POWDERED COAL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1929, Page 2

POWDERED COAL

PROGRESS IN HItITJSH sun’s. ADVANTAGES RKA USED. l i ’rom many directions the success o't the pulverised coal system of raising steam in ships is foreshadowed. The question lias gripped the inv filiation and interest of all concerned with shipping and the coal industry The levelopment ml' tin* powdered coal system was recently brought homo to New Zealand by the recent visit of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner llororatea. which has half her boilers converted to its use. This ship is due in London this month, after completing a voyage out and home, and the result of the long-distance test ol new fuel being awaited with much interest.

A vesel which has been the su’ ject of more than ordinary interest because of the pulversied fuel experiments nu'de on hoard in comparison with the ordinary coal-firing methods is the Stuartstar, built at Jarrow for the Mine Star Line. A number of the ships furnaces were fitted with the pulverised fuel system designed and patented by- Messrs. Clarice, Chapman and Co., Ltd., of Gateshead, and the experimental furnaces have not only justified the faith of the firm in its system, but have aroused widespread interest among shipowners in general and the Blue Star Line in particular who are apparently so well pleased that Clarke Chapman have been commissioned to carry out at an early date the complete equipment of the vessel to pulverised fuel burning. It is calculated that a saving of 20 per cent, occurred in the 'fuel consumption as he tween the pulverised and ordinary method of firing.

REDUCTION OF FUEL COSTS.

hi an interview, Mr W. E. Woodeson general manager of Messrs Clark, Chapman and Co..' Ltd., pointed out that proof was available that results had been, obtained with bunker coal at 9s 2d. per ton (f.o.b Tyne) burnt as “solid gas,” equal to those obtained from bunkers at 14s. 2d. per ton fed to the furnaces by hand. The capital cost for the introduction of the pulverised coal system was approximately the same so that for an oil-burning installation, but, in operation, the fuel costs of the pulverised coal burner were 30 per cent, below those of the oil burner, assuming that fuel, in either instance, was shipped at the Tyne. On the Pacfiic coast oil might bo cheaper than coal.

The Stuartstar went out to Buenos Aires and back, with calls at intermediate ports on less than 4000 tons. Burn ing pulverised coal in all boilers she will do it on about 3000 tons. A SHIPOWNER’S FAITH.

, The anticipations of extensive economies from the use of plverised coal expressed by Air Woodeson are shared by Major W. Guy Ropner, of Messrs Sir R. Ropner and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool. That firm has decided t equip one if its new cargo vessels the Brand pulverised fuel system, and Major Ropner in an interview stated that they hoped to secure substantial economies as a result. It was expected, lie said that the fuel consumption would be reduced by at least three to four tons of coal per day, which, on a long voyage, such as most of their ships were engaged upon, would repre sent a substantial economy.

' In addition, the coal which could lie used in pulverised fuel burners was less expensive than ordinary bunker coal. For the purposes of the system which was being installed they could usjc the smallest coal obtainable, and this was distinctly cheaper.

Another advantage which they hoped to gnin by tbe new method, said Major Uopner, was that the loss of 20 to 30 degrees of heat which invariably accompanied the cleaning ol tbe boilers where raw coal was used, would he avoided. In many ports all over the world the risk of 'bad weather was so great as to necessitate the hanking up of all furnaces so that steam could lie raised at a moment’s notice. 'lbis was not necessary with furnaces fed with pulverised fuel, as the lurnaces could be turned oil or off like turning a tap and just as simply as with oilburning furnaces.

IJeing associated with the XortliKast Coast, where tlie coal trade is such an important industry, Messrs Sir It. Itopner and Co. are anxious t > use coal in preference to oil, and have no ships iising either oil 'lor raising steam or in internal-combustion engines. They hope that as a result of the installation of pulverised coal much of the hunker trade which the coal industry has lost to oil will he recovered.