PROPERTY OF 

N. W.LORD

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

GEORC4E OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR

BULLETIN 402

THE UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN 

LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE

BY

W. F. M. GOSS

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1909

CONTENTS.

Page.

Introduction............................................................... 5

The testing plant and locomotive............................................ 7

Discussion of tests......................................................... 8

Purpose.............................................................. 8

General conditions.................................................... 8

Coal and refuse....................................................... 9

Bates of combustion, drafts, and smoke-box temperatures................ 10

Water and steam ..........................-..-.-- - ---- -- - -'0

Evaporation and horsepower........................................... .1.0

Evaporative efficiency ................................................ 11

Chemical and calorific values.......................................... 11

Heat balances........................................................ 11

Distribution of heat in the test locomotive ...*........................... 16

General conclusions................................................... 17

Tables................................................................... 20

Survey publications on fuel testing ........................................ 27

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

1. Elevation of the testing plant.................................... 6

2. Outline elevation of the test locomotive........................... 7

3. Heat balance of combined boiler and superheater as derived from

tests using coal A............................................. 12

4. Heat balance of combined boiler and superheater as derived from

tests using coal B............................................. 12

5. Equivalent evaporation per pound of dry coal under all conditions

of pressure..................................................... 13

6. Stack and front-end cinder loss, per cent of coal fired............. 15

7. Heat value of stack and front-end cinders......................... 16

8. Utilization and accompanying wastes of one year's coal supply for

locomotive service in the United States....................... 1. 19

3

THE UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE,

By W. F. M. Goss.

INTRODUCTION'.

The locomotives in service on the railroads of this country consume 

more than one-fifth of the total coal production of the United States. 

The amount is so large that any small saving that can be made 

effective in locomotive practice at once becomes an important factor 

in conserving the fuel supply of the nation. For this reason the 

United States Geological Survey has given attention to the special 

problems of combustion in locomotive boilers. It has approached 

this task from several different directions. The facts presented herewith constitute one series of results.

In the fall of 1906 the locomotive-testing laboratory of Purdue 

University, at Lafayette, Ind., entered on a series of tests, one 

purpose of which was to determine in precise terms the degree of 

efficiency with which a modern high-class American locomotive 

utilizes the heat energy of the fuel supplied to it. The general 

interest in the subject, the elaborate plans which had been formulated for conducting the work, and the substantial character of the 

support which had been pledged to maintain it justified the Geological 

Survey in aiding the investigation. 0 The cooperation of the Survey 

consisted in detailing experts to assist the regular staff of the laboratory in the chemical and calorific work of the tests. These experts, 

working under the general supervision of the director of the Purdue 

laboratory, became responsible for the sampling of smoke-box gases, 

of the fuel used, of the cinders caught in the front end, of the sparks 

discharged by the stack, and of the refuse caught in the ash pan. The 

gas analyses were made by them at the university laboratory. The 

analyses of all solid samples and the calorific tests of the fuels 

were made at the government fuel-testing plant at St. Louis. The 

representatives of the Survey were not concerned with other phases 

of the work.

oAt the time mentioned the laboratory, aided by a grant from the Carnegie Institution, of Washington, 

D. C., was engaged in a general research concerning the value of superheated steam in locomotive service. 

See' "Superheated steam in locomotive service," in press by the Carnegie Institution.

5
UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.
UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE. 7 

THE TESTING PLANT AND LOCOMOTIVE.

The locomotive laboratory of Purdue University includes a plant 

for mounting a locomotive for experimental purposes, involving 

(1) supporting wheels carried by shafts running in fixed bearings 

to receive the locomotive drivers and to turn with them; (2) brakes 

mounted on the shafts of the supporting wheels, having sufficient 

capacity to absorb continuously the maximum, power of the locomotive; (3) a traction dynamometer to indicate the horizontal moving 

force, all as shown by figure 1. Assume an engine thus mounted 

to be running in forward motion, the supporting wheels, whose 

faces constitute the track, revolving freely in rolling contact with the 

drivers. The locomotive as a whole being at rest, the track under 

it (the tops of the supporting wheels) is forced to move backward. 

If now the supporting wheels are retarded in their motion, as, for 

example, by the 'action of friction brakes, the engine must as a

FIGURE 2. Outline elevation of the test locomotive.

result tend to move off them. If they are stopped, the drivers must 

stop or slide. Whether the resistance to be overcome in turning the 

supporting wheels is great or small, the force to overcome it is 

transmitted from the driver to the supporting wheel and will reappear as a stress on the drawbar, which alone holds the locomotive 

to. its place upon the supporting wheels. The dynamometer constitutes the fixed point with which the drawbar connects and serves to 

measure the stresses transmitted. It is evident from these considerations that the tractive power of such a locomotive may be increased or diminished by simply varying the resistance against 

which the supporting wheels turn, and that the readings of the 

traction dynamometer will always serve as a basis for calculating 

the work done at the drawbar.

The locomotive used in the experiments is a simple superheating

locomotive of the American type, and is shown in general outline

by figure 2. Its boiler is designed to operate under pressures as

high as 250 pounds. Horizontal seams are butt jointed with welt

4780 Bull. 402 09 2
8 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.

.straps inside and out and are sextuple riveted. The superheater 

is of the return-tube type and was built and installed in the summer 

of 1906.

The principal characteristics of the locomotive are as follows:

Type........................................................ 4-4-0

Total weight.......................................pounds.. 109, 000

Weight on four drivers.................................. do.... 61, 000

Total wheel base...........................................feet.. 23

. Cylinders:

Diameter.......................................... inches.. 16

Stroke.................:...........................do.... 24

Drivers, diameter outside of tire.......................do.... 69|

Boiler:

Type.......................................Extended wagon top.

Length of fire box............................... inches.. 72-1-16- Width of fire box ...........!.....................do.... 34£

Depth of fire box.................................do.... 79

Number of 2-inch' tubes.................................. Ill

Number of 5-inch tubes.................................. ,16

Length of tubes....................................feet.. 11£

Heating surface in fire box ..................square feet.. 126

Heating surface in tubes, water side................ do.... 897

Total water-heating surface, including water side of 

tubes.....................................square feet.. 1, 023

Superheater:

Type ............................................ Cole return tube.

Outside diameter of superheater tubes............inches.. 1£

Number of loops......................................... 32

Average length of tube per loop...................... feet.. 17. 27

Total superheating surface based upon outside surface of

tubes..................................... square feet.. 193

Total water and superheating surface, including water side of 

boiler tubes...................................square feet.. 1,216

' DISCUSSION OF TESTS. 

PUKPOSE.

The purpose of the tests was to determine the performance of the 

boiler and superheater of a normal-locomotive while developing such 

rates of power as are common in locomotive service. The process 

involved a careful study of the various channels through which the 

heat energy of the fuel is absorbed or dissipated. The purpose of 

the work is best disclosed by Tables 1 to 13, which give the results of 

eighteen complete tests.

GENERAL CONDITIONS.

The general conditions under which the several tests were run are 

set forth in Table 1. The " laboratory designation " given in column 

2 consists of three factors, the first of which represents the speed of 

the locomotive during the test, the second the position of the reverse
DISCUSSION OF TESTS. ( 9

lever as expressed in terms of the notches forward of the center, and 

the third the boiler pressure. For example, test 1 (30-5-240) was 

made at a speed of 30 miles an hour, with the reverse lever in the 

fifth notch from the center, and under a boiler pressure of 240 pounds. 

Columns 1 and 2 are repeated in the succeeding tables.

The maximum power of the boiler may result from engine conditions involving a long cut-off and slow speed or a shorter cut-off and 

higher speed. The engine merely served during the tests to absorb 

the steam which the boiler generated and to supply, through the 

action of its exhaust, the draft necessary to stimulate the fire. This 

being the case, the conditions of speed and cut-off under which the 

engine of the locomotive "was operated during the tests are not important to the present study.

The tests may be grouped into four series, for each, of which the

boiler pressure was the same. The first four tests were run under a 

boiler pressure of 240 pounds, the next five under a boiler pressure of 

200 pounds, the next three under a boiler pressure of 160 pounds, and 

the remaining six under a boiler pressure of 120 pounds. The results 

of each series are presented in the order of the rate of combustion. 

Thus test 1 is the test of highest power and test 4 the test of lowest 

power in the 240-pound series.

COAL AND REFUSE.

Data concerning coal and refuse and certain other dependent factors are presented in Tables 2 and 3. Column 11 shows the total 

weight of coal fired'for each test, and column 18 the coal fired per hour, 

which is a measure of the rate at which the coal was burned. For 

example, this rate for the first test was 1,975 pounds an hour and for 

the fourth test. 1,210 pounds an hour.

The results represent work done with two grades of coal that will 

be designated as coal A and coal B. Both are of excellent quality. 

The greater part of the tests were run with coal A, which, for purposes 

of discussion, will be regarded as the standard for the tests. Tests 

which were run with coal B are indicated by a star preceding the number in column 1 of the tables. The chemical characteristics and the 

calorific value of samples taken from the fuel of each test will be found 

in detail in the tables, but the following summarized statement will 

be convenient at this point.

Composition and calorific value of aoals A and B.

Ash .....................................................

.....................do....

.....................do....

................. .B. t. u..

.....................do....

Coal A.

1.89

31. 94

14, 047

15, 372

Coal B.

3.10

15. 23

72. 75

8.92

i A '447

15, 802
10 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN" LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.

The cinder record, as presented in columns 23 and 24, showing the 

extent to which fuel passes over the heating surface of the boiler to 

find lodgment in the front end or to pass out of the top of the stack 

during each hour of the locomotive's operation, will be of more than 

ordinary interest to those who have not especially studied the processes which go on within a locomotive fire box.

RATES OF COMBUSTION, DRAFTS, AND SMOKE-BOX TEMPERATURES.

Rates of combustion, draft values, and smoke-box temperatures 

are set forth in Table 4. These are closely related factors. The rate 

of combustion, as expressed in terms of coal fired per square foot of 

grate surface per hour (column 25), is for most tests about 100 pounds. 

This factor, when compared with the burning of 10 to 12 pounds per 

foot of grate, which is common practice in stationary furnaces, well 

illustrates the activity of locomotive processes.

The draft is the regulator which in any boiler furnace determines 

the rate at which fuel shall be burned. To sustain the high rates of 

combustion necessary in locomotive service, high drafts are required. 

The drafts used in these tests are shown in column 31.

Column 32 (temperature of the smoke box) expresses the temperature at which the waste gases from the boiler are discharged. Efficient boiler action demands that the temperature of these gases shall 

be as low as possible, but under the high rates of combustion at which 

locomotive boilers are forced, the smoke-box temperatures are necessarily high, ranging in these tests from above 800° to a little less than 

600° F., depending on the rate of combustion.

WATER AND STEAM.

The record of water delivered to the boiler, the boiler pressure,

and the quality of the steam appear in Table 5. Thermal quantities involved in the computation of other results are given in Table 

6, and the equivalent evaporation in Table 7. Column 44 shows the 

hourly rate at which water was actually delivered to the boiler, and 

column 48 the equivalent evaporation represented by the output of 

boiler and superheater. For most of the tests the rate of evaporation exceeded 10,000 pounds per hour, and for a considerable number it was 50 per cent or more in excess of this amount.

EVAPORATION AND HORSEPOWER.

Rates of evaporation and horsepower of boiler are shown in detail 

by Table 8, column 55 giving the total output of power. This value 

is the sum of two factors the output of the boiler (column 53) and 

that of the superheater (column 54). The figures show that the normal output for the boiler and superheater is about 400 horsepower, 

the maximum being 482 horsepower.
DISCUSSION OP TESTS. 11 

EVAPORATIVE EFFICIENCY.

a

The evaporative efficiency is shown by Table 9. In column 56 will 

be found the equivalent evaporation per pound of coal as fired. The 

equivalent evaporation per pound of dry coal (column 57) is a usual 

measure of performance. The results of this column, platted with the 

rate of evaporation (column 51), are represented by figure 5 (p. 13). 

By the slope of the lines representing the experimental points for coals 

A and B in this figure, it will be seen that as the rate of evaporation 

increases the amount of water which can be evaporated per pound of 

coal diminishes. These lines may be accepted as fairly representing 

the performance of the boiler and superheater tested under all rates 

>of power. A study of the data will show that boiler pressure, within 

the limits employed in the experiments, has very little influence on

boiler efficiency. The evaporation per pound of combustible fired

and per pound of combustible burned appears in columns 58 and 59, 

respectively. The significance of these two items grows out of the 

fact that, as will appear more plainly later, all the coal thrown into 

a locomotive fire box is not consumed, a considerable proportion of it 

finding a way of escape before complete combustion has taken place. 

The efficiency of the boiler is the ratio of the heat absorbed by the 

water to the heat available in the coal as fired. The efficiency of the 

boiler and grate is the ratio of the heat absorbed by the water in the 

boiler to the heat of combustion in the fuel fired. It appears from 

column 60 that the efficiency of the boiler ranged from 68 to 75 per 

cent; that is, the boiler arid its superheater were successful in transforming these percentages of the heat energy of the fuel burned into 

heat energy of steam. Column 61 shows that the efficiency of the 

boiler and superheater, based on coal fired, ranged from 47 to 69 per 

cent.

CHEMICAL AND CALORIFIC VALUES.

Chemical and calorific values are given in Tables 10 to 12. These 

factors include the results of analyses of the smoke-box gases (columns 

62 to 65); the ratio of air supplied to that required for combustion 

(column 70); the results of proximate and ultimate analyses of the 

coal used (columns 71 to 80); the percentage of combustible material 

found in the cinders caught in the front end, in the cinders and sparks 

passing out of the stack, and in the fuel dropping through the grate 

with the ash (columns 81 to 83); and calorific values of the coal used; 

of front-end and stack cinders collected, and of refuse caught in the 

ash (columns 84 to 88).

HEAT BALANCES.

Heat balances representing the action of locomotive boilers have 

justly been regarded as difficult to formulate. In the present tests
12 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.

efforts were made to procure complete data on which such a balance 

could be based. The preceding discussion has purposely been kept

Tesi

90 

80

70

+J60

c

5»V

 30 

20 

10

: No.12 17 411 7 10 83 25 1

H

1?

C

B 

A

__ 

- *.

*^

- -.

 --. 

 - ~,

-»*.

==5

--,

- 

 ,

*^

^^

 _

"^V. /

>r i

\/

v

==

X

\

\

\

S

\

< 

< 

< 

« 

-Unaccounted for

-Ash 

 StacK cinders 

 Front-end cinders

-C 0

-Moisture

-Superheater 

-Boiler

7 8 9 10 II \2 13 14

Equivalent evaporation per foot of heating surface perhour 

FIGURE 3. Heat balance of combined boiler and superheater as derived from tests using coal A.

within narrow limits in the belief that the summation of the results 

of the tests can be most completely set forth in connection with the

Test No. is 16 .5 J ,413

\

-Unaccounted for

-Ash

"Stack cinders

-Front-end cinders

-C 0

-Escaping gases

-Moisture

-Superheater

-Boiler

5 .6 7 8 9 10 II \2 13 

Equivalent evaporation per foot of heating surface per hour

FIGURE 4. Heat balance of combined'boiler and superheater as derived from tests using coal B.

heat balances. The data making up these balances are presented in 

Table 13, but can be most easily understood by reference to figures 3
DISCUSSION OP TESTS. 13

and 4, which show the results obtained with coal A and coal B, 

respectively. It is the purpose of the heat balance, as the term 

implies, to account for all heat represented by the coal supplied to 

. the fire box, not only the heat which is utilized, but that which is lost, 

and to point outthe various channels through which losses occur. In 

the diagrams the term "heating surface," as applied to the abscissas, 

includes the heat-transmitting surface of both boiler and superheater. 

The ordinates of the diagrams represent the percentage of heat in the 

fuel supplied: Distances measured on ordinates between the axis and 

the first broken line, A, represent the percentage of the total heat supplied which is absorbed by the water of the boiler. The line A is, in

I 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 

Equivalent evaporation perfect of heating surf ace per hour 

FIGURE a. Equivalent evaporation per pound of dry coal under all conditions of pressure.

fact, a definition of the efficiency of the boiler under the varying rates 

of evaporation represented by the tests. Though based on a different 

unit, it is, as it ought to be, similar in general form to the lines defining the evaporative efficiency of the boiler in terms of pounds of water 

water evaporated per pound of coal used (fig. 5). The inclination of 

all such lines shows the extent to which the efficiency of the boiler 

suffers as the rate of evaporation is increased. The nature\nd extent 

of the losses leading to decreased efficiency are to be found in the areas 

above the line A. The fact that the points representing different tests 

through which this line is drawn do not result in a smooth curve is due 

to irregularities in furnace conditions that were beyond the vigilance 

of the operator, an explanation which applies equally to other lines
14 UTILIZATION OP FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.

of the same diagram. Again, where the points on which the line A is 

based fail to form a smooth curve, the reason therefor is to be found 

in the location of the lines above.

The percentage of the total heat which is absorbed by the superheater is measured by distances on ordinates between lines A and B. 

It is apparent that this quantity is practically constant,-whatever may 

be the power to which the boiler is driven; that is, this superheater is 

a device of constant efficiency. The normal maximum power of a 

locomotive may for present purposes be taken as represented by an 

evaporation of 12 pounds of water per square foot of heating surface 

per hour. At this rate the superheater, which contains 16 per cent 

of the total heat-transmitting surface, receives approximately 8 per 

cent of the total heat absorbed. Distances between the broken line 

B and the axis represent the efficiency of the combined boiler and 

superheater, and distances above the line B account for the various 

heat losses incident to the operation of the furnace, boiler, and 

superheater.

Losses o'f heat arising from the presence of accidental and combined moisture in the fuel, of moisture in the atmospheric air admitted to the fire box, and of moisture resulting from the decomposition of hydrogen in the coal are represented by distances measured 

on ordinates between lines B and C. -It is of passing interest to 

note that the heat thus accounted for is practically equal to that 

absorbed by the superheater.

Losses of heat in gases discharged from the stack are represented 

by distances measured on ordinates between lines C and E. The 

distances between lines D and E represent that portion of these 

losses which is due to the incomplete burning of the combustible 

gases. The record shows that the stack loss (C-E), while necessarily large, increases with increased rates of combustion far less 

rapidly than has been commonly supposed. In other words, the 

loss in evaporative efficiency with increase of power (line B, figs. 3 

and 4) occurs only to a very slight degree through increase in the 

amount of heat carried away with the smoke-box gases. That portion of this loss which is chargeable to incomplete combustion (CO) 

is small under low rates of combustion (column 104, Table 13), but 

may increase to amounts of some significance under the influence 

of very high rates of combustion, as will be seen from the record of 

coal A.

Losses of heat through the discharge from the fire box of unconsumed fuel are represented by distances measured on ordinates 

between lines E and H. The loss thus defined is separated into 

three parts the heat loss by partly consumed fuel in the form of 

cinders collecting in the front end (E-F), the heat loss by partly
DISCUSSION OP TESTS. 15

consumed fuel in the form of cinders or sparks thrown out of the 

stack (F-G), and the heat lost by partly burned fuel dropping 

through the grate into the ash pan (G-H). The first two of these 

losses increase with the rate of power developed. They are, in 

fact, the chief cause of the decrease in the evaporative efficiency of a 

locomotive boiler with increased rates of power. This is well shown 

by a comparison of the two diagrams. In the tests with coal B (fig. 

4) the cinder loss is comparatively heavy and the boiler efficiency 

diminishes in a marked degree under high rates of power, while 

tests under similar conditions with coal A (fig. 3), involving less loss

20

18

16

£14 

in

(/) to n '<-

V 10 

TP

O 6

I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 '13 14 

Equivalent evaporation per foot of heating surface per hour

FIGURE 6. Stack and front-end cinder loss, per cent of coal fired.

by cinders, show an efficiency of the boiler under high rates of power 

which is much better sustained.

The cinder loss expressed as a percentage of the total weight of 

coal fired is shown by figure 6, and the heating value of the material 

thus accounted for by figure 7. It will be seen that cinders .from 

coal B have more than double the weight and that each pound has 

nearly double the heating value of those from coal A, a result doubtless due in part to the large percentage of fine material in coal B 

and to the absence of such material in coal A. The stack cinders 

from both coals have a higher calorific value than those caught in 

the smoke box. Under the practice of the laboratory, the coal was 

not wetted previous to being fired. Concerning the general sig-
16 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.

nificance of the cinder loss as recorded here, it should be remembered that the fuel used in all the tests was of high quality. Lighter 

and more friable coals are as a rule more prolific producers of stack 

and front-end cinders.

.Radiation, leakage, and all losses not previously accounted for are 

represented by distance ordinates between line H ancl the 100 per 

cent line of the diagrams. The radiation losses .are probably not 

much in excess of 1 per cent, so that the remainder of this loss 

from 3 to 8 per cent of the total heat available represents leakage 

of steam or water, or inaccuracy in determining the value of one or 

more of the quantities already discussed.

12000

11000

10000

o

D_

u 9000 

o_

D 

h 

00 8000

7000

Sta

Front-end o

k cinder s

Iders

Ccal

Coal t

I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 

Equivalent evaporation per foot of heating surface per hour 

FIGURE 7. Heat value of stack and front-end cinders.

DISTRIBUTION OF HEAT IN THE TEST LOCOMOTIVE.

It is sometimes convenient to have an elaborate statement of fact 

summarized into a few representative figures, the relation between 

which may be easily apprehended. Such a summary may be framed 

for the present case by assuming that the normal maximum power of 

the locomotive tested is that which involves a rate of evaporation 

of 12 pounds of water per square foot of heating surface per hour, 

and by averaging, from the diagrams (figs. 3 and 4) the values of 

the various factors entering into the heat balance for this rate of 

power. The result may be accepted as showing in general terms 

the action of such a locomotive as that tested when fired with a good 

Pennsylvania or West Virginia coal. It is as follows:
DISCUSSION OF TESTS. 17

Averaged heat balance for test locomotive. . 

[Percentages of total heat available.]

Absorbed by the water in the boiler............................ 52

Absorbed by the steam in the superheater..................... 5

Absorbed by steam in the boiler and superheater.................. 57

Lost in vaporizing moisture in the coal........................... 5

Lost through the discharge of CO.................................. 1

Lost through the high temperature of escaping gases, the products of

combustion................................................... 14

Lost through unconsumed fuel in the form of front-end cinders...... 'A

Lost through unconsumed fuel in the form of cinders or sparks passed

out of the stack................................................. 9

Lost through unconsumed fuel in the ash.......................... 4

Lost through radiation, leakage of steam and water, etc............ 7

:ioo

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.

There were in 1906, on the railroads of the United States, 51,000 

locomotives. It is estimated that these locomotives consumed 

during the year not less than 90,000,000 tons of fuel, which is more 

than one-fifth of all the coal, anthracite and bituminous, mined in 

the country during the same period. The coal thus used cost the 

railroads $170,500,000.° That wastes occur in the use of fuel in 

locomotive service is a matter which is well understood by all who 

have given serious attention to the subject, and the tests whose 

results are here presented show some of the channels through which 

these wastes occur. These results are perhaps more favorable to 

economy than those attained by the average locomotive of the 

country, as the coal used in the tests was of superior quality, the 

type of locomotive employed was better than the average, and the 

standards observed in the maintenance of the locomotive were more 

exacting. But the effect on boiler performance arising from these 

differences is not great and, so far as they apply, the results may be 

accepted as fairly representative of the general locomotive practice 

of the country. They apply, however, only when the locomotive is 

running under constant conditions of operation. They do not 

include the incidental expenditures of fuel which are involved in the 

starting of fires, in the switching of engines, and in the maintenance 

of steam pressure while the locomotive is standing, nor do they 

include a measure of the heat losses occasioned by the discharge of 

steam through the safety valve. Observations on several representative railroads have indicated that not less than 20 per cent of 

the total fuel supplied to locomotives performs no function in moving 

trains forward. It disappears in the incidental ways just mentioned 

or remains in the fire box at the end of the run. The fuel consumpo Kept. Interstate Commerce Commission, 1900.
18 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IF LOCOMOTIVE PEACTICE.

tion accounted for by the heat'balance on page 17 is, therefore, but 

80 per cent of the total consumed by the average locomotive in 

service. Applied on this basis to the total consumption of coal for 

the country, the heat balance may be converted into terms of tons 

of coal as follows:

Summary of results obtained from fuel burned in locomotives.

Tons.

1. Consumed in starting fires, in moving the locomotive to its train, in

backing trains into or out of sidings, in making good safety-valve and 

leakage losses, and in keeping the locomotive hot while standing 

(estimated)..................................................... 18,000,000

2. Utilized, that is, represented by heat transmitted to water to be vaporized.. ........................................................... 41, 040, 000

3. Required to evaporate moisture contained by the coal............... 3, 600, 000

4. Lost through incomplete combustion of gases........................ 720, 000

5. Lost through heat of gases discharged from stack...................... 10, 080, 000

6. Lost through cinders and sparks ................................... 8, 640, 000

7. Lost through uriconsumed fuel in the ash............................ 2, 880, 000

8. Lost through radiation, leakage of steam and water, etc................ 5, 040, 000

90, 000, 000

These amounts, together with the corresponding money value, 

are set forth graphically by figure 8. It is apparent from this exhibit 

that the utilization of fuel in locomotive service is a problem of large 

proportions, and that if even a small saving could be made by all or 

a large proportion of the locomotives of the country it would constitute an important factor in the conservation of the nation's fuel 

supply. On examining the diagram with reference to such a possibility the following facts are to be noted: The amount of fuel consumed in preparing locomotives for their trains, etc. (item 1), is 

dependent only to a very slight extent on the characteristics of the 

locomotive, being in large measure controlled by operating conditions, by the length of divisions, and by the promptness with which 

trains are moved. Under ideal conditions of operation much of the 

fuel thus used could be saved, and it is reasonable to expect that the 

normal process of evolution in railroad practice will tend gradually 

to bring about some reduction in the consumption thus accounted for.

The fuel required to evaporate moisture in the fuel (item 3) and 

that which is lost through incomplete combustion (item 4) are already 

small and are not likely to be materially reduced.

The loss represented by the heat of gases discharged from the stack 

(item 5) offers an attractive field to those who would improve the 

efficiency of the locomotive boiler. So long as the temperature of the 

discharged gases is as high as 800° F. or more there is a possibility of 

utilizing some of this heat by the application of smoke-box superheaters, reheaters, or feed-water heaters, though thus far the development of acceptable devices for the accomplishment of this end has 

made little, progress.

L
DISCUSSION OF TESTS. 19

J.O.ST.THROUGH.RADIATION, LEAKAGE or STEAM, ETC

:i_OST THROUGH UNCONSUMED FUEL IN ASH

80

LOSTIN THE FORM OF UNCONSUMED FUEL IN THE 

CINDERS AND SPARKS

LOST IN GASES DISCHARGED FpOM.STACK

JE LOST THROUGH COS

LOST IN VAPORIZING MOISTURE IN COAL'

The fuel loss in the form of cinders collecting in the front eaad and 

 passing out of the stack (item 6) is very large and may readily be 

k-reduced. The results here recorded were obtained with a- boiler 

having a narrow fire box; the losses in the form of cinder-§; would 

probably be smaller with a wide fire box. A sure road to improvement in this direction lies in the direction of increased grate area. 

Opportunities for incidental savings are to 

be found in improved 

flame ways such as are 

to be procured by the 

application of brick 

arches or other devices. 

Such losses may also 

be reduced by greater 

care in the selection of 

fuel and in the preparation of the fuel for the 

service in which it is 

used. It is not unreasonable to expect that 

the entire loss covered 

by this item will in. 

time be overcome.

The fuel which is lost 

by dropping through 

grates and mingling 

with the ash (item 7) 

is a factor that depends 

on the grate design, on 

the characteristics of 

the fuel, but chiefly on 

the degree of care exercised in managing the 

fire. More skillful firing 

would save much of the 

fuel thus accounted for. 

The radiation and 

leakage losses (item 8) 

may in part be apparent rather than real, owing to possible inaccuracies in the process of developing the heat balance. On the 

assumption that the1 values are correct as stated, however, it is not' 

likely that under ordinary conditions of service they can be materially 

reduced.

Locomotive boilers are handicapped by the requirement that the 

boiler itself and all its appurtenances must come within rigidly defined

o 

o

It 50 

0

<n 

I

UTILIZED.BY BOILER

CONSUMED IN STARTING FIRES,

KEEPING ENGINE HOT WHILE STANDING,

AND LEFT IN FIRE BOX AT END OF RUN (ESTIMATED)

FIGUB.E 8. Utilization and accompanying wastes of one year's 

coal supply for locomotive service in the United States.
20 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE.

limits of space, and by the fact that they are forced to work at very 

high rates of power. Notwithstanding this handicap, it is apparent 

that the zone of practicable improvement which lies between presentday results and those which may reasonably be regarded as obtainable 

is not so .wide as to make future progress rapid or easy. Material 

improvement is less likely to come in large measures as the result of 

revolutionary changes than as a series of relatively small savings in 

the several items to which attention h,as been called.

TABLES.

In the tests summarized in the following tables four different boiler 

pressures were employed 240, 200, 160, and 120 pounds. Throughout each test the engine was operated under constant conditions, the 

speed and power developed being changed from test to test in accord 

with a fixed programme. The engine conditions were under observation, but, as has been stated, a discussion of these conditions and of 

the results derived from them does not .come within the scope of this 

paper. It will be apparent to those who study the data, however, 

that the running conditions for tests under each of the four pressures 

were so chosen as to give boiler results covering a wide range of power.

TABLE 1. General conditions. 

No. 

of 

test.

1

1

2

3 

4

5 *(> 

7 

8 *9,

10 

1.1 

12

*13 

*14 

*L5 

*16 

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

n

30-5-240.......... ..........

40-4-240.............:...-..

30-4-240...................

30-2-240...................

40-6-200....................

50-4-200...................

40-4-900

30-2-200...................

30-8-160...................

40-0-160...................

30-4-100...................

30-14-120..................

30-10-120..................

40-8-120...................

Date 

(1907).

3

June 6 

May 20 

June 7

May 27

Apr. 22 

Apr. 12 

June 8 

Apr. 19 

 Mar. 18

Apr. 29 

May 3 

June 5

Feb. 22 

Feb. 18 

Feb. 15 

Mar. 4 

May 31 

Mar. 15

Duration in minutes.

4

05 

100 

120 

120

150 

50 

120 

150 

150

. 150 

150 

150

90 

120 

120 

' 150 

150 

150

Duration in 

hours.

r>

1.08 

1.07 

2.00 

2.00

2.50 

.83 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

1.50 

2.00 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

Temperature (°F.).

Laboratory.

6

88.1 

81.5

81.8 

77.8

84.5 

75.2 

80.7 

79.3 

72.9

73.9 

72.9

82.4

75.5 

78.4 

. 68.4 

73.0 

80.8 

70.9

Wetbulb thermometer.

7

73.0 

53.3

74.2 

58.4

66.7 

61.0 

75.2 

59.1 

04.7

53.6 

56.4 

00.2

64.8 

55.0 

57.0 

57.7 

64.9 

61.9

Drybulb thermometer.

8

83.0 

61.0

77.8 

66.2

78.1 

66.3 

77.5 

65.6 

73.7

55.7 

61.0 

71.4

72.0 

01.0 

00.0 

66.4 

67.6 

70.6

Feed 

water.

»

62.0 

59.0 

60.2 

01.8

55.3 

59.1 

59.9 

57. 2 

. 55.1

56. 9 

57.2 

62.7

58.0 

58.0 

54.1 

59.0 

62.9 

55.5

Atmospheric 

pressure 

(pounds 

per 

square 

inch.).

10

14. 44 

14.55 

14. 31 

, 14. 50

14.42 

14.31 

14.40 

14.45 

14.55

14.34 

14. 43 

14.37

14.72 

14.20 

14.40 

14.35 

14. 31 

14.58

I
TABLES. 

TABLE 2. Total coal and refuse.

21

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

r> *o

 7 

8 

*9

1011

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*IO 

17 

*1S

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240.......................

40-4-240.......................

30-4-240.......................

30-2-240.......................

40-?>-2aQ. ......................

50-4-200. ......................

40-4-200.......................

30-0-200. ......................

30-9-900

40-0-160. ......................

sft-d-i fin

40-12-120......................

30-10-120......................

40-8-120. ......................

30-8-120. ......................

40-4-120................ -......

Duration 

(hours).

5

1.08 

1.67 

2.00 

2.00

2.50 

.83 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

1.50 

2.00 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50

2.50

Total weight (pounds) of 

Coal as 

fired.

11

2,139 

3, 100 

3,241 

2,419

4,374 

1,436 

3, 157 

3,918 

2,324

3,574 

3, 281 

2,103

3,518 

4,009 

3,119 

3,248 

2,527 

1,583

Dry 

coal 

fired.

12

2,107 

3,057 

3,190 

2,353

4,294 

1,405 

3,099 

3,859 

2,239

'3,515 

3,208 

2,121

3,415 

4,449 

3,030 

' 3, 156 

2, 409 

1,523

Combustible 

fired.

13

1,929 

' 2,800 

2,925 

2,173

3,934 

1,250 

2, 741 

3, 529 

2,015

3,239 

2,909 

1,950

3, 104 

4,025 

2,742 

2,890 

2,263 

1,392

Combustible 

consumed.

14

1,056 

2,428 

2,530 

1,979

3,470 

989 

2, 385 

3, 153 

1,785

2,962 

2,652 

1,820

2/353 

3,005 

2,135 

2,444 

2,114 

1,259

Refuse.

15

157 

210 

360 

200

324 

169 

381 

415 

256

269 

256 

195

231 

294 

327 

254 

190- 

205

Front 

end 

cinders.

16

212 

308 

222 

99

338 

293 

195 

211 

127

195 

135 

38

064 

774 

454 

300 

& 

53

Stack 

cinders.

17

29.5 

44.3 

45.0 

57.3

73.5 

' 31. 6 

56.8 

50.8 

45.3

43.8 

74.8 

40.7

157. 5 

274.2 

82.2 

84.8 

40.5 

24.0

TABUS 3. Coal and refuse per hour.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 

*6 

7 

8 

*9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 

*18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240.......................

40-4-290.......................

30-1-240.......................

30-2-240.......................

40-0-200.......................

Hb-t-'m. ......................

30-0-200.......................

30-2-200.......................

40-12-120......................

30-14-120......................

30-10-120............ ..........

40-8-120.......................

30-8-120.......................

40-4-120.......................

Duraration 

(hours).

5

1.08 

1.67 

2.00 

2.00

2.50 

.83 

2.00 

2.50 

2. 50

2.50

2.50

2.50

1.50 

2.00 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

Weight per hour (pounds) of 

Coal as 

fired.

18

1,975 

1,803 

1,621 

1,210

1,750 

1,722 

1,578 

1,567 

930

1,430 

1,312 

. 866

2,345 

2,304 

1,559 

1,299 

1,011 

033

Dry 

coal 

fired.

1»

1,944 

1,834 

1,595 

1, 177

1,718 

1,085 

1,549 

1,544 

896

1,406 

1,282 

849

2,277 

2,224 

1,515 

1,262 

988 

610

Combustible 

fired.

20

1,780 

1,680 

1,463 

1,087

1,574 

1,498 

1,370 

1,412 

806

1,296 

1,163 

780

2,109 

2,012 

1,371 

1/156 

905 

557

Combustible 

consumed.

21

1,528 

1,457 

1,265 

989

1,388 

1,186 

1,193 

1,261 

714

1 , 185 

1,000 

730

1,569 

1,502 

1,067 

978 

846 

504

Refuse.

22

144 

126 

180 

103

130 

203 

195 

100 

102

108 

10278-

154 

147 

163 

102 

76 

' 82

Frontend cinders.

2»

196. 0 

185. 0 

111. 0 

49.7

135.1 

244. 5 

97.3 

84.6 

50.9

78.2 

54. 1 

15.3

443. 0 

387.0 

227.0 

120.0 

33.3 

21.0

Stack 

cinders.

24

27.3 

27.0 

22. 5 

28.0

29.4 

37.8 

28.4 

20.3 

18.1

17. 5 

29.9 

16. 3

105.0 

137.1 

41.1 

34.0 

16.2 

9.0
22 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE. 

TABLE 4. Combustion, draft, and smoke-box temperature.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1

9:

3

4

5

*fi

7

8

*9

10

11

12

*13

*14

*15

*16

17

*1S

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240. ..............

40-4-240. ..............

30-4-240. ..............

30-2-240. ..............

40-6-200. ..............

50-4-200. ..............

40-4-200. ..............

30-6-200. ..............

30-2-200. ..............

30-8-1 GO. ..............

40-0-160...............

30-4-160...............

40-12-120. .............

30-14-120..............

30-10-120. .............

40-8-120...............

30-8-120. ..............

Duration 

(hours).

5

1.08

1.67

2.00

2.00

2.50

.83

2.00

2.50

2.50

2.50

2.50

2.50

1.50

2.00

2.00

2.50

2.50

2.50

Dry coal ' 

fired 

per 

square 

foot of 

grate 

surface 

per 

hour.

25

114.4

107.9

93.8

69.2

101.1

99.2

91.1

90.8

52.7

82.7

75.4

49.9

133.9

130.8

89.1

74.2

58.1

35.8

Combustible 

fired 

per 

square 

foot of 

grate 

surface 

per 

hour.

26

104.6

98.8

86.0

63.9

92.6

88.1

80.6

83.1

47.4

76.2

68.4

45i9

124.1

118.4

80.6

68.0

53.2

32.7

Combustible 

consumed 

per 

square 

foot of 

grate 

surface 

per 

hour.

27

89.9

85.7

74.4

58.2

81.6

69.7

70.1

74.2

42.0

69.7

62.4

42.9

92.3

88.4

62.8

57.5

49.7

29.6

Dry 

coal 

fired 

per 

square 

foot of 

heating 

surface 

per 

hour.

28

1.599

1.508

1.312

.968

1.413

1.386

1.274

1.270

.737

1.J56

1.054

.698

1.872

1.829

1.246

1.038

.812

.501

Combustible 

fired 

per 

square 

foot of 

heating 

surface 

per 

hour.

29

1.463

1.381

1.203

.894

1.294

1.232

1.127

1.161

.662

1.066

.956

.642

1.735

1.655

1.127

.950

.744

.458

Combustible 

consumed 

per 

square 

foot of 

heating 

surface 

per 

hour.

30

1.257

1.198

1.040

.814

1.141

.975

.981

1.037

.587

.975

.872

.601

1.290

1.235

.878

.804

.694

.414

Draft 

in 

smoke 

box 

(inches 

of 

water).

31

5.18

5.15

4.28

3.09

5.60

3.85

3.69

4.37

2.04

4.56

3.50

2.25

5.74

5.65

3.22

3.10

' 3.00

1.25

Temperature 

in 

smoke 

box 

(°F.).

32

815.4

798.1

774.5

725.9

824.2

778.1

747.1

787.0

661.0

764.4

722.1

669.6

781.9

771.6

701.6

691.5

676.0

579.1

TABLE 5. Water and steam.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1

2

4

5

*fi

7

8

*9

10

11

1?

*13

*14

*15

*1fi

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240............................

40-4-240............................

30-4-240............................

30-2-240............................

40-6-200............................

50-4-200............................

40-4-200............................

30-6-200............................

30-2-200............................

30-8-160............................

4(H5-160.............. ..............

30-4-160............................

40-12-120...........................

30-14-120...........................

30-10-120. ..........................

30-8-120............................

40-4-120. ...........................

Duration 

(hours).

5

1 08

1.67

2.00

2.00

2.50

.83

2.00

2.50

2.50

2.50

2.50

2.50

1.50

2.00

2.00

2.50

2.50

2.50

Total 

water 

delivered 

to boiler.

33

13, 752

20,150

21,316

17,600

30,205

8,372

20, 266

26, 448

16, 754

26, 123

23,432

16, 585

18,483

23, 664

18, 415

21,755

19, 475

12, 231

Steam 

pressure 

by gage 

(pounds) .

34

236.6

239.7

238.9

241.0

200.0

201.1

199.4

200.2

200.1

160.1

160.0

160.2

120.6

120.2

119.9

120.2

120.2

120.1

Steam 

temperature by thermometer 

(° F.).

35

552.6

556.4

554.6

540.7

565.2

547.4

540.0

556.8

519.3

543.3

535.3

512.4

540.5

541.1

524. 5

520.4

505.9

470.6

Steam 

temperature corresponding to 

pressure 

(° F.).

36

401.3

402.5

. 402.1

402.9

387.7

388.0

387.4

387.7

387.7

370.4

370.4

370.5

350.2

349.7

349.6

349.8

349.7

349.8

Superheat 

(° F.).

37

151.3

153.9

152.5

137.8

177.5

159.4

152.6

169.1

131.6

172.9

164.9

141.9

190.3

191.4

174.9

170.6

156.2

120.8
TABLES. 

TABLE 6. Thermal units.

23

No. 

Of

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 *6

7 

8

*9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 

*18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240............................

40-4-240............................

30_4_240

30-2-240............................

40-6-200............................

50-4-200............................

40-4-200............................

30-6-200............................

30-2-200............................

30-8-160............................

40-6-160............................

30-4-160............................

40-12-120...........................

30-14-120...........................

30-10-120 ...........................

40-8-120............................

30-8-120............................

40-4-120............:...............

British thermal units absorbed 

Per pound of steam.

By boiler.

38

1,166.0 

1,167.9 

1,168.0 

1,165.8

1,170.8 

1,165.5 

1,165.3 

1,168.1 

1,169.4

1,166.5 

1,165.3 

1,159.8

1,157.4 

1,158.1 

1,160.3 

1,155.9 

1,152.4 

1,159.8

By superheater.

39

100.6 

103.0 

101.3 

93.2

110.7 

101.6 

96.7 

106.5

85.2

100.2 

96.6 

83.7

109.9 

109.6 

102.2 

99.0 

91.1 

71.6

By boiler 

and 

superheater.

40

1,266.6 

1,270.9 

1,269.3 

1,259.0

1,281.5 

1,267.1 

1,262.0 

1,274.6 

1,254.6

1,266.7 

1,261.9 

1,243.5

1,267.3 

1,267.7 

1,262.5 

1,254.9 

1,243.5 

1,231.4

Per minute.

By boiler.

41

246,697 

235,336 

207,477 

170,992

235,772 

195,152 

196,787 

205,963 

130,610

203,141 

182,032 

128,243

237,691 

228,381 

178,053 

167,637 

149,617 

94,572

By superheater.

42

21,283 

20,752 

17,996 

13,665

22,273 

17,012 

16,339 

18,775 

9,516

17,455 

15,091 

9,257

22,564 

21,1)15 

15,694 

14,363 

11,829 

5,842

By boiler 

and 

superheater.

43

267,980 

256,088 

225,473 

184,657

258,045 

212,164 

213,126 

224,738 

140,126

220,596 

197,123 

137,500

260,255 

249,996 

193,747 

182,000 

161,446 

100,414

TABLE 7. Equivalent evaporation.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1

2 

3 

4

5 

*6 

7 

8 *9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 

*18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240. .......................

40-4-240........................

30-4-240........................

30-2-240........................

40-6-200........................

50-4-200. .......................

40-4-200. .......................

30-6-200........................

30-2-200........................

30-8-160........................

40-6-160........................

30-4-160........................

40-12-120. ......................

30-14-120.......................

30-10-120.......................

40-8-120........................

30-8-120........................

40-4-120........................

Duration 

(hours).

5

1.08 

1.67 

2.00 

2.00

2.50 

.83 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

1.50 

2.00 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

Water 

delivered 

to boiler 

per hour 

(pounds).

44

12, 698 

12,090 

10,658 

8,800

12,082 

10,038 

10,232 

10,579 

6,702

10,449 

9,373 

6,634

12,322 

11,832 

9,208 

8,702 

7,790 

4,892

Quality of 

steam 

in 

boiler.

45

0.990 

.989 

.990 

.989

.993 

.991 

.992 

.992 

.991

.996 

.995 

.995

.994 

.995 

'.993 

.994 

.994 

.994

Superheat in 

steam 

delivered 

(°F.).

37

151.3 

153.9 

152.5 

137.8

177.5 

159.4 

152.6 

169.1 

131.6

172.9 

164.9 

141.9

190.3 

191.4 

174.9 

170.6 

156.2 

120.8

Equivalent evaporation per 

hour (pounds).

By boiler.

46

15,326 

14,620 

12,889 

10,623

14, 647 

12,114 

12, 225 

12,795 

8,114

12,620 

11,309 

7,967

14, 766 

14,188 

11,061 

10, 414 

9,295 

5,875

By superheater.

47

1,322 

1,289 

1,118 

849

1,384 

1,056 

1,015 

1, 166 

591

1,084 

938 

575

1,402 

1,343 

975 

892 

735 

363

By boiler 

and 

superheater.

48

16,648 

15, 909 

14,007 

11,472

16,031 

13, 170 

13,240 

13, 961 

8, 705

13, 704 

12,247 

8,542

16,168 

15,531 

12,036 

11,306 

10, 030 

6,238
24 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PRACTICE. 

TABLE 8. Rate of evaporation and horsepower.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 *6 

7 

8 *9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240. ..............................

40-4-240. ...............................

30-4-240. ...............................

30-2-240................................

40-6-200. ...............................

50-4-200. ...............................

40-4-200. ...................:...........

30-6-200. ...............................

30-2-200. ...............................

30-8-160. ...............................

40-6-160. ...............................

30-4-160. ...............................

40-12-120...............................

30-10-120. ..............................

40-8-120. ...............................

30-8-120. ...............................

40-4-120. ...............................

Equivalent evaporation 

per hour (pounds).

Per 

square 

foot of 

boiler 

heating 

surface.

49

14.98 

14.29 

12.59 

10.39

14.32 

11.84 

11.95 

12.51 

7.92

12.33 

11.05 

7.79

14.43 

13.87 

10.81 

10.18 

9.09 

5.74

Per 

square 

foot of 

superheating 

surface.

50

6.85 

6.67 

5.79 

4.40

7.18 

5.47 

5.26 

6.04 

3.06

5.61

4.86 

2.98

7.26 

6.96 

5.05 

4.62 

3.81 

1.88

Per 

square 

foot of 

total 

heating 

surface.

51

13.69 

13.08 

11.51 

9.43

13.18 

10.82 

10.89 

11. 47 

7.16

11.26 

10.07 

7.02

13.30 

12. 77 

9.90 

9.30 

8.25 

5.12

Ratio (column 

50-^ 

column 

49).

52

0.457 

.467 

.400 

.423

.501 

.462 

.440 

.483 

.386

.455 

.440 

.382

.503 

.502 

.467 

.454 

.419 

.328

Horsepower developed 

per hour.

By 

boiler.

53

444.2 

423.8 

373.6 

307.9

424.6 

351.1 

354.3 

370.9 

235.2

365.8 

327.8 

230.9

428.0 

411.2 

320.6 

301.8 

269.4 

170.3

By 

superheater.

54

38.3 

37.4 

32.4 

24.6

40.1 

30.6. 

29.4 

33.8 

17.1

31.4 

27.2 

16.7

40.6 

38.9 

28.3 

25.9 

21.3 

10.5

Bv

boiler 

and 

superheater.

55

482.5 

461.2 

406. 0 

332.5

464.7 

381.7 

383.7 

404.7 

252.3

397.2 

355.0 

247.6

408 0 

450.1 

348.9 

327.7 

290.7 

180.8

TABLE 9. Economy and efficiency.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 

*6 

7 

8 *9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240. ...............................

40-4-240. ...............................

30-4-240. ...............................

40-6-200................................

50-4-200. ....................:..........

40-4-200. ...............................

30-6-200. ...............:...............

30-2-200................................

30-8-100. ...............................

40-6-160. ...............................

30-4-160. .............................'..

40-12-120. ..............................

30-14-120. ..............................

30-10-120...............................

40-8-120. ...............................

30-8-120. ...............................

40-4-120

Duration 

(hours).

5

1.08 

1.67 

2.00 

2.00

2.50 

.83 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50

2.50 

2.50 

2.50

1.50 

2.00 

2.00 

2.50 

2.50 

 2.50

Equivalent evaporation per 

hour (pounds).

Per 

pound 

.of coal

as

fired.

56

8.43 

8.54 

8..6S 

9.48

9.16 

7.65 

8.39 

8.91. 

9.36

9.59 

9.34 

9.87

6.89 

6.74 

7.72 

8.70 

9.92 

9.85

Per 

pound 

of dry

coal

fired.

57

8.56 

8.67 

8.79 

9.75

9.34 

7.82 

8.55 

9.04 

9.72

9.75 

9.55 

10.06

7.10 

6.98 

7.95 

8.96 

10.16 

10.23

Per 

pound of combustible fired.

58

9.36 

9.46 

9.58 

10.55

10.18 

8.79 

9.66 

9.89 

10.80

10.57 

10.53 

10.95

7.67 

7.72 

8.78 

9.78 

11.08 

11.20

Per 

pound of combustible

consumed.

59

10.89 

10.92 

11.07 

11.59

11.55 

11.11 

11.10 

11.06 

12.19

11.57 

11.55 

11.70

10. 30 

10.33 

11.27 

11.56 

11.87 

12.38

Efficiency 

of boiler (per 

cent).

60

68.3 

68.4 

69.4 

72.9

71.7 

68.2 

70.5 

69.7 

74.1

72.4 

72.6 

73.8

62.7 

63.5 

68.9 

70.9 

74.7 

75.3

Efficiency 

of boiler and 

grate 

(per 

cent).

61

58.7 

59.3 

60.1 

66.4

63.2 

53.9 

61.4 

62.3 

65.7

66.2 

66.2 

69.0

46.7 

47.4 

53.6 

60.0 

69.7 

68.1
TABLES. 

TABLE 10. Dry-gas analyses and air supply.

25

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 *6 

7 

8 

*0

1011

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

o

30-5-240. ..............

40-4-240. ..............

30-4-240. ..............

30-2-240. ..............

40-6-200. ..............

50-4-200. ..............

40-4-200. ..............

30-6-200...............

30-2-200. ..............

30-8-160. ..............

40-6-160. ..............

30-4-160. ..............

40-12-120..............

30-14-120..............

30-10-120..............

40-8-120. ..............

30-8-120. ..............

40-4-120. ..............

Gas analyses.

C02 .

62

14.63 

13.95 

14.11 

14.27

13.90 

13.59 

14.63 

13.64 

11.70

13.48 

12.85 

12.47

12.05 

11.82 

11.57 

11.99 

12.20 

10.81

0.

63

2.98 

3.81 

4.32 

4.05

3.87 

5.16 

3.01 

4.72 

7.40

5.14 

5.81 

6.11

6.34 

6.77 

7.15 

7.43 

6.15 

8.82

CO.

64

1.06 

.99

.77 

.12

.40 

.10 

1.39 

.27 

.01

.31 

.35 

.29

.27 

.16 

.15 

.04 

.19 

.11

N. '

65

81.33 

81.25 

80.80 

81.55

81.83 

81. 15 

80.97 

81.37 

80.90

81.07 

80.99 

81.13

81.33 

81.25 

81.12 

80.51 

81.46 

80.26

Weight (pounds) of 

Dry gas 

per 

pound of carbon 

burned.

66

16. 18 

16.95 

17.04 

17.63

17.70 

18.49 

15.85 

18.20 

21.47

18.35 

19. 12 

19.75

20.41 

21.01 

21.43 

20.92 

20.31 

22.96

Dry gas 

per 

pound of combustible 

fired.

67

11.31 

11.96 

12.32 

13.41

13.09 

12.64 

11.36 

13.52 

16.95

14.13 

14.58 

15.32

13.08 

13.66 

14.33 

15.45 

15.67 

17.88

Air per 

pound of carbon 

burned.

68

15. 71 

16.48 

16.45 

17.17

17.54 

17.96 

15.32 

17.73 

20.94

17.82 

18.59 

19.27

20.00 

20.58 

20.97 

20.27 

19. 92 

22.26

Air per 

pound of combustible 

fired.

69

10.98 

11.63 

11.89 

13.06

12.98 

12.28 

10.98 

13.17 

16.53

13.73 

14.18 

14.94

12.81 

13.37 

14.02 

14.97 

15.37 

17.35

Ratio 

of air 

supplied to theoretical 

requirement.

70

1.16 

1.22 

1.25 

1.23

1.22 

1.32 

1.16 

1.28 

1.53

1.32 

1.37 

1.40

1.42 

1.46 

1.50 

1.54 

1.40 

1.71

TABLE 11. Coal analyses.

No. 

of

test.

1

1

2

3

4

5

*6

7

8

*9

10

11

12

*13

*14

*15

*16

17

*18

Laboratory

designation.

2

30-5 240......

40-4-240......

30-4-240......

30-2-240......

40-6-200......

50-4-200......

40-4-200......

30-6-200......

30-2-200. .....

30-8-160......

40-6-160......

30-4-100......

40-12-120.....

30-14-120.....

30-10-120.....

40-8-120......

30-8-120......

40-4-120. .....

Proximate analysis.

Moisture.

71

1.54

1.50

1.63

2.72

1.83

2.16

1.84

1.51

3.68

1.65

2.24

2.01

2.93

3.44

2.85

2.82

2.30

3.79

Volatile 

matter.

72

31.67

31.16

31.74

32.19

32.85

15.88

30.70

32.78

15.50

32.94

32.33

31.39

15.27

14.55

14.70

15.11

31.53

15.55

Fixed 

carbon.

78

58.53

59.01

58.49

57.63

57.09

71.18

56.13

57.27

71.10

57.70

56.28

58.67

74. 66

72.80

73.26

73.86

58.03

72.39

Ash..

74

8.26

8.29

8.14

7.46

8.22

10.77

11.33

8.44

9.66

7.71

9.15

7.93

7.14

9.21

9.19

8.21

8.14

8.27

Ultimate analysis of dry coal.

Carbon.

75

77.02

70.83

78.70

78.45

78.60

79.45

74.91

77.76

81.30

78.90

77.09

77.14

83.14

81.72

80.54

81.74

76.65

79.93

Hydrogen.

76

4.66

4.02

4.73

5.25

4.76

3.92

4.89

4.71

.4.09

4.88

4.82

4.52

4.16

4.17

4.10

4.11

4.61

3.87

Oxygen.

77

7.24

7.44

5.67

6.10

5.64

3.69

6.02

6.48

2.52

5.68

6.12

7.43

3.52

2.67

3.90

3.83

7.58

5.57

Nitrogen.

78

1.52

1.57

1.51

1.50

1.52

1.03

1.45

1.50

1.04

1.54

1.52

1.55

1.08

1.00

1.05

1.02

1.57

1.05

Sulphur.

79

 1.17

1.14

1.11

1.03

1.10

.94

1.19

1.08

1.04

1.16

1.09

1.27

.75

.91

.95

.84

1..26

.98

Ash.

80

8.39

8.40

8.28

7.07

8.38

11.00

11.54

8.57

10.00

7.84

9.36

8.09

7.35

9.54

9.40

8.44

8.33

8.60
26 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IN LOCOMOTIVE PEACTICE. 

TABLE 12. Chemical analyses and calorific values.

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 *6 

7 

8 *9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240...............

40-4-240...............

30-4-240...............

30-2-240...............

40-6-200...............

50-4-200...............

40-4-200...............

30-6-200...............

30-2-200...............

30-8-160....:..........

40-6-160...............

30-4-160...............

40-12-120..............

30-14-120..............

30-10-120..............

40-8-120...............

30-8-120...............

40-4-120...............

Per cent of combustible 

In 

frontend 

cinders.

81

79.83 

78.03 

81.98 

66.10

76.30 

80.63 

73.61 

73.84 

74.14

64.82 

69.97 

64.87

87.95 

86.42 

80.55 

83.09 

68.50 

74.74

In stack 

cinders.

82

66.08 

63.89 

61.86 

60.61

65.52 

80.24 

70.33 

60.12 

74.79

57.02 

56.38 

57.47

82.51 

83.13 

75.38 

75.52 

59. 27 

70.00

In 

refuse 

from 

ash 

pan.

83

53.76 

49.03 

51.94 

45.88

48.85 

41.81 

44.14 

45.73 

39.85

46.94 

47.19 

39.25

41. 73 

41.87 

54.73 

51. 82 

35. 81 

37.60

Calorific value (British thermal units).

Per 

pound of 

dry coal.

84

14,097 

14, 121 

14, 124 

14, 174

14, 262 

14, 009 

13, 457 

14, 018 

14,283

14, 216 

13,914 

14,062

14,690 

14, 215 

14,305 

14, 421 

14,070 

14, 507

Per 

pound of combustible.

85

15,388 

15, 416 

15,398 

15,352

15,566 

15, 744 

15,214 

15,332 

15,875

15,425 

15,351 

15,300

15, 857 

15,714 

15, 799 

15, 752 

15,348 

15,872

Per 

pound of 

stack 

cinders.

86

11,239 

11,113 

10,673 

9,245

10,699 

11,534 

10, 571 

10, 442 

10,832

9,293 

9,959 

9,090

12,627 

12,337 

11,534 

11, 875 

8,640 

10, 546

Per

pound of 

front-end 

cinders.

87

9,211 

9,275 

8,881 

7,812

9,265 

11,261 

9,949 

8,599 

10,615

8,305 

7,960 

7,272

11,980 

12, 000 

10, 875 

10, 903 

7, 349 

10,115

Per 

pound 

of 

refuse 

from 

ash 

pan.

88

7,849 

7,160 

7,583 

6,698

7,132 

6,103 

6,444 

6,677 

5,820

6,853 

6,890 

5,730

6,092 

6,114 

7,984 

7,565 

5, 228 

5,490

TABLE 13. Heat balances.

No. 

of

test.

1

1

2

3

4

5

*6

7

8

*9

10

11

12

*13

*14

*15

*16

17

*18

Laboratory 

designation.

2

30-5-240......

40-4-240......

30-4-240......

30-2-240......

40-6-200......

50-4-200......

40-4-200......

30-6-200. .....

30-2-200......

' 30-8-160......

40-6-160. .....

30-4-160......

40-12-120.....

30-14-120. ....

30-10-120.

40-8-120......

30-8-120. .....

40-4-120......

AT)

ill

03 9*3 i>§3

oil ss° Ego

73 +> O

0

85

15,388

15,416

15,398

15,352

15,566

15, 744

15,214

15,332

15,875

15,425

15,351

15,300

15, 857

15,714

15, 799

15, 752

15,348

15,872

W ^

11 I D 

& OT3 gag 

ss« 3 ft.2

13,0

IP

'C °5

M

89

9,040

9,136

9,252

10, 189

9,832

8,489

9,330

9,552

10,430

10,209

10, 170

10,575

-7,408

7,456

8,480

9,446

10,701

10,817

British thermal units lost per pound of combustible fired.

o reoo ra 1

M

5

§

ft

90

24

24

25

41

28

34

29

23

56

25

34

28

45

54

43

42

34

55

o ore m1

W

5

4)

3

ft

91

70

33

82

39

62

55

75

47

58

42

42

57

55

44

43

44-

59

46

formed sO 

coal. n 

W

"-1

hrl

°h

S"0

ft

92

632

625

633

688

649

544

671

637

541

653

646

581

556

568

547

538

597

486

scaping 

es.

dj £2 S M

§

ft

93

1,975

2,057

2,049

2,087

2,325

2,133

1,801

2,297

2,392

2,342

2,272

2,160

2,217

2,272

2,178

2,294

2,239

2,145

icomplete 

istion.

"" 2

^

§ °

ft

94

576

565

451

72

243

66

746

167

8

195

229

194

199

122

116

30

130

89

a

§S2 i o>

13

'o .9 #0

s

ft

95

1,235

1,224

886

432

918

1,882

750

625

670

561

463

178

'2,654

2,373

1,910

1,233

270

400

'8 

1«

w <p 'O

 S

§

p

96

141

147

137

205

173

284

206

124

243

112

205

152

596

817

326

320

132

174

in ashuse

n.

<3 o

S P<

5

§

0

97

639

537

933

634

588

823

895

785

738

570

604

573

445

446

948

665

439

807

ted for.

fj

£3

8

a

P

98

1,056

1,068

950

965

748

1,434

711

1,075

739

716

686

802

1,680

1,562

1,208

1,140

747

833
SUEVEY PUBLICATIONS ON FUEL TESTING. 

TABLE 13. Heat balances Continued.

27

No. 

of 

test.

1

1 

2 

3 

4

5 

*6 

7 

8 *9

10 

11 

12

*13 

*14 

*15 

*16 

17 *18

Laboratory designation.

2

30-5-240......................

40-4-240...................:..

30-4-240......................

30-2-240......................

40-6-200......................

50-4-200......................

40-4-200......................

30-6-200......................

30-2-200......................

30-8-160......................

40-6-160................ . .

30-4-160......................

40-12-120....................

30-14-120.....................

30-10-120.....................

40-8-120......................

30-8-120......................

40-4-120......................

Percentage of heat 

>-i ® . 

^|

£3<s 

T3 ft

8 3

£1 W

S-o 3 s

99

58.75 

59.28 

60.08 

60.37

63.16 

53.90 

61.34 

62.34 

65.70

66.16 

66.25 

69.12

46.72 

47.45 

53.67 

59.97 

69.73 

68.14

1 

o

a 

o 

W 

3

0}3

ft

100

0.16 

.15 

.16

.27

.18 

.22 

.19 

.15 

.35

.16 

.22 

.18

.28 

.34 

.27 

.20 

.22 

.35

lj '5

a

0

W 

3

to 

3 

ft

101

0.46 

.20 

.53 

.25

.40 

.35 

.49 

.31 

.37

.27 

.27 

.37

.35 

.28 

.27 

.27 

.38 

.29

 o

m 

ll

1a>f,

3 

ft

102

4.11 

4.05 

4.11 

4.48

4.17 

3.45 

4.41 

4.16 

3.41

4.24 

4.21 

3.80

3.51 

3.01 

3.46 

3.42 

3.89 

3.06

M

a 

ft

o5

sgOJ w

3 M

8 P

103

12.83 

13.35 

13.31 

13.58

14. 93 

13.32 

18.86 

14.98 

15.07

15.18 

14.79 

14.11

13.98 

14.46 

13.78 

14.56 

14.58 

13.58

o "a>

f§

OS

O CO

a 3

~£1

** oQ0

3° 

ft

104

3.74 

3.67 

2.93 

.47

1.56 

.42 

4.90 

1.09 

.05

1.27 

1.49 

1.27

1.20 

.78 

.73 

.19 

.85 

.56

 o

R 

CD

* § p 

So

<x>

3

O

105

8.02 

7.94 

5.75 

2.81

5.00 

11.96 

4.95 

4.08 

4.22

3.64 

3.02 

1.16

16.74 

15.10 

12.09 

7.82 

1.76 

2.52

S2

a>

T3

rt 'o

M

i

<B 

ft

106

0.92 

.95 

.89 

1.34

1.11 

1.80 

1.35 

.81 

1.53

.73 

1.33 

.99

3.76 

5.20 

2.06 

2.03 

.86 

1.10

fA 

C3

a

CD

s a

IS,

3

CD

3 

ft

107

4.15 

3.48 

6.06 

4.13

3.78 

5.23 

5.88 

5.12 

4.65

3.70 

3.93 

3.74

2.81 

2.84 

6.00 

4.22 

2.86 

5.09

 2 

 o 

3 

§

P108

6.86 

6.93 

6.17 

6.30

4.81 

9.37 

4.63 

6.90 

4.65

4.65 

4.49 

5.26

10.59 

9.94 

7.67 

7.26 

4.87 

5.31

SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON FUEL TESTING.

The following publications, except those to which a price is affixed, 

can be obtained free by applying to the Director, Geological Survey, 

Washington, D. C. The priced publications can be purchased from 

the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 

Washington, D. C.

BULLETIN 261. Preliminary report on the operations of the coal-testing plant of the

United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in St.

Louis, Mo., 1904; E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Campbell, committee in

charge. 1905. 172 pp. 10 cents. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER 48. Report on the operations of the coal-testing plant of the

United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis,

Mo., 1904; E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Campbell, committee in charge,

1906. In three parts. 1,492 pp., 13 pis. $1.50. 

BULLETIN 290. Preliminary report on the operations of the fuel-testing plant of the

United States Geological Survey at St. Louis, Mo., 1905, by J. A. Holmes. 1906.

240 pp. 20 cents. 

BULLETIN 323. Experimental work conducted in the chemical laboratory of the

United States fuel-testing plant at St. Louis, Mo., January 1, 1905, to July 31,

1906, by N. W. Lord. 1907. 49 pp. 10 cents. 

BULLETIN 325. A study of four hundred steaming tests, made at the fuel-testing

plant, St. Louis, Mo., 1904,1905, and 1906, by L. P. Breckenridge. 1907. 196 pp.

20 cents.
28 UTILIZATION OF FUEL IF LOCOMOTIVE PEACTICE.

BULLETIN 332. Report of the United States fuel-testing plant at St. Louis, Mo.,

January 1, 1906, to June 30, 1907; J. A. Holmes, in charge. 1908. 299 pp. 25

cents. 

BULLETIN 334. The burning of coal without smoke in boiler plants; a preliminary

report, by D. T. Eandall. 1908. 26 pp. 5 cents. 

BULLETIN 336. Washing and coking tests of coal and cupola tests of coke, by Richard

Moldenke, A. W. Belden, and G. R. Delamater. . 1908. 76 pp; 10 cents. 

BULLETIN 339. The purchase of coal under government and commercial specifications on the basis of its heating value, with analyses of coal delivered under

government contracts, by D. T. Randall. 1908. 27 pp. 5 cents. 

BULLETIN 343. Binders for coal briquets, by J. E. Mills. 1908. 56 pp. 

BULLETIN 362. Mine sampling and chemical 'analyses of coals tested at the United

States fuel-testing plant, Norfolk, Va., in 1907, by J. S. Burrows. 1908. 23 pp.

5 cents. 

BULLETIN 363. Comparative tes{;s of run-of-mine and briquetted coal on locornotives,

including torpedo-boat tests and some foreign specifications for briquetted fuel,

by W. F. M. Goss. 1908. 57 pp., 4 pis. 

BULLETIN 366. Tests of coal and briquets as fuel for house-heating boilers, by D. T.

Randall. 1908. 44 pp., 3 pis. 

BULLETIN 367. Significance of drafts in steam-boiler practice, by W. T. Ray and

Henry Kreisinger. 1909. 61 pp. 

BULLETIN 368. Washing and coking tests of coal at Denver, Colo., by A. W. Belden,

G. R. Delamater, and J. W. Groves. 1909. 54 pp., 2 pis. 

BULLETIN 373. The smokeless combustion of coal in boiler plants, by D. T. Randall

and H. W. Weeks. 1909. 188 pp. 

BULLETIN 385. Briquetting tests at Norfolk, Va., by C. L. Wright. 1909. 41 pp.,

9 pis. 

BULLETIN 392. Gasoline and alcohol tests on internal-ignition engines, by R. M.

Strong. 1909. 38 pp. 

BULLETIN 393. Incidental problems in gas-producer tests, by R. H. Fernald and

others. 1909. 29 pp.

O

PROPERTY OF 

N. W. LORD