Copra and its Preparation 397 



out going through the heater. This provision 

 enables the temperature in the building to be 

 kept under control. The air from the heaters 

 and by-passes is forced up through the four 

 floors to the roof spaces. The four large 

 circulating fans draw most of the air from the 

 roof space down again into the ground floor, 

 whilst the rest escapes into the open air 

 through the two louvred turrets in the roofs, 

 one in each portion of the building. 



By means of the circulating fans all the air 

 is made to pass three or four times through 

 the floors, thus ensuring its picking up all the 

 moisture it can hold before leaving the build- 

 ing. All the fans are driven from shafts in 

 underground channels, as shown on the 

 diagram, and these shafts are driven in turn 

 from two oil engines, which can be used to 

 drive the lifts. 



It will be noticed that the machinery is in 

 two sets, one at each end of the building, 

 which is divided into two, each half being 

 supplied with its own stoves, fans, &c. The 

 advantages of this are apparent, and include : 

 (i) In case of a breakdown, or to repair the 

 floor, &c., work is not altogether stopped ; (2) 

 filling and emptying the chambers can be 

 carried on more quickly and with less waste of 

 drying time than if the whole building had to 

 be emptied or filled at once ; (3) when the 

 building has been filled and all is ready to 

 start drying, the air can get warmed to the 



