Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-04
BY-PRODUCT COKE Plant
SHOWN At THE MUSEUM
System by Which All Products Of
Coal Are Obtained Is Illus
trated by Model.

An interesting exhibit has been
placed in the United States National
Museum by the division of mineral
technology consisting of a model of a
complete by-product coke plant. The
model. constructed in the museum
shops. is in the form of a relief panel
twenty eight feet long and seven feet
high. on a scale of one-thirtieth actual
size with the different processes fol-
lowing in sequence along the panel.
In connection with this recent acQui-
sitiop is an exhibit showing the de-
velopment of the coke industry, from
the earliest crude form of merely burn
ing coal In the open to the present
highly complex system of distillation
without combustion. preserving and
utilizing all the by-products.
Coke. which for metallurgical pur-
poses takes the place of charcoal,
first came into prominence in this
country about 1920 because of the
forest depletion around Pittsburgh.
The method of making coke at that
time was extremely crude and con-
sisted of merely arranging a heap of
coal so that when kindled it would
allowing it to smolder in the open
until all the volatile matter was burn
ed out of the coal This method was
known as the Bennington coke pile.
Beehive Process.
The crude beginnings. however.
quickly gave way to the next step in
the development of the coke industry,
the inclosed burning in beehive ovens.
in which today Is made three-fourths
of all the coke produced in this
country.
In a row of dome-shaped ovens. each
with an opening at the top, which
serves the double purpose of charging
hole and gas outlet. the charges of
coal are inserted alternately, so that
when fresh charge is put in an oven,
combustion Is at its height in the
ovens on either side of it, the heat from
these two assisting materially in
starting combustion in the third. The
door is then sealed up. leaving only a
small opening for the admission of air.
and the gases from the coal burn in
the top Of the dome. leaving the coke
as a residue in the bottom. This resi-
due is drawn out and the oven is ready
for a new charge.
=, Beehive ovens an produce S0a excellent &c
tempt to utilize the by-products. and
the acknowledged wastefulness Of this
method has given rise to the develop
ment Of the by-product coke oven.
All By-Products Obtained.
This complex system, which is COM
pletely illustrated by the new model
in the museum, consists Of ovens
charged from storage bins with about
five tons Of coal and Theoretically
sealed. The ovens are then heated
with the result that all volatile matter
is distilled OF and passes into a gather
ing main, whence 1t is led of to the
various devices for separating out the
tar, ammonia. Illuminating gas and
other by-products. the residue of coke
of the best metallurgical quality being
left in the bottom Of the oven.
The chief use of coke Is for metal
lurgical purposes. such as in blast fur
naces and smelling operations. but it
also finds domestic and minor indus
trial uses. OF the by-products. the
most important Is gas for household
purposes. while others Of varying i'm
portance are tar. ammonia. the So
called coal-tar products. among them
benzol and napthalene. Photographic
chemicals and drugs.