DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR

BULLETIN- 385

BRIQUETTING TESTS

AT THE

UNITED STATES FUEL-TESTING PLANT 

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, 1907-8

BY

CHARLES L. WRIGHT

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1909

CONTENTS.

Page.

Introduction..............................................--.----------- 5

Previous work........................................................ 5

Norfolk plant........................................................ 5

Personnel........................................................... 6

Definition of briquets.................................................... 6

Briquetting tests.......................................................... 7

Purpose ............................................................. 7

Coals briquetted...................................................... 7

Binders used........................................................ 7

Character of tests...................................................... 8

Combustion tests................................................. 8

Physical tests...............'.............. 1...................... 8

Drop test............................................:........ 8

Tumbler test................................................ 9

Weathering test............................................... 9

Absorption test............................................... 9

Density test.................................................. 10

Briquetting temperature............................................... 10

Briquetting equipment................................................ 10

General description............................................... 10

Briquetting machines............................................. 11

Nature and capacity......................................... 11

Detailed descriptions......................................... 12

English machine.......................................... 12

American machine........................................ 14

Details of tests........................................................ .1.6

Jamestown No. 2................................................. 16

Jamestown No. 3................................................. 17

Jamestown No. 5................................................. 19

Jamestown No. 6................................................. 20

Jamestown No. 7................................................. 21

Jamestown No. 8................................................. 22

Jamestown No. 9................................................. 25

Jamestown No. 10................................................ 26

Jamestown No. 11................................................ 27

Jamestown No. 12................................................ 29

Jamestown No. 13................................................ 30

Jamestown No. 14................................................ 31

Jamestown No. 15................................................ 33

Jamestown No. 16................................................ 34

Jamestown No. 17................................................ 36

Jamestown No. 18................................................ 36

Bibliography.............................................................. 36

3
ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page. 

PLATE I. Plan of briquet equipment at Norfolk fuel-testing plant ............ 8

II. Some American and foreign briquets ............................. .10

III. General view of briquetting machines ............................ 10

IV. Side view of English briquetting machine. ........................ 12

V. Elevation of English briquetting machine ........................ 12

VI. A, Hopper and scales back of English machine; B, Stedman disintegrator. .................................................... 12

VII. Elevation of American briquetting machine ...................... 14

VIII. A, Pitch cracker and scales and hopper back of American machine; 

B, Arrangement and driving gear of pitch and coal mixing 

conveyors ........................................................ 14

IX. A, Car-loading conveyor delivering briquets to car; B, Plant end

of car-loading conveyor, showing cross conveyor .............. 14

4
BRIQUETTING TESTS AT THE UNITED STATES FUELTESTING PLANT, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, 1907-8.

By CHARLES L. WEIGHT.

INTRODUCTION.

, -Previous work. The general plan of work outlined for the United 

States Geological Survey fuel-testing plant erected at the Louisiana 

Purchase Exposition, at St. Louis, Mo., in 1904, included investigations relative to the briquetting of coals found in the United States. 

These investigations embraced the possibility of making satisfactory 

commercial fuels from lignite or low-grade coals which do not stand 

shipment well; of benefiting culm or slack coals that are wasted or 

sold at unremunerative prices; and of improving the furnace efficiency or ability to withstand transportation of good coals. This 

work was begun, in 1904 and was continued in 1905, 1906, and 1907 

as an essential part of investigations looking to the determination 

of methods for reducing waste in coal and increasing efficiency in 

the utilization of the. fuel resources in the United States.

The initial briquetting tests at St. Louis, which included examination into the behavior of different coals or mixtures of coals in the 

briquetting press, experimental study of the merits of various substances used as binders, and consideration of the physical properties 

and resistance to weather and abrasion of the briquets, have been 

described/1 They demonstrated that satisfactory briquets could be 

made from most coals, and that by briquetting the commercial value 

of many low-grade coals and lignites could be raised enough to more 

than cover the cost of manufacture.

Norfolk plant. The briquetting plant of the Geological Survey 

was moved from St. Louis, Mo., to Norfolk, Va., in 1907, along with 

the steam boiler and producer-gas equipment of the fuel-testing 

plant, as the closing out of the affairs of the 'Louisiana Purchase 

Exposition and the consequent removal of the buildings from Forest 

Park made a change of location necessary. Norfolk was selected, 

largely with a view to the testing of coals for naval purposes, and 

because of facilities in the way of buildings and materials offered

« Sec Professional Paper 48, pt. 3; and Bulletins 261, 290, 332, and 343.
6 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

by the Jamestown Exposition Company. The work at Norfolk 

was chiefly devoted to making steaming and briquet tests of coals 

which reach the Atlantic seaboard at Norfolk and Newport News 

and are used by the navy and merchant marine.

Two briquet machines were installed at the Norfolk plant, one 

being the English machine used in briquetting tests by the Geological 

Survey at St. Louis in 1905 and 1906, and the other an American 

machine. The briquets made at this plant were tested on locomotives of several railroads entering Norfolk and on the United States 

torpedo boat Biddle in comparison with the run-of-mine coal used 

in making them. Some of the tests were conducted by the railroads 

on their own locomotives, but those on the Biddle and on the locomotive of the Seaboard Air Line Railway were carried on -by W. T. 

Ray and Henry Kreisinger, of the Geological Survey.

Personnel. Charles T. Malcolmson continued in general charge 

of the briquetting section after the removal to Norfolk until January 

1, 1908. Walter J. Chapman continued in charge of operation of 

the briquet machines and of the observations reported under the 

heading "Details of manufacture." Charles L. Wright supervised 

the installation o the English briquet machine and later in the year 

continued the physical tests of briquets and the analyses in the 

chemical laboratory of the section until January 1, 1908, on which 

date he was placed in general charge of the work of the section. 

G. E. Ryder and Ralph Gait also continued with the staff, but the 

former was obliged to resign soon after the plant was in operation on 

account of ill health; the latter continued with the section as computer until the close of work on December 1, 1908.

DEFINITION OF BRIQUETS.

Briquetted or '' agglomerated" fuel is fuel made by pressing in 

molds a mixture of coal dust and small-sized pieces of coal or other 

fuel material and a binding substance which holds the particles 

together. The most common binder at present commercially available is a pitch made either from coal tar or water-gas tar, but other 

substances, such as starch, lime, sulphite liquor, etc., have been 

used with more or less success. The mixture of coal and binder is 

heated and subjected to heavy pressure in molds.

Briquetted fuel has been manufactured in foreign countries for 

many years. Railroads and steamship companies operating in certain countries are required to keep a reserve supply of fuel on hand, 

and briquetted fuel has been found superior for this purpose to runof-mine or slack coal, as it is free from danger of spontaneous 

combustion, which frequently occurs in large piles of fine coal. Briquetted fuel also resists the effect of weather better than slack or 

run-of-mine coal.
BINDERS USED.

Foreign briquets vary in weight from a few ounces to 100 pounds, 

but the larger cakes are usually so marked off in pressing that they 

can be readily broken into small pieces suitable for use in stoves 

and steam boilers. The shapes and relative sizes of some foreign 

and American briquets are shown in Plate II.

BRIQUETTING TESTS.

PURPOSE.

The briquetting work undertaken at Norfolk had these specific 

objects:

'1. To determine what per cent of pitch or other binder was necessary to make a satisfactory briquet out of the coals tested.

2. To investigate the relative merits of different binders.

3. To provide briquets for comparative combustion tests of runof-mine coal and the same coal briquetted.

COALS BRIQUETTED.

During the period covered by this report, that is, from July, 1907, 

to January, 1908, 41 briquetting tests were made on the following 

coals:

Field designation.

T 9

J-3

J-5

J-G

J-7

J-8

J-9 

J-10

J-ll 

J-12

J-13

J-14

J-15

J-16

J-17

J-18

Character and source of coal.

Bituminous, . o. in., Winona, W. Va. ..........

Bituminous, . o. m., West Raleigh, W. Va. ....

Anthracite, buckwheat size, Pennsylvania.'. ....

Briquets 

made.

Tons. 

161. 85

23.3

69.0

20.7

40.6

42.6

25.0

26.78

36. 38 

27.0

121. 48

11.0

182.9

93.02

80.0

3.0

Where tested.

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

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

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

.....do........;.........

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

way.

grates.

Railway.

Torpedo boat Biddle. . . .

Number 

of 

tests.

4

3

2

1

2

9

3 

1

a 4 

2

2

I

2

4

1

ol

a One test was made of 50 per cent of Jamestown No. 11 and 50 per cent of Jamestown No. 18. 

BINDERS USED.

Two kinds of binders were used in these tests: 

(a) Water-gas pitch. 

(I) Flour.

Six different lots of water-gas pitch were used, the total weight 

consumed being 59 tons. 

One lot of flour was tested as a binder.
8 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

The characteristics of the water-gas pitch binders used are found 

in the following table of results of tests and analyses:

Tests and analyses of water-gas pitch binders.

Chem. Lab. No.

48790..........................

5458..........................

5563..........................

5939..........................

5940..........................

5941..........................

Calorific 

value.

B. t. u. 

16, 805 

16, 893 

16, 718 

16, 781 

16, 780 

16, 978

Flowing 

point.

"F. 

126 

189 

201. 

194 

178 196-

Oils by distillation.

Up to 

572° F.

Per cent. 

1.33 

.88 

1.45 

1.87 

L27 

1.71

572° to 

680° F.

Per cent. 

16.53 

12.34 

10.32 

4.21 

9.88 

14.05

680° to 

743° F.

Per cent. 

15.15 

22. 44 

11.30 

14.54 

17.75 

16.20

Total up 

to ,743° F.

Per cent. 

33. OL 

35.66 

23.07 

20.62 

28.90 

31.96

Pitch extracted by 

CS2 from 

sample as 

received.

Per cent. 

94. 50 

92.92 

90.33 

98.13 

96.60 

98.44

o This binder was reported in Bull. No. 332, but it is included in this report also, as some of it was used 

in briquet tests herein described.

The flour binder used (laboratory No. 6110) had a calorific value of 

.6.998 British thermal units and the following proximate analysis:

Analysis of flour binder. 

Moisture.................................................................. 13. 30

Volatile combustible.................................. I'.'.....:............ 72. 30

Fixed carbon............................................................ 13. 50

Ash...................................................................... .90

Sulphur................................................................... .10

Total.............................................................. 100.10

A few briquets were made from sulphite liquor, but as no record was 

kept of the details of manufacture and as not enough briquets were 

made for any of the physical tests, this binder can not be reported on 

until further experiments are made.

CHARACTER OP TESTS. 

COMBUSTION TESTS.

Combustion tests of the briquets manufactured at the Norfolk 

plant were made in locomotive and marine boilers. . A brief account 

of the tests appeared in Bulletin 363. a

PHYSICAL TESTS.

The methods of making the physical tests and,, of sampling the 

briquets can be found in Bulletin United States Geological Survey No. 

332. Briefly these tests were as follows:

DROP TEST.

Fifty pounds of briquets were put in a box 24 inches square and 12 

inches deep, with a drop bottom, 6^ feet above a cast-iron plate in

« Goss, W. F. M., Comparative tests of run-of-mine and briquetted coal: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 

363.1908, 57 pp.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 385 PLATE I

CAR-LOADING CONVEYOR

o

o

O

o o

_o

D D

^-^ V&L. . B-CVATM _j. . _1_ . .____.{__.___. ^-.

a

LJT

D

ELEVATOR 

PIT

o_.__

o

ENGLISH MACHINE

O o

RUNWAY 60 FT LONG

PLAN OF BRIQUET EQUIPMENT AT NORFOLK FUEL-TESTING PLANT.
CHARACTER OF TESTS. 9

the bottom of a second box. The briquets were suddenly dropped 

on the plate, then screened on a 1-inch mesh wire screen. The pieces 

held on the screen were again dropped, the total number of droppings 

being five. At the last screening the percentage that the weight of 

the pieces held bore to the original weight of the briquets was called 

"per cent held by 1-inch screen/' and the remainder was called "per 

cent through 1-inch screen."

TUMBLER TEST.

The briquets (as nearly as possible 50 pounds) were placed in a tumbler, a horizontal sheet-steel cylinder, and rotated two minutes at a 

uniform speed of 28 revolutions per minute, after which the contents 

of the tumbler were sized by a 1-inch mesh screen, and the portion 

passing through was screened through a 10-mesh sieve. The weight 

of the pieces held by each screen was determined and the percentage 

held computed.

WEATHERING TEST.

The conditions of briquets that had been placed in small piles in a 

yard and exposed to weather were noted. The time exposed and the 

condition of the briquets at the end of that time are stated in the 

tabulated results of tests. The key to the designated conditions 

A, B, C, D, and E is the same as stated in Bulletin 332:

A: Briquets practically in same condition as when put out. Surfaces show no signs of erosion or pitting. Briquets hard, with sharp 

edges, and fracture same as that of new briquets.

B: Shape of briquets unchanged. Surfaces of those on top of pile 

have lost luster, with evidences of pitting, corners and edges worn off 

by erosion. All briquets firm, with fracture practically the same as 

that of new briquets.

C: Top briquets appear similar to those in condition B, and. show 

signs of further disintegration, having lost original sharp fracture. 

Erosion more evident on all briquets on outside of the pile. Inside 

briquets still firm, retaining original characteristics.

D: Top briquets so badly disintegrated that they crumble to pieces 

on handling. Briquets in center of pile show .signs of disintegration; 

luster of surfaces gone; edges soft, and break easily in the hand. Fracture not so sharp as when newly made, but briquets firm, and handled 

without breaking.

E: Entire pile disintegrated. In many cases the only briquets 

retaining their original shape are those protected from the weather. 

Briquets can not be handled safely, but crush easily in the hand.

ABSORPTION TEST.

Samples of the briquets, one English briquet or four American briquets, were weighed in air and in water by a hydrostatic balance; the 

briquets were then kept covered in water and weighed in water daily
10 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

for varying periods up to several weeks. The results show the time 

immersed, the percentage of water absorbed, and the percentage 

absorbed in the first four days of the test.

DENSITY TEST.

This was determined from the first weighings for the absorption 

test.

BRIQUETTING TEMPERATURE.

The "briquetting temperature" reported in the tables of results 

(pp. 16 to 35) is the temperature of the mixture of fuel, binder, and 

moisture just before it was pressed into briquets.

The amount of moisture desirable in the briquet mixture before 

briquetting has been a disputed point among engineers. Conser 

quently during this series of tests samples of the briquet mixtures 

were taken just before being briquetted, and were immediately sealed 

and forwarded to the chemical laboratory of the fuel-testing plant. 

The total moisture determined by analysis is reported in the tables 

as "moisture in briquet mixture."

BRIQUETTING EQUIPMENT, 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

The equipment of the United States Geological Survey briquet plant 

at Norfolk comprised two briquet machines (English and American), 

heating and mixing apparatus, storage bins for the raw fuel, crushers, 

grinder, and disintegrator for reducing the fuel to the desired fineness, 

machines for crushing or "cracking" pitch, scales, and the necessary 

elevators and conveyors. Most of the equipment had been used for 

varying periods of time at the St. Louis plant, but the American briquet machine had not been used before.

The general plan of the plant, including the location of the briquet 

machines, the coal-crushing machinery, and the course of some of the 

conveyors, is shown by Plate I.

There were three storage bins for raw fuel at the plant, two each of 

25 tons capacity behind the English machine and one of 50 tons capacity behind the American machine. The samples of fuel to be tested 

were brought by rail over a spur track leading to the building and 

dumped from the car into a pit. From this pit a bucket elevator and 

a 16-inch belt conveyor carried the fuel to the desired storage bin. 

A tripper on the conveyor discharged the raw fuel into either of the 

bins back of the English machine or passed it on to be run into the bin 

back of the American machine.

Under the coal-storage bins and behind the briquet presses a floor, 

called the "pitch-mixing platform,," was built 10 feet above the ground, 

and a runway 60 feet in length was provided to roll barrels of pitch up 

to it.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

SOME AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BRIQ
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GENERAL VIEW OF BRIQUETTING MACH
BKIQUETTING EQUIPMENT. 11

On this "pitch platform" back of each machine were scales having 

hoppers, into which coal could be drawn from the storage bins and 

weighed. Back of the English machine were other scales to weigh 

the pitch used as a binder. The American machine had an adjustable 

mechanical device (to be described later) for keeping the ratio of 

pitch to coal constant, so that it was not necessary to weigh the pitch 

used with this machine.

In addition to the conveyors that formed part of the necessary 

equipment for each machine there were loading belts for conveying the 

finished briquets from the two machines to the storage yards or to cars. 

One, a 30-inch Jeffrey belt conveyor 33 feet long (see PI. Ill), carried 

the briquets from the front of the machine to the outside of the building, while the other, a 24-inch Robbins belt conveyor 65 feet long 

(see PL IX, B), carried the briquets from the first conveyor and loaded 

them into the railroad cars. Plate IX, A, shows the delivery end of 

this conveyor. Briquets were scraped from the front conveyor to the 

second by a quarter-circle iron band supported above the crossing of 

the two conveyors.

BRIQUETTING MACHINES.

NATURE AND CAPACITY.

The two briquet machines installed at Norfolk were of different 

types and differed radically in details of construction. The English 

machine was the same that was erected at the St. Louis plant at the 

time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and used in the briquetting 

tests at that place. It was built by William Johnson & Son, of Leeds, 

England, and is one of the standard types of machines for briquetting with stiff pitch. It consists of a closed:mold double-compression 

vertical-table press, forming two briquets at each stroke. As originally installed at St. Louis, the press had molds that formed rectangular briquets, measuring 6f by 5$ by 4J inches, with rounded corners, 

that weighed on the average 6.8 pounds each. The maximum capacity was 6 tons of briquets per hour. To obtain a briquet better 

adapted to the requirements of domestic use and locomotive-boiler 

practice the mold wheel on the machine was, in 1905, planed down so 

as to reduce the thickness of the briquets, and in the later tests at St. 

Louis and the Norfolk tests the machine turned out briquets measuring 6f by 4J by 2£ inches. Those made at Norfolk weighed about 

3f pounds apiece. The capacity of the machine when making briquets of this size was 3.8 tons per hour.

The American briquet machine was built by the Renfrew Company. 

Briefly, it was a closed-mold double-acting plunger machine, forming 

12 briquets at the end of each stroke or 24 at each revolution. The 

machine used at Norfolk was an improvement on one built by the 

same companj7" and used in briquetting tests at St. Louis from May,
12 BEIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

1906, to March, 1907, a certain weakness of design in the old machine, 

brought out by these tests, having been corrected in the new one. 

This new machine had a stronger frame to permit the use of heavier 

pressure; the working parts not subjected to pressure were of bronze 

to prevent corrosion; the dies, the cams, and the rollers were of tool 

steel. Provision was made in the design of the housing for the 

removal of any working part without dismantling the machine, and 

the arrangement of the die plunger and the length of spring behind 

the plunger were such as to reduce to a minimum the chance of 

a double charge entering the press and to prevent damage to the 

machine if one did enter.

The shape of the Renfrew briquets was cylindrical, with convex 

ends. They measured 3J by 1J inches and weighed on an average 

11 ounces. Running at 9 revolutions or 18 strokes per minute, the 

capacity of the machine was about 8.9 tons per hour.

The appearance of both machines from the front is shown by Plate 

III, while a side view of the English machine appears in Plate IV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS.

English machine. The position of the English machine with reference to the American machine and the coal-grinding equipment at 

the Norfolk plant is shown in Plate I. Plate V, an elevation of the 

machine, gives further details, showing the coal-storage bin, the mixing platform and coal-weighing scales, the coal breaker, various 

chutes, the main elevator, and the driving pulleys and belts.

The scales back of the English machine (see PI. VI, A, and C, PI. V) 

were placed about 6 inches above the floor to allow room for a square 

wooden plunger sheathed with sheet iron (D, PI. V) to work back 

and forth under them and push the weighed fuel into a hole in the 

floor in front. The plunger was operated by a lever and connecting 

rod (R, PL V) from a crank on the jack shaft (N, PL V) below the 

mixing floor, and the jack shaft was driven by a belt and pulleys 

from the main shaft (A, PL V).

Fastened to the under side of the floor was a horizontal worm 

-conveyor (E, PL V) to carry the fuel and pitch from the scales to a 

chute leading to the Stedman disintegrator (PL VI, B, and. F, PL V). 

This conveyor was driven by a bevel-geared sprocket (P, PL V) and 

chain from the same jack shaft that worked the plunger. The conveyor delivered the material into the chute (G, PL V). Suspended in 

this chute was a powerful electro-magnet (PL VI, B} intended to pick 

up any pieces of iron or steel that might be in the stream of material, 

and prevent them from causing damage to the disintegrator or the 

press. The two sets of hammers in the disintegrator revolved in 

opposite directions at 790 revolutions per minute and were driven 

from the jack shaft (L, PL V) above and back of the briquet machine, 

which in turn was driven from the main shaft (A, PL V).
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 385 PLATE IV

SIDE VIEW OF ENGLISH BRIQUETTING MACHINE.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 385 PLATE V

ELEVATION OF ENGLISH BRIQUETTING MACHINE.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 385 PLATE VI

A. HOPPER AND SCALES BACK OF ENGLISH MACHINE.

/;. STEDMAN DISINTEGRATOR.
BRIQUETTING EQUIPMENT. 13

This disintegrator (PL VI, B) stood on a concrete foundation and 

its base was 2 feet above ground level.

In front of the disintegrator a pit 5 feet deep, 3£ feet wide, and 5 

feet long, walled in and floored with concrete, was provided for the 

boot of a bucket elevator (H, PI. V). The ground mixture from the 

disintegrator slid into this boot through a chute left in the concrete 

foundation.

The elevator lifted the ground fuel and pitch to a point above 

and back of the briquet machine, whence a covered wooden chute 

lined with sheet iron (I, PL V) led to the upper mixing cylinder 

(J, PL V) of the machine (Q, PL V>.

The elevator (H, PL V) was driven at the upper end by sprockets 

and chain from a jack shaft (M, PL V), and the latter was driven by 

belt from the main shaft (A, PL V). At the base of the upper mixing 

cylinder steam could be admitted through several openings. A 

water pipe supplied water at the top of this cylinder when required. 

Below the mixing cylinder and supplied from it was the feeding cylinder (K, PL V) of the briquet press. The plunger and die table of 

this press were driven by pulley (0, PL V) and a belt from a pulley on 

main shaft (A, PL V).

To run a briquetting test on the English machine, coal was drawn 

from one of the storage bins back of it into the hopper on the scales 

and weighed. The slide under the hopper was then, opened and the 

coal fell into a groove under the scales, whence the plunger pushed 

it forward at a uniform rate into a hole in the floor. The pitch, 

which had been broken up by hand and weighed, so that its weight 

might be the desired percentage of the weight of fuel in the hopper, 

was added by hand to the coal as it fell through the hole in the floor, 

the intent being to supply the pitch at a uniform rate and to have 

all the pitch weighed' out added by the time all the coal had run 

through the hole.

After passing through the hole in the floor of the mixing platform 

the coal and pitch fell into the horizontal screw conveyor, which not 

only carried them to the chute leading to the disintegrator, but also 

helped to mix them. The electro-magnet suspended in the chute 

demonstrated its usefulness during the tests by catching bolts, rivets, 

spikes, and pieces of cast iron in the material passing under it.

The fuel and binder from the chute fell into the disintegrator, 

where they were ground to coarse particles and' fine dust. This 

ground mixture of fuel and binder was then taken by the bucket elevator to the chute leading to the upper mixing cylinder of the briquet 

machine.

In this cylinder the mixture was heated by the introduction of 

saturated or superheated steam, according to the softening point of 

the binder used, and mixed by vanes carried on a revolving shaft.
14 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT FOKFOLK, 1907-8.

No steam jacket was used on this machine. With very dry fuel, it 

was often found advantageous to add water to the mixture.

After the fuel and binder were thoroughly mixed and properly 

heated the mass became more or less plastic according to its briquetting qualities, and was drawn off through a door in the lower part of 

the cylinder into another cylinder, the feed box, set lower in the 

machine. From the feed box the mixture was forced by a plunger 

into the molds in the vertical revolving table of the press. The 

plunger speed was 17 strokes per minute, 1 stroke for each revolution. At half a revolution the mass in the mold was pressed by a 

system of levers from each end, the maximum pressure being about 

2,500 pounds per square inch. Two briquets were formed at each 

stroke or 34 briquets per minute.

The finished briquets were removed from the machine by hand 

and either stacked near the machine or placed on the conveyor in 

front of the American machine, and by it loaded directly into a car, 

if one was available. They were of rectangular shape, with molded 

corners, and were 6f inches long, 4J inches wide, and 2$ inches thick. 

Their average weight was about 3| pounds. The maximum capacity 

of the machine was about 30 tons per eight-hour day.

When the machine had reached a uniform condition of working, 

the operator took' the temperature of the briquet mixture and the 

temperature of the finished briquets.

American machine. The location of the storage bin, mixing platform, coal crusher, conveyor, and the pulleys and belting that drove 

the press and the various accessories are shown in Plate VII, the location of the machine with reference to the English machine in Plate I 

and a front view of the machine in Plate III.

The American machine equipment included a bin of 50 tons capacity 

(H, PI. VII), situated above and behind it; hopper scales (I, PI.VII, and 

PI. VIII, A); pitch cracker (L, PL VII, and PI. VIII, A), driven by 

pulleys and belt from main shaft (A, Pis. V and VII); a hopper with 

adjustable slides in the bottom at the coal scales and over the apron 

conveyor (J, PI. VII), this conveyor being driven by a chain and 

. sprockets from the j ack shaft (F, PI. VII), which took poy/er from main 

shaft (A, PI. VII); an apron conveyor for the cracked pitch (M, PI. 

VII), taking power from jack shaft (F, PI. VII); a Williams mill 

(K, PI. VII), driven by a belt from the 20-horsepower electric motor 

(W, PI. VII); and a bucket elevator (N, PL VII), operated by chain 

and sprocket from the countershaft (G, PL VII), which in turn was 

driven through belt and pulleys by the main shaft (A, PL VII). The 

machine itself included steam-jacketed, cylinders (PPP, PL VII) for 

heating and mixing the fuel and binder; worm conveyors driven by 

bevel gears (QQQ, PL VII), which took power from countershaft (C, 

PL VII), which in turn was driven by a belt from countershaft (B, 

PL VII), for forcing the mixture through the cylinders; a feed-box
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

ELEVATION OF AMERICAN BRIQUETTING MACHINE.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 385 PLATE VIII

A. PITCH CRACKER AND SCALES AND HOPPER BACK OF AMERICAN MACHINE.

}!. ARRANGEMENT AND DRIVING GEAR OF PITCH AND COAL MIXING CONVEYORS.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 385 PLATE IX

A. CAR-LOADING CONVEYOR FILLING CAR WITH BRIQUETS.

11. PLANT END OF CAR-LOADING CONVEYOR, SHOWING CROSS CONVEYOR.
BRTQUETTING EQUIPMENT. 15

(T, PL VII); a die filler (U, PL VII); and a conveyor, not shown in 

Plate VII, for bringing the briquets to the front of the machine, all 

of which were driven by the countershaft (E, PL VII), which took 

power through pulleys and belt from main shaft (A); and a doubleacting press (R, PL VII) operated by a drive pulley (D, PL VII), 

driven from the main shaft (A).

The main shaft (A), which furnished power to the American or to 

the English machine, was driven by a belt from the 50-horsepower 

electric motor (S, PL VII). The English machine required about 25' 

horsepower and the American machine about 50 horsepower. The 

50-horsepower'motor drove the English machine and its equipment; 

it drove the American equipment except the Williams mill.

For a test on the American machine sufficient fuel to fill the hopper 

on the scales (PL VIII, A) was drawn from the storage bin and weighed, 

the slide at the bottom of the scales was opened, and the fuel passed 

through a hole in the floor of the pitch platform into a hopper over 

the apron conveyor. A sliding door on the side of the hopper facing 

the direction in which the conveyor was moving could be raised or 

lowered to vary the thickness of the layer of fuel on the conveyor.

Pitch broken by hand into lumps was fed into the pitch cracker 

(PLVIII, A). The pulverized pitch fell into a hopper similar to the fuel 

hopper and having like it an adjustable door in one side. The apron 

conveyor under the pitch hopper carried away from it a layer of 

pitch which was discharged in an even layer upon the fuel lying on 

the fuel conveyor below. Plate VIII, B, shows the arrangement of these 

conveyors. The fuel and pitch fell from the fuel conveyor into the 

Williams mill, which reduced them to a mixture of small pieces and 

dust. The bucket elevator raised the ground fuel and binder from 

the Williams mill and dumped them into the hopper above the American briquet machine. The screw conveyors moved the material 

flowing from the hopper through the three pairs of horizontal steamjacketed drums, in which the fuel and binder were suitably heated 

and thoroughly mixed. To heat the mixture and also to supply 

moisture if needed, steam was let into the drums, this steam being 

either saturated or superheated according to the softening point of 

the binder used. From the drums the heated briquet mixture passed 

to the press box, whence plungers forced it into die fillers, which filled 

the dies or molds with proper-sized charges. Then the briquets were 

formed by the plungers, 12 on each side of the die holder, pressing 

the mixture into the molds under an average pressure of 1,000 pounds 

per square inch. The speed of the plunger was 18 strokes per minute, 

making the capacity 216 briquets. On the return strokes the briquets were discharged from the molds and dropped on a conveyor 

which carried them to the front of the machine and dumped them on 

the belt conveyor (PL I), which carried them to the storage bin or

81154 Bull. 385 09 2
16 BRIQUETTIETG TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

the railroad car. The capacity of the American machine, on the 

average, was 71 tons per day.

When the machine reached uniform conditions, observations were 

made of the temperature of the mixture before being briquet ted and 

the temperature of the finished briquets as they came from the 

machine.

DETAILS OF TESTS. 

JAMESTOWN No. 2.

Sample consisted of several cars of semibituminous -coal from a mine 

working the Pocahontas No. 3 bed, Pocahontas, Tazewell County, 

Va., on the Norfolk and Western Railway.

Excellent briquets were made from this coal. Those made with 6 

per cent of binder (Lab. No. 5458), however, stood the cohesion tests 

as well as those made with 8 per cent of binder (Lab. No. 5563). 

The warm briquets from all four of the tests had smooth firm surfaces, and those from tests 251 and 252 fractured with difficulty. 

Those from tests 254 and 255 were more brittle, though not easily 

broken. The surface of fracture of tests 251 ; 252, and 254 were 

smooth and firm, while that of test 255 crumbled easily. The cold 

briquets of tests 251, 252, and 254 were excellent, had smooth firm 

surfaces, broke without crumbling, and the fractured surfaces were 

smooth and firm. The cold briquets of test 255 were rather brittle, 

fractured easily, and surface of fracture crumbled easily.

Briquet tests.

Size of coal as used:

jV to 7\y inch. ........................

Details of manufacture:

BinderKind .............................

Laboratory No. (see p. 8) .........

WeiRht of 

Fuel briquetted ..................

Heat value per poundCoal as received ..................

Binder. .........................

Drop test (1-inch screen): 

Held.................................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held.................................

Weathering test:

Water absorption:

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

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

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

................ "F..

...........pounds..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

251.

1.3

3.4

13.7

27.2

54.4

Eng.

192

W. G. P.

5458

6

138, 101 

3 27

14,632

H C/1Q

16,893

7.62

74.0

26.0

79.0

21.0

93.4

171

A

30

2.04

1.097

252.

0.1

6.3

' 22.6

32.3

38.7

200

W.G.P.

5458

6

181,600 

0.633

14,632 

14, 726

16,893

3 99

66^5

33.5

69.0

31.0

95.5

178

A

21

14.02

2.74

1.108

254.

0.0

9.4

94 9

28.0

38.4

204

W.G.P.

5563

8

2,000 

0.581

14,632 

14 794

16,718

65.0

35.0

71.0

29.0

95.2

161

A

21

15.46

2.78

1.101

9^1

O.Q

7.4

00 K

28.3

40.8

9(1^

W. G. P.

5563

6

2,000 

, 0. 595

14,632 

14 796

16,718

46.0

M n

60.5

39.5

95.5

161

B

21

16.62

3.29

1.086
DETAILS OF TESTS. 

Chemical analyses of briquets.

17

Proximate:

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

Sulphur........................

Ultimate:

O wppn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5466

2.45

18.52

.72.79

6.24

.63

4.53

80.63

.84

4.19

919

5454

1.64

19.73

72.65

5.98

.61

4.62

83.47

.87

4.45

914

5455

1.60

19.70

73.08

5.62

.50

4.76

84.56

.97

3.59

255.

5457

1.40

19.88

73.22

c m

.58

4.32

83.02

89

5.09

Extraction analyses.

Extracted by CS2 :

Pitches.

5458 

0

92.92 

92.92

5563 

0

90.33 

90.33

Fuel.

J-2.

5333 

1.20

.564 

.557

Briquets.

Test 

251.

5466 

1.80

5.946 

5.830 

5.71

Test 

252.

5454 

1.10

5.808 

7. 745 

5.62

Test

254.

5455 

1.10

7.74 

7.65 

7.90

Test

255.

5457 

0.90

5.92 

5.87 

5.92

JAMESTOWN No. 3.

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous rim-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the "Thin Vein" Pocahontas bed, Davy, 

McDowell County, W. Va. ; on the Norfolk and Western Railway.

Excellent briquets were made on the English machine with this 

coal and 6 per cent of binder (Lab. No. 5458), and good briquets were 

made on the American machine with the same coal and binder. The 

briquets made on the American machine (test No. 257), with 7 per 

cent of binder (Lab. No. 5563), also had a good appearance but were 

not so strong as those from the other two tests.

Briquets from test No. 253, while warm, had a smooth surface and 

metallic luster and no cracks, but were easily crushed in the hand. 

When cold, however, they had a fine metallic ring when struck, "a firm 

fine-grained surface, broke with difficulty and with a firm, finegrained, lustrous fracture.

Briquets from test No. 256, while warm, had a smooth surface, 

were plastic, and broke with a rough fractured surface. When cold, 

these briquets had rough ends, broke without slacking, and-had a 

smooth and glossy fracture.

Briquets from test No. 257 hardened at a rather high temperature, 

and fractured with difficulty. When cold, these briquets had a firm 

smooth surface, were somewhat brittle, and formed some slack when 

broken.
18 BRIQUETTIFG TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8. 

Briquet tests.

Test No. ....................................

Size of coal as used:

&, to ^ inch. ............................

Details of manufacture:

Binder 

Weight of - 

Fuel briquetted. ....................

Heat value per pound 

Drop test (1-inch screen) : Held....................................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held....................................

Weathering test: .

Water absorption:

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

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

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

......... .........°V..

.............pounds..

..............B.tu..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

253.

0.8 

3.5 

14.7 

27.0 

54.0

Eng. 

202

W. G. P.

5458 

6

24, 600 

3.53

14, 443 

14,828 

1C, 893 

6.09

76.4 

23.6

71.8 

28.2 

89.7

162 

A

30 

12.02 

2.04 

1.143

256.

Am. 

204

W. G. P. 

5458 

6

12, 000 

0.617

14, 443 

14, 728 

16, 893 

2.71

62.0 

38.0

58.5 

41.5 

95.0

154 

B

21 

14.46 

2.71 

1.121

257.

0.1 

6.1 

28.8 

29.5 

35.5

Am. 

205

W. G. P. 

5563

7

10,000 

0.588

14, 443 

14, 836 

16, 718 

4.91

37.5 

62.5

47.5 

52.5 

95.0

154 

B

21 

15.79 

3.12 

1.101

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No. .............................

Proximate:

Fixed carbon. ...................

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.......................do.:..

253.

5477

1.86

17.26

75.54

5.34

.66

4.58

83.87

1.07

4.48

256.

5478

1.69

18.40

74.26

5.65

.64

4.61

83.87

1.09

4.14

257.

5743

1.06

17.30

76.13

c ti

.65

4.70

85.15

1.09

<" 2.90

Extraction analyses.

.Extracted by 082:

Pitches.

5458 

0

92.92 

92.92

5563 

0

90.33 

90.33

Fuel.

J-3.

5459 

0.90

.47 

.466

Briquets.

Test 

253.

5477 

1.30

5.086 

5.025 

4.93

Test 

256.

5478 

 1.20

5.33 

5.28 

5.20

Test 

257.

5743 

0.70

5.90 

5.86 

6.00
DETAILS OF TESTS. 19

JAMESTOWN No. 5.

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Sewell bed, 1 mile east of Sewell, Fayette 

County, W. Va., on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

Of the two tests made on this coal, the briquets of test No. 258 were 

better than those of test No. 259. The warm, briquets of test No. 258 

had smooth surfaces and Were difficult to fracture. The cold briquets 

were very hard and brittle and formed some slack when broken. 

The warm briquets from test No. 259 had smooth surfaces, were very 

plastic, and high in moisture; the cold briquets had a very hard, firm 

surface, and fractured without slacking.

Briquet tests.

Test No. 259.

Size of coal as used:

Over i inch ......................................................per cent.. 0.1 ............

T\jto}inch...........................................................do.... 0.5 ............

& to -jV inch..........................................................do.... 27.0 ............

,-V to ifo inch..........................................................do.... 31.1 ............

Through & inch......................................................do.... 35.3 ............

Details of manufacture:

Machine used............................................................... Am. Am.

Briquetting temperature...............................................°F.. 199 200 BinderKind................................................................... W. G. P. W. G. P.

Laboratory No. (see p. 8)............................................... 5503 5458

Amount......................................................per cent.. 7 7

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted...............................................pounds.. 130,000 . 2,000

Briquets, average.................................................do.... 0.508 0.588

Heat value per pound 

Coal as received................................................B. t. u.. 14,522 14,522

Briquets..........................................................do.... 14,542 ............

Binder...........................................................do.... 10,718 10,893

Moisture in briquet mixture......................................per cent.. 0.14 ............

Drop test (1-inch screen):

Held.................................................................do.... 70.0 48.5

Passed................................................................do.... .30.0 51.5

Tumbler test (1-inch screen):

Held.................................................................do.... 71.5 07.5

Passed................................................................ do.... 28.5 32.5

Fines through 10-mesh sieve..........................................do.... 95.5 95.2

Weathering test:

Time exposed........................................................days.. 154 154

Condition................................................................... A A.

Water absorption:

Time immersed.......................................................days.. 21 2.1.

Water absorbed.......................................................per cent.. 14.99 15.2ft

Average for first four days............................................do.... 2.52 2.0!!

Specific gravity (apparent)...................................................... 1.092 1.103

Chemical analyses of briquets..

Test No..................................................................................... 258.

Laboratory No.............................................................................. 5744.

Proximate:

Moisture ......................................................................per cent.. 1.32

Volatile matter ................................................................... .do.... 24.97

Fixed carbon .....................................................................do.... 67.91

Ash ... ..........................................................................do.... 5.80

Sulphur..........................................................................do.... .03

Ultimate:

Hydrogen ........................................................................do.... 4.90

Carbon ...........................................................................do.... 82.77

Nitrogen..........................................................................do.... 1.14

Oxygen...........................................................................do.... 4.70
20 BEIQUETTING TESTS AT NOKFOLK, 1907-8. 

Extraction analyses.

Pitch.

Fuel.

J-5.

Briquets.

Test 258.

Laboratory No.............

Air-drying loss .............

Extracted by CS2:

Air dried ...............

As received .............

Pitch in briquet as received

.percent.

.do. 

.do.

55G3 

0

90.33

90.33

.do.

5453

2.60

.514

.514

5744

0.90

6.08

6.62

6.81

JAMESTOWN No. 6.

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Sewell bed, Eed Star, Fayette County, 

W. Va., on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. 

The briquets made from this coal were excellent in their physical 

characteristics and when warm had smooth surfaces, sharp edges, and 

were sufficiently strong to be loaded on cars direct from the machine. 

When cold these briquets were hard and firm but somewhat brittle 

on the edges.

Briquet tests.

Test No...................................................................................... 260.

Size of coal as used:

Over J inch...................................................................per cent.. 0.8

 fy to J inch........................................................................do.... 3.1

^B to ^ inch......i................................................................ do.... 11.2

A to ,&inch.......:...............................................................do.... 26.3

Through A inch.................................................................. .do.... 58.4

Details of manufacture:

Machine used............................................................................ Eng.

Briquetting temperature............................................................°F.. 203

Binder 

Kind................................................................................. AV. G.P.

Laboratory No. (see p. 8)............................................................ 5553

Amount...................................................................per cent!. 6

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted............................................................pounds.. 41,400

Briquets, average.............................................................. do.... 3.52

Heat value per poundCoal as received ............................................................ B. t. u.. 14,783

Briquets......................................................................do.... 14,715

Binder........................................................................do.... 10,718

Moisture in briquet mixture...................................................per cent.. 5.47

Drop test (1-inch screen):

Held..............................................................................do.... 80.2

Passed ............................................................................. .do.... 19.8

Tumbler test (1-inch screen):

Held..............................................................................do.... 77.4

Passed.............:............................................................. .do.... 22. G

Fines through 10-mesh sieve........................................................do.... 88.5

Weathering test:

Time exposed.................................................................... .days.. 135

Condition........................................... 1.................................... A

Water absorption:

Time immersed...................................................................days.. 35

Water absorbed...............................................................per cent.. 13.19

Average for first four days............................\............................do.... 2.24-

Specific gravity (apparent)....................................................:............. 1.117
DETAILS OF TESTS. 

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No..... ......................................

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

.............................I..... do....

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

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

200.

5558

2.15

21.87

71. 13

4.85

.81

5.09

83.37

1.53

4.35

Extraction analyses.

Extracted by CS2 :

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

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

5563

0

90.33

90. 33

Fuel.

J-0.

54S9

1.50

. .364

.359

Briquets.

Test 200.

5558

1.50

.140

5.32

5.51

JAMESTOWN No. 7.

Sample consisted of three cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Sewell bed, Denyhale, Fayette County, 

W. Va., on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

The briquets made on the American machine from this coal with 7 

per cent of binder (Lab. No. 5563) stood the cohesion tests better 

than those made on the English machine with 6 per cent of the same 

binder. Both were excellent briquets, gave fine metallic rings when 

struck, had smooth firm surfaces, broke with difficulty, and had a firm 

and glossy fracture.

Briquet, tests.

Test No.

Size of coal as used:

Over $ inch.......................................................per cent.

 fa to iinch...........................................................do...

,,V to T^ inch..........................................................do...

;rV to jV inch..........................................................do...

Through ^ inch..................................................... .do...

Details of manufacture:

Machine used..............................................................

Briquetting temperature............................................... °F .

BinderKind ..................................................................

Laboratory No: (sec p. 8)..............................................

Amount. .............................................i...... .per cent.

. Weight of 

Fuel briquetted...............................................pounds.

Briquets, average....................................... ........'..do...

Heat value per pound 

Coal as received................................................B. t. u.

Briquets.........................................................do...

Binder.......................................................... .do...

Moisture in briquet mixture......................................per cent.

2f.l.

3.0

C.9

10.8

22.4

56.9

Eng. 

198

W. G. P.

5563

6

43,200

3.53

14,465

14,886

16,718

5.48

202.

0.3

6.0

25.1

29.3

39.3

Am. 

193

W. G. P.

5563

7

38,000

.617

14,465

14,717

. 16,718

4.71
22 BEIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-

Briquet tests Continued.

Test No........................................................................ 261. 262.

Drop test (1-inch screen):

Held.............................................................per cent.. 69.3 71.0

Passed............................................................... do.... 30.7 29.0

Tumbler test (1-inch screen):

Held.................................................................do.... 74.0 80.5

Passed............................................................... do.... 26.0 19.5

Fines through 10-mesh sieve..........................................do.... 88.6 95.2

Weathering test:

Time'exposed........................................................days.. 132 132

Condition................................................................... A B

Water absorption:

Time immersed......................................................days.. 35 11

Water absorbed...................................................per cent.. 11.09 . 12.21

Average for first four days...................................... .....do.... 2.14 ' 2.85

Specific gravity (apparent)..................................................... 1.139 1.029

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No.............................................................'.*..........: 261. 202.

Laboratory No.................................................................. . 5583 5559

Proximate:

Moisture..........................................................per cent.. 2.70 0.93

Volatile matter-.......................................................do.... 20.28 18.52

Fixed carbon.........................................................do.... 72.74 74.65

Ash.................................................................. do.... 4.28 5. 90

Sulphur..............................................................do.... .81 .81

Ultimate:

Hydrogen............................................................do.... 4.94 4.75

Carbon...............................................................do.... 83.75 83.67

Nitrogen.............................................................do.... 1.45 1.50

Oxygen..............................................................do.... 4.77 3.37

Extraction analyses.

Pitch.

Fuel.

J-7.

Briquets.

Test 261. Test 262.

Laboratory No..............

Air-drying loss..............

Extracted by CS2 : Air dried...............

As received.............

Pitch in briquet as received.

.percent. 

.....do...

.do. 

.do.

5563 

o

90.33

90.33

5501

1.40

.410

.404

5583

2.10

5.094

4.990

5.12

5559

0.30

6.58

6.56

6.85

JAMESTOWN No. 8.

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Quinnimont (Fire Creek) bed, Lawton, 

Fayette County, W. Va., on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

This coal was briquetted with binders as follows: Tests 263, 264, 

and 270 with flour binder alone; test 271 with water-gas pitch alone; 

and the remaining tests, Nos. 265, 266, 267, 268, and 269, with various 

mixtures of flour and water-gas pitch.

All the briquets made with flour alone disintegrated very rapidly 

on exposure to the' weather, and one sample (from test No. 270) 

crumbled to slack when handled after being immersed in water for
DETAILS OF TESTS. 23

twenty-four hours. The briquets made with 1 per cent of flour 

binder were not strong enough to be satisfactory, but all the other 

briquets made with flour alone or with a mixture of flour and watergas pitch stood the cohesion tests better than the briquets which had 

only water-gas pitch for a binder. A comparison of tests 267,.268, 

and 269 with test 271 shows that in the first three tests the drop and 

tumbler percentages are higher than in the fourth test. All briquets 

containing any flour soon became covered with a green mold when 

stored in a damp place and lost strength, but those stored in a dry 

place developed no mold, and even after eight months were apparently as good as when first made. In making briquets with flour 

alone, some difficulty was experienced from the briquets sticking to 

the dies of the press, but it is probable that when the conditions are 

better understood this trouble may be obviated. The briquets from 

test No. 268 were the strongest of the nine tests made on this coal, 

but those from test No. 269 were almost as strong. The briquets 

made with 7 per cent of water-gas pitch alone (test No. 271) were 

of excellent quality, but were somewhat sticky when hot, although 

they loaded into the car direct from the machine with very little 

breakage. No samples were taken for sizing tests and chemical 

analyses from tests 263 to 270, inclusive, as all these tests were of a 

preliminary nature.

Briquet tests.

Test No............. .......................

Details of manufacture:

BinderKind ...............................

Weight of 

Fuel briquctted .......... .pounds. . 

Briquets, average. ......... . .do. . . . 

Heat value per poundCoal as received............ B.t.u..

D rop test ( 1-inch screen) : 

Held............................. do....

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held.. ..................... ......do....

Weathering test: 

Time exposed....... .. . ..........days..

Water absorption: 

Time immersed ................. .days. .

2G3.

198

Flour.

C110

1.0

500 

0.558

14, 701 

6,998

65. 5

34.5

31.9

08.1

92.7

132 

E

8 

5.94

1.222

204.

Eng.

201

Flour.

2.0

500 

3.55

14, 701 

0, 998

00.2

39.8

56.0

44.0

92.0

132, 

E

9 

9.76

2

AA

1.184

270.

Flour.

6110

4

500 

0.595

14, 701 

6, 998

7.29

79.5

20.5

89.0

11.0

96 0

132 

E

1

10.60

(a)

1.079

265.'

201

1 Flour

W. G. P. 

Fl. 6110

W.G. P. 5939 

1 1 Flour

\ 3 W.G. P.

500 

3.47

14, 701 

f 0, 998 Fl.

110, 781 W. G. P.

60.2

39.8

67.2

32.8

94.0

132 

C

8 

9.31

2

01

1.168

266.

Eng.

Flour

W. 0. P. 

Fl. 6110

\V. G. P. 5939 

2 Flour

2 W. G. P.

^500 

3. 55

14,701 

6, 998 Fl.

16, 781 W. G. P.

70.1

23.9

75.0

24.4

89. 2

132:D

4 

10.29

9 17

1. 157

"Sample crumbled after one day's immersion.
24 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1901- 

Briquet tests Continued.

Test No. .........................

Size of coal as used:

fa to i inch .................

=4 to^ inch. ................

Details of manufacture:

Binder 

Kind....................

Laboratory No. (see p. 8)

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted ..........

Heat value per pound 

Coal as received .........

Drop test (1-inch screen) : Held........................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen) : Held........................

Passed ......................

Weathering test: 

Time exposed. ..............

Water absorption:

....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

......°F..

..pounds..

:B. t. u..

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

....do....

....days..

flfl V«!

/ Flour 1 W. G. P.

) Fl. C110

JW. G. P 5941 

/ 2 Flour

t 2W. G.P.

. 500 

0.562

14, 701

84 0

81.0

19.0

95.7

132 

E

4

11.47

2. 87

1.150

268

Flour

W. G. P. 

Fl. 6110

W. G. P. 5941 

2 Flour

3W. G.P.

500 

0.588

14,701

6.29

87.0

13.0

91.0

9.0

96.7

132 

B

5

8.09

2.00

1 190

269.

Flour

W. G. P. 

Fl. 6110

W. G. P. 5941 

2 Flour

2 W. G. P.

500 

0.562

14, 701

5.72

84.5

15.5

88.0

12.0

97.0

132 

C

4

16.56

4.14

1.087

0.0

9.3

35. 5

29.2

28.0

196

W. G. P. 

j 5941

I '

81,250 

' 0. 033

14, 701

16, 978

5.21

53.5

58.0

42.0

95.5

127 

A

12

1 C 01

3. So

1.100

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No.....................

Laboratory No .............. Proximate: 

Moisture...........

Volatile matter. .........

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

Sulphur. ................

Ultimate:

Carbon..................

Nitrogen.................

O wppn

.

.' . . ............................................... ....do....

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

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

.......................................................'......do....

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

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

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

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

271.

5713

q OQ

18.50

73.44

4.78

84

4.95

82.26

1.07

6.10

Extraction analyses.

Laboratory No .... ................ .......

Air-drying loss ..............................

Extracted by CS2 :

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

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

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

Pitch.

5941

0

98.44

98.44

>-

Fuel.

J-8.

.5575

2.20

.534

.523

Briquets.

Test 271.

5713

2.90

4.94

4.80

4.38
DETAILS OF TESTS.

JAMESTOWN No. 9.

25

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Sewell bed, Winpna, Fayette County, W. Va., 

on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

This coal was briquetted with three different kinds of binders. 

The briquets from test No. 274 made with water-gas pitch (Lab. No. 

5939) were the strongest of the three. All three tests made excellent 

briquets, which gave good metallic rings when knocked together, had 

smooth, hard surfaces, were broken with difficulty, and had firm and 

glossy fractured surfaces.

Briquet tests.

Size of coal as used: 

Over 1 inch. ..................

TV to iinch..................

s^to^inch..................

^r to ^inch... ...............

Details of manufacture:

BinderKind.....................

Weight of 

' Fuel briquetted ..........

Heat value per pound 

Binder. ..................

Drop test (1-inch screen): 

Held.........................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held. ........................

Weathering test:

Water absorption:

Test No..........................

Laboratory No ...................

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

Carbon...... ................

Oxygen.......................

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

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

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

...................................°F..

.............................. .pounds. . 

.........................'. ........do....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chemical analyses of briquets.

272.

0.0

7.9

22.9

. 30.5

37.1

195

W.G.P.

5941

7

46,000 

0.625

14,238

14, 699

16,978

5.65

57.5

42.5

64.0

36.0

95.1

125

A

12

16. 66

3.49

1.072

273.

198

W.G.P.

5563

7

2,000 

0.602

14, 238

16, 718

71.0

29.0

77.0

23.0

96.7

52

A

' 21

13.02

2.75

1.118

...do....

...do....

...do....

...do....

...do....

...do....

...do....

274.

108

W .G. P.

5939

7

2,000 

0.610

14,238

16, 781

73.0

27.0

83.5

16.5

96.6

125

A

13

13.14

2.79

1.117

272.

5745

2.64

25.29

67.61

4.46

.65

5.16

82.34

1.11

6.28
26 BBIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907- 

Extraction analyses.

Pitches.

Briquets.

Test 272.

Laboratory No............................:.................... 5941

Air-drying loss.......................................per cent..

Extracted by CS2 :

Air dried............................................do.... 98.44

As received.......................................... do.... j 98.44

Pitch in briquet as received..............................do.... ..........

5939

0

8.13 

S.13

5709

3.00

.706

.685

5745

2.10

4.78

4.77

4.18

JAMESTOWN No. 10.

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Beckley bed, Stanaford, Raleigh County, 

W. Va., on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

Test 275 gave a satisfactory briquet with 6 per cent of water-gas 

pitch (Lab. No. 5941). The briquets had smooth, firm surf aces, sharp 

edges, were broken with difficulty, and had firm and glossy fracture 

surfaces.

Briquet tests.

Test No....................................................................................... 275.

Size of coal as used:

Over J inch......................................................................per cent.. 4.5

T'5 to 1 inch.........................................................................do.... 16.0

^jto -fa inch.........................................................................do.... 28.8

J* to & inch.........................................................................do.... 25.4

Through £, inch................................................................... -do.... 25.3

Details of manufacture:

Machine used.............................................................................. Eng.

Briquetting temperature..............................................................°F.. 182

Binder 

Kind.................................................................................. W. G. P.

Laboratory No. (sec p. 8).......................................................-...-.. 5941

Amount.....................................................................per cent.. 6

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted..............................................................pounds.. 53,550

Briquets, average...............................................................do.... 3.83

Heat value per pound 

Coal as received...............................................................B. t. u.. 14,024

Briquets........................................................................do.... 13,871

Binder..........................................................................do.... 16,978

Moisture in briquet mixture.....................................................per cent.. 6.45

Drop test (1-inch screen):

Held................................................................................do.... 33.7

Passed......:................................................ '. ......................do.... 06.3

Tumbler test (1-inch screen):

Held................................................................................do.... 55.0

Passed..............................................................................do.... 45.0

Fines through 10-mesh sieve.........................................................do.... 90.0

Weathering test:

Time exposed.......................................................................days.. 120

Condition.................................................................................. A

Water absorption:

Time immersed.....................................................................days..- " 21

Water absorbed.................................................................per cent.. 8. 75

Average for first four days...........................................................do.... 2.07

Specific gravity (apparent).................................................................... 1.203
DETAILS OF TESTS. 

Chemical analyses of briquets.

27

Test No. ...........................................

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

................................ .per cent. .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

275.

5746

3.83

18. 09

69. 03

8.45

.91

4.88

78.21

1.19

6.36

Extraction analyses.

Extracted by CS2 : Air dried.... .............................

..................percent..

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

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

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

Pitch.

5941

0

98. 44

Fuel.

'j-10.

5719

1.40

.652

.643

Briquets.

Test 275.

5746

3.40

5. 25

5.07

4. 53

JAMESTOWN No. 11.

Sample consisted of two cars of semibituminous run-of-mme coal 

from a mine working the Beckley bed, West Raleigh, Raleigh 

County, W. Va., on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

Test No. 276. Excellent briquets were made from this coal with 

7 per cent of water-gas pitch (Lab. No., 5941).

Test No. 277. Six tons of briquets were made on the English 

machine from this coal with 3 per cent of flour for a binder. These 

briquets were strong even after standing for three months in a damp 

place, and samples of them which have been kept in a dry place for 

seven months appear as good as when first made. After exposure 

to the weather for six we'eks in the winter time, a sample of the 

briquets could be handled and was still serviceable, so that it would 

seem that flour may be considered a satisfactory binder when the 

briquets made from it are not exposed to the weather for more than 

two months.

Test No. 289. In order to compare flour and pitch binders, 6 tons 

of this coal was briquettecl with 6 per cent of water-gas pitch (Lab. 

No., 5940), and an excellent briquet was obtained. A comparison of 

the briquets from this test with those made with flour binder (test 

No. 277) shows that the flour briquets were stronger by physical 

tests but did not resist the effects of weathering as well as the pitch 

briquets.
28 BEIQUETTING TESTS AT NOKFOLK, 1907-8.

Test No. 290. A mixture of 50 per cent of Jamestown No. 11 and 

50 per cent of anthracite coal (buckwheat size), designated as Jamestown No. 18, was made to see if fine anthracite could be improved by 

briquetting with a bituminous coal. A very satisfactory briquet 

was obtained which had a firm smooth surface, was hard to break, 

and firm, hard, and glossy fracture surfaces.

Briquet tests. -

Size of coal as used:

A to ^ inch ...........................

Details of manufacture:

BinderWeight of 

Fuel briquetted ..................

Heat value per poundDrop test (1-inch screen): 

Held..................................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held..................................

Weathering test:

Water absorption: 

Time immersed. ......................

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

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

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

................°F..

...........pounds.. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

..............days..

276.

0.1

7.4

29.9

27.7

34.9

Am.

190

W. G. P.

5941

7

42,000 

0.610

14, 391

14,630

16, 978

4.60

70.0

30.0

77.5

22.5

94 0

120

A

9 

13.45

3 OK

1.117

277.

11.41

Eng.

185

Flour.

6110

3

12, 000 

3.78

14, 391

14, 186

6,998

11.41

77.2

22.8

60 7

39.3

88.3

120

D

5 

4.43

1.05

1.239

289.

0.4

4.2

23.2

39.6

-32.6

Eng.

W. G. P.

5940

6

12,750 

3.77

14, 391

14,584

16,780

10.10

68.2

31.8

72.0

28.0

88.2

102

A

31 

9.82

1 91

1.161

290."

5.7

17.2

19.6

18.9

38.6

191

W. G. P.

5940

6

12,350 

4.15

(")

13, 921

16, 780

8.48

68.3

31.7

78.5

21.5

87.5

102

A

31

9.85

i 31

1.247

0 Jamestown No. 11, 50 per cent; Jamestown No. 18, 50 per cent. 

& No sample for Jamestown No. 18.

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No.............. ...............

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

276.

5756

2.73

18.27

73.56

5.44

.66

4.72

82.83

1.32

5.03

277.

6111

3.83

15.77

74.50

5.90

.69

4.40

79.43

.85

8.73

289.'

6112

1.61

20.30

71.98

6.11

.79

4.12

81.25

1.45

6.28

290.

6113

3.42

13.03

75.93

7.62

.63

3.77

80.77

1.45

6.30
DETAILS OF TESTS. 

Extraction analyses.

29

Extracted by CSa :

Pitches.

5941 

0

98.44 

98.44

5940 

0

90.60 

96.00

Fuel.

J-ll.

5718 

1.50

.598 

.590

Briquets.

Test 

276.

5756 

2.30

5.33 

5.21 

4.72

' Test 

277.

0111

Test 

289.

6112 

0.80

4.67 

4.63 

4.21

Test 

290.

6113 

2.20

5.37 

5.25 

5.12

JAMESTOWN No. 12.

Sample consisted of one car of bone coal from a mine working 

Pocahontas No. 3 bed, Switchback, McDowell County, W. Va., on 

the Norfolk and Western Railway.

This "bone" coal was briquetted first with 6 per cent water-gas 

pitch (Lab. No., 5941), and such excellent briquets were obtained 

that test No. 279 was made to see if 5 per cent of the same binder 

would make a satisfactory briquet. The 5 per cent briquet was found 

to be better than the 6 per cent one. Both tests made excellent 

briquets,' which had firm, smooth surfaces, were broken with difficulty, and had firm, close-grained, and shiny fracture surfaces.

Briquet tests.

Test No. ..................................................

Sizes of coal as used: 

Over ^ inch ................................ . .

T\j to J inch ........................... r. ..............

,fo to -fa inch. . ........................................

Through ^ inch. ......................................

Details of manufacture:

BinderKind .............................................

Laboratory No. (see p. 8). .........................

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted. .:................................ 

Briquets, average. .................... .

Heat value per poundBriquets. ..........................................

Moisture in briquet mixture. .......................... 

Drop test (1-inch screen): 

Held. ..................................................

Passed. ...........................................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held...................................................

Fines through 10-mesh sieve ............. . . . Weathering test: 

Time exposed .........................................

Condition .............................................

Water absorption : 

Time immersed. .......................................

Average for first four days ..................... ...

Specific gravity (apparent). ...............................

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

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

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

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

.......... ...........°F..

x

................pounds..

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

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

.............. .percent.. 

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

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

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

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

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

278.

5.6

18.1

33.8

23.2

19.3

195

W. G. P.

5941

6

38,000 

0.676

12, 938

16, 978

5.03 

59.0

41.0

79 fi

28.0

90.9

137

A

5

11.73

2.91

1.251

279.

5.6

18.1

33.8

23.2

19.3

194

W. G.P.

5941

5

16,000 

0. 709

16, 978

66.5

33.5

78. 5

21. 5

93.2

137

A

4

12.18

3.05

1.248
30 BBIQUETTTNG TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8. 

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

97R

5856

1.71

13.96

68.36

15.97

.42

3 99

73.14

.77

5.71

Extraction analyses.

Extracted: by CS2 :

Pitch.

5941

0

98. 44

98.44

Briquets.

Test 278.

5856

1.10

5.74

5.67

JAMESTOWN No. 13.

Sample consisted of three cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Pocahontas No. 3 bed, Ennis, McDowell 

County, W. Va., on the Norfolk and Western Railway.

This coal was briquetted on both the English and American 

machines for locomotive tests, and was shipped from the plant without 

any samples being retained, so no physical tests could be made on the 

briquets. In appearance, just after making, the briquets made on 

the English machine were very satisfactory and had firm, smooth 

surfaces.

Briquet tests.

Test No. ...........................................

Details of manufacture:

BinderKind.......................................

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted .............;............. 

Heat value per pound 

...................pounds.. 

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

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

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

286.

Eng.

W. G. P.

5940

6

82, 950 

14,290

14,299

16, 780

287.

W. G. P.

5940

6

160,000 

14,746

16, 780
DETAILS OF TESTS. 

Chemical analyses of briquets.

31

Test No .............................

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

............................................... ..do.... '

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

'280.

5848

3. TO

17. 08

73. 11

0. 71

.52

4.37

80. 75

.97

0. 03

Extraction analyses.

Extracted by CS2 : 

Air dried .............................. ..........'..........do....

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

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

5940

0

90. 00

90.00

Fuel,

J-13.

5829

2.80

.340

.336

Briquets.

Test 286.

5948

2.00

5. 31

5.17

.5. 02

JAMESTOWN No. 14.

Sample consisted of a car of Virginia semi anthracite culm from a 

mine working the Big vein, Merrimac, Montgomery County, Va., on 

the Virginia Anthracite Railway.

The coal designated as Jamestown No. 14 was semianthracite culm, 

and a test was made to see if it. could be briquetted into a serviceable 

fuel. As received it was very wet, and serious difficulty was experienced in crushing it with the.Williams mill because of its tendency 

to pack in the mill and stop it. About 11 tons of briquets were made, 

however, and these were stronger than necessary when made with 8 

per cent pitch binder, but were rather weak with 6 per cent; 7 per 

cent would probably make a satisfactory briquet. When tested in a 

kitchen range, these briquets did not burn with satisfactory results, 

but after breaking them into three or four pieces a better fire was 

obtained than with a good grade of anthracite coal of egg size. These 

briquets made a satisfactory fuel for an open-grate fire and for large 

heating stoves. They had a peculiar property of "banking" themselves, due to the high percentage of ash in them (22.5 per cent), and 

a fire could be kept over night with them even in a small kitchen range. 

81154 Bull. 385 09 3
32 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907- 

Briquet tests.

Test No....................................................................................... 291.

Size of coal as used:

Over i inch....................................................................per cent.. 0.0

& to £ inch........................................................................do.... 11.9

5>5 to ^5 inch....................................................................... do.... 32.8

£, to Vffinch....................................................................... do.... 24.3

Through T'5 inch.................................................................. do.... 31.0

Details of manufacture:

Machine used............................................................................ Ain.

Briquettiug temperature ...........................................................°F.. 187

Binder 

Kind................................................................................ W. G. P.

Laboratory No. (see p. 8).... '. ....................................................... 5940

Amount....................................... ...........................per cent.. 6

Weight of 

Fuel, briquetted...........................................................pounds.. 22,000

Briquets, average........................................ .................... do.... 0.746

Heat value per pound 

Coal as received ............................................................B. t.u.. 9,688

Briquets......................................................................do.... 11,598

Binder........................................................................do.... 16,780

Moisture in briquet mixture..................................................per cent.. 7.35

Drop test (1-inch screen):

Held...............................................;.............................. do.... 16.0

Passed............................................................................ do.... 84.0

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): ' Held...:..........................................................................do.... 28.0

Passed............................................................................do.... 72.0

Fines through 10-mesh sieve....................................................... do.... 94.1

Weathering test:

Time exposed.............,....................................................."..clays.. 102

Condition...........................I.................................................... B

Water absorption:

Time immersed. .................................................................. .days.. 31

Water absorbed. .................................... ^........................ .per cent.. j 12.76

Average for first four days........................................................ .do....' 1.63

Specific gravity (apparent)..................................................................| 1- 299

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No. 291.

Laboratory No..... 

Proximate:

Moisture........

Volatile matter.

Fixed carbon...

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

Sulphur........

Ultimate:

Hydrogen......

Carbon.........

Nitrogen.......

Oxygen........

.percent.

.do.

.do. 

.do.

.do.

.do. 

.do. 

.do.

0114

2.07

9.93

65.48

22. 52

.52

3.21

66.72

.98

6.05

Extraction analyses.

Laboratory No..............

Air-drying loss..............

Extracted by CS2 :

Air dried................

As received..............

Pitch in briquet as received.

.percent.

.do.

.do. 

.do.

5940

0

Fuel, 

J-14.

Briquets, 

test 291.

5938

1.60

.06 I 

.06 i

6114

1.10

5.25

5.19

5.32
DETAILS OF TESTS. 33

JAMESTOWN No. 15.

Sample consisted of several cars of semibituminous run-of-mine coal 

from a mine working the Sewell bed, Minden, Fayette County, W. Va., 

on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

Test No. 280. Owing to the presence of an excessive amount of 

moisture in this coal, it was very difficult to make satisfactory 

briquets on the English machine. Water cracks formed, and the 

briquets had a porous surface which was easily rubbed off. They were 

easily broken, forming considerable slack. As the flowing point of 

the binder used in this test was 194° F., the briquetting temperature 

of 187° F. was not high enough to soften the pitch sufficiently to 

obtain the best results.

Test No. 281. The briquets which were made on the American 

machine were probably stronger than those of test No. 280, made on 

the English machine, but the sample saved for the physical tests was 

mislaid, making it impossible to apply the tests. The briquets were 

very hard and showed no water cracks, although the coal was very 

wet.

Briquet tests.

Test No. ..........................................

Size of coal as used :

^ to & inch ...................................

Through ^ inch ...............................

Details of manufacture:

BinderAmount ..................................

Weight of 

Fuel briquetted. . ..........................

Heat value per poundDrop test (1-inch screen): 

Held ..........................................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held .................................. .... .

Weathering test:

Water absorption:

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

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

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

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

......................... °F..

...................percent.;

................. ...pounds.. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

f\ "1 V<5

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

280. 281.

 O.I 0.0

8. 9 5. 1

27. 1 28. 6

27.0 32.8

30. 9 33. 5

187 190

W. G. P. AV. 0. P.

59-11 5941

6 6

65,800 300,000 

3. 57 0. 720

14,009 14,009

14,548 14,575

16, 978 16, 978

7.04 6.87

19.6 ............

80.4 ............

48.8 ............

51.2 ............

88.9 ............

117 19";

B B

5 11

7. 87 12. 01

1.95 2.92

1.185 1.079
34 BEIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1901-8. 

Chemical analyses of briquets.

Test No. ....................................

Proximate:

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

280.

5857

1.09

18.70

73.60

6.61

.95

4.70

80.88

1.20

5.66

281.

3.21

19.49

72.67

4.63

.68

4.83

81.97

1.27

6.62

Extraction analyses.

-

Extracted by CS2 :

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

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

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

Pitch.

5941 

0

98.44 

98.44

Fuel.

J-15.

5774 

3.00

.43

.42

Briquets.

Test 280.

5857 

0.40

5.57 

5.54 

5.22

Test 281.

5859 

2.50

5.92 

5.77 

5.46

JAMESTOWN No. 16.

Sample consisted of semibituminous run-of-mine coal from West 

Virginia.

This coal was briquetted with four different kinds of water-gas 

pitch binders, 6 per cent of each being used. Apparently the test 

briquets were those of test No. 285, while those of test No. 282 were 

practically as good. Both of these tests were made on the English 

machine. Test No. 283, made on the American machine, was a satisfactory briquet, but the briquets of test No. 284 made on the English 

machine with water-gas pitch (Lab. No. 5939) were not satisfactory, 

as they did not stand the physical tests well.

Tests 283 and 285 made briquets with smooth, firm, fine-grained 

surfaces, they broke with difficulty, and had firm and hard fracture 

surfaces.

Test No. 282 made good briquets as far as strength was concerned, 

but their surfaces were rough and coarse-grained, and their edges rubbed off somewhat easily. They broke with difficulty and the fractured surface was coarse, firm, and dull black in color.

Test No. 284 furnished very poor briquets, the surfaces of which 

were rubbed off easily, owing either to too small a percentage of 

pitch or to too low a briquetting temperature; the briquets were easily 

broken, and the fractured surfaces were rough and easily rubbed off.
DETAILS OF TESTS. 

Briquet tests.

35

Test No..............................

Size of coal as used:

Details of manufacture:

Binder 

Amount. ......................

Weight of 

Heat value per poundDrop test (1-inch screen): 

Hold..............................

Tumbler test (1-inch screen): 

Held..............................

Weathering test:

Water absorption :

Average for first four days. ........

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

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

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

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

°F

......percent..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

282.

5.0

16.0

31.4

26.3

21.3

Eng.

174

W. G. P.

4879

6 

52,048

4.10

13,480

12,780

10, 805

9.55

77.3

22.7

82.7

17.2

88.0

137

B

31

9.79

0.89

1.200

283.

0.1

14.4

36.0

25.9

23.6

189

W. G. P.

5941

6 

66,000

13,480

13, 754

16, 978

7.55

35.5

G4.5

56.0

44.0

90.1

125

B

31

10.55

1.12

1.120

284.

Eng.

W. G. P.

5939

0 

30, 600

3.83

13,939

16, 781

39.2

GO. 8

47.8

52.2

90.1

118

B

31

15.98

1.82

1.112

285.

' Am.

W. G. P.

5940

6

37, 400

3.68

13,480

16, 780

S. 40

78. 8

21.2

82. S

17.2

39. 5

118

A

31

11.23

1.13

1. 143

Chemical analyses of briquets.

TestJsTo.... .........................

Proximate:

Fixed carbon

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

Ultimate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

282.

5946

2.21

30. 97

52. 97

13. 85

0.89

4.43

70.30

1.09

9.44

283.

. 5945

2.27

32.56

56.52

8.65

0.85

4.81

75.97

1.22

8.50

284.

5947

2.06

31.05

58.74

7. 55

0.80

4.82

76.66

1.24

8.93

Extraction analyses.

-

Air-drying loss ................... . .per cent. . 

Extracted by CSj :

As received do

4879

0 

94.50

94.50

Pitches.

5945

0 

98.44

5939

0 

98.13

98. 13

Fuel.

J-10.

5828

3.40

.71

.68

]

Test 

282.

5946

1.20 

 *. v\

5.06

Briquets

Test 

283.

5945

1.40 

6.48

0.39

5.84

Test 

284.

5947

1.20

5.10

4.54
36 BRTQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

JAMESTOWN No. 17.

Sample consisted of semibituminous run-of-mine coal from the 

Pocahontas No. 3 bed of West Virginia.

Eighty tons of this coal were briquetted for a special test on the 

battle ship Connecticut of the United States Navy, and as it was 

shipped without any samples being retained no data exist on which 

to make a report.

Briquet tests.

Test No ..................................................

Details of manufacture:

Binder 

Weight of 

Heat value per pound 

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

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

288.

Am.

W. G. P.

5940

6

160, 000

14, 746

16, 780

Extraction analysis.

Extracted by CS2 :

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

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

Pitch.

5940

0

96.60

96.60

JAMESTOWN No. 18.

This coal was anthracite coal of buckwheat size and was briquetted 

in a mixture with Jamestown No. 11 coal in test No. 290. The data 

obtained from this test can be found under Jamestown No. 11 coal,

test No. 290.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

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.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 37

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.

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.

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

report, by D. T. Randall. 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.

BULLETIN 363. Comparative tests of run-of-mine and briquetted coal on locomotives, 

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 1). 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. H. 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.

SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON BRIQUETTING.

Besides the publications in the abo%re list that deal specifically 

with briquetting, the following contain mention of processes, 

tests, etc.:

BULLETIN 261, pp. 134-168. Briquetting tests, by Joseph Hyde Pratt. 10 cents. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER 48, pt. 3, pp. 1389-1459. Briquetting tests, by Joseph Hyde

Pratt. 50 cents.

BULLETIN 290, pp. 40-52. Briquetting tests, by J. A. Holmes. 20 cents. 

BULLETIN 316, pp. 460-485. The condition of the briquetting industry in America,

by E. W. Parker. 70 cents.

BULLETIN 332, pp. 36-46, et seq. Briquetting tests, by C. T. Malcolmson. 

MINERAL RESOURCES, 1907, pp. 223-228. Coal briquetting in 1907, by E. W. Parker.
38 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8. 

RECENT LITERATURE ON BRIQUETTING.

The following list of references to publications that have appeared 

within the last ten years is based on the partial bibliographies of 

briquetting in Bulletin 290 and Bulletin 363:

1899.

ATWATER, R. M. Domestic coke and briquettes from retort coke ovens. Iron Trade

Review, January 26. 

BINDER, 0. Apparatus for testing pitch for briquette making. Colliery Guardian,

June 16. 

KOSMANN, . Welche Erfahrungen liegen iiber die Ofenfeuerung von DampfKesseln und Brennofen mit Briketts vor? Mittheilungen des Deutschen Vereins

fiir Fabrikation von Ziegeln u. s. w., Berlin, vol. 35, pp. 193-197. 

Coal briquettes in Wales. U. S. Consular Reports, No. 327.

1900.

American coal briquets. Sci. Am., December 8.

BXJHLER, . Fabrikation der Essigsaure und des Acetons, sowie von Briketts aus

Hauskohleii. Zeitschrift fiir angewandte Chemie, p. 637. 

Briquettes a hydrocarbures; precede" de Velna. Revue industrielle, Paris, vol. 31,

pp. 298-299.

Briquettes as steam fuel. Iron and Coal Trade Review, December. 

The manufacture of patent fuel in Wales. U. S. Consular Reports, No. 852.

1901.

AN.DREP, ALEPH. Swedish methods of preparing peat fuel. Engineering News, vol.

45, p. 434.

BOCK, OTTO. Die Ziegelfabrikation, Leipzig.

CATLETT, C. Note on briquetting coking coals. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 71, p. 329. 

FISCHER, Dr. F. Technologie der Brennstoffe, Braunschweig. 

HEIDENSTAM, GUSTAP V. Manufacture of briquettes from wood waste. Engineer,

London, vol. 92, p. 465. 

Brikett Maschine, System Edison. . Praktische Maschinen-Konstrukteur, vol. 34,

p. 125.

Note on briquettes in Belgium. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 72, p. 850. 

Note on briquette making in Germany. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 71, p. 593. 

Untersuchungen von Tori-Briquettes'. Dingler's Jour., Stuttgart, vol. 316, p. 225.

1902.

GRANVILLE, . Solidified crude-oil fuel. Railroad Gazette, New.York, vol. 46, 

p. 958.

HEUMANN, . Erfahrungen mit der Verfeuerung von Tori-Briquettes. Deutsche 

landwirtschaftliche Presse, vol. 29, p. 247.

IRWIN, WM. G. Coal-briquetting industry in the United States.' Iron Age, June 19.

KEGEL, C. Briquetting of brown coal. Gliickauf, July 5.

KROUPA, GUSTAV. New process for preparing peat for briquetting and other purposes. Colliery Guardian, March 7.

MASON, F. H. Manufacture and use of briquettes in Germany. Eng. and Min. Jour., 

vol. 74, p. 244.

MIDDLETON, . Machinery for making briquettes. Engineer, vol. 77, p. 262.

SACHSE, . Peat fuel. Eng. Rec., vol. 46, p. 29.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 39

SCHORR, ROBT. Briquetting and peat fuel. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 74, p. 714. 

SCHORR, ROBT. The briquetting of fuels. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 74, p. 621. 

STEGER, . Bindernittel fur Brennstoffbriquetts. Oesterreichische Zeitschrifl;

fiir Berg-.und Hiittenwesen, vol. 50, pp. 311-320. 

W.ENDT, . Ore concentration, coal preparation, briquetting, etc. GHickauf,

July 12.

Apparatus for compressing coal before coking. Genie civil, November 15. 

German processes and machinery for briquette manufacture. U. S. Consular Reporls,

No. 1466, October 11.

Making peat briquettes by electric power. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 74, p. 41. 

Manufacture of briquettes. Engineering, November 14. 

Note on briquette plant in New Mexico. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 73, p. 313. 

Utilization of peat as fuel. Eng. News, vol. 47, p. 476. 

Verwendung voii Braunkohlenbriquetts fiir Dampfkesselfeuerung, Halle. Zeilsehrift

fiir Heizungs-, Luftungs- und Wasserleitungstechnik, vol. 7, p. 49.

1903.

BJORLING, P. R. Briquettes and patent fuel. London, pp. 256.

BOOTH, W. H. Briquet fuel. Engineer, U. S. A., April 1, p. 251.

CARTER, W. E. H. Peat fuel, its manufacture and use. Ann. Rep. Ontario Bureau

Mines.

GEHRE, . New process for making briquettes. Sci. Am. Suppl., vol. 55, p. 22871. 

GIFFORD, R. L. Briquetting of flue dust, fine ore, and fuel. Eng. News, vol. 49,

p. 140.

GIFFORD, R. L. Briquetting of fuel. Eng. News, vol. 49? pp. 235-236. 

JUNEMANN, F. Die Briquette-Industrie und die Brennmaterialen, new ed., p. 320. 

LOSE, ED. The briquette industry in France. Eng. and Min. Jdur., vol. 76, pp. 277

and 431. 

MASON, F. H. Lignite, peat, and coal-dust fuel in Germany. Elect. Rev., vol.42,

p. 612. 

STEGER, . Die Hers tell ung kleinstiickiger Briquetts. Stahl und Eisen, vol. 23,

p. 1313.

VICKERS, . Lignite, peat, and coal-dust fuel. Sci. Am. Suppl., vol. 55, p. 22846.. 

Briketts. Gewerbeblatt aus Wurtenberg, vol. 55, p. 361. 

Briquettes as fuel in foreign countries. U. S. Consular Reports, A^ol. 26. 

Desulfurit-Dauerbrand-Briketts der Gebr. Hopfner in Bleckendorf. Uhland's Technische Rundschau, Suppl., p. 101. 

Fuel briquetting. Mines and Minerals, August. 

Fuel-briquetting machinery. Engineer, U. S. A., vol. 40, p. 249. 

Manufacture of peat fuel. Engineer, vol.-96, p. 500. 

Versuche mit festem Petroleum als Heizstoff. Schiffbau, vol. 4, p. 517. 

Zeitzer Eisengiesserei und Waschbau-A. G., Briquet-Fabrik. PraktischeMaschinenKonstrukteur, vol. 36, p. 203.

1904.

FULTON, JOHN. Fuel-briquetting industry. Mines and Minerals, vol. 25, p. 106. 

GRADENWITZ, Alfred. Coal briquetting. Mining Reporter, December 29. 

HOFBAUER, . Kohlenbriquetts aus ausgelaugter Weinhefe und Steinkohleuklein.

Neueste Erfindungen und Erfahrungeu, vol. 31, p. 248. See also vol. 31, pp. 33

and 310.

MASON, . Lignite, peat, and coal-dust fuel in Germany. 

SCHONDELING, H. Aufbesserung der Sleinkohlen Briquetis zwecks Ran oil verm ii iderung: GHickauf, November 5.
40 BRIQUETTING TESTS AT NORFOLK, 1907-8.

SCHORR, ROBERT. Fuel and mineral briquetting. Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng.,

vol. 35, p. 82. 

SCHORR, ROBERT. The briquette plant at Stockton, Gal. Eng. and Min. Jour.,

vol. 78, p. 262.

WALSH, G. E. Briquetting fuel materials. Power, April. 

WHITE and GRIFFIN. Machine pour la fabrication des briquettes de tourbe. Revue

industrielle, vol. 35, p. 234.

WOODHEAD, HENRY. Briquetting of coal. Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 78, p. 541. 

Aglonieraciondelahulla. Revistaminera, metalurgicay deingenieria, vol. 55, p. 145. 

Brikettfabrik. Braunkohle, vol. 3, pp. 225, 349. 

Briquettfabrikation. Mittheilungen aus der Praxis des Dampfkesseln und Dampfmaschinen Betriebes, vol. 26, pp. 583-586.

1905.

CONSTAM, . Der Einfluss der Festigkeit von Steinkohlenbriquetts auf ihre 

Verdampfungsfahigkeit. Zeitschrift des Vereins deutscher Ingenieure, Berlin, 

vol. 48, pp. 973-975.

FULTON, JOHN. Coke, a treatise on the manufacture of coke and other prepared fuels 

and the saving of by-products. Scranton, Pa., pp. 406-462.

GERCKE, . Die Verwertung minderwertiger Brennstoffe insbesondere des Torfes. 

Zeitschrift des Vereins deutscher Ingenieure, May 27.

GRADENWITZ, ALFRED. Washing and briquetting plant. Mines and Minerals, September.

LOESER, . Verwendung von Braunkohlenbriquetts fur Ringofenstreufeuer. 

Braunkohle Halle, vol. 3, pp. 33-36.

RANDAL, W. M. Briquette fuels. Power, March, p. 204.

SCHORR, ROBERT. Briquette press. Eng. and Min. Jour., October 7, p. 267.

WALSH, G. E. Briquetting fuel. Mining Reporter, April 13.

Manufacture of briquettes. Sci. Am. Suppl., July 1.

1906.

BARBER, C. M. Some notes on fuel briquetting in America. Sci. Am. Suppl., 

April 7. '

KALLER, THEODOR. Artificial fuel. Sci. Am. Suppl., June 16.

MASHEK, J. G. Briquetting of fuels and minerals. Iron Age, April 19.

MuELLENHOFF, K. A. Briquetting of brown coal. Proc. Eng. Soc. Western Pennsylvania, May.

1907.

BLAUVELT, W. S. A brief record of progress in fuel briquetting at Detroit. Am. Gas

Light Jour., September 23. 

PARKER, E. W. Coal briquetting in the United States. Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng.,

pp. 581-620.

SAWARD, F. E. Southern coal for briquets. Manufacturers' Record, October 21. 

THAU, A. Fortschritte im Kohlenstampfverfahren. Gliickauf, July 27.

1908.

BOCK, F. Die Brikettierung der Steinkohlen. Gliickauf, January 4.

COALES, H. G. Coalescine fuel from refuse. Eng. Digest. August, pp. 146-147.

FRANKENTHAL, L. J. Coal briquets: Their importation.and use on Swiss railways.

Monthly Consular Reports, April. 

GERTNER, . Ueber EntstaubungsanlageninBraunkohlen-Brikettfabriken. Zeit.

Berg., Hiit. Sal.-Wesen, B. 56, H. 2, pp. B. 125-257.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 41

D'INVILLIERS, R. Briquetted coal in Brooklyn. Eng. Rec., September 12. 

LATHROP, L. A. Briquets made with tar, Shedlock process. Consular Reports, June. 

MASHEK, J. G. Briquetting of fuels in British Columbia, Canada. Can. Min. J'our.,

January 15, February 1. 

MASON, F. H. Briquets in Europe. Their use as locomotive fuel in France.

Monthly Consular Reports, March. 

MEEKER, CLIFFORD D. Briquetted coal in Brooklyn, N. Y. Eng. Rec., August 15,

pp. 178-180. 

NYSTROM, E. Peat and lignite: Manufacture and use in Europe. Ottawa, Canada,

Dept. of Mines, pp. 130-170. 

PARKER, E. W. The coal-briquet plant at Bankhead, Alberta. TKOIS. Am. lust.

Min. Eng., pp. 354-362, 389-393.

ROSENKRANS, MAX. Briquets from coal dust. Indust. World, April 27. 

SCHOLZ, CARL. Coal briquetting. Eng. News, December 10, p. 642. 

SCHORR, R. Lignite briquetting in Germany. Eng. and Min. Jour., February 29,

pp. 460-461. 

WAKLEIQH, P. R. Coal briquets and their use in railroad, marine, and domestic

service. Engineer, London, June 12. 

Brikettierung. Verhutung der Staubbilcliing und Auftreiben der Pressformen. Zeit.

Berg., Hiit. Sal.-Wesen, B. 56, H. 1, pp. 186-187. 

New southern briquetting plant. Black Diamond, October 10, p. 16. 

Tests of Russian coal and briquets. Colliery Guardian, November 22.

0