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By W. P. Haynes, A. J. Youngblood, J. J. Demeter

Synthesis of high - Btu gas , using the Fischer - Tropsch reaction was investigated in a tube - wall reactor of 2 - inch steel . The catalyst was carbonexpanded iron ( CEI ) , formed on the walls of a steel reactor by exposing the reactor to 1H₂ + 100 synthesis gas under certain conditions . Advantages to be gained from successful development of the CEI - coated tube- wall reactor are elimination of catalyst plant and catalyst handling and charging operations , high- temperature operation , and a relatively low- cost , reactor -heat recovery system . In one test ( TW- 8 ) in which the reactor was filled with CEI , the reactor was operated for 1,910 hours before the test was stopped because of excessive pressure drop caused by carbon deposition . The pressure drop was satisfactory for 1,000 hours of operation at an hourly space velocity of 300 , but it increased rapidly at space velocities of 600 and 1,000 . When operated at a space velocity of 300 , with a ratio of 1 to 1 recycle at 534 ° C , a conversion of 72 percent of the 3H + 100 synthesis gas was achieved . The product gas had a heating value of about 610 Btu per cubic foot and could be suitably upgraded to 900 - Btu gas by subsequent use of a nickel catalyst . CEI did not operate effectively as a film catalyst under conditions of generation tried in this study . Generally , operation of the 2 - inch reactor with CEI catalyst was unsatisfactory because of poor reproducibility of the activation step and poor temperature control resulting in high- operating temperatures and eventual plugging of the reactor . Tests using CEI in fixed , packed beds suggest that the most likely application for CEI in producing high - Btu gas would be a moving - bed reactor , where sufficient bed movement and heat removal are provided to prevent plugging .

Jan 1, 1964

By Charles J. Stehlik

This report deals with the changing behavior of mine roof bolt and roof rock as a result of repetitious production blasting . Observations were made in the upper shale production headings at the White Pine Copper Co. room and pillar mine , White Pine , Mich . Roof bolt compression pads and a stratascope were used in the investigations , which were carried out in three separate test sites in which nearly identical procedure produced comparative , repetitive , and anomalous observations . Results indicate roof bolt tension change and roof quality deterioration anomalies were coincident with blasting . The hypothesized cause of the anomalies is a seismic shock generated by the blasts .

Jan 1, 1964

By F. E. Block, Stephen D. Hill

The necessity for measuring radiation dose is encountered in studying both the beneficial and damaging effects of ionizing radiation on materials . It is also necessary to know the radiation dose absorbed by the reactants in order to evaluate the efficiency of reactions or processes that are promoted by radiation . Thus , a significant effort was made at the Albany cobalt 60 facility to investigate techniques by which the exposure radiation dose can be determined . Methods including ferrous sulfate , ceric sulfate , and methyl methacrylate chemical dosimeters , ion chamber dosimetry , and an absolute radiation calorimeter were investigated . Isodose curves were constructed for several standard source configurations using the dosimetry techniques which were investigated .

Jan 1, 1964

By F. E. Block, T. T. Campbell, D. Z. Hobbs

Several methods were investigated for the preparation of high- purity elemental boron in an attempt to develop a feasible process for producing boron on a large scale . In the work described in this report , the metal was prepared by metering boron trichloride gas into a crucible containing molten metal reductants . It was necessary to remove reaction byproducts by acid and aqueous leaching . Magnesium and sodium were tested as reductants , but best results were achieved using lithium or zinc as reductants . Contaminants originating from the materials of construction were the chief impurities in boron made by this method . Impurities ranged from 0.5 to 5.0 percent . Impure boron ( 85 to 90 percent ) was also prepared by the magnesium reduction of boron trioxide in a thermite - type reaction . This product contained magnesium as the chief contaminant . Impure boron made in this way could be upgraded by fusing with potassium fluoborate or potassium acid fluoride . After acid leaching the fusion cake , a product containing 95 to 97 percent boron was obtained . Analytical techniques for accurate determination of impurities in elemental boron are a major problem , requiring solution before a valid comparison can be made of the quality of boron prepared by these various methods .

Jan 1, 1964

A mathematical model of a decision is represented by the table in Figure 4. The numbers in the matrix are a measure of the effectiveness of each alternate for an objective. In this case, it is the per cent of desired profit that is satisfied by each alternate for each objective. By adding all of the values in a row, we have a measure of which alternative is best for both objectives. However, if you think that alternate 1 is necessarily better than alternate 2, you are wrong. Why? Because the weight of the objectives may not be equal. It could just be that this plant can sell more than it can produce, so that the loss in profit represented by increased sales is more than twice as important as reductions in costs. (See Figure 5). In that case, let us weigh objective 1 as 30 per cent and objective 2 as 70 per cent. It must also be obvious that the sum of all the "objective weights" must equal 100 per cent. Now, by evaluating our alternates according to their weights. we find that alternate 2 is better than alternate

Jan 1, 1964

By Green A. D M

The establishment of the Imperial Smelting Furnace at Sulphide Coporation Pty. Limited for the smelting of zinc and lead made it necessary to design and install sintering capacity to produce approximately 500 t.p.d. of zinc-lead sinter. The updraught sintering process installed is a recent development and the plant was designed with adequate flexibility and equipment to enable operating staff to investigate the process and achieve maximum production under optimum operating conditions.Sulphur dioxide gases from the sinter machine are passed to a contact acid plant for the manufacture of sulphuric acid.

Jan 1, 1964

By Earl C. Willis

In selecting new or replacement mining machinery to be purchased, there are many considerations to be discussed and taken into account, the most important being the productivity of the machine and the maintenance cost and downtime to be expected with the new equipment. Productivity of a given mining machine is evaluated by the Industrial Engineering Department: analysis of potential upkeep and downtime calls for the Maintenance Department to enter into the task of evaluating new mining machines. This is a very important function of the maintenance department because a wrong decision or mistake in judgment, particularly in a commercial mining company, can be exceedingly expensive. Once the type and size of a machine is decided, an examination of units fitting the basic requirements will sometimes show one particular machine which has a distinct edge on the competitive machine. In this case, the decision is easy. However, in most cases, the performances of the machines being considered are so close that the decision becomes one that is very difficult to make on performance alone. Serious consideration must then be given to maintenance performances and features of the machine which would permit lower maintenance and less downtime.

Jan 7, 1963

By D. M. Jamieson, M. P. Pearse, E. R. A. Plumstead

In 1948 the shaft sinking record in the Republic of South Africa was held by the Van Dyk Consolidated Mines Ltd. for a ventilation shaft with a footage of 461 ft sunk during the month of August 1941. This record remained for some ten years; but in the ensuing nine years it was broken no less than 13 times. Table I gives shaft sinking records throughout the world for the 21 years, 1940 to 1960. History shows that the wide, deep, timbered rectangular shaft had passed its peak of popularity by 1948, although it still had a great deal to commend it, both from the sinking and operational points of view. In sinking, it is easy to clean manually, and water can be handled by bailing when wet ground has to be negotiated; its shape also lends itself to equipping concurrently with sinking. In operation it provides the most convenient "in line" hoisting arrangement, and if the ventilation requirements so demand, it offers the simplest solution in that it can be divided into upcast and downcast sections. Furthermore, in the case of a multi-level mine, the shaft compartments can be reduced conveniently if the full area of the shaft is not required to serve all levels.

Jan 4, 1963

By Howard M. Stainer

Published X-ray mass absorption coefficients were compiled and tabulated. These coefficients are required for various X-ray analytical techniques. Values obtained from 28 authors are listed for 87 elements with both experimental and calculated points included; the wavelengths range from ~0.01 to 68 A. Representative graphs are presented for six elements (lithium, nitrogen, iron, silver, holmium, and uranium. A 37-item supplementary bibliography is also included.

Jan 1, 1963

By Walter C. Lorenz

Samples of materials containing pyrite from various coal mines and coalbeds were studied to compare their compositions and oxidizing characteristics. Pyrite was the only form of iron sulfide identified, but X-ray diffraction, emission spectrography, and microscopic analyses revealed similar suites of minerals and trace elements. The pyrite occurred usually in spherical clusters of very small crystals. The oxidation of pyrite in solutions of PeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3 and in the presence of an iron oxidizing bacterium Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans, was studied through a manometric technique. FeS04 or Fe2(SO4)3 solutions had no appreciable influence on pyrite oxidation under the test conditions, The bacterium acted as a catalyst, greatly increasing the oxidation rates; however, in three samples that also contained calcites, bacterial oxidation was greatly reduced. The oxidation rates also increased approximately as the percentage of pyrite in the samples increased. For the series of samples studied, there was no definite correlation of the results with the location of the various mines nor with the acidity of alkalinity of the mine drainage.

Jan 1, 1963

By E. C. Pattee

A mobile spectroscopic laboratory was completed by the Bureau of Mines in 195 to provide a rapid, inexpensive means of field testing samples for beryl¬lium and other associated metals of possible commercial importance. Spectro-copes have been used in laboratories for many years in various types of research and routine analyses, but this spectroscope is probably the first mobile unit. The laboratory provides for spectroscopic, radioactivity, fluorescent, and limited chemical tests of samples. The unit has been a valuable reconnaissance tool. It has been used to search for beryllium, cesium, columbium, tantalum, rubidium, and lithium in Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Several very low grade deposits of these elements were found, and occurrences of other important elements were identified; however, none are of economic importance. The spectroscope permits the detection of elements by analysis of visible light produced when elements in a small powdered sample are volatilized in an electric arc., A total of 70 elements can be detected; 29 can be detected at or below 0.01 percent, Electric power for the arc is supplied by a gasoline motor-driven generator, Equipment is housed in an aluminum van, mounted on a 4-wheel-drive vehicle for easy maneuverability on mountain roads, A trailer with crushing, pulverizing, and splitting equipment permits the reduction of samples to a small representative pulp.

Jan 1, 1963

By F. D. Everett

This report, based on information made available by four uranium-producing companies, describes the geology, exploration, open-pit development and mining, and shaft sinking in the Gas Hills uranium district of Wyoming. Open-pit stripping features motor-scrapers push-loaded by crawler or rubber-tired tractors. The ground generally can be ripped, and little blasting is necessary. Detailed data are given on grouting for ground stabilization in sinking a small-diameter shaft in the relatively unconsolidated sandstone and siltstone, Cost and performance data are presented as made available by the companies.

Jan 1, 1963

By Lindsay D. Norman

Four chloride and seven fixed-nitrogen processes for recovering manganese from domestic resources are described. The chloride processes are divided into two classes (leaching and chloridization) depending upon the major operation responsible for converting the manganese minerals to the chloride from which manganese oxide products are obtained. The fixed nitrogen processes, all of which yield high-grade manganese oxide products, are essentially either leaching or roasting processes. The 11 processes include HC1 leach, HC1 chloridization, HC1 chloride volatilization, CaC12 chloride volatilization, NO2 leach, HNO3 leach, HNO3 ?NO2 leach, H3 ?CO2-H2O system leach, (NH4)2SO4 leach, (NH4)2SO4 roast , and ammonium salt roast .

Jan 1, 1963

By Oliver Bowles

This report covers the character, properties, origin, occurrence, and uses of the traprocks and describes briefly the methods and equipment employed in quarrying and preparing them for market. Production of traprock occupies an important place in industry. In 1960 the output in the form of crushed stone reached nearly 58 million tons valued at $87 million. Traprocks are also shaped into blocks of dimension stone for monuments, building construction and decoration, and specialized products such as surface plates.

Jan 1, 1963

By Hans Chr Andersen

Almost every form of iron ore and carbon material has been used as a raw material in the production of pig iron in electric reduction furnaces. Experience derived from the operation of the large 33,000-kva. Tysland-Hole furnaces, however, indicates that production results are very much influenced by the raw material conditions. The author presents the principle pattern of the metallurgical structure of the interior of an electric pig iron furnace. On the basis of this, he discusses the variations of electrical and metallurgical conditions for the process which will take place with changing raw materials. The formation of a coke bed underneath the electrodes, and its influence on the furnace operation, is illustrated. Quality and grain size of the coke added to the charge will influence the build-up of the coke bed and will thereby also affect the electrical re-''Elektrokemisk A/S, Oslo, Norway. resistance and reduction potential in the furnace.

Jan 1, 1963

By N Berkowitz

Slurry pipelining, as now under-stood and practised, can only command marginal interest in Canada, as long-distance railway freight charges in this country are generally lower than slurry pipeline tariffs. Several alternatives to conventional slurry transmission are, however, now emerging, and two such alternatives are briefly discussed with reference to coal pipelining. In one, coal is transported as a suspension in oil; the other contemplates the movement of paste "slugs." Preliminary economic estimates indicate that the resulant process simplification and adoption of common carrier principles could lead to cost reductions that might make Western coal competitive with imported fuel in the power generating stations of eastern Canada. R ECENT appraisals of slurry pipelining techniques, some-what incongruously 'based upon the performance of successful installations (1,2), are making it increasingly apparent that current solids pipelining methods can only command marginal interest as methods of bulk commodity transportation (3). Although some uncertainties remain in matters of detail, it is now generally conceded that long-distance slurry pipelining cannot compete against rationalized railway transportation unless movement of

Jan 1, 1963

By Oliver Bowles

This report covers the character, properties, origin, occurrence, and uses of the traprocks and describes briefly the methods and equipment employed in quarrying and preparing them for market. Production of traprock occupies an important place in industry. In 1960 the output in the form of crushed stone reached nearly 58 million tons valued at $87 million. Traprocks are also shaped into blocks of dimension stone for monuments, building construction and decoration, and specialized products such as surface plates.

Jan 1, 1963

By Donald P. Schlick

This report presents a representative cross section of methods successfully used to ventilate continuous-miner places as well as various factors that should be considered when selecting auxiliary ventilating equipment. Line brattice can direct fresh air to the active face reasonably well, provided that adequate area for installation is available. Continuous mining equipment, however, often restricts clearances to such an extent that proper installation of line brattice is impossible. Consequently, in many instances face ventilation is inadequate; therefore, many methods of auxiliary ventilation for continuous-mining equipment have been developed and have been discussed in this study.

Jan 1, 1963

By L. F. Willmott

The Bureau of Nines at Morgantown, W. Va., has been investigating, on a pilot plant scale, various methods of gasifying bituminous coal with oxygen and superheated steam to produce synthesis gas, as part of the broader program of finding new uses for coal. Differences in the pressure gasification methods used have depended on differences in the manner in which the pulverized coal is fed to the gasifier. One of the methods of feeding the coal that was investigated was the continuous, integrated coal-water slurry system. Goal and water were first mixed to produce a slurry; then the slurry was pumped through a heated coil. to evaporate the water fraction; the resulting steam was superheated, and some of it was separated so as to adjust the ratio of the residual steam to the coal fraction and make the resulting mixture suitable for partial combustion with oxygen in a pressure gasifier. Both before and during this reported3 developmental work it was necessary to make an extensive literature search into the technology of aqueous slurries in order to establish design criteria for the pilot plant and to correlate results of various phases of the work with that of other investigators, The pilot work coincided with the commercial development of a long-distance pipe- line for the transportation of coal as a coal-water slurry, and this fact tended to broaden the scope of the pilot plant work and the extent of the literature search. This bibliography is the compilation of the material that was collected.

Jan 1, 1963

By Kenneth H. Johnston

This report describes in detail three waterflooding projects and a pres-sure-maintenance project in Butler and Cowley Counties, Kans., that will be visited on the 1963 annual spring tour of the Kansas-Oklahoma Waterflood Association. Among the unique features of the projects are the flooding of five oil-producing horizons separately with injection water furnished by two water treating plants. Discussion of the individual projects includes information on their early history, the source and treatment of the injection fluids, oil production decline curves, and the results of water injection on oil production.

Jan 1, 1963