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Show fflOHEDT IS EM) j Colonel E. A. Vall Says Process Is Feasible for j Entire City. A smokeless city is entirely feasible, j according to Colonel iZ. A. Wall, mine operator, who resides at 4! 1 Last South j Temple street. Colonel Wall took up the 'study of the smoke elimination problem J eighteen months ago, and has perfected a process adaptable to large or small furnaces fur-naces which he says entirely eradicates smoke. Colonel Wall says that the success of the process depends upon the proper mixture mix-ture of oxygon with the fuel. if mixed properly tiie thermal value of the coal dust is strengthened by the constant addition ad-dition of oxygen until the former is exhausted ex-hausted entirely. To prepare the coal for usejn a furnace supplied with the devices, the lumps of coal are placed in an air-tight receptacle and a sufficient pressure applied to crush them into powder. Naturally, a certain per cent of the coal mixes wiih the air and rises. To prevent an explosion there is a large pipe attached to the bin containing con-taining the powdered coal, the other end of which opens into the furnace. By means of a vacuum the dust is drawn j from the bin into the furnace and automatically auto-matically feeds the flame. This, however. how-ever. Colonel Wall explains, is only practicable prac-ticable where the concern is a big one using a large quantity of coal and in a position to keep a largo coal crusher in constant use, or when the diminishing coal supply demands it. For smaller places, apartment houses or dwellings with furnaces installed, a much simpler operation prepares the coal for consumption. The quantity to be crushed Is moistened to any degree necessary. Experiment proved that the powder will burn better when 12 per cent water is mixed with it than it will in a dry condition. con-dition. When damp there is no accumulation accumu-lation of dust and consequently no danger of an explosion, as there would be otherwise, other-wise, unless the proper suction were provided pro-vided to carry away the cloud of floating dust. Colonel Wall declares that one man can operate a dozen or more furnaces, as he has only to see that the coal supply is not exhausted. The furnace feeds by means of a narrow slit in the front, from which a constant stream of the moistened powder falls onto the flame. If the fire is too warm, reduce re-duce the feed, and vice versa. If, through neglect or forgetfulness the supply of coal I powder is exhausted, the fire goes out. j There is never danger of an explosion i and the furnace works automatically. Colonel Wall says. Unless a private residence Is provided with a furnace, Colonel Wall does not j believe that the smokeless process can be used with success, as a continuous fire is necessary for best results. He does not recommend it for a small one-room stove, but considers it a big saving for furnaces, whether large or small. Colonel Wall declares that in a recent demonstration he proved that one pound of i"nn 1 vi 1 1 nnntn n : mncli n a olivon pounds of water. He also contends that 1200 pounds of the prepared dust is equivalent equiv-alent in energy production to one ton of coal. This, Colonel Wall says, is not an assumption, but proved to be an actual fact by demonstration. Instead of smoke, Colonel Wall says, there is a tiny emission of white steam vapor which is almost invisible. A fifty horsepower engine has had its potential force doubled, Colonel Wall declares, de-clares, and he believes the maximum is not yet reached. "In the recent war," he says, "many a ship was trailed by the path of smoke it left behind. The invention would te a tremendous benefit to ocean steamers, besides improving the smoke-ridden cities of our country. My original idea was not pecuniary gain,, but solely to find a cure for the smoke evil. I have nothing to sell. The perfection of the plan interests me, not the financial side." |