Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-13
Aleyandria's Newest Indus
try, Manufacturing New
Fuel, Begins Operations
COAL SUBSTITUTE
Of Patented Fuel Claim
il Will Revolutionize the Coal IN
dustry Of the World.

AleXandria's newest industry, the
Trent Amaigam Company, which has
leased the plant of the Virginia Ship
building Corporation, began opera
tions on a large scale today. The
product of this company, which is a
new fuel prepared from cheap ingred-
tents by patented process, will, it
is confidently believed b. its manu-
facturers, revoutioniZe the industrial
use Of fuel.
This new fuel is manufactured by
the amalgamation of the heat-produc-
ing clements OF the cheapest grade
of coal Gbtainable, and fuel oil, which
is crude oil from which the more
volatile substances have been remoV-
ed. In the process Of manufacture.
practically all the ash is removed, so
that the amalgam is practically con-
centrated heat and nothing else.
Mr.. Trent gave the Gazette report
er some very interesting facts and
figures. Anthracite coal costs in the
neighborhood of $3.50 per tor, and
tests show it to produce about l3,-
500 British thermal units, the stand
ard Of measurement of heat-producing
qualities. The new fuel can be dellV-
cred in Washington for about $3.50
per ton, and in Alexandria at an even
lower price. This fuel will produce
i. 500 to $1,000 British thermal units.
Also. one ton Of the new fuel IS
equivalent to about one and one-thlrd
tons of the best coal obtainabie. An
thracite coal leaves about Is per cent
ash; all the ash but scant two per
cent is extracted from the amaIgam
during the process of manufacture.
The coal from which the amalgam
is made is crushed so fine that it will
pass through a screen Of 200 meshes
70 the inch,-hTrdly more than a
vapor. This is washed in pure wa
ter and passed from one large wood
on tank to another. so that finally.
when it is ready to be combined with
the oil. all non-volatile substances
have been deposited at the bottom OF
the tanks. and the heat-producing ele-
mcnts Of the coal are held in suSpen-
sion in the water, the oil then beng
added and the resulting compound
or amalgam being again washed to
further reduce the amount OF waste
product. this washing also serving 10
thoroughly combine the puiverlzed
coal with the oil.
The amalgam is then carried over
= vibrating screen which removes the
water. and is loaded by means OF a
belt conveyor into cars ready for
shipment. ,
The first product of the plant, which
will be ready today, viii go to the
plant of the Alexandria County Llgnt
inc Company to be used in boiler tests
and is expected to show great saw
inc in fuel, greater ease in handling
and demonstrate beyond question It's
suocrioritv to coal for steam produc-
ton. :.
stcam-heating plants. furnaces ana
stoves. this new fuel will be equally
valuable and economical.
The plant is built in units IN 1at-
tcries of four. each unit ol when
will produce $50 tons per day. Or :.
total Of 1000 tons when the plant IS
exerted to its fullest capacity. AT
present there is one unit Of $50 tons
in operation. and another being IN
stalled. so that in 4 few DAYS the pro-
duction will reach 500 tors in "A hours
This fuel is the invention OF Mr..
". f. Trent, who is in active charge
Of the plant.