UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
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BULLETIN No. 747 
Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry 
JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief 
*i\^"^-rei 
Washington, D. C. 
January 9, 1919 
THE ECONOMICAL USE OF FUEL IN MILK PLANTS 
AND CREAMERIES. 
By John T. Bo wen, Technologist, Dairy Division. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Importance of reducing waste 1 
Comparison of fuel consumption in different 
creameries 2 
Construction of boiler settings 6 
Construction of furnaces 10 
Hand firing of boiler furnaces 18 
Air leaks 23 
Page. 
Belt-driven pumps 26 
Steam leaks 27 
Heat losses from bare pipe, 27 
Selection of power 28 
Utilizing the exhaust steam 31 
Distribution of heat energy from combustion 
of coal 42 
IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING WASTE; 
The rapid increase in the cost of fuel and. the probability that the 
present high price will continue makes the efficient use of fuel in com- 
mercial plants a question of the greatest importance. In the produc- 
tion of steam power, even in the most up-to-date plants, fuel is by 
far the largest item of expense. The boiler room, consequently, is 
the most important part of the plant so far as the cost of produc- 
tion of power is concerned and therefore should receive careful 
attention. 
It should be the aim of every person in charge of a power plant to 
obtain the greatest efficiency possible, which means the elimination 
of waste — waste of fuel and material, waste of energy, and waste of 
time and effort. In order to determine the source and the amount 
of loss it is necessary to keep records and make tests, and- then, one 
must devise means to eliminate the losses or reduce them to a mini- 
mum. After determining the total of the various losses the question 
is Whether or not it will pay to correct them. The limit to the capi- 
tal and labor that should be expended in making changes and re- 
pairs is the point, where the interest on the money invested in mate- 
rial, labor, repairs, and depreciation balances the saving in operation 
expense. Beyond that point it is commercially not good policy to go. 
82693°— 19 1 
