FUEL ECONOMY AND THE CARBONIZATION OF COAL. 
almost free from inert constituents, and of a thermal efficiency in the 
process approximating 80 per cent.. When the full bearing of these 
apparently contrasting but really complementary systems of carboniza- 
tion comes to be realized, conclusions (1) and (2) of the Nitrogen Pro- 
ducts Committee will require re-statement. 
Large-scale electricity generation and supply involves often long- 
distance transmission of current to the areas of distribution. It is 
curious that the alternative of transmitting gas under high pressure has 
received so little attention from engineers, although it is possible to 
show that, for equal bulks of power delivered, the capital and transmis- 
sion costs are smaller for high-grade gas than for high-voltage current, 
whilst gas has two advantages peculiar to itself, viz.:—(i) It can be 
stored comparatively cheaply at the distribution end; and,- therefore, 
when—as usual—the load-factor fluctuates, a much smaller generating 
‘plant is necessary for gas than for electricity. (ii) Gas can be distri- 
buted for direct heating at a cost of not more than one-third that of 
electricity. It is unfortunate that, whereas statistics of motor-power 
installed in a given area are usually available, records of the consumption 
of fuel for direct heating are entirely lacking; it is probable, however, 
that the fuel requirements of a city for direct heat are not less than 
one-half of the total fuel used for motive power, including electric 
lighting and heating. This is a point which requires careful considera- 
tion in any scheme involving the transmission of big blocks of power 
derived from coal over long distances. ; 
The key to the position. in the immediate future is to be sought in 
the unlimited demand for fuel-oils and motor spirit, the inadequacy 
of supply from the oil-fields, and the prospect of their early exhaus- 
tion. Oil from shale and industrial alcohol will come into requisition; 
but, in view of the bulk and world-wide area of supply, the world will 
learn in future to look more and more to coal to supply its need of fuel 
oils. This will lead to the establishment of large carbonization industries 
on the coal-fields. The surplus gas, supplemented by gas directly pro- 
duced by complete gasification of coal, will be piped under pressure to 
cities for distribution or for power generation. Solid fuel will not thus 
be entirely displaced, but the coke residue of the carbonization process 
~-either as such or in the form of briquettes or pulverized fuel—will 
take the place of raw coal for power generation and heating industrially 
and domestically. : 66 j 9° 
Coal prices have risen rapidly in recent years; but, if the forecasts 
above made are sound, it is of the utmost importance that the public 
should realize that every check to economical production of raw coal, or 
unnecessary iticrease in its price, involves a heavy tax on the community 
and an abridgment of its wealth. 
: 1R4:a0e, AP. 
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