FUEL RESEARCH BOARD. This board was appointed in Great Britain in 1917 as one of the research boards of the newly formed Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, "to in vestigate the nature, preparation and utilization of fuel of all kinds, both in the laboratory, and, when necessary, on an industrial scale." Sir George Beilby, F.R.S., was the first chairman of the board and director of fuel research. He retired in 1923 when Sir Richard Threlfall, G.B.E., F.R.S., was appointed chairman, and Dr. C. H. Lander, C.B.E., M.Inst.C.E., director of fuel research.
Two main lines of enquiry have been pursued : (r) a survey and classification of the coal seams in the various mining districts, and (2) an investigation of the practical problems which must be solved if any large proportion of the raw coal at present burned in its natural state is to be replaced by the various forms of fuel obtainable from coal by carbonization and "gasification" processes.
Coal is not a definite homogeneous substance, and its composi tion and properties vary greatly in the different seams, and even throughout a single seam, but comparatively little is known as to the precise variations that occur. The object of the physical and chemical survey of the national coal resources is to determine the variations that occur, the purposes for which each seam is best fitted and the best means of preparing each coal for the market. Local laboratories are established for this purpose in the various coalfields, and advisory committees, on which the coal owners and mine managers are represented, have been appointed in the various areas.
The second main line of investigation is being carried out at the fuel research station at East Greenwich, London, where full size retorts, boilers, coal cleaning plant, etc., are installed, as well as the necessary laboratories. The general idea of the station is that the operation of treating coal should be carried out in plant of a size used in commercial practice, but with equipment and methods of control to allow of an accuracy of measurement closely approaching that of laboratory work. The plant includes settings of vertical and horizontal gas retorts, each with a nominal capacity of ten tons of coal a day. The amount of coal carbonized in 1927 amounted to 4,500 tons, producing over 68 million cubic feet of gas. Low temperature carbonization has been intensively studied and a type of retort for this purpose developed. Some 1,600 tons of coal were treated by this method in 1927. A complete coal washery has been installed containing examples of six different types of washers, as well as screening plant. Boilers, water-gas plant, producer plant, and briquetting plant, are provided. The production of oil from coal by the Bergius method of hydrogena tion is being studied in a plant with a capacity of one ton of coal a day. The object of these experiments is two-fold : (I) to as certain the suitability of the various coals for the different treat ments, and (2) to improve the efficiency of the treatments. The inception of the station is due to the imagination and foresight of the late Sir George Beilby, and it provides unique facilities for the work required. The cost of the work carried out under the director of fuel research is met from the funds voted by parliament, and amounts to between £8o,000 and £90,000 per annum. Detailed annual reports are published in England by H. M. Stationery Office. (C. H. L.)