The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-01


cannot be burned economically in the
stove or furnace since considerable OF
the gas either escapes up the chimney
without burning or else burns useless
ly in the fiues. Further. Goals con-
tanning gas in quantity burn very
freely and do not last long. The best
fuel for domestic use is one which
does not contain much gas but which
is high in carbon. The value of such
fuel is that it burns with a short flame
and hence throws out heat where IL is
needed and not in the f1ues. Further,
it burns very slowly requires but lit
tie attention and will In most cases go
twice as far as high gas coal An
thracite coal which Is so deservedly
popular for domestic use, although its
cost is very high, belongs to the high
carbon class of fuel. Hence it would
seem that it would be desirable to
convert Ignite coal if possible into a
fuel which would burn like anthracite.
Increasing the Carbon.
1t has been shown that by removing
the S5 per cent of moisture from lig-
mite, the percentages of gas and car
bon could be increased so per cent.
Now suppose that the gas alone be re-
moved, then it is evident that the car
bon would be still further increased
and the resulting fuel would com
pare very favorably with anthracite
coal as the following analyses will
show:
Ignite coal, dry-Moisture, 0; VIOLA
tile matter, 49,; fixed carbon, Al; ash
10: heat units per pound. 1900.
Ignite coal, gas removed Moisture,
o; volatile matter, o; fixed carbon, SO:
ash. IT: heat units per pound. 10000.
Anthracite coal. pea size-Moisture,
4.S1; volatile matter. 2S7; fixed car
bon, 77.09; ash, 1922; heat units per
pound, 1886.
The foregoing analyses show that If
the moisture and gas be removed from
Ignite fuel can be made which would
actually have the same analysis and
heating value as anthracite coal This
fuel not only resembles anthracite in
composition, but also in appearance,
and If pulverized samples of the two
are compared it will be found very
hard to distinguish between them.
However, in commercially applying
the briquetting process it would not
be advisable to completely remove the
gas from the coal in order to manu-
facture briquettes Some of the reasons
are as follows: There would be no
sale or use for the surplus gas; the
cost of carbonizing plant would be ex-
cessive and too much coal would be
required to produce a ton of briquets.
But by careful experiment, it has been
found that it is only necessary to re-
move a portion of the gas from the
coal in order to make satisfactory bril-
quettes. Hence it would likely be adj
visable then to remove just sufficient
gas to furnish fuel for the operation
Of the plant.
For this purpose about so per cent
of the gas should be extracted from
the coal which would make about %
per cent of gas in the briquettes. The
briquettes then would have the follow
ing composition:
Ignite coal Moisture, 8;
volatile matter, 22.0; fixed carbon,
$50; ash, 1910; heat units per h., Ia
900.
Concerning the value Of briquettes,
1t has been shown that on burning
they give as much heat as anthracite
coal; they last as long in the fire as
anthracite, they do not go to pieces in
the fire but remain intact until entirely
consumed, they do not clinker and are
clean and convenient to handle: they
are uniform In size and make very lit
tie dust on being handled, they can be
shipped mile for mile in competition
with anthracite coal for they have
equal heating values and other con-
siderations except for use in self feed
ing stoves give preference to the
briquettes. and the briquettes can, be
sold at profit for two thirds the cost
of anthracite coal at any point in
North Dakota or the northern half of
South Dakota.
Composition of Ignite Gas.
AS stated before. there would be
only sufficient gas extracted from the
coal to furnish fuel for the operation
Of the plant However, If there should
be. a market for gas or power it would
be simple matter to either remove
more gas from the coal or else use
coal instead Of gas for plant fuel. The
Ignite gas has the following compo-
sition. compared with soft coal gas:
Ignite gas-Carbon dioxide. 4; IL
luminants, l.; oxygen. Is: carbon
monoxide, 25.S; methane, 1913; hydro
gen, 45.5; nitrogen, 6.4 heat units per
cubic foot, 400.
Pennsylvania coal gas-Carbon diox-
ide "a; illuminants, s.; oxygen, g;
carbon monoxide. 10.1; methane. SO.6;
hydrogen, 45.9; nitrogen, Az; heat
units per cubic foot. 900.
The Ignite gas can be satisfactorily
used for heating. lighting and power
purposes. For heating purposes it can
be used for burning brick pottery,
etc, and 1t can also be used in an 'ordi-
nary gas range. When used for light
ing with Jet burner, Ignite gas will
give very little light. but If used with
modern wellsbach burner which 95
per cent Of gas consumers do, it will
give very, brilliant light. In fact
when the gas is used with a wellsbach
it is superior in many respects to soft
coal gas. For instance, on account of
the low percentage OF heavy hydro
carbons It contains, 1t will not blacken
gas nantes nearly so quickly as the
soft coal gas. Ignite gas can be
readily used in a gas engine for the
production of power which can be con-
verified into electricity and distributed
over the adjacent country at a cost
which would compare fayorably with
that charged by the hydro electric
plants.
The By Products.
Two by-products, tar and ammonia,
can be obtained from the Ignite gas.
The Weld Of tar per ton of hrfnuaffes
produced would be about sixty pounds,