CHAE HOUSE. KTLNS, ETC. 373 



The descripiii n of the same was prepared by the Colwell Iron- 

 Works, of Xew York City. The mau-holes at the bottom of the fil- 

 ters are not represented in the plate, since the filtei-s are in two rows 

 with the man-holes opposite the side shown in the plate. The driers, 

 also mentioned in the description, are not represented in thfe plate, 

 but the general arrangement of this portion of the sugar-house will 

 appear sufficiently clear to the reader. 



The char house is acknowledged to be the most important branch of 

 sugar refining, for without it white sugar can not be made to advan- 

 tage; and to properly revivify the char, much ingenuity has been ex- 

 pended. As many as 172 distinct patents for drying, revivifying, and 

 cooling the char preparatory to filling the filters, have been granted. 



The char house and filtering department should be adjacent, so that 

 the spent char from the filters can be delivered in as short a time as 

 possible to the driers on the top of the kUns, and the revivified char 

 from the coolers under the kilns may be transferred to the dusting ar- 

 rangement and deposit tank for the char over the filters. 



We will now follow the course of the char, and suppose it has been 

 received from the filter, and placed in the drier. 



The char, in its slow descent through the drier, constantly pi-e- 

 sents new surfaces to the action of the in-goitg air, carrying ofl' the 

 aramoniacal gases, and leaves the drier almost at boiling point, so that 

 after a few minutes exposure to the ojien air it is quite dry on the sur- 

 face. These driers, when applied to the old style of kilns, have in- 

 creased the capacity about 25 per cent. 



The char is received in a bin. which is directly over the top of the 

 retorts ; and. as the char is drawn from the coolers imderneath the 

 kiln, the retort is charged; thus being continuous in its action, and 

 requiring no men on the kiln head, trampling, shoveling, turning, and 

 pitching the char about, so as to dry it as much as possible before it 

 enters the pipes ; for it is admitted that, without the drier, fully two- 

 thirds of the fuel is consumed to expel the moisture before the char 

 begins to purify, filling the char house with steam and gases, whUe 

 with the drier it is the best ventilated portion of the house. 



The char now passes to the retort pipes which, in the ordinary kiln, 

 are of cast iron, of an oval pattern, 3 x 12 inches inside set — twelve 

 or more on eacli side of the fire-place, which is about eighteen inches 

 wide by eight feet long. The retorts are entirely surrounded by afire- 

 brick wall, outside of which are the flues, into which the gases escaj^e 

 through small holes back of the retorts. Passing up these side flues, 

 they join in front or back and are delivered under the drier into a flue, 



