HORORATA TRIALS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1929, Page 2

HORORATA TRIALS

NEW ZEALAND COAL UNDER TEST. WELLINGTON. March 5. British shipowners and the Admiralty are following with interest the experimental use of pulverised coal in some off the boilers on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Hurorata, and it'is a matter of satisfaction that, an opportunity has been given by the steamer’s owners to have practical trials of certain elassess of New Zealand coals under commercial conditions. The steamer is being worked around the New Zealand coast on Dominion coal, which will also he used in a pulverising plant on the homeward voyage.

The experiment is being conducted with the co-operation of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the secretary off which, Dr Marsden, in recent notes on the use of pulverised fuel declares that it lias a great future in New Zealand, partly by reason of its being well adapted to the lower grade coals of high ash and sulphur; and because fusisblo ash causes less trouble with a pulverised outfit than in ordinary firing. The Hovorata’s boilers worked on American coal with 15 per cent ash and only 20 per cent volatile matter.

“in general,” continues Dr Marsden. “higher efficiencies are obtained than by other methods off firing, even allowing for the power required in crushing, pulverising and pumping. Moreover increased steam capacity, of the order of 20 to (50 per cent, can he obtained by using pulverised fuel, depending on the amount of air, etc., which can he put through the stack. This was evidenced by the experience of the Hororata and from personal inspection of two stationary plants in America, in one of which, at Newark, a normally 000 h.p. boiler was generating 900, and occasionally was pushed to 1300 horse power.” It is pointed out that one laige cheese factory in New Zealand, at the suggestion of the Coal Research Committee, is using pulverisation to secure increased steaming capacity without the necessity of installing a larger boiler.