The sun., 1918-09-27
COAL USERS LEARN
HOW TO SAVE FUEL
Owners Of Fifty Big Plants
Confer With Officials on
Winter Conservation.
AIR OFTEN WASTE CAUSE
No Date Set for Apartment
Houses to Turn On Heat and
Mercury May Decide.

Too much draft around a fire wastes
coal. This point was made clear by
two speakers, G. A. Graves who Is
administrative engineer in charge oil
conservation for the metropolitan dis
trict. and Cha rles A. Flynn, chairman
OF the New York County Conservation
Committee, at a conference OF repre-
sentatives of the Fuel Administration
with the owners and operators OF fifty
important coal using plants which was
held yesterday afternoon in the room,
Of the Merchants Association. Mr..
Graves stated that fifteen pounds Of air
are required to burn one pound of an
thracite coal AS much of this air rs
possible should go w through the ash
pit and CRATES and come in contact
with the live coal. Mr. Flynn declared
1t is a common fault to have too much
air against the CRATES. Defects in the
settings of the boilers or cracks in the
ash pits may give too much air and
waste COAL
The object OF the conference was to
discuss methods to be used to save
sO,000.000 bushels of coal to meet the
conditions. which involve an increa Sc
OF 80 per cent in the needs Of the Gov
eminent for movements on land and
sea, the departure of about $4,000
miners from their usual occupations
into other fields OF labor and the army
and an accompanying reduction OF 20
per cent. in the amount Of production.
Ways to Increase Efficiency.
Tir condition OF the boilers and heat
ing plants is to play an important part
in the conservation OF fuel Mr.. Graves
explained to the conference that there
are several simple appliances which
increase efficiency, including draft
gauges. barometers to measure the tenn
perature of gases and to determine
how much gas is being consumed to
check the escape OF heat up the flue.
to ascertain the amount OF heat abb
sorbed BY the boiler, and scales to weigh
the coal.
Mr.. Flynn called attention TO the
Iuestionnaires which are being sent by
the Fuel Administration and upon which
plant ratings will be given plants on
their efficiency in coal saving. Each
plant Will be inspected once each month
and suggestions made with the object
Of getting all plants into Glass l. Re-
classifcations will follow inspections
and the plants which are inefficient and
wastetul will have the greatest difficulty
to get coal in crisis. Mr.. Flynn stated
tHdl Hteueu repairs 10
and for equipment TO make them et-
ficient In saving coal will have atten-
ton as priority orders. The high rating
OF his plant. Mr.. Flynn felt sure. would
appeal to an owner. while 1t will become
feat for the fireman TO save coal.
Some flremen already are earning
bonuses OF $40 to SIS a week IN saving
coal.
Effectiveness in Firing.
Mr.. Graves declared that coal waste
may be avoided by burning a small
quantity quickly instead OF a large
body slowly, and that methods Of firing
should be studied to obtain complete
combustion. by regulating the amount
OF air which must be mixed with the
fuel at ignition temperature.
what about luxury in lighting and
heating?" was asked.
This, and also the consumption OF
steam energy for what may not be
termed necessities. is now receiving at
tention." replied Mr.. Flynn.
Rules for the operation for various
cities are now submitted to Washing
ton with view OF obtaining standard
ization.
Several superintendents OF apartment
houses attended the conference and two
asked Mr.. Flynn If n date had been
fixed for heat to he turned on in apart
ment houses. Instead OF n date being
Fixed II was said II may be determined
to start heat in the apartment houses
when the temperature outside drops TO
80. There Is no objection to giving neat
in buildings from exhaust steam. This
would give the downtown buildings an
advantage over the uptown apartments.
II was remarked.