By M. R. Hatfield, F. J. Vosburgh

In a recent article, it was shown that in the blast furnaces in Germany that are lined with carbon blocks no cooling plates are used, and that shower cooling is employed on the hearth and bosh sections. While one of the authors was in Germany he was told that one furnace was being operated without even the shower cooling on the bosh section, though the hearth section was shower-cooled. In discussion of this interesting situation with a number of blast-furnace operators in this country, it was made clearly and promptly evident that shower cooling was very unpopular, probably because of its messiness and its ineffectiveness. Both of the causes for the dislike of shower coolings are reasonable ones. Shower cooling can be and frequently is messy, but the present cooling of blast furnaces leaves much to be desired on that score. Shower cooling is ineffective as compared with plate cooling, so far as its usefulness in keeping the bricks cool enough not to melt or fall to pieces is concerned. However, the introduction of carbon linings changes the situation. No one is concerned with keeping a carbon lining cool, for no temperature in the blast furnace has any effect on carbon, which is just as stable at 3000°F. as it is at 70°F. The only concern is for the shell—to keep it cool enough for safety and comfort— and for that shower cooling is sufficient. Of course, with only the shell to cool, instead of the shell plus all the refractory material, much less water would be required, and the necessity for constant attention to the flow would be lessened, as the hundreds of inlets and outlets would be eliminated. Probably half of the water used in cooling a blast furnace is used for cooling the shaft and tuyeres and the remainder for the bosh and hearth sections. However, in view of the dislike of shower cooling in the United States, and particularly because at least one German blast furnace is operated with no cooling of the bosh section, thought was given to the possibility that a carbon-lined blast furnace might be operated without any cooling of the entire carbon-lined portion. For that reason a series of experiments was performed to determine what might be the temperature of the shell of a blast furnace protected by a carbon lining and operated under varying conditions up to a maximum inside temperature of 3000°F. Experimental Procedure A schematic diagram of the experimental setup is shown in Fig. I and a photograph of the entire assembly in Fig. 2. The heating element was a a tubc nominally 25/8 in. 0.d. by 2 in. i.d. by 30 in., used as a resistor. Power was furnished by a I5-kva. transformer operating

Jan 1, 1942

By John T. Norton

In recent years, the damping capacity of metals has come to be recognized as an important index of certain types of structural change. In a number of instances, this property has proved to be particularly sensitive, but insufficient work has been done to permit a general interpretation. There is considerable question at the present time as to just what factors are responsible for the internal dissipation of energy when a metal is carried through a cycle of stress, and these factors must be ascertained if the value of the damping method as a metallurgical tool is to be determined. Since internal stresses are among the chief causes of dissipation of internal energy, or damping capacity, it was thought that a study of the changes in damping during the recovery and recrystalliza-tion of a cold-worked metal might throw some light upon the subject, particularly if the damping changes were correlated with other properties that are better understood. Probably more work has been done on the recrystallization phenomena of alpha brass than on any other metal, so this was chosen as the material for the present investigation. Damping measurements on brass have been made by Förster and Köster.1 They showed that the annealing of a brass that had been cold-drawn to 50 per cent reduction produced a rapid fall in the damping, a flat minimum occurring at approximately the temperature of recrystallization. The damping remained at a low value until grain growth was well under way and then it increased rapidly with increasing grain size. Köster and Rosenthal2 continued the work in greater detail. They pointed out that the damping decrease does not correspond to the hardness drop but occurs at a lower temperature, suggesting that the relief or redistribution of internal stresses has a large effect while the actual recrystallization effect is small. They also show the increase in damping at the higher annealing temperatures. Their curves are reproduced in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1940

By John T. Norton

In recent years, the damping capacity of metals has come to be recognized as an important index of certain types of structural change. In a number of instances, this property has proved to be particularly sensitive, but insufficient work has been done to permit a general interpretation. There is considerable question at the present time as to just what factors are responsible for the internal dissipation of energy when a metal is carried through a cycle of stress, and these factors must be ascertained if the value of the damping method as a metallurgical tool is to be determined. Since internal stresses are among the chief causes of dissipation of internal energy, or damping capacity, it was thought that a study of the changes in damping during the recovery and recrystalliza-tion of a cold-worked metal might throw some light upon the subject, particularly if the damping changes were correlated with other properties that are better understood. Probably more work has been done on the recrystallization phenomena of alpha brass than on any other metal, so this was chosen as the material for the present investigation. Damping measurements on brass have been made by Förster and Köster.1 They showed that the annealing of a brass that had been cold-drawn to 50 per cent reduction produced a rapid fall in the damping, a flat minimum occurring at approximately the temperature of recrystallization. The damping remained at a low value until grain growth was well under way and then it increased rapidly with increasing grain size. Köster and Rosenthal2 continued the work in greater detail. They pointed out that the damping decrease does not correspond to the hardness drop but occurs at a lower temperature, suggesting that the relief or redistribution of internal stresses has a large effect while the actual recrystallization effect is small. They also show the increase in damping at the higher annealing temperatures. Their curves are reproduced in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1940

By W. H. Blauvelt

The only way in which the difficult problems of classification of coal for the manufacture of by-product coke can be solved is to analyze them by the use of scientific data. It is very easy to adopt classifications for coal for the manufacture of by-product coke along certain lines; we can easily say that for a certain class of metallurgical operation coke made from bituminous coal must not contain more than so much sulfur or more than so much ash and should yield certain returns in the by-products, tar, ammonia, benzol, gas, etc. Those points we are fairly clear on and I think it is hardly worth while to discuss them because I presume that they are familiar to most of us who have any occasion either to make coke or to use it. But there is a field in the manufacture of coke which we know very little about. For example, we are operating a plant on a certain mixture of coal. Suddenly our blast-furnace man or the user of the coke tells us the coke is not as good as it was before. The coke is analyzed and the coal is analyzed. Everything seems to be about the same as it was— the ash is the same, there is no more sulfur, and so on—but the coke, for the use to which it is put, particularly in the blast furnace, is wrong. What happens? The management decide to try a slightly different coal mixture. They do not necessarily raise the total hydrocarbons, the volatile matter in the mixture, nor change the sulfur or the ash, but they do make a change which improves the value of the coke for metallurgical use. The reason for this difficulty, as I see it, is the " combustibility " of the coke—I hesitate to use the word, but it is the best one I have available. Combustibility of Coke We know now that the combustibility of coke is a very vital point in many metallurgical processes and I think one of the most notable instances of the proof of this is the experience of the Carnegie Steel Co. in the production of coke at its Clairton plant. The history of that

Jan 1, 1930

By F. G. Tryon

This paper treats only of the practicability of introducing a standard classification into the records of production and distribution of coal which we try to keep in the Bureau of Mines. From the point of view of gathering and analyzing statistics, the requirements of a satisfactory classification are that it shall be so definite as to eliminate the factor of arbitrary judgment, that it shall be reasonably simple and, finally, and most important, that it shall be understandable to the trade. In other words, to be woven in the statistical record it must be adapted to the raw material which flows in from the 7000-odd mines that produce the coal. The success of any scheme of classification, from the point of view of use, will depend largely on the degree to which it utilizes the accumulated experience of the trade and employs as far as may be possible the accepted trade designations. The experience of the Tidewater Coal Exchange during the war would be an excellent point of departure for a use classification of the coals of the Eastern Appalachians. Although the exchange long since passed out of existence, coal is still quoted and sold by the old pool numbers, and they have shown rather extraordinary vitality. Some years ago, in the Geological Survey, the experiment was tried of getting operators to classify their own coal by offering them a list of standard designations on the annual statistical questionnaire. The results were more amusing than informative. What with the confusion in terminology and the natural temptation to put one's best foot foremost, there was a general tendency to grade up the quality. Floods of semi-bituminous coal flowed in from many sources, millions of tons from districts where not a pound of that quality has ever been produced. The producers of semianthracite in Arkansas almost without exception would report their product as anthracite and their neighbors in the little Paris field, producing a fine blocky house coal averaging about 17 per cent, volatile, would say, "Our coal isn't anthracite; it's a semianthracite." Finally we discontinued the publication of those data as being more misleading than helpful.

Jan 1, 1930

By A. C. Fieldner

In November, 1926, the American Engineering Standards Committee (now the American Standards Association) called a meeting of representatives of various professional societies and industrial, educational and governmental organizations to consider what action, if any, should be taken on the classification of North American coals. This meeting was called because a system for the use classification of coal, proposed by George H. Ashley, had been referred to the committee by the Coal Mining Institute of America. This meeting, at Pittsburgh, was well attended and was definitely in favor of taking up the whole question of scientific and use classification of coals, including all the various ranks from lignite to anthracite. The American Society for Testing Materials was recommended as the sponsor organization to take charge of the work and organize the sectional committee according to the rules of the American Standards Association. The American Society for Testing Materials proceeded with the organization of the sectional committee, holding a meeting in Philadelphia, June 10, 1927. Officers were elected, regulations adopted, and general plans for carrying out the work were outlined. The total membership of 28 comprising the sectional committee consists of 8 producers, 2 distributors, 9 consumers and 9 members representing general and scientific interest. From this committee three technical committees of 10 to 12 members each were organized: Scientific Classification, H. J. Rose, chairman; Use Classification, W. H. Fulweiler, chairman; Marketing Practice, F. R. Wadleigh, chairman. The Technical Committee on Scientific Classification was requested to formulate a system of coal classification based on chemical and physical properties of coal and with reference to origin and constitution. The Technical Committee on Use Classification was charged with developing a system of classification, if possible, based primarily on the uses of coal and commercial practice; this system to be correlated with the scientific system as far as possible and desirable. The Technical Commitlee on Marketing Practice was formed to collect and collate information on commercial practice for the benefit of the other two committees. The first meetings of the technical committees were held on Nov. 17, 1927, and the first informal progress reports were submitted to the

Jan 1, 1930

W. H. Blauvelt, New York, N. Y.—One thought lias been running through my mind during the wholc of this meeting and that is that the scientific and the practical men must recognize very clearly their interdependence. The value of scientific classification of coal is going to be of the very greatest importance to the users, the practical men. Is not the scientific investigation and the great amount of work that is being done in a measure at least lost to the world? Therefore the scientific investigations and the practical needs of the users should bo brought as close together, and the work should be done as closely together, as possible; that is, the scientific man should know what the practical man needs, and the practical man should not feel that the scientific man is merely a theorist. Scientific investigation is going to have a great effeet and be of great valuc to the practical man who is trying to solve his problems. In the subject which I discussed' for instance, we must look to the scientific man to tell us why coal cokes in one way and not In another and why certain coals will do certain things and others, which appear on the surfacc to be generally similar, do not act in the same way. Need or Physical Data on Coal H. J. Rose, Pittsburgh, Pa.—There is a subject which is a sort of hobby of mine; that is, the need for what might be called critical tables of constants for coal. The chemist has big volumes giving constants, such as the density, solubility, specific heat, thermal conductivity and all other physical and chemical data that have been determined for chemical compounds. Data arc also available on many common materials, for example, the density, hardness, modulus of rupture or maximum crushing strength of swamp white oak as compared with some other wood. In fact, physical data for practically cvery hype of wood commercially produced in the world can he found. In the same way the metallurgical man has handbooks giving the properties of alloys, etc., but we havc very little tabulated information about coal. Our principal reference works are the volumes published by the U. S. Bureau of Mines on the proximatc and ultimate analysis and calorific values of coals of the United States. That is 3 pioncer work of enormous value, but we have reached the point where we need more diversified information. Mr. Fulweiler raised the question of the relative strength of the different coals and cokes. Dr. Campbell and Dr. Ashley wanted to have some information on the resistance of coal to air slacking. It was brought out in the discussion that we want to know something about the coking properties of coal. There are any number of physical tests that we need, such as the thermal conductivity of certain coals, the coefficient of expansion, or the coefficient of friction; or other constants. A smattering of such information is scattered through the literature; for instance, a research worker in Wales will report a coefficient of expansion on Wclsh coals and one in South Africa will report something else for one or two kinds of African coals, hut it is difficult to find the information that is needed on our own coals. Would it not be worth while to consider collecting reliable critical

Jan 1, 1930

By George H. Ashley

At the beginning of the war, about 13 years ago, a conference was called in Washington to lay plans for pooling the coals of the United States. A careful review of the various systems of classification then extant showed none well adapted to the needs of coal pooling. The system of Tidewater pools then adopted, using numbers to distinguish one pool from another, was based on typical coals of different localities. At that time, the writer undertook the preparation of such a practical classification. Aside from drawing on his experience of over 20 years in the coal fields of the United States, reaching from the Pacific Coast and the Rio Grande to Rhode Island, he first examined and carded all of the large collection of coals in glass jars made by and for M. R. Campbell. Next, he carded all of the descriptions of coals he could find in the U. S. Geological Survey bulletins and elsewhere, as well as practical tests of coals by the Navy and other organizations and then took account of every published coal analysis of the U. S. Geological Survey and U. S. Bureau of Mines. A study of this information, involving thousands of recomputations, led to the presentation of a paper on "A Use Classification of Coal" before this Institute at the Chicago meeting, September, 1919. That classification was unique (1) in a classification based on "standard coal" which included moisture, but used standardized ash, sulfur and nitrogen, (2) in using physical properties to distinguish the major classes or orders, (3) in recognizing British thermal unit values in the minor subdivision, (4) in the large number of classes recognized (thirty-six), (5) in proposing mineral names for all classes, (6) in proposing a letter code for the several classes for practical use, (7) in proposing a code for expressing what has commonly been called "grade" of the coal, the grade code to be combined with the rank code to designate and describe a coal. The writer still thinks that the principles then offered, though not necessarily the exact proposals, are valid and desirable in any practical classification. The actual classification of coal by rank was based on the ratio of fixed carbon to volatile matter for the high-rank coals—the well-known

Jan 1, 1930

By H. J. Rose

Graphic methods have long been used to advantage in dealing with diverse phases of fuel technology and research. Not only are graphs convenient for presenting data and making calculations, but they are invaluable for deriving generalizations from a mass of data. This is particularly true when relationships are obscure and numerical correlation is poor. This paper describes a new form of graph, the Multibasic Coal Chart, which has been developed to facilitate the study and comparison of coals of all ranks from peat to anthracite on any moisture and purity basis. This type of chart is of unique value for coal classification purposes, since it permits a direct visual comparison of the results obtained when coals are classified by the various systems which have been proposed. Coals are highly variable in character as a result of wide differenees in original vegetal ingredients, degree of metamorphism, and nature and amount of associated impurities. For nearly 100 years, attempts have been made to devise a satisfactory method of classification, and many tables, formulas, ratios and graphs have been suggested. Many of the suggested systems possess considerable merit and have found a limited use, thus promoting a better understanding of coal. However, objections have been raised against each system, and none has received general adoption. When the various systems of classification are compared, it is found that there is an apparently almost hopeless confusion due to: 1. Serious lack of agreement as to the proper moisture and purity basis on which to classify coal. More than ten different bases have been proposed, each of which requires complete recalculat.ion of the analysis data used. 2. Lack of agreement as to what chemical and physical properties are most important and best to use for classification purposes. There is too little knowledge of the degree to which these properties can be correlated.

Jan 1, 1930

By G. H. Cady, L. C. McCabe, D. R. Mitchell

While running certain float-and-sink tests, unit coal calorific values were determined for gravity fractions of a series of Illinois coals from several districts in the southern part of the state. When these values were plotted against specific gravity what appear to be characteristic curves of somewhat different shape were obtained for each district represented. This in itself seems noteworthy. The shape of the curves seems to indicate that the lightest fraction of the coal, which inspection shows to be largely vitrain, suffers the least deterioration in storage. It was also observed that on dilution curves established with dry ash and B.t.u. values the fractions of 1.35, 1.40 and 1.50 sp. gr., which constitute the greater weight per cent of a given coal sample, fall more frequently on a straight dilution line than do the lighter or heavier fractions of the same sample. In most instances there is a marked steepening between the 1.35 and the fraction of lighter gravity. In general the curve increases in steepness between the fractions of 1.50 and 1.70 specific gravity. The variations in the unit coal-specific gravity curves as well as those observed in dilution curves which appear to be pertinent to this problem are: (I) variation in coal substance with change in specific gravity, (2) variation in kind and quantity of mineral matter with the specific gravity of the fraction, (3) factors of analytical procedure which tend to introduce error in analysis, particularly in high-ash and high-sulfur fractions. DISCUSSION (A. C. Callen presiding) E. Stansfield, ? Edmonton, A1ta.-—The necessity of avoiding oxidation in grinding and in drying should be emphasized. My assumptions as to pure coal coincide with t,he author's but most of my curves are nearly straight lines. The low sulfur content

Jan 1, 1934

By G. S. Scott, H. G. Turner, W. L. Kleene

It is well known that different forms of carbon show differences in chemical behavior under apparently identical conditions. It is fairly well known that these differences persist, although to a lesser degree, in a single group of carbons, such as the anthracites of Pennsylvania. It is the purpose of this paper to show the extent of these variations for Pennsylvania anthracites from actual quantitative measurements of the amount of carbon dioxide reduced under the standardized test conditions employed. As the amount of carbon dioxide reduced to the monoxide (under comparative conditions termed, for convenience, the "reactivity") is important in combustion, gas production and metallurgy, it is hoped that this paper will be a useful contribution to the store of knowledge on these subjects. In carrying out the investigation, considerable time and thought were spent in obtaining what seemed to be the best possible design of apparatus. The next step consisted in making a number of trial runs on the same sample, varying temperature, particle diameter, etc. and then outlining a standardized procedure to be followed in testing all samples. Fifty anthracites were tested. As a matter of interest, some 10 miscellaneous samples were also tested. The data show initial reaction temperatures (abbreviated I.R.T.), reaction velocity constants at 900" and 950" C., some effects of added substances, and a few additional tests designed to throw some light on the causes of differences in reactivity. The sample of charcoal, as was anticipated, proved to be easily the most reactive of any sample tested. The anthracites as a group came second. The five samples of gas and by-product cokes, obtained from five different coke manufacturers, came third, and a single sample of Rhode Island anthracite ranked fourth, with respect to reactivity as above defined. Although the five coke samples do not necessarily represent the average market coke, and five samples constitute a rather small number of samples to serve as a basis for comparisons, the fact that none

Jan 1, 1934

By H. H. Stout

In the early fall of 1925, the writer was conducting, in the Ledoux and Co. laboratory, New York, experiments directed toward ascertaining the effect on its impurity content when cathode copper was subjected to a current of various gases at an elevated temperature below the melting point. The apparatus consisted of a vertical I-in. dia. silica tube about 12 in. long, heated on the outside. The cathodes were broken to pass 3/8-in. mesh, and a current of various different gases was passed up through a 4-in. long column of these loose cathode particles in the vertical tube furnace. Temperature was maintained to 1500º to 1600ºF. and the gas treatments lasted from 3 to 6 hr. The writer observed that whenever reducing gas (H2 or CO) was used, these cathode particles stuck together at points of contact with each other. The cohesion was so marked and tenacious that an examination was made of the fractured surfaces, when cathode particles were broken from the cluster. Crystal growth was always found to have taken place across the surfaces where separate particles were in contact, but only after all oxides, sulphates, etc., had been completely removed. The idea of a possible new process was then conceived and was disclosed to A. M. Smoot (V. P. Ledoux and Co.) with intent to obtain his views. The first conception as given Smoot was "to gas-clean broken cathodes, put them in an extrusion press, solidify and extrude them at around 1500ºF." Smoot's reaction, after a few moments considera- tion, was, "It looks perfectly all right to me.'' The writer and his assistants, W. H. Osborn and H. H. Stout, Jr., after conferring as to ways and means, decided to go ahead with preliminary laboratory experiments, which, it was thought, would move the new process from the possible to the probable. This program followed a course indicated by three basic considerations: 1. Since brittle cathodes were often unintentionally produced, it seemed probable that the laws controlling this type of deposition could be ascertained. 2. We had already proved the gas-cleaning feature. 3. There remained to prove: whether a sound, homogeneous metal billet could be produced with crystal growth established over the entire surface of each individual particle in the billet; and, if so, what would be the physical properties? Osborn arranged with Columbia University for conducting experiments in its research laboratory to prove or disprove the third item; Columbia assigned C. A. Phillipi, Jr. to assist in the project. A press with a cylinder 2 in. high and of I-in. dia. was used. It was surrouilded and heated by a resistance coil 01 Nichrome wire. Broken tough cathodes were used. Experimental Procedure The first run took place March 18, 1926. The resistance wire gave out when temperature of 1000ºF. was obtained. Pressure was immediately applied: perceptible ram movement stopped when 39,000 lb. per sq. in. on the copper was reached, with a maxi-

Jan 1, 1941

By H. H. Stout

In the early fall of 1925, the writer was conducting, in the Ledoux and Co. laboratory, New York, experiments directed toward ascertaining the effect on its impurity content when cathode copper was subjected to a current of various gases at an elevated temperature below the melting point. The apparatus consisted of a vertical I-in. dia. silica tube about 12 in. long, heated on the outside. The cathodes were broken to pass 3/8-in. mesh, and a current of various different gases was passed up through a 4-in. long column of these loose cathode particles in the vertical tube furnace. Temperature was maintained to 1500º to 1600ºF. and the gas treatments lasted from 3 to 6 hr. The writer observed that whenever reducing gas (H2 or CO) was used, these cathode particles stuck together at points of contact with each other. The cohesion was so marked and tenacious that an examination was made of the fractured surfaces, when cathode particles were broken from the cluster. Crystal growth was always found to have taken place across the surfaces where separate particles were in contact, but only after all oxides, sulphates, etc., had been completely removed. The idea of a possible new process was then conceived and was disclosed to A. M. Smoot (V. P. Ledoux and Co.) with intent to obtain his views. The first conception as given Smoot was "to gas-clean broken cathodes, put them in an extrusion press, solidify and extrude them at around 1500ºF." Smoot's reaction, after a few moments considera- tion, was, "It looks perfectly all right to me.'' The writer and his assistants, W. H. Osborn and H. H. Stout, Jr., after conferring as to ways and means, decided to go ahead with preliminary laboratory experiments, which, it was thought, would move the new process from the possible to the probable. This program followed a course indicated by three basic considerations: 1. Since brittle cathodes were often unintentionally produced, it seemed probable that the laws controlling this type of deposition could be ascertained. 2. We had already proved the gas-cleaning feature. 3. There remained to prove: whether a sound, homogeneous metal billet could be produced with crystal growth established over the entire surface of each individual particle in the billet; and, if so, what would be the physical properties? Osborn arranged with Columbia University for conducting experiments in its research laboratory to prove or disprove the third item; Columbia assigned C. A. Phillipi, Jr. to assist in the project. A press with a cylinder 2 in. high and of I-in. dia. was used. It was surrouilded and heated by a resistance coil 01 Nichrome wire. Broken tough cathodes were used. Experimental Procedure The first run took place March 18, 1926. The resistance wire gave out when temperature of 1000ºF. was obtained. Pressure was immediately applied: perceptible ram movement stopped when 39,000 lb. per sq. in. on the copper was reached, with a maxi-

Jan 1, 1941

By Ralph H. Sweetser

At the joint session of Blast Furnace and Open Hearth Committees, April 7, 1937, at Birmingham, the subject of the quality of basic open-hearth pig iron was so well presented and discussed from so many different viewpoints that it was the general opinion that progress had been made and that such meetings were conducive to the advancement of the art of making pig iron of the right quality for the open-hearth man to produce the most satisfactory quality of steel. It was agreed that there is a decided differentiation between the chemical analysis of pig iron and the "quality" of pig iron. Paul J. McKim said that open-hearth furnace operators frequently make reference to certain types of iron as "bad iron," "dirty iron," "cold metal," etc., claiming that when using these irons, although they are within specified chemical analysis, it is impossible to produce quality steel. Mr. McKim gave a list of the suggested causes of those "certain types" of bad irons that have a thoroughly respectable analysis but a thoroughly disreputable character. Another open-hearth man, P. A. MacIsaac, of Nova Scotia, said that: The effects of iron that is below standard in analysis or in that mysterious property called quality, are well known to all open-hearth operators. It has been shown that iron of this type results in the production of steels on which the rcjections of finished product run high. What is to be done about it? I would say that the burden of producing high-quality iron should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the blastfurnace man, even as that of making good steel is shouldered by the open-hearth man. It is the purpose of this paper to bring out into the open this "mysterious property called quality"; that is, in those "certain types" of basic pig iron that make it impossible to produce quality steels; and at the same time to point the way for the blast-furnace man to be able to shoulder the burden that Mr. MacIsaac and all other open-hearth men and foundry-men have placed upon him. Silicon, sulphur, phosphorus and manganese are not the guilty elements because these are known, specified and usually kept within the

Jan 1, 1938

By Ralph H. Sweetser

At the joint session of Blast Furnace and Open Hearth Committees, April 7, 1937, at Birmingham, the subject of the quality of basic open-hearth pig iron was so well presented and discussed from so many different viewpoints that it was the general opinion that progress had been made and that such meetings were conducive to the advancement of the art of making pig iron of the right quality for the open-hearth man to produce the most satisfactory quality of steel. It was agreed that there is a decided differentiation between the chemical analysis of pig iron and the "quality" of pig iron. Paul J. McKim said that open-hearth furnace operators frequently make reference to certain types of iron as "bad iron," "dirty iron," "cold metal," etc., claiming that when using these irons, although they are within specified chemical analysis, it is impossible to produce quality steel. Mr. McKim gave a list of the suggested causes of those "certain types" of bad irons that have a thoroughly respectable analysis but a thoroughly disreputable character. Another open-hearth man, P. A. MacIsaac, of Nova Scotia, said that: The effects of iron that is below standard in analysis or in that mysterious property called quality, are well known to all open-hearth operators. It has been shown that iron of this type results in the production of steels on which the rcjections of finished product run high. What is to be done about it? I would say that the burden of producing high-quality iron should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the blastfurnace man, even as that of making good steel is shouldered by the open-hearth man. It is the purpose of this paper to bring out into the open this "mysterious property called quality"; that is, in those "certain types" of basic pig iron that make it impossible to produce quality steels; and at the same time to point the way for the blast-furnace man to be able to shoulder the burden that Mr. MacIsaac and all other open-hearth men and foundry-men have placed upon him. Silicon, sulphur, phosphorus and manganese are not the guilty elements because these are known, specified and usually kept within the

Jan 1, 1938

By F. M. Lewis, J. F. Myers

The crushing of ore, as defined by Taggart, is "usually a stage process, utilizing . . . machines especially suitable for the reduction of particular sizes. . . . down to a final stage, employed for the reduction of the finest sizes. ... In contradistinction, comminution to 20-mesh or finer is called grinding. There is a twilight zone in which the product is 6, 10, or 14-mesh limiting size which is either crushing or grinding. ..." Since the data in this paper pertain to a rod-mill operation, comminuting a particular ore size of ¾ in. to a final stage, coarser than 20-mesh, the rod mill is designated as a "fine crusher machine" in this paper. The published literature discloses a wealth of data regarding a rod mill as a fine-grinding machine but relatively little as a fine-crushing operation. Typical of the latter operation is: (I) a description by F. J. Tuck2 in which a fine-crushing rod mill replaced crushing rolls and (2) a description by the present authors3 in which a fine-crushing rod mill was installed instead of a collventional fine-crushing machine. The experience of the authors is that a definite distinction must he made between the rod mill functioning as a fine crusher and as a fine-grinding machine. As a fine crushing machine it prepares relatively large amounts of ore for a subsequent fine grinding operation; as a grinding machine, it grinds relatively small amounts of ore to some predetermined finished product. Pulp Movement and Action in Mill In considering the work performed by a fine-crushing rod mill, it seems important to understand just what takes place within the mill. We were inspired to study this matter by a paper by E. W. Davis,4 which indicated that definite water classification of ore particles took place in a ball mill. However, in thinking of the rod-mill action from this point of view, we were confronted with the fact that our rod-mill discharge product showed no evidence of action by water classification. The Tennessee Copper Co. ore is relatively high in sulphides, and the gangue rock and the sulphides are of about the same hardness. In the presence of any action by classification, the coarser sizes are definitely very lean in sulphide minerals.

Jan 1, 1947