Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Volume 139 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 Excerpt: ...it was at times difficult to keep the furnaces alight, particularly where there was natural draught only. Stress was laid upon this point because it had been stated that the average calorific value of London refuse was equal to 0-99 lb. of water per pound of refuse burnt, and it could hardly be suggested that Shoreditch was an average class London district. In many of the suburbs the refuse would be of an inferior value. Various authorities had, since the erection of the Shoreditch Works, looked upon electrio lighting as accessory to a dust-destructor. This, speaking generally, was not justifiable. In many towns the supply and character of the refuse would be found quite inefficient to meet the requirements of the electrio lighting installation; in such cases the steam could be more usefully applied for running machinery in municipal workshops, for planing, drilling, sawing, slab-making, &c., and the electriclighting works might with advantage be kept at a greater distance from the dust and dirt of the destructor and clinker yard. Even at Shoreditch the use of coal was necessary to assist the furnaces, but where this was adopted a prudent course would be to have separate furnaces, and not reduce the value of the coal by burning it in conjunction with the refuse; and, further, it should be noted, in taking the results as a guide, that for the year ending June, 1898, nearly 10 per cent. of the refuse burnt was trade refuse. This would not obtain in an ordinary residential town or suburb. With regard to the construction of the destructor, there were many types of furnaces, but, as the Paper appeared to deal more Mr. Lovegrove. particularly with the raising of steam for power-plant, it would perhaps be sufficient to refer to the question of the position of ...