The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-26
PROCESS
SEEMS PRACTICAL
NEW METHOD OF RRIouETlNe
LIcNlTE GAVE GOOD RESULTS
IN TESTS MADE AT AGRIcuL-
TuRAL coLLEeE-DEAN {. s.
KEENE TALKS ON SUBJECT.

Has the briqueting # Ignite coal az
last reached practicaf basis? The
question seems to have been answered
in the Affirmative by the brIqueting
tests which have been carried on at
the agricultural college.
The work at the college was started
primarily for the purpose OF making
tests Of certain kinds of binders
These tests reached a climax Saturday
when a, number OF hriquetes were
made from Ignite by the Abbott pro-
cess, new system which gives
promise Of great results.
In speaking of the tests, Dean e. S.
Keene, of the engineering department
of the agricultural college said:
Our experiments with the BRIO
ueting OF Ignite has reached a point
where only the commercial machine
can complete the work. The expert
ments conducted by the engineering
department OF the agricultural college
has proved beyond doubt that sue
cessful briquets can be made from
Ignite and by the use of binders that
are not only available but are cheap
and easy to procure.
Uses Almost Any Binder.
mot only have Ignite briquets been
made in our laboratories, but they are
OF kind that seem to stand handling,
are effected no more than ordinary
coal by moisture and in the fire show
very excellent results. They burn free
ly and with little smoke. They stand
up well while burning and are consum-
ed very much as is hard coal.
''The means used for briqueting was
that known as the Abbott process. F.
e. Abbott the inventor Of the process
is man who for the past sixteen
years has been interested in briquet-
ing machinery AS a result has evolved
new and unique type of briqueting ma
chine. The Abbott tune seems to be
able to produce good briquets from
all varieties of Ignite and with all
most any kind of a Dmder. Our ex-
periments were ,onducted for the pur-
pose of proving the practicability Of
the tube to make commercial briquets
from Ignite with binders that can be
obtained in North Dakota and at a
price that will not be prohibitive.
From the results obtained, marketable
briquets ought to be produced that
will retail in Fargo at a price not the
excess Of SIS ton. In heat value the
price will give g. fuel that is cheaper
than eastern coal The briquets ought
to be as easy to handle as egg coal
or nut coal. They are cleaner than
soft coal and will produce highly
satisfactory fuel for household and
power purposes.
"In the experimental work we have
used samples of light, from all parts
of the state. There seems to be no
difference in their briqreting proper
ties. Good briquets have been produc-
ed in every case and also from mix
lures from different mines. In the
experimental work we have approx
imated the actual machine very closely.
The apparatus was made by the Far
go Foundry Co.. and in our own shops.
The commercial machine will without
doubt prove very efficient because of
the simplicity of the process"
The tests at the co6ege were car
ried on largely by Victor Parker, a
student who will graduate from the
institution this spring. Under the di-
rection of Dean Keene, Mr.. Parker has
done some splendid work that will
undoubtedly be of value to the peo-
pie of North Dakota
In making the tests one of the
Abbott tubes was attached to tension
and compression testing machine at
the college and great results were Sc
cured. Still Better re-ults are to be
expected from the regular briqueting
machine-which will be Immediately
constructed.
A uninua Machine.