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By R. A. Morse, W. W. Owens, D. R. Parrish, T. M. Geffen

Laboratory studies of several factors affecting measurements of relative permeability were made using the three-section plastic-covered core technique. Results show that the core assembly, properly constructed, will perform as a single unit, and that the testing technique will, under suitable conditions of pressure gradient, gas expansion, and migration of partial water saturation, permit measurement of flow characteristics not affected by technique. Wettability equilibrium is readily established in cores exhibiting strong wetting preference to water or oil when initially saturated with water. Laboratory tests must be conducted so that saturation changes represent those that occur in the reservoir. Immediate implications of saturation history are (1:) that the possibility exists of increasing the displacement efficiency of solution gas drive reservoirs over the natural process, and (2) residual gas saturations following water flooding in gas or gas condensate reservoirs will be 15 to 50 per cent pore space rather than 1 to 11 per cent as generally believed. INTRODUCTION Solutions of petroleum reservoir problems pertaining to production performance require the use of true relative permeability characteristics. 'This relationship of fluid conductivity and saturation has been obtained by reservoir engineers in four ways, namely: 1. From past gross reservoir performance and the extrapolation of this data based on experience,1,2 2. By using published fluid flow relationships obtained in laboratory studies on general type porous materials,3, 4, 5 3. By attempting a mathematical derivation of flow behavior," using some experimentally obtained characteristics of reservoir rocks, and 4. By laboratory flow tests using representative rock samples of a reservoir. The first three methods listed above have shortcomings which make their use limited or questionable. Production characteristics of only certain processes are obtained from field data and these are not available at the beginning of a reservoir's producing life, at which time they are desirable. It is fortuitous if general fluid flow characteristics obtained experimentally have accurate application to specific field problems. Also, it is felt that at this time there is not sufficient knowledge of the flow behavior of oil, water, and gas in porous materials to enable applicable analytical description of this to be made based on other measured rock characteristics. Measurement of relative permeability in the laboratory offers the only direct method subject to adequate checking for determination of flow characteristics applicable to field problems. Primarily, this paper deals with laboratory experiments to establish the effects of several factors on the measurement of relative permeability and the practical significance of this knowledge. Laboratory flow tests are essentially model studies; the gross reservoir being represented by a small rock sample. It is necessary to simulate in experiments all the factors of importance which influence flow in the reservoir, as well a.; to eliminate effects peculiar to the model studied to assure measurement of valid flow behavior. Factors which affect the measurement and behavior of fluid flow in porous materials have been studied by other investigators.3,7,8,9,10,11 This analysis is not intended to evaluate fully all factors involved, but to establish first the validity of measurements by the technique used and then study flow behavior under various conditions. The studies reported are as follows: 1. Effects of pressure gradient, 2. Effects of gas expansion in tests conducted at near atmospheric pressure, 3. Effects of migration of a partial water saturation in oil-gas-water systems, 4. Effects If wettability characteristics of the system. and 5. Effects of the fluid saturation history. The first three are important only in laboratory measure-

Jan 1, 1951

By H. I. Aaronson

Isothermally formed plates of proeutectoid a, lengthen at approximately the rates predicted by the Zener-Hillert equation, indicating that their lengthening kinetics are controlled by the volume diffusion of chromium in the ß matrix. Solution annealing treatments in the vicinity of the transus introduce a second mode of transformation, in which the lengthening rate is at least 1.8 x 104 faster than predicted by this equation. Little or no volume diffusion appears to accompany the latter transformation. The Presence of oxygen is evidently a Prerequisite for the occurrence of this reaction. X HE effects of thermal history prior to the initiation of transformations which proceed by nucleation and diffusional growth are currently evoking considerable interest. The rate of nucleation (but not the rates of growth) of pearlitel and of bainite,2 and the over-all rates of aging reactions in Al-cu3 and Al-si4 alloys have been shown to be appreciably dependent upon thermal history in the solid-solution region"' or in the two-phase region prior to the onset of pre~ipitation.3,4 In none of these reactions, however, was the transformation mechanism changed by variations in the temperature-time path used to reach the reaction temperature. Preliminary experiments reported by M. K. McQuillan5,8 and a systematic investigation by Farrar and Margolin7 have disclosed that the transformation behavior of hypoeutectoid Ti-Cr alloys is considerably more sensitive to thermal history. Qualitative evidence strongly suggests that not only the rate of nucleation but also the rate of growth and even the mechanism of the ß — a reaction can undergo remarkable changes when a solution annealing treatment in the vicinity of the ß/a +ß, or transus temperature, is interposed between a high-temperature solution anneal (conventionallq at 1000°C) and the isothermal reaction treatment. The present investigation was undertaken in an attempt to ascertain the nature and origin of these effects. Study of the changes in the kinetics and morphology of the ß - a, reaction produced by varialtions in thermal history was the primary means employed for this purpose. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The compositions of the alloys used in this in~esti~ation are given in Table I. These alloys were homogenized for 5 days at 1050° C in evacuated (2 x 10 -5 mm of Hg), zirconium-gettered fused quartz capsules. The capsules themselves were enclosed in a porcelain chamber evacuated with a mechanical pump during the homogenization anneals. Upon completion of homogenization, the alloys were cooled to room temperature and then reheated to 550°C for 3 1/2 days in order to transform the alloys to a finely divided mixture of a and TiCr2, and thus provide an approximately constant initial mi-crostructure. Individual specimens were sealed in evacuated and internally gettered Vycor capsules and heat treated as previously described.8,9 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Ti-10.64 Pet Cr. This investigation was largely performed on the 0.64 pet Cr alloy. The "base"

Jan 1, 1962

By D. R. Parrish, T. M. Geffen, R. A. Morse, W. W. Owens

Laboratory studies of several factors affecting measurements of relative permeability were made using the three-section plastic-covered core technique. Results show that the core assembly, properly constructed, will perform as a single unit, and that the testing technique will, under suitable conditions of pressure gradient, gas expansion, and migration of partial water saturation, permit measurement of flow characteristics not affected by technique. Wettability equilibrium is readily established in cores exhibiting strong wetting preference to water or oil when initially saturated with water. Laboratory tests must be conducted so that saturation changes represent those that occur in the reservoir. Immediate implications of saturation history are (1:) that the possibility exists of increasing the displacement efficiency of solution gas drive reservoirs over the natural process, and (2) residual gas saturations following water flooding in gas or gas condensate reservoirs will be 15 to 50 per cent pore space rather than 1 to 11 per cent as generally believed. INTRODUCTION Solutions of petroleum reservoir problems pertaining to production performance require the use of true relative permeability characteristics. 'This relationship of fluid conductivity and saturation has been obtained by reservoir engineers in four ways, namely: 1. From past gross reservoir performance and the extrapolation of this data based on experience,1,2 2. By using published fluid flow relationships obtained in laboratory studies on general type porous materials,3, 4, 5 3. By attempting a mathematical derivation of flow behavior," using some experimentally obtained characteristics of reservoir rocks, and 4. By laboratory flow tests using representative rock samples of a reservoir. The first three methods listed above have shortcomings which make their use limited or questionable. Production characteristics of only certain processes are obtained from field data and these are not available at the beginning of a reservoir's producing life, at which time they are desirable. It is fortuitous if general fluid flow characteristics obtained experimentally have accurate application to specific field problems. Also, it is felt that at this time there is not sufficient knowledge of the flow behavior of oil, water, and gas in porous materials to enable applicable analytical description of this to be made based on other measured rock characteristics. Measurement of relative permeability in the laboratory offers the only direct method subject to adequate checking for determination of flow characteristics applicable to field problems. Primarily, this paper deals with laboratory experiments to establish the effects of several factors on the measurement of relative permeability and the practical significance of this knowledge. Laboratory flow tests are essentially model studies; the gross reservoir being represented by a small rock sample. It is necessary to simulate in experiments all the factors of importance which influence flow in the reservoir, as well a.; to eliminate effects peculiar to the model studied to assure measurement of valid flow behavior. Factors which affect the measurement and behavior of fluid flow in porous materials have been studied by other investigators.3,7,8,9,10,11 This analysis is not intended to evaluate fully all factors involved, but to establish first the validity of measurements by the technique used and then study flow behavior under various conditions. The studies reported are as follows: 1. Effects of pressure gradient, 2. Effects of gas expansion in tests conducted at near atmospheric pressure, 3. Effects of migration of a partial water saturation in oil-gas-water systems, 4. Effects If wettability characteristics of the system. and 5. Effects of the fluid saturation history. The first three are important only in laboratory measure-

Jan 1, 1951

By G. Purcell, S. C. Sun

The objective of the present study was to detennine the role played by double bonds in the flotation of a very pure mineral using 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids as collectors. Streaming potential measurements were made on a plug of pure synthetic rutile in solutions of inorganic electrolytes and unsaturated 18-carbon fatty acid soaps. Experimental results from these tests are detailed in the paper. The collector effectiveness of oleic acid with one double bond, linoleic acid with two double bonds, and linolenic acid with three double bonds has been a matter of speculation for many years, and conflic- ting experimental evidence1-8 has not clarified the issue. The overall objective of the present study was to determine the role played by double bonds in the flotation of a very pure mineral using 18-carbon un-saturated fatty acids as collectors. Since zeta potential is dependent on adsorption and orientation of ions at the solid-liquid interface, its variation under different conditions of pH and collector concentration should throw some light on the behavior of unsatu-rated fatty acids in flotation pulps. Titanium dioxide, in the form of rutile, was chosen for the investigation because it is now available in a very pure, synthetic, crystalline state, and despite the fact that it is one of the most important synthetic inorganic chemicals in commercial use, its electro-kinetic properties have not been closely studied. Electrokinetic properties of rutile in various aqueous solutions are discussed in this paper. Adsorption information gained from the streaming potential measurements enabled the flotation resultsg to be explained in a qualitative way, thus providing a clearer

Jan 1, 1963

By S. C. Miller, R. D. Carter, H. G. Riley

A merhod based on theoretical considerations is presented for estimating srabilized performance of gas wells from data obtained from short-term flow tests. Calculated results are presented for II gas wells evaluated with four-to five-hour flow tests. For seven wells on which comparison war available, satisfactory agreement between measured and calculated performance was obfained. Although the final results are favorable, diflerences in flow capacity k,h obtained from flow tests conducted at different rates were observed. This inconsistency did not seriously affect the calculated results in the test wells. INTRODUCTION In order to negotiate the sale of gas from newly drilled gas wells and to plan otherwise for the orderly exploitation of gas reserves, it is necessary to predict the long-term withdrawal rates physically possible for each well. Since low permeability gas wells do not stabilize except after a lengthy period of flow, the operator is unable, without wasting large amounts of gas, to measure directly the stabilized performance prior to contracting for sale of the gas and connecting the well to a pipeline. This problem is not new, but is one which has recently received considerable attention because of the rising importance of natural gas in the economy and new emphasis on the development of gas reserves. Thus, a method is needed for estimating stabilized performance from information obtained from short-flow tests in which stabilized flow is not attained. Such short tests would be suitable for wells not connected to a pipeline since the tests require only small amounts of time, labor and production of gas. Other requirements of such a method are short calculation time and use of a model of the gas well and its reservoir drainage area which is as consistent as possible with present theoretical, experimental and field knowledge. The method presented herein was developed in an effort to meet these requirements. It has been named the "two-Row method". In addition to the section on the evelopment and description of the method, a description of field application of the method and a discussion of well test results are in- cluded. Finally, there is a section on an additional consideration prompted by some of the test results. The Appendix contains certain details of the derivation of the two-flow method and a sample calculation for Test Well 1. MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD The method is based upon the following assumptions: (1) The system can be described as a finite cylindrical gas reservoir produced by a single cylindrical well located at the center of the reservoir. Flow is strictly radial. (2) Flow obeys Darcy's law except very near the well where a quadratic flow law is assumed. (3) The system is also characterized by a laminar flow skin factor. The use of a quadratic or turbulent flow term is more fully justified in Refs. 1 and 2. When such a system is opened at the wellbore to constant rate flow from an initial condition of uniform pressure distribution, the radius or drainage quickly passes through the non-Darcy flow and "skin effect" region imrnediately surrounding the well. After the drainage radius or "transient" has passed beyond this region and before it reaches the external boundary, drawdown can be expressed by'." After the drainage radius reaches the external boundary, stabilized flow exists and drawdown is given by'," Eqs. 1 and 2 form the basis for the method. The validity of these equations will now be examined in the light of some well test data previously available. It has been found by actual measurements on gas wells that the relationship between drawdown and flow rate, that is the performance curve, is closely approximated by' Eq. 3 is a straight line on log-log graph paper. Eq. 2 and, for any lixed value of time, Eq. 1 plot as a curve which is slightly concave upward on log-log graph

Since production curtailment for other than engineering reasons is gradually disappearing, and more and more wells are now producing at capacity and showing declining production rates, it was considered timely to present a brief review of the development of decline-curve analysis during the past three or four decades. Several of the commoner types of decline curves were discussed in detail and the mathematical relationships between production rate, time, cumulative production and decline percentage for each case were studied. The well-known loss-ratio method was found to be an extremely valuable tool for statistical analysis and extrapolation of various types of curves. A tentative classification of decline curves, based on their loss ratios, was suggested. Some new graphical methods were introduced to facilitate estimation of the future life and the future production of producing properties where curves are plotted on semilogarithmic paper. To facilitate graphical extrapolation of hyperbolic-type decline curves, a series of decline charts was proposed, which will make straight-line extrapolation of both rate-time and rate-cumulative curves possible. Introduction During the period of severe production curtailment, which is now behind us, production-decline curves lost most of their usefulness and popularity in prorated areas because the production rates of all wells, except those in the stripper class, were constant or almost constant. While production-decline curves were thus losing in importance for estimating reserves, an increasing reservoir consciousness and a better understanding of reservoir performance developed among petroleum engineers. This fact, together with intelligent interpretation and use of electric logs, core-analysis data, bottom-hole pressure behavior and physical characteristics of reservoir fluids, eliminated a considerable part of the guesswork in previous volumetric methods and put reserve estimates, based on this method, on a sound scientific basis' At the same time, a number of ingenious substitutes were developed for the regular production-decline curve, which made it possible to obtain an independent check on volumetric estimates in appraisal work, even though the production rates were constant. with the now steadily increasing demand for oil to supply the huge requirements of this global war, proration for reasons of than prevention of underground waste is gradually disappearing. More and more wells are, or will be, producing at capacity or at their optimum rates, as determined by sound engineering practice. With this trend, the character of producing wells seems to regain, more or less, its "individuality," and the old and familiar decline curve appears to have had a comeback as a valuable tool in the hands of the petroleum engineer. It may be timely, therefore, to retrace the development of decline-curve analysis in the past by presenting a brief chronological review of bulletins and papers published during the past three or four decades, which have

Jan 1, 1945

By C. J. Ramsburg

THE construction and operation of by-product coke-oven plants in America are essential to strong national defense and of the greatest importance to many widely diversified undertakings as well as to safety and health. CARBONIZATION PROCESS Coal used under a boiler or in a locomotive is consumed by combustion. Coal used in a by-product oven is distilled or carbonized, meaning that heat is applied to the coal, out of contact with air, causing a distillation that removes the volatile matter in the coal in the form of gas and vapor, leaving coke as a final product. From the gas and vapor distilled from the coal, many valuable substances can be secured, known as by-products. Hence the name "by-product oven." The simplest example of this principle can be shown by means of an ordinary clay pipe. If powdered coal is placed in the bowl of the pipe, the opening of the bowl is plugged with clay, and the bowl placed in a flame, the bowl will become hot, transferring the heat through the wall of the bowl to the coal within. When this coal attains a temperature of about 950°F., gas will begin to pour out of the pipe stem, and this gas may be lighted. A black liquid also will exude from the stem of the pipe. This is tar mixed with certain other products. What remains in the bowl after distillation is coke. A coke oven corresponds to the bowl of the pipe. A modern oven of the latest type is a refractory brick chamber approximately 42 ft. long and 14 ft. high, averaging 18 in. in width. The oven is filled with coal through closable charging holes in the oven top. Each end of the oven consists entirely of a self-sealing door, the removal of which permits the finished coke to be discharged by means of a power-operated pusher machine. The ovens are built in batteries, and the heating is effected by gas burned in vertical flues in the oven walls, each set of flues heating the walls of two adjacent ovens. Such ovens carbonize a charge of approximately 18 tons of coal in 18 hr., or have a daily throughput of 24 tons per oven, producing about I 7 tons of coke. In times of need, the output may be increased by raising the temperature of flues, thus shortening the coking time. There is one great essential difference in principle between distillation in a clay pipe and in a coke oven. In the 18-in. oven, the distillation proceeds from two parallel walls held at a high temperature (over 2000°F.) and instead of all the coal being heated at once, the distillation is a progressive one creeping inward. The average travel of this heating is 1/2 in. per hour from each vertical wall, and as the volatile products are formed progressively they must push away from the interior toward the wall through the previously formed hot coke, then up the walls and over the top of the coal charge, finally escaping through the outlet pipe. This results in a cracking of the components into many different and valuable substances not formed when the carbonizing temperature is low.

Jan 1, 1942

By Eckley B. Coxe

(WITH FIGURES ON PLATES II, III, AND IV.) I DESIRE to call the attention of the Institute to two deep vertical shafts, which are now being sunk in Schuylkill County, Pennsyl¬vania, about 1 1/2 miles north of Pottsville. These shafts are of interest to the mining engineer, not only on account of the novelty of the method of sinking adopted, which promises to produce a revolution in that branch of mining engineering, but also as examples of the manner in which such work should be undertaken. GEOLOGICAL SKETCH OF THE TERRITORY TO BE WORKED BY THE SHAFTS AND REASON FOR SINKING THEM. The Mammoth or E Vein of the anthracite coal-measures in that part of the Schuylkill region near and north of the town of Pottsville lies at a great depth below the surface, and has, in consequence, never been worked in that locality.

Jan 1, 1873

By Homer E. Harris, William C. DeSieghardt, William A. Burgess

Under sponsorship of NIOSH, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., with the Harvard School of Public Health acting as a subcontractor, has determined for the first time the effective protection provided to working underground coal miners wearing approved half-mask dust respirators. This was done by conducting 187 man-shifts of in-mine testing in four different coal mines; included in this testing were 37 different test subjects representing 11 different job classifications and 5 different models of respirators. Presently available respirators on average provided significant protection levels to working miners even though on an intermittent use basis. However, "average" protection values were well below those achieved under laboratory conditions. Protection levels varied from man to man in a given work crew and from day to day for a given man. In addition, some of the factors affecting use and effectiveness of presently used respirators are discussed, as are areas in which improvements are needed, and the need to consider these improvements in context of a systems approach.

Jan 1, 1975

By Abdel Kadir Attia, Haydn H. Murray, Adel Abdel Azin, Sabah N. Boulis

An extensive reconnaissance survey of bentonitic clays in Egypt was carried out from 1982 to 1984. X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, electron microscopy, and physical property evaluations were used to identify the mineralogy and assess their industrial potential. Samples were collected from a number of localities, namely Qasr El-Sagha (Fayum), Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road (Western Desert), and Qattamia area (Eastern Desert). This paper reviews the geological occurrence, the mineralogical and chemical characteristics, and the potential utilization of these deposits.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. W. Smith

This paper presents a review of developments to date in computer control practice, based in large part on Canadian experience. The basic problem examined is that of stabilizing control; matters considered are control strategies, hardware and software aspects of system implementation, reliability, human factors, and economic results.

Jan 1, 1976

By S. W. Farnum

ABOUT three years ago at a coal mining institute meeting, it was predicted that mechanical load-ing underground would progress faster than either the electric coal-cutting machines or electric loco-motives had in previous years. This prediction has proved correct so far. In 1925 over 6,000,000 tons of,coal was loaded mechanically underground in the United States and it is estimated that the 1926 tonnage will reach 10,000,000. The use of electric mining machines and locomotives .has prepared the way for quick results. Most coal mines are now equipped with electric power and have a competent staff who understands its use. In spite of this advantage the introduction of the loading machines brings many new problems. Im-proved and concentrated transportation; doing the drilling, shooting, tracklaying and face timbering with company men instead of the former tonnage men; doing the work on the new basis in an economical and efficient manner; altering or modifying mining systems where necessary to further improve the work and reduce oper-ating costs; improving the percentage of lump coal and reducing the slack content where desirable; improving the cleaning of the coal and obtaining a more dependable .and uniform output are a few of the problems that must be met. Each of the different types of loaders now on the market has its particular advantages and disadvantages for a given mining condition. Even with the same mining conditions one type will work well under one ;system of handling, whereas another may favor another system or mining method.

Jan 5, 1927

By Russell A. Carter

Although significant phosphate mining activity has occurred in four western states-Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming-southeastern Idaho contains the largest, most easily mineable reserves, and mining has focused there. More than half of the western phosphate field's economic reserves are within a 32 x 96-km (20 x 60-mile) rectangle bounded by Montpelier, Idaho, on the south, Soda Springs on the west, and Grays Lake on the east. A large amount of this land lies within the boundaries of the Caribou National Forest.

Jan 1, 1978

By D. W. Fuerstenau

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the stability of the mass flow rates and average pellet size in the different streams of an industrial-scale balling circuit. The variables in this study include water content, drum speed, and fresh feed rate. It was found that both the mass flow rates and pellet diameter are greatly disturbed when a change, positive or negative, in any of the variables takes place. For most of these disturbances to be damped down, a period of 1 hr or so is required. When a disturbance in the feed rate was made, the transient period extended to more than 1% hr (the duration of the experiment). It was observed that there is an interaction between the drum speed and moisture needed for producing an acceptable green ball product. The moisture content of the product pellets was found to be a function of the pellet size, with the larger pellets retaining a higher moisture content

Jan 1, 1983

By Osamu Fukuta

The geological and geochemical characteristics of the Japanese iodine-rich brines are outlined. The iodine-rich brine in Japan is primary in its origin and its occurrence is limited in the younger marine sediments. The iodine-rich subsurface water is saturated or over- saturated by natural gas, but the water saturated by natural gas is not always rich in iodine. The iodide and bromide contents decrease with time. The bromide content decreases much more rapidly than that of iodide. It should be emphasized that the genetic environment of the Japanese type of dissolved gas and iodine deposit is not peculiar to the Japanese islands.

Jan 1, 1985

By A. J. Weinig

THE Liberty Bell cyanide precipitate is unique in that it is apt to vary widely in composition in the course of very short, periods of time, and a method of refining and melting that would prove highly satisfactory at one cleanup would yield almost an hopeless "mess" it a second. Table I gives a general conception of the wide range in grade and composition of those raw precipitates. It is evident that no one standard flux could be expected to produce a high-grade bullion with such a widely variable precipitate, and that any method of treatment with acid requires most careful consideration. Refining by Acids Naturally, our first efforts to improve our precipitates were directed along the lines of acid treatment. Table II embodies the results of careful sampling and analysis of one cleanup at the time when wet refining reached its maximum development at this mill. We have now discarded all methods of wet refining, successfully replacing them by amore scientific method of flux calculation described herein, but it is believed that a general description of this wet refining is warranted as it throws some interesting side lights on acid refining in general.

Jan 3, 1916

By Joseph L. Gillson

YOUR speaker has long sought an opportunity to review the many differences between the subject matter called economic geology and the duties of a practicing economic geologist. As the subject was taught in my student days, professors teaching courses in economic geology paid little attention to what we now call industrial minerals. Certainly they were not concerned with problems involving production and marketing, but only with the origin of such mineral deposits as the Stassfurt potash deposits; with other evaporites, such as salt, gypsum, and Chilean nitrate; with the possible modes of formation of sulfur in salt domes; and the causes of asbestiform mineralization. Of course, much time and thought was given to the mineral identification and sequence of deposition of the minerals in pegmatites. The fact that such deposits actually produced commercial feldspar, mica, beryl, and lithium minerals for sale in industry was of minor importance. These observations lead us to pause to inquire, perhaps facetiously, what is and what is not to be included in the science of economic geology?

Jan 5, 1957

By Harry R. Hall

THE proposition to make pig-iron from magnetic concentrates and cobbed ore with charcoal-fuel weighing from 12 to 20 lb. per bushel is, on the face of it, not inviting; but the successful work that has been done under these adverse conditions warrants a permanent record in our Transactions, especially as it furnishes a comparison with, coke blast-furnace practice under similar conditions. The record of the furnace-practice is briefly summarized as follows:-The charcoal was made of hemlock, pine, spruce, balsam, maple, beech and birch woods. All the concentrates containing from 62 to 65 per cent. of iron would pass in. screen, of which about 34 per cent.. would pass an 80-mesh sieve. The cobbed ore, varying in composition from 32 to 47 per cent. metallic iron and from 23 to 32 per cent. of. silica, would pass through a I-in. ring, of which about 25 per cent. would pass a 1/8 in. screen. The furnace was blown in October 20,1903, with charcoal which was supposed to weigh when dry 18 lb. to the bushel. Some charcoal similar to this was stored in the stock-house for about a year and was then found to weigh 12 lb. per bushel. During the first 10 days of the blast, the furnace produced 362 tons of pig-iron, using 200 bushels of charcoal per ton of iron. From November 1st to 12th, the volume of the blast was increased gradually from 2,808 to 5,460 cu. ft. per minute, with practically no increase of output. The silicon-content of the resultant pig-iron averaged 0.75 per cent., with sulphur about 0.035 per cent. A supply of freshly-burned dry charcoal was then used which increased the silicon-content and lowered

Sep 1, 1905

By Ma Guang, Huang Jinshou

In this paper we briefly describe measuring techniques and their practical use in the mining industry of China. A strain coefficient matrix of triaxial strain cell for a flat ended borehole is also introduced.

Jan 1, 1983

By W. O. Philbrook

An engineering analysis indicates that the coke rate in present blast-furnace practice is set not by chemical or thermal needs but to give adequate charge permeability for economical driving rates. An equation showing interrelations among pressure drop, gas flow, and charge characteristics has been derived. Flooding conditions and the location of the fusion zone are discussed. Maximum ore size is probably limited by chemical re-ducibility rather than by heat transfer. THE intention of this paper is to show that the ].imitations on the production rate and coke requirement of the iron blast furnace are not primarily chemical or thermal in nature but are related to characteristics of the burden and operation that govern gas flow, heat transfer, and stock movement. A semiquantitative analysis will be developed in terms of standard engineering principles to give a useful picture of the relative importance of physical and mechanical factors in contrast with the chemical features of the process that are more commonly emphasized. Most of the details of calculation have been omitted in the interest of brevity and to avoid submerging the rnain points in a sea of arithmetic. Numerical values have been arrived at by objective methods from reported operating data or by reasonable estimates of material properties where exact data are lacking and then tested to see how well they fit practice, rather than by working backward to find what assumptions are needed to give the desired answers. The analysis is oversimplified in many ways because exact engineering relations have not yet been studied for bed distributions as complex as are known to exist in the blast-furnace stock column. One objective of this paper is to show that the blast furnace, in spite of its complexity, can be at- tacked by engineering methods in the hope that this viewpoint will stimulate the kind of research needed for a more exact treatment. The basic ideas and many of the conclusions presented are qualitatively well known. A careful literature survey to credit the source of all observations not original to the author would indeed be voluminous, and such has not been attempted. T. L. Joseph's Howe Memorial Lecture' gives an excellent background of what is known about the internal workings of a blast furnace. Other important reference works or sources of specific information will be noted. It is hoped that the present paper will contribute something new, in method of attack and interpretation, that will aid in a clearer understanding of how to operate the blast furnace to best advantage. Factors Limiting Production and Coke Rates The rate of combustion of coke in a blast furnace, as in any fuel bed, is exactly proportional to the rate at which air is supplied. It is axiomatic, then, that the production rate of a furnace is limited by the rate at which it will take wind, i.e., burn coke, and the amount of coke that must be burned at the tuyeres to make a ton of iron of suitable composition. These two possible limiting factors will be considered briefly in the order mentioned. One common restriction on wind rate is flue-dust production. Since the volume of top gas is nearly proportional to the blast volume (by a factor of about 1.35 on a dry basis), an increased wind rate causes a correspondingly increased linear velocity of top gas in the throat of the furnace. The higher

Jan 1, 1955