BAGASSE AS FUEL 471 



of the same water content, have practically identical values ; air-dried 

 wood usually contains from 20 per cent, to 30 per cent, of water and from 3 

 to 3 5 tons are equal to a ton of average coal. Molasses are of very similar 

 value to wood, the predominant factor being, of course, the water content. 

 Cane straw contains as a rule about 10 per cent, moisture and from 2-5 to 

 3 tons are equal to a ton of coal. A table giving a comparison of fuel values 

 follows : 



Gross B.T.U. 

 Fuel. per Ib. 



Welsh Steam .. 15,000 16,000 



Pennsylvania Anthracite .. .. .. .. 15,000 16,000 



Newcastle 14,000 14,500 



Lancashire . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,000 14,500 



Scotch . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,000 14,000 



Australian .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,000 14,000 



Indian . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,000 14,000 



Patent Fuel .. 15,000 16,000 



Air-dried wood 25 per cent, moisture . . . . 4,500 5,000 



Green Bagasse 45 per cent, water . . . . 4,5o 



Cane Straw 10 per cent, water . . . . . . 7,500 



Molasses 25 per cent, water ... .. .. 4,5 



Petroleum .. 16,000 17,000 



Carbon .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,400 



Fuel Value of Molasses. Atwater found 6956 B.T.U. per pound of dry 

 matter ; Norris 4 obtained 4759 and 5137 B.T.U. for molasses containing 

 20 -8 and 21-9 per cent, of water and 14-1 and 8-4 per cent, of ash. Hooge- 

 werf 14 found 5275 B.T.U. for a sample with 19-4 per cent, of water. 



The great trouble that has always been experienced in burning molasses 

 in combination with bagasse is the formation of a large amount of ash and 

 clinker. During the campaign of 1914-15 special molasses furnaces and 

 boilers were erected in Hawaii both to burn the molasses and to recover the 

 potash in the ash. 



The molasses were burnt on a hearth in an extended furnace, the ash in 

 part remaining on the hearth and in part being deposited on the flues. 

 Under a i6-ft. X 6- ft. horizontal fire- tube boiler there was burnt per hour 

 880 Ibs. of molasses, which afforded 1,476 Ibs. steam and 77 Ibs. ash. 



It will be iound, however, that it is only when the cost of fuel is exces- 

 sively high, or when the value of molasses is abnormally low, that it is 

 economical to burn this material, even allowing for the recovery and sale of 

 the potash. 



Fuel Value of Cane Straw. Hoogewerf 14 found 7841, Koenig and Bien- 

 fait 11 7409, and Norris 4 7780 B.T.U. per Ib. of dry matter. 



