CANE SUGAE. 



tons of megass are equal to a ton of average coal. Woods, weight for weight 

 and 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 heing, of course, the water content. 

 ane straw contains as a rule ahout 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 15,00016,000 



Pennsylvania Anthracite .. n .. 15,00016,000 



Newcastle 14,00014,500 



Lancashire 14,00014,500 



Scotch 13,00014,000 



Australian 13,00014,000 



Indian 13,00014,000 



Patent Fuel 15,00016,000 



Air-dried wood 25 per cent, moisture . . . . 4,5005,000 



Green Megass 45 per cent, water 4,500 



Cane Straw 10 per cent, water 7,500 



Molasses 25 per cent, water 4,500 



Petroleum 16,00017,000 



Carbon 14,400 



Fuel Value of Molasses. Molasses are occasionally used as fuel 

 in sugar factories. Calculated from its analysis a molasses of composition 

 sugar, 35 per cent., glucose, 25 per cent., organic non-sugar, 13 per cent, 

 water, 20 per cent., ash, 7 per cent., will afford on combustion about 4500 

 B.T.U. per Ib. ; actual determinations by Atwater 8 have given a value of 6956 

 B.T.U. per Ib. of dry matter. The simplest, and a very efficient, way to burn 

 molasses is to let it fall on to the megass on its way to the furnaces. In 

 other cases the molasses are ' atomised,' and burnt in a special furnace, or, in 

 conjunction with the megass, in the furnaces initially designed for their com- 

 bustion. 



Fuel Value of Cane Straw. 9 Determinations of the fuel value of 

 cane straw by Hoogewerf gave per Ib. of dry matter 7841 B.T.U. per Ib. ; 

 Kooning and Bienfait found a value of 7407 B.T.U. per Ib. 



Control of the Fuel Consumption. A factory working up 1000 

 tons of cane per day burns more or less 240 tons of megass ; this megass is equal 

 in value to about 60 tons of coal, and at the furnace mouth is then worth not less 

 than 120 ; if all this fuel were bought it is inconceivable that a most careful 

 control would not be kept ; even if no extra fuel is burnt economy in fuel may 

 mean a higher dilution and better extraction, and in many cases any extra 

 megass may be used in a distillery, as fuel for pumps, and in the future 

 possibly as a source of paper. A fuel control may be obtained as indicated 

 very briefly below. 



420 



