Fuel, Prepared

Syn. Compre ed fuel , Patent f. , Steam f. Many artificial fuels are now in use. The greater number have one character in common—they are composed of small coal cemented by some bituminous matter. The following are the principal kinds:— Fuel, Aberdare Patent Steam. From the ‘small’ of the South Wales Steam Coal mixed with coal, pitch, and compre ed by hydraulic machinery. The pitch is broken up, and thoroughly mixed with the small coal over a furnace, in iron pans, in which shafts with obliquely attached blades are continually revolving. The mixture is afterwards pre ed into iron moulds by a force equal to about 2 1 ⁄ 2 tons per inch. The weight of a cubic foot of this excellent fuel is 80 lbs.; the space occupied by 1 ton, 28 cubic feet. Fuel, Case and Morris’s Patent. From the ‘small’ of the ‘best steam coal,’ ground moderately fine, treated so as to absorb a certain portion of liquid coal tar, and then pre ed by machinery into blocks. It is said to occupy le space by about 10% than ordinary coal. Fuel, Grant’s Patent. This is formed of coal dust, 1 cwt., and coal-tar pitch, 20 lbs., melted together by a heat of 220° Fahr., and moulded into blocks the size of common bricks, under a pre ure of 5 or 6 tons. These are, lastly, whitewashed. It is heavier than common steam coal, and is said to go fully one third further, by which facility of transport and economy is combined. Fuel, Purified Block. This is prepared by the torrefaction of washed coal dust, and is said to po e in a remarkable degree the advantages of both coke and steam coal.