Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt:...regard to the major part; but that a considerable evolution of the stronger gas takes place is certain. fuels than coke and charcoal may be used in this form of smelting. Even the most volatile gases may probably be made use of, such, for example, as ordinary illuminating gas, natural gas, etc. Following this train of reasoning I was led to experiment with wood, which eventually I used, not as a mere makeshift, but regularly and successfully in practical work. The innovation evoked the criticisms of certain metallurgical acquaintances, who, not understanding the drift of my work, and perhaps imagining that their own experience and knowledge covered the whole field, were disposed to sneer at what they considered a pitiable makeshift. The advantages in its use were threefold: first, obviating the waste by inferior oxidation, which advantage is inherent in pyritic smelting; second, the employment of a fuel cheaper per unit of calorific power; third, a useful mechanical effect in rendering the charge less dense and thereby facilitating the passage of the blast. In order not to mislead the reader I will add that I have not been able to replace more than half the coke with wood. My experiments in the use of coal in the pyritic furnace have been but slight and inconclusive, nor am I aware of others of a more thorough nature; but from analogy there should be important economies in the use of proper kinds of coal, and no technical difficulties therein. My conclusion, however, was that a portion of the fuel should be of a strong dense kind, not burning too freely, but passing well down into the tuyere region, so as to burn there and produce the hearth temperature needed to perform the work of melting. The use of too light and fragile a fuel, which...