coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

54 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
"cussing" I have about come to the conclusion
that where the chemists are so far apart in their
determinations of the phosphorus constituent of
the coke or coal as the case may be, that in all
probability the method of
SAMPLING AND TUB PREPARATION
of the same have a great deal to do with the difficulty
referred to.
A short time ago my attention was called to the
fact that a certain heretofore low phosphorus coke
was changing its complexion. I could not believe
this at first, but, as you no doubt know, these
chemists have such a persuasive way about them
that I was compelled to sit up and take notice.
Remembering my experience in the past as cited
to you in other paragraphs of this paper, I advised
the parties interested to go after the coal
and the result v/as that in a certain section of the
mine where the pillars were being taken out the
coal upon analysis ran up to .077 in phosphorus,
which would be equivalent to .115 in the coke.
A short distance away from the point just named
going westward the phosphorus showing was .040
or .060 in the coke equivalent. It would be as
well to remember that the phosphorus showing in
a given sample of coke is generally about one-half
higher than that shown by the coal analysis.
The culprit having been caught, as it were, at
the fountain head, a series of samples were taken
on a westward course and this resulted in getting
results as given by the following figures: These
figures stand in the order of the sampling as it
proceeded westward: .032, .029, .021, .012, .011, .011,
.010, .009, .009, .008, .006, .006, .006, .005.
I have not been able to figure out just what law
this diminution of the phosphorus contents in coal
works under, but it certainly was a godsend to
the parties to discover that the high phosphorus
coal existed only in a very small portion of
THE MINE TERRITORY.
yet the results of the coke analyses were not entirely
satisfactory, at least not as good as a small
quantity of high phosphorus coal output would indicate.
In view of this fact the next thing to be
done was to follow up the coke problem.
When this difficulty first appeared samples were
taken from the coke cars as follows: A typical
piece was taken at one end of the coke car, one
was taken from the middle and a third from the
remaining end of the car while the same was in
process of being unloaded. This, of course, meant
three samples from each car and made quite a
bulky pile when any considerable number of cars
were sampled. The samples gotten in this way
were gathered up and reduced by hand to a general
sample. This did not bring the expected
results. Full length samples were then taken
from every oven at three different points and again
reduced to general samples. Still there was
trouble. Finally, at the suggestion of a chemist
of well known ability and experience, samples
were taken at several points in each oven, such
points being designated on a blue print showing a
horizontal section of the whole oven, such section
being divided into three concentric circles of equal
area and samples taken in such number and such
points as to give a fairly accurate sampling of the
whole of the output of tlie ovens under observation
and consideration. This was the best method
of all but still things did not seem to "gee" just
as they should. At this stage it was apparent
that the method of gathering up and the division
of the samples for procuring a general sample of
the coke was largely responsible for the difficulty,
and I so intimated this to said chemist. He
came to my aid again and suggested that a "Chipmunk
crusher" might
BE A GOOD THING
to get and use in connection with the sampling of
coke. A "Chipmunk crusher" was installed and
the results were of a most encouraging character;
in fact, the crusher nearly eliminated the trouble.
In conclusion will say that there are still some
features bobbing up occasionally that furnish food
for reflection, but I believe there is not the slightest
doubt that the bulk of the phosphorus trouble
in question came through the poor methods of
sampling and the lack of knowledge as to the best
method to be adopted in that connection.
This paper is not intended to be final, but
rather written with a view to open up an intelligent
discussion as to what can be laid down in
the way of a method of procedure that will attain
or reach the best possible practice along the lines
of coke sampling and the preparation of same for
the chemist's work which is certainly of the greatest
importance to both coke producers and iron
smelters.
Perhaps it would be as well to state that this
paper was written principally from a Bessemer
coke standpoint, i. e„ on coke that w*as intended
to be used in connection with the Bessemer process
of refining iron. In the case of iron smelting that
later on is to be refined by Basic process, phosphorus
is not nearly so serious a question, as that
element is taken care of in the open hearth furnace:
however, there is a limit to the percentage
of phosphor*;s that can be tolerated even there.
On petition of Stephen H. Tallman, of New Jersey,
Judge Scott of the Henrico, Va„ circuit court
named H. T. Lemist receiver for the Old Dominion
Development Co., which operates several coal mines
in Henrico, Va. Mr. Lemist is manager of the
company. The court proceedings were by mutual
consent of parties concerned.