THE COST OF OIL FIRING.

AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE FROM CHILI.
By A WELL-KNOWN ENGINEER.

In these days of almost continual coal crisis, many steam users have turned their thoughts to oil firing, and in the chemical industries generally much furnace work can, of course, be carried out very easily and efficiently by oil. The subject is, however, a complicated one, but the essential facts are obviously that oil is far too expensive per unit of heat utilised in the furnace to hope to compete with coal. The whole matter is one of simple calculation, with, say, oil at 18,000 B.Th. U. per lb., and 75 per cent. efficiency in a cylindrical steam boiler as against coal at 11,500 B.Th.U., and 65 per cent., taking approximately average conditions, and very roughly oil will about double the fuel bill under normal conditions in Great Britain. The advantages of coal in this connection, in other countries besides Great Britain, are well illustrated in a recent publication issued by the Department of Overseas Trade (London) entitled " Report on Industrial and Economic Situation in Chile." In this it is pointed out that steamship owners in the latter country are becoming much more keenly interested in improved methods of coal burning because of the continued increase in the cost of oil. The report states that in February, 1923, a coasting steamer that had been burning oil fuel under the boilers since 1913 was equipped with special furnaces" supplied by a London firm to burn Chilean coal screenings." The results proved so satisfactory compared with oil fuel and the ordinary run of mine coal, that three other vessels, also running on the South American coast trade, have been or are being similarly equipped.

The above statement in the report refers to the "Turbine " forced draught steam jet furnace, which has proved to be quite capable of burning the local Chilean friable coal, high in sulphur content, and a number of other ships will be fitted in addition to those mentioned. In the Department of Overseas Trade Report it is also pointed out that in the nitrate fields of Chile several boiler plants have gone back to coal because of the high price of oil, and it may be added that one of these, at Antofagasta, is fitted with "Turbine 99 furnaces. Incidentally,

also, Chili is determined to produce her own liquid fuel by low temperature carbonisation and has recently opened an extensive Government Research Institution at Valpairiso.

There is no question that the practice of burning oil under steam boilers is unscientific in principle and that all liquid fuel should be utilised in the internal combustion engine, while, incidentally, it is doubtful whether in most cases oil for steam generation under marine conditions is such a commercially sound proposition as it is made out to be, even bearing in mind the extra cargo capacity and easy bunkering. But for land practice in most countries, coal is undoubtedly the better commercial proposition under average conditions of operation, while a still further saving can be obtained by adopting more scientific methods both as regards improving the thermal efficiency and utilising any cheaper solid fuels that may be available. Thus the average steam boiler plant only operates at about 60 per cent., as it well-known, but 70 per cent. can be obtained without difficulty.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The one hundred and seventy-second annual general meeting for the purpose of receiving the Report of the Council, and the Treasurers' statement of receipts and payments during the past year, and also for the election of officers and new fellows, was held in accordance with the by-laws on Wednesday, June 30th, at 4 p.m., at the rooms John Street, Adelphi, London, Sir Thomas H. Holland, K.C.I.S., K.C.I.E., D.Sc., F.R.S., Chairman of the Council, in the chair.

The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting, and the minutes of the last annual general meeting, held on June 24th, 1925.

The Chairman reviewed the year's work and delivered an address on "The Organisation of Scientific Recearch throughout the Empire."

OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR. President-H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K.C.

Vice-Presidents-Sir Charles H. Armstrong; Sir Charles Stuart Bayley, G.C.I.E., K.C.S.I.; Viscount Bearsted, LL.D.; Lord

Bledisloe, K.B.E.; *Sir Dugald Clerk, K.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.S.; Sir Edward A. Gait, K.C.S.I., C.IE.; Sir Robert Abbot Hadfield, Bt., D.Sc., F.R.S.; Sir Thomas Holland, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., D.Sc.. F.R.S.; Sir Herbert Jackson, K.B.E., F.R.S.; Sir Robert Kindersley, G.B.E.; Major Sir Humphrey Leggett, R.E., D.S.O.; Sir Charles C. McLeod, Bt.; Sir Philip Magnus, Bt.; Sir John O. Miller, K.C.S.I.; Duke of Northumberland, K.G.; Hon. Sir Charles A. Parsons, K.C.B., LL.D., D.Sc., F.R.S.; Sir George Sutton, Bt.; *Alan A. Campbell Swinton, F.R.S.; J. Augustus Voelcker, M.A., Ph.D.; Sir Charles Wakefield, Bt., C.B.E.; Sir Frank Warner, K.B.E.; *Sir Henry Trueman Wood, M.A.; Sir Alfred Yarrow, Bt., F.R.S.; M.Inst.C.E.

Ordinary Members of Council-Llewelyn B. Atkinson, M.I.E.E.; Sir Frank Baines, C.V.O., C.B.E.; Captain Sir Arthur Clarke, K.B.E.; Sir William Henry Davison, K.B.E., D.L., M.P.; Sir Archibald Denny, Bt., LL.D.; Rear-Admiral James de Courcy Hamilton, M.V.O.; Col. Sir Arthur Holbrook, K.B.E., M.P.; Sir Reginald A. Mant, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.; Sir Richard Redmayne, K.C.B.; Carmichael Thomas; Professor J. M. Thomson, F.R.S.; Lt.-Col. Sir Arnold T. Wilson, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., C.M.G., D.S.O.

Treasurers (Two to be elected).-Lord Askwith, K.C.B., K.C., D.C.L., Peter MacIntyre Evans, M.A., LL.D.

Secretary George Kenneth Menzies,

M.A.

*Nominated by H.R.H. the President.

STANDARD TURPENTINE, WHITE SPIRIT AND LINSEED OIL.

The British Engineering Standards Association has recently issued British Standard Specification 243-1926 white spirit, Type 1, for paints; No. 244-1926 turpentine, Type 1, for paints; and No. 245-1926 raw linseed oil for paints. They contain clauses regulating the composition, together with standard reception tests, for the purchase of white spirit, turpentine and raw linseed oil for paints and appendices, giving methods of carrying out the tests. These specifications have been prepared at the request of the paint manufacturers by a committee representative of both the buy

ing and manufacturing interests, and, as in the cas of all British standard specifications, they will be reviewed as experience. of their working or progress in the industry renders it necessary, and revised issues will be published from time to time. Among other specifications in hand which will be published as completed are the following: Painting Materials: Boiled linseed oil, zinc oxide, zinc oxide oil paste, barytes, asbestone, red oxides of iron, lead chrome and Prussian blues. Ready-mixed Linseed Oil Paints White lead, tinted white lead, zinc oxide, tinted zinc oxide, black, green and red oxide of iron. Oil Varnishes: Interior, exterior, rubbing and extra hard drying.

ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIES.

The Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaux has just issued the Report (price 5s.), of the second Conference held at Oxford last year. The object of the Association is to facilitate the coordination and systematic use of sources of information in science, industry and public affairs, i.e., to examine, foster, and coordinate the activities of special libraries, information bureaux, and similar services; to act as a clearing house for these services; to develop the usefulness and efficiency of special libraries and information bureaux under whatever titles they may function; and generally to promote, whether by conferences, meetings or other means, the wider dissemination and the systematic use of published information.

The Association aims at assisting members who desire information of any kind to get into touch with the appropriate library or other body specialising on the subject; it will not itself attempt to build up any centralised organisation to provide the detailed information direct.

It is the endeavour of the Association to establish the principle of free interchange of non-confidential information.

Many distinguished librarians and educationalists participated in the discussions. Among the subjects considered, mention may be made of the following which are of special interest to scientific readers :-Technical translations, Classification Cataloguing, Filing, Abstracting,

Patents.

and

and

ew Patents.

These particulars of New Patents of interest to Readers have been selected from the Official Journal of Patents, and are published by special permission of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office.

Latest Patent Applications. 16,021.-Bury, E.-Treating zinc waste. June 25th. 15,951.-Castner-Kellner Alkali Co., Ltd. -Process of manufacturing ammonium chloride. June 25th. 16,064. Koehler, W. Forming metal compounds involving phosphorus. June 25th.

15,936. Suida, H.-Preparation of concentrated acetic acid. June 24th. Specification Published.

232,264.-Pereira, H.-Process for manufacturing perylene quinones. 253,291.-Pease, E. L.-Manufacture of

fertilisers.

243,667.-Le Bris, G.-Process for obtaining electrolytic deposits of chromium.

253,623.-Harold, C. H. H.-Preparation of sterilising agents, germicides, and the like.

231,853.-Petersen, H.-Process of obtaining sulphuric acid.

232,581.-Austral Pigments, Ltd.-Manufacture of ferric oxide.

235,159.-Udylite Process Co. Electroplating with cadmium.

244,747. Soc. of Chemical Industry in Basle. Manufacture of derivatives of pyridine-3-carboxylic acid.

The Latest

TRADE MARKS

This list of Trade Marks of interest to Readers has been selected from the Official Trade Marks Journal, and is Published by permission of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office.

WESTCOM.

470,027.-Chemical substances used in manufactures and anti-corrosives. -The Western Commercial Co.,

Ltd., 248, West George Street,
Glasgow, C.2. June 30th.
BOVIDERA.

459,209.-Chemical substances used for veterinary and sanitary purposes,

and insecticides. Lauritz Christian Borup, Boldhusgade 4, Copenhagen, Denmark. June 30th. THORACIDE. 466,019.-Fungicides for horticultural purposes for spraying, painting or washing trees.-J. H. Dennis and Co., Ltd., 21 to 23a, British Columbia House, 3, Regent Street, London, S.W.1. June 30th. BONILAX.

468,335.-Chemical substances prepared for use in medicine and pharmacy. -Taylors' Drug Co., Ltd., 347 to 359, Burley Hill, Leeds, Yorkshire.