MECHANICAL RESEARCH 



The projects and other services carried out by the Mechanical Section 

 are described below. 



Conifer Leaf Still - Continuous Process Type 



Although the batch type still, which was completed and tested during 

 the previous year, did cut down on the extraction time considerably, it left 

 much to be desired in the way of putting the oil extraction process on a paying 

 basis. 



In an attempt to increase the oil yield per hour, the design and con- 

 struction of a continuous process stiU was undertaken. The advantage of this 

 type of apparatus is that the raw material is fed continuously through the still 

 at a pre-determined rate. This eliminates the loading and unloading time and 

 heating up period between each batch. 



Preliminary tests of this new still indicated that additional improve- 

 ments would be necessary in order to make this process economically sound. 



Recognizing the fact that the best oil yield that can be realized lies be- 

 tween one half and one percent of the weight of raw material treated, and that 

 only the leaves contain oil, some means must be provided to entirely separate 

 the useless wood, which if put through the still occupies a large percentage of 

 its total capacity. 



Practical measurements and calculations have shown that the output 

 could be increased from eight to ten times if this useless wood material could 

 be eliminated. This problem will be attacked in the near future. 



Although the present still is quite small, it would treat 400 pounds of 

 pure leaves per hour, which should give an oil yield of between two to three 

 pounds per hour. 



With a market price of oil at $1. 50 per pound, this apparatus would 

 realize up to $4. 50 per hour. 



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