The Washington herald., 1908-04-05

pro0ucts-Heth00 Less Expensive.
Much interest has been aroused in Ger
many about the invention Of a process TO
transform peat into solid bricks Of fuel.
resembling coal in hardness and value as
fuel, weight for weight. Southland P.
Warner. United States consul at Leipzig,
has written a description Of the process
TO the State Department, quoting part of
an article written by German engineer
on the subject The excerpt follows;
Many attempts. unfortunately accompa-
MED with negative results. have been
made to utilize peat beds by converting
peat into coal. The cost OF producing
peat briqGettes and peat coal were out Of
ali proportion 10 the price Of common
fuel. The structure also Of the peat coal
derived in this manner resembled more
that OF easily erumbling coke than of
hard coal.
The chief reason for all previous fall
uTes may be attributed TO the fact that
the ordinary drying processes have not
removed a sufficient portion of the water.
The vegetable cells holding the water yield
up their contents only If they are burst.
Various methods have been employed for
bursting the cell tissue. as, for instance.
by grinding the peat in specially con
structed mills. by the application of
steam, and also electrolytically. These
processes have proved TO be too expen-
sive.
Method Develops Less Expense.
4 recent manner Of production has the
merit of less expense. II consists essen
tally in bursting the vegetable cells by
an appropriate treatment Of the peat in
vacuum. A vacuum adapted TO practical
purposes may be attained by the employ
ment Of two kettles connected by pipe.
Kettle is heated to Is degrees c. The
vegetable cells of peat burst at this vacu-
um temperature. On opening the cock Of
the pipe 10 kettle half of the vacuum
supposing the contents Of both 10 be the
same-passes from kettle ! into kettle 2,
and half of the air In kettle pours into
kettle J.
The peat contained in kettle is now
treated in the same manner, so that half
of the vacuum may constantly be turned
10 practical account. In the meantime,
the peat in kettle / can be removed and
transported to a press, where most OF the
moisture is eliminated. Finally, il can be
desiccated in storehouses, and in short
time the water contents have been re-
duced TO 10 per cent
To produce the necessary motive power
for the plant the peat Is gasitied IN re-
forts by a patented process. An unusual
quantity of gas, ammonia, tar, peat OIL
sc. is thus extr9cted. The gas so de-
h, ed
retorts Nevertheless. there remains about
60 or 20 per cent of gas that can be util-
lied for the necessary gas engines or FOR
producing peat coal IN the retOrts. The
lattar. process consists of heating peat TO
about 800 degrees G. in retorts entirely
fnciosed in material easily penetrated by
heat. AS soon as the proper temperature
has been obtained the oven Is closed air
tight and the heat shut of. The mass
remains in this state some hours.
Pressed Into Coal Form by Gas.
A large quantity Of gas has developed
in the retorts and, not being able to
escape. it exercises a great pressure, so
that portion is reduced TO parafhn,
which is pressed back into the mass. The
peat is exposed 70 such a high pressure
that it forms a compact body resembling
coal, as opposed to the hitherto soft
products.
The peat now can be broken up or
ground and then formed into briquettes
in retorts by a cCld process This meth
cd Yields a coal possessing $500 10 200
calories of heating power. which burns
without the development of smoke or bad
odors and leaves almost no ashes. The
cost OF installing a complete plant pro-
ducing thirty TO fifty tons of coal and
coke per day is about S14601 with an ad-
ditional s., 80 essential for dredges, build
ings. and gas reservoirs. One ton of
desiccated peat will produce with the
vacuum process about seven hundred
weight OF coke, about fifty-hve pounds Of
ammonia salt about l32 pounds OF tar and
peat oil, varying with the treatment OF
the peat, and about 654 cubic yards of
gas II the gas be mixed with the gas
first obtained in the retOrt process il fur
nishes a very good heating and motive
power: So or rs cubic yards Of wet peat
are necessary for yielding ton Of peat
capable of treatment. One may calculate
the price OF dry peat at about 3 cents per
cubit meter Us cubic yards One ton of
peat produces about thirteen hundred
weight of coal besides SOME peat oil and
gas plant of this nature would re-
quire about twelve TO fifteen men for day
and night shifts.
Profits and Field OF Usefulness.
BY combining the three processes de-
scribed. very cheap manufacture is pos
sible allowing of very high profit The
power consumption Of the machinery is
normal TIE peat bed also contain other
economic treasures It is wei known that
Germany and in fact, all European
states. expend large sums annually for
fertilizers. Frequently the cost of trans
portation exceeds the purchase price
proper. Peat is 10 be found in almost all
districts. and sufficient ammonia for sup
plying the requirements of the respective
districts can be obtained from this ma
terial. II is very probable also that this
fertilizer has better qualities than, for in
stance. potash In addition, coal can be
produced that is particularly advanta-
geous for nautical purposes, the more so
as smOkeless fuel is Of inestimable value
10 the navy Its employment on COM
mercial steamers would free passengers
from the smoke nuisance.
StiH higher results could be attained
by using peat gas for producing electrici-
". which could then be conducted to the
point Of application by means of wires
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