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By Roger L. Beals, George A. Tweedy

The results of the cyanide-operations, given in detail in the following paper, show the progress that is being made at the Minas del Tajo. The old pan-amalgamation process, in operation up to and including 1905, while paying a profit on high-grade ores, was no longer able to treat profitably the ores in sight at that time; hence an alteration in the process was imperative. The success of this alteration is eloquently expressed by the following data : Pan-Amalgamation. Cyanidation. 1905. 1905. " 1908. Tons treated,.... 51,387 58,983 69,200 Value per ton (U. S. currency),. $ 10.78 $8.39 $8.28 Extraction, per cent.,.. 65.00 88.56 87.45 Extraction, per ton,.. $7.00 $7.43 $7.24 Total cost, per ton treated, . 6.50 4.36 4.01 Profit, per ton treated,.. 0.50 3.07 3.23

Jan 1, 1911

By Roger L. Brockenbrough

Steels available for mine-shaft applications are discussed, and the use of steel linings for round and rectangular shafts is reviewed. For rectangular shafts, frameworks constructed of square or rectangular steel tubes offer advantages. Also, corrugated steel sheeting provides a suitable alternative to timber lagging for spanning between the main shaft supports. For round shafts, self-supporting cylindrical steel liners, with circumferential stiffeners to prevent collapse, have been used to depths up to 6000 ft. Several large-diameter round shafts have been constructed with a concrete lining and an internal framework: of high-strength low-alloy steel tubes. It is concluded that in any new shaft construction steel designs should be investigated as economical alternatives to designs using other materials.

Jan 1, 1976

By B. D. Lichter

The lattice parameters of zirconium and zirconium-oxygen solid solutions (hcp) were determined from measurements of back-reflection X-ray photograms obtained at 29°C using a symmetrical focussing camera. The following linear equations between parameters (c,a) in angstrom units (10-8 cm) and atom ratio (m) of oxygen to zirconium were obtained: c = 5.14764 + 0.2077m a =3.23168 + 0.1099m. The linear equations given are valid over the range 0 to 5 at. Pct 0. The accuracy of individual parameter measurements approaches the limiting accuracy determined by the spectral broadening of the incident characteristic radiation, and exceeds the accuracy of previously reported values. THE present work was undertaken in order to determine the lattice parameters of zirconium-oxygen solid solutions with an accuracy that allows quantitative determination of oxygen in zirconium. The results indicate that this is possible if very careful measurements are made, since the parameter change is only a few hundredths of a percent per at. pct 0.1, 2 In the present investigation the desired accuracy was achieved with large-grained samples using a back-reflection focussing camera and maintaining good temperature control during exposure. In addition a digital computer was used for calculation of the parameters by means of an analytical extrapolation.37 Suitable diffraction photograms were obtained from large-grained samples by using a modification of the technique described by Graf and Monteil.5 This consists of simultaneous rotation and oscillation of the specimen about two mutually perpendicular axes during exposure. Whereas, normally the upper limit of grain size is about 50 µ for useable diffraction photograms, this technique allows extending the upper limit of grain-size to exposure of a single crystal. EXPERIMENTAL Preparation of Alloys for X-ray Diffraction—Zir-conium, designated as hafnium-free, Westinghouse "Grade 1," was swaged from l/2-in.-diam crystal bar to 3/8-in.-diam rods. Substantially all of the hydrogen was removed from the zirconium by annealing at 1200°C in a high dynamic vacuum. The rods were then swaged to 0.2 in. diam without intermediate annealing, and 2 in. lengths were cut for alloying with oxygen. Samples for chemical analysis were taken from portions of the rods between each 2 in. length. Chemical analysis of the dehydroge-nated zirconium is given in Table I. Commercial tank oxygen (99.5 pct 0) was condensed in a liquid nitrogen-cooled trap, and part of the condensate was slowly reevaporated into 5-liter storage flasks. Nitrogen remained as a reactive impurity, and the calculated maximum increase in nitrogen content after a 5 at. pct 0 addition to zirconium was 50 ppm by weight. However, chemical analyses of several of the prepared alloys indicated that the maximum increase in nitrogen content was 10 ppm. The storage flasks, a Sieverts-type gas burette and manometer, and associated traps, pumps, and pressure gauges were connected through a glass high-vacuum manifold to comprise the gas addition system. A fused silica tube, connected to the mani-

Jan 1, 1961

By W. F. Chiao

With the application of dislocation damping theory an attempt was made to determine whether the generation and extension of dislocations is inherently more difficult in a brittle steel than in a ductile steel. A ductile steel was compared with a brittle stee1 by simultaneously measuring the ultrasonic attenuation and velocity during tensile test, and the density of free dislocations and their mean loop length were then calculated as a function of strain. The results showed that in the ductile steel there was always a large generation of dislocations and great extension of loop length occurring at some stage within the early plastic region. In contrast, the brittle steel showed very little or no such sudden changes in dislocation dynamic states after the onset of plastic deformation. Furthermore, a strong temperature dependence of dislocation dynamic states was also observed in the ductile steel and a hypothesis was suggested that a thermally activated process of dislocation rearrangement could occur at higher deformation temperatures. The activation energy of dislocation rearrangement at room temperature was estimated as about 2030 cal per mole.C. DUCTILITY is an indispensible property in the application of engineering materials, especially steel. During the past two decades the theoretical and experimental approach to the understanding of flow and fracture of metals has been constantly undergoing changes and progress." while the fracture behavior of metals can be influenced by many factors such as chemical Composition,3 second-phase particle mor-phology,4 and dislocation arrangement,5 it is now a general belief that the fundamental understanding of the ductile-brittle fracture phenomena of solid materials must stem from the study of dislocation dv-namics developed under stress conditions.6,7 Most of the traditional ductility tests, such as Charpy impact test, slow bend test, and tensile fracture test, cannot by themselves reveal directly the mechanisms of ductile to brittle transition of materials. In the experimental investigation of tensile ductility it would be ideal to be able to study directly the dynamics of dis-locations in a bulk specimen during the process of deformation. Since the ultrasonic pulse technique is the only satisfactory method for studying dislocations and the fine details of deformation characteristics in metals in the course of a tensile test, it would appear that a comparative study of ultrasonic attenuation changes during tensile tests of metallic materials exhibiting different ductility might be very informative. So far no work comparable to this study has appeared in the literature. Recent progress in both theory and experiment has indicated the feasibility of studying the dislocation mechanisms of ductility behaviors by ultrasonic measurements during tensile test. Granato and Lucke8 have developed a quantitative theory that enables the calculation of dislocation density and their average loop length from the measurements of ultrasonic attenuation and velocity, and several investigators, including Chiao and Gordon,9'10 have shown that simultaneous ultrasonic measurements can be successfully made during a tensile test. Furthermore, many investigators11-13 have repeatedly proposed in the past several decades that deformation and fracture are mutually self-exclusive, and that the ability or inability of a material to deform plastically, i.e., to generate dislocations, is a major factor in determining whether the material will be ductile or brittle. Thus, in the present work an attempt was made to determine whether the generation and extension of dislocations is inherently more difficult in a brittle steel than in a ductile steel. This article is principally concerned with the study of the relation between the propagation of ultrasonic waves and tensile deformation in a steel series which displays quite different toughness at room tempera-turk. changes in attenuation and velocity of ultrasonic waves have been measured as a function of strain during the deformation process. The results have been interpreted in terms of the vibrating string model for dislocation damping as developed by Granato and Lucke, and it has been found that some of the more subtle predications of the model are in good agreement with the experiments. This would be especially meaningful because most of the previous experiments in testfying the model were carried out with single crystals of high-purity materials and little work has been done with polycrystalline steel alloys. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND RESULTS Specimen Materials. The tensile specimens used throughout this experiment were of two compositions selected from a series of Fe-Mo-0.77 pct Mn-0.22 pct C steels prepared for a ductile-brittle fracture transition study. One steel contains 0.21 pct Mo and the other 1.03 pct Mo. These two compositions were chosen for the present study because they possess quite different toughness properties at room temperature. The 0.21 pct Mo steel is quite ductile while the 1.03 pct Mo steel is rather brittle, as measured by the standard Charpy impact test. The alloys had been prepared by vacuum induction melting and chill casting in steel molds. The ingots were hammer-forged into 1/2-in.-sq bars from which tensile specimen blanks were cut. These blanks were first normalized under argon atmosphere at 1700°F and then reaus-tenitized and isothermally transformed at 1050°F to a bainitic microstructure. The chemical compositions, heat treatments, hardness measurements, and Charpy transition temperatures of the two steels are listed in Table I.

Jan 1, 1970

By Orson Cutler Shepard

The term "electrocapillary amalgamation" is used in this paper to designate amalgamation processes that depend upon electrocapillary phenomenon; i.e., the action of an electric current upon the surface tension of mercury at the contact with aqueous solutions. Electro-capillary amalgamation is selected as a name for these processes because the electrocapillary phenomenon has been found to be the effective agent in the use of sodium amalgam, as well as in the various processes using an electric current from a source outside of the amalgam. Amalgamation processes that depend upon supplying an electric current to the amalgam from an outside source, such as batteries and generators, have previously been called electrical amalgamation processes. There has been a tremendous amount of experimental work done on amalgamation processes involving the use of an electric current, as shown by the large number of patents issued on these processes: the earliest in 1885 and the latest in 1934l. Regardless of all the experimental work, the fundamental principles causing the operation of electrocapillary amalgamation processes have not been described. The explanation usually given is that an electric current keeps the amalgam bright and clean. Patent No. 328532 states: It is well known that when amalgam plates are used for collecting gold and silver from their ores the surfaces of these plates are liable to become tarnished or sickened by certain substances contained in the ores or in the current of water which is employed to carry the ore over the plates, and that in this condition they are unfitted for amalgamating the particles of gold and silver. To prevent this and to keep the surfaces of the amalgamation plates always bright and in a better condition for catching and amalgamating the particles of gold and silver I employ electricity in the following manner: . . . A similar explanation is given 49 years later, in patent No. 1953364: The sodium (Na) ions lose their charge at the cathode becoming sodium atoms, which do not react with the electrolyte, but follow the grounded electrical current through the mercury body producing in their passage sodium amalgam and liberate themselves in the amalgamation compartment when brought in contact with the fed

Jan 1, 1939

By Orson Cutler Shepard

The term "electrocapillary amalgamation" is used in this paper to designate amalgamation processes that depend upon electrocapillary phenomenon; i.e., the action of an electric current upon the surface tension of mercury at the contact with aqueous solutions. Electro-capillary amalgamation is selected as a name for these processes because the electrocapillary phenomenon has been found to be the effective agent in the use of sodium amalgam, as well as in the various processes using an electric current from a source outside of the amalgam. Amalgamation processes that depend upon supplying an electric current to the amalgam from an outside source, such as batteries and generators, have previously been called electrical amalgamation processes. There has been a tremendous amount of experimental work done on amalgamation processes involving the use of an electric current, as shown by the large number of patents issued on these processes: the earliest in 1885 and the latest in 1934l. Regardless of all the experimental work, the fundamental principles causing the operation of electrocapillary amalgamation processes have not been described. The explanation usually given is that an electric current keeps the amalgam bright and clean. Patent No. 328532 states: It is well known that when amalgam plates are used for collecting gold and silver from their ores the surfaces of these plates are liable to become tarnished or sickened by certain substances contained in the ores or in the current of water which is employed to carry the ore over the plates, and that in this condition they are unfitted for amalgamating the particles of gold and silver. To prevent this and to keep the surfaces of the amalgamation plates always bright and in a better condition for catching and amalgamating the particles of gold and silver I employ electricity in the following manner: . . . A similar explanation is given 49 years later, in patent No. 1953364: The sodium (Na) ions lose their charge at the cathode becoming sodium atoms, which do not react with the electrolyte, but follow the grounded electrical current through the mercury body producing in their passage sodium amalgam and liberate themselves in the amalgamation compartment when brought in contact with the fed

Jan 1, 1939

By F. Z. Schellenberg

A recent visit with the engineering students of the Western University of Pennsylvania to the Keeling coal-mine on the south side of Pittsburgh furnished interesting matter to communicate, as may be the case, however, with regard to the striking features of any of our well-arranged larger collieries; for every mine surely appears unique as a whole, though description fails to give that impression, except in particulars.

Jan 1, 1900

By J. H. Scaff, H. C. Theurer, E. E. Schumacher

The microwave region of the radio spectrum was effectively utilized in radar designs during the recent war and it has become of increasing interest in the field of communications. Work in this field has led to an important use for silicon—that of the point contact rectifiers†1 in the frequency converter of microwave (radar or radio) receivers—and has stimulated considerable interest in the electrical properties and preparation of silicon and its alloys. Silicon is an electronic semiconductor. Its conductivity at room temperature results principally from the presence of certain impurities. While for metals an increase in impurity content increases the resistivity, for semiconductors such as silicon the opposite occurs and, in general, the addition of impurities lowers the resistivity. Silicon materials may be classified into one of two groups depending upon the manner in which the impurities contribute to electrical properties. These have been termed for convenience p-type or n-type. P-type silicon develops a very large positive thermal emf against metals, has a Hall coefficient of positive sign and a low resistance direction in point contact rectification with the silicon positive with respect to the point. N-type silicon, on the other hand, develops a negative thermal emf against metals, has a Hall coefficient of negative sign and a low resistance direction in rectification with the silicon negative with respect to the point. Impurities which produce n-type silicon are called donors inasmuch as these elements contribute to electrical conductivity by donating electrons to an unfilled energy band in the silicon. On the other hand, elements which produce p-type silicon are known as acceptors as these impurities contribute to the electrical conductivity by accepting electrons from a filled energy band permitting what is known as conductivity by "holes" in which the sign of the carriers appears to be positive. A general treatment of the mechanism of conduction in semiconductors from the viewpoint of modern band theory has been given recently by Pearson,2 by Becker, Green and Pearson,3 and by Torrey and Whitmer.4 In this investigation boron and aluminum have been found to be acceptors, and phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony to be donors in silicon. Data on the effect of boron and phosphorus on the electrical properties, when present singly and in combination, have been acquired. These data are discussed in the present paper. Raw Materials Used and Methods for Adding Seeond Constituents Silicon from two sources was used in this work and these will be referred to as A and B respectively. Silicon A is a material of high purity supplied by the Electro Metallurgical Co. It is prepared by chemical purification of "commercial" silicon obtained from the arc furnace reduction of SiO2. It contains 99.8 pct silicon, minimum, with small amounts of calcium, iron, aluminum, boron, and phosphorus as the principal impurities. This material was extensively employed in these studies as well as in the commercial preparation of rectifier materials. Silicon B is a material of high purity from the du-Pont Co. It is prepared by a pyrolytic reduction of Sicl4 and is free of analytically detectable amounts of boron and phosphorus. Its use permitted study of the effect of boron and phosphorus individually on the properties. This material contains, however, spec-troscopic traees of a number of metals, some of which affect electrical and rectification properties. Typical analyses for the two grades of silicon are given in Table 1. To make controlled additions of boron to the charge it was necessary to employ a low boron content master alloy since the quantity of boron to be added was usually only a few thousandths of one percent. The alloy containing nominally one percent boron was prepared by melting chemically pure boron with silicon A using the melting techniques for 320 g silicon

Jan 1, 1950

By M. Friedman

Applications of rock mechanics to the design of engineering structures in rock involve the assumption that the stresses are due entirely to the present applied loads. For instance, it is assumed that the vertical normal stress in undisturbed rock free of topographic effects is equal to the weight per unit area of the overburden. In fact, vertical dilatational strains associated with stresses of more than 100 times the present overburden pressure have been measured by strain-relief methods on outcrops. 1,2 The notion of residual strain (stress) or latent stress3 seems unassailable; and indeed this has long been recognized by metallurgists. It is difficult, however, to assess the residual component of the in-situ state of elastic strain with conventional strain relief methods employed in mines or down boreholes. That is, in principle, the in-situ state results from the superposition of present applied loads (natural or man- induced) and potentially recoverable elastic strains (stresses) that exist in a given volume of material even though there are no external forces across the boundaries of the body (Voight,4 and Fig, 1). Accordingly, only in unloaded blocks can the true residual strains be measured by strain relief methods. Using X-rays, the elastic strains locked within the quartz grains or crystals of a rock can be measured. These strains are known to persist even when the rock is reduced to small chips but to vanish when the rock is disaggregated and the grains are powdered. Although we have just begun to investigate the mechanisms by which the strains are stored (see Preliminary Results), we believe that "pressure solution'' at grain boundaries, secondary cementation under load, permanent ("plastic") deformation, and temperature changes are possible processes. In any event, in our study of naturally deformed rocks, it is significant that we are work-

Jan 1, 1972

By H. H. Dievendorff, F. W. Hertel

The method of drilling deep wells into the earth for the recovery of oil and gas is beset with many hazards. This is especially true in the Ventura Avenue field, which has the distinction of being the hardest field in California in which to complete a deep well. The hard, shifting and squeezing formations must be penetrated to great depths in the face of tremendous gas pressures. This field presents problems that keep the operators abreast with all of the latest developments in oil-field tools and machinery and in oil-well drilling practices. Equipment must be strong, and adapted to deep-well drilling and the handling of long heavy strings of casing. High-pressure sands require the utrnost care and attention of the operators and no chances can be taken, since a serious blowout may cause the loss of a well that has cost months of labor and expense. Equipment must meet these requirements or be discarded. Although the deepest wells in the world are not in this field, nor hav:. the longest strings of casing been set, nevertheless, the consistency with which deep wells are drilled and long strings of casing are set places the Ventura Avenue field foremost, in this respect, among the oil fields of the world. The V'entura Avenue field dors claim the deepest commercial oil-producing well in the world, in the Shell Co. of California's "Edison" No. 18. This well was drilled 7015 ft. and came in flowing 3280 bhl. of oil per day. This field also claims the deepest average depth of producing wells in that its Ill producing wells average 5676 ft. in depth. Of these 111 producing wells, 50 arc 6000 ft. or deeper, and 16 are 6500 ft. or deeper. Also, of the 111 producing wells 100 arc flowing, and 11 arc pumping wells. This paper is intended to set forth the methods used in the drilling of deep wells with rotary tools and the handling of long heavy strings of casing in the Ventura Avenue field.

Jan 1, 1928

Between July 10 and August 15, 1918, the Secretary of United Engineering Society, of Engineering Foundation, and of Engineering Council visited 17 cities which are headquarters for large numbers of engineers. His mission was to tell men in all branches of the profession about "Centralized Activities of National Engineering Societies." Stops were made at Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Anaconda, Butte, Duluth,

Jan 10, 1918

BURKE BAKER, Philadelphia, Pa. (written discussion*).-The small briquetting plant of the American Briquet Co., at 25th Street and Washington Ave., Philadelphia, was built primarily as a demonstration plant. Its output per hour is 4 tons of 2-oz. briquets, which have been retailed in the, vicinity during the year the plant has been in operation. They have proved very acceptable for use in ranges, heaters and grates in-home, and in steam heating plants in apartment houses and hotels. They have not been sold for power purposes, although satisfactory tests have been made in. this field. Anthracite silt is used and is shipped direct from breaker or washery, the only preparation it receives being the removal f excess moisture by means of a Ruggles-Coles rotary dryer. Care is taken, however, to purchase silt containing less than 18 per cent. ash. The method is covered by U. S. Patent No. 941454, issued to Chas. E. Hite, and is known as the "emulsion process." The binder, which is the, basis of the patent, is composed. of 0.5 per cent. cornstarch or wheat flour; 1 per cent. asphaltum or hydrolene, and 6.5 per cent. water, on the weight of coal dust. It is prepared in a tank equipped with paddle agitators and heated by steam jets. The starch and water are first made into a paste by being brought to the boiling point with live steam; the melted asphaltum is then introduced and thoroughly beaten into the paste by the agitators. This rapid stirring breaks. the hot asphaltum into minute particles which are distributed through the paste, producing a smooth chemical emulsion. This emulsion, when dried, is not soluble in water. The binder is mixed with the dry coal dust in a horizontal paddle mixer, 8 per cent. binder to the weight of coal being used. The resultant plastic mass is then discharged into the press, which is of the simple roll type. Since the binder is a liquid and is not sticky or gummy until

Jan 3, 1918

By J. Husson, R. Iffly, M. Gondouin

A systematic variation of well deliverability, as reflected from isochronal back-pressure tests performed at regular intervals, has been observed in some gas condensate wells producing at high rates. The same effects have been obtained using a numerical model of gas and condensate flow which takes into account secondary gasoline deposited in the pore space as a result of pressure reduction, and non - Darcy flow of gas in the vicinity of the wells. Matching calculated values with previous test results has been possible, and future predictions have been obtained. An application of this method to the Hassi Er R'Mel gas-condensate field in Algeria is tentatively shown. INTRODUCTION Flow capacity of gas wells is generally derived from an analysis of back-pressure tests. The empirical equation q = C (?p2)n used by Rawlins and Schellhardtl can be derived rigorously assuming that steady-state radial flow of a dry gas of constant viscosity and compressibility is established during each flow period of the well tests. Furthermore, when Darcy's law applies in the entire flow region, the theory predicts that the exponent n is equal to 1. In low-permeability reservoirs, it was soon discovered that the time required to reach a stabilized flow often exceeded the duration of the flow periods normally available for testing wells. Consequently, transient gas flow had to be considered instead of the steady-state assumption previously used. This led to the isochronal testing procedure established by Cullender2 which has largely replaced conventional back-pressure testing. For dry gas fields, this method yields definite values of C and n equivalent to those of the empirical equation. These values should remain constant for each well as long as the permeability of the formation and the characteristics of the gas (viscosity and compressibility) do not change appreciably. This is the case when reservoir pressure remains -close to the original value and when the formation near the wellbore remains free of plugging. Under those conditions, stabilized flow potential curves of gas wells can be established from a single sequence of isochronal flow and shut-in periods. An analysis of a pressure build-up following a longer production period provides additional data on the transmissivity (k h/ u) of the reservoir, and eventually on the 'drainage radius rd of the well, which can be related to the value of C so that future performance of the well can be predicted using the concepts developed by A. Houpeurt.3 At high flow rates, Darcy's law no longer applies in the vicinity of the wellbore, and inertial effects in the high velocity gas flow introduce additional pressure drops. As a consequence, exponent n of the backpressure tests becomes smaller than 1, and a slight curvature of the log-log plot of ?p2 vs q can be predicted when going from very low to high rates of flow (Elenbaas and Katz).5 The effects of variations of viscosity and compressibility with pressure on the radial flow of dry gas in an infinite reservoir were taken into account by Jenkins and Aronofsky.7 Numerical solutions of the transient flow of an ideal gas in finite radial reservoirs were presented by Bruce, Peaceman, Rachford and Rice.8 In the case of gas condensate wells, however, the presence of gasoline in the pore space as soon as reservoir pressure is reduced below the dewpoint pressure further complicates the interpretation of flow tests so that the prediction of stabilized well performance becomes very difficult. Field observation shows that both C and n derived from isochronal tests vary in time, even when reservoir pressure has not changed appreciably. Such a variation cannot be attributed to any change of the gas characteristics, and must result from the effect of a gasoline saturation on the gas flow.

The following is an incomplete list of members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during. the period Mar. 10, 1919,. to Apr. 10, 1919. F. T. Agthe, Hannibal, Mo. Jay Lonergan,. Denver, Colo. W. F. Almy, Canada. R. R. London, Cebu, P. I. P. G. Bandy, Mexico. W. D. Mainwaring, Philadelphia, Pa. H. R. Bank, Humboldt, Ariz. _ W. G. Mitchell, Montreal, Can. Alan M. Bateman, New Haven, Conn. Francis Nicholson, Joplin, Mo. C. A. Brooks, Lead, S. Dak: C. H. Palmer, Los Angeles, Calif. Louis J. Brunel, Oakland, Calif. D. A. Powell, Columbus, Ohio. W. Burns, Sante Fe, N. M. W. H. Reber, Dallas, Tex. J. B. Carlock, Major, 1st Gas Regt. Capt. J. B. Richards, Spokane, Wash. Louis S. Cates, Hayden, Ariz. T. C. Roberts, E. Orange, N. J. W. M. Corse, Mansfield, Ohio Max Roesler, Washington, D. C. E. 0. Daue, Philadelphia, Pa. C. 0. Sanford, Los-Angeles, Calif. John Davenport, W. Norfolk, Va. Gustave Sessinghaus, Denver, Colo. James T. Dixon, London, England, . E. H. Shriver, Milford Center, Ohio. S. K. Dahl, Messina, Transvaal, S. Af. H. M. Spoor. W. G. Eberhardt, Tucson, Ariz. W. H. Staver, New York. H. S. Emlaw, Grant Haven, Mich. D. B. Sterrett, Washington, D. C. I. W. Farrand, Camp Merritt. W. G. Swart, Duluth, Minn. Oscar Gotsch, Jr., St. Louis, Mo. A. W. Stickney, London, England. James 0. Greenan, Oakland, Calif. E. C. Templeton, Downey, Calif. Gilbert Hart, Philadelphia, Pa. . . R. T. Walker, Pioche, Nev. K. L. Hsueh, China. A. T. Ward, Bellefonte, Pa. Zay Jeffries, Cleveland, Ohio. Joel H. Watkins, Washington, D. C. R. W. Kern, Verde, Ariz. J. Wertheimer, Cleveland, Ohio. H. D..Kinney, Easton, Pa. C. R. Wilfley, Ouray, Colo. E. L. Lasier, Washington, D. C. J. P. Wood, Engrs., U. S. A. Carl Zapffe, Brainerd, Minn. Leland D. Adams has left the employ of the Weedon Mining Co., Ltd., at Montreal, Quebec, and is going to Oakland, Calif., where his address will be 1180 Mandana Boulevard.

Jan 5, 1919

By Raymond Ward

IN the past few years several papers have appeared dealing with different aspects of the oxidation of dilute alloys, especially with respect to the formation of internal oxides or subscales. Subscale has been defined1 as that layer or zone of oxide particles precipitated in a matrix of metallic metal in which the oxide particles are dispersed uniformly and occur by diffusion of the oxygen inward from the metal surface. Alloys composed of a solvent metal more noble than the alloying elements are subject to subscaling or internal oxidation. In these alloys the solute must be present in such quantities that if the alloy is exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere at elevated temperatures, the rate of diffusion of the oxygen into the metal will be greater than the rate of diffusion of the solute outward. There is a composition range of the iron-silicon system that falls into this classification. Knowledge of the nature and rates of oxidation of iron-silicon alloys is of great commercial importance, but very little information of this nature is available. Darken2 recently has made calculations to show the limits of concentration of silicon for which subscales are produced in iron-silicon alloys; however, the main thesis of his paper was to analyze and to explain the already existing data. The purpose of this paper is to present the effect of com position, temperature, time, and atmosphere on the type of scale-metal layer obtained and to give some qualitative indication of the effect of these variables on the rates of oxidation. Since this paper is a study of silicon steels that are available commercially, extremely low-silicon and high-silicon alloys are not included. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The alloys used in the experiment were taken from heats of silicon steel that ranged in analysis from 0.70 to 5.8 per cent silicon. This composition range takes in most of the commercial silicon steels. In Table I are listed the compositions of alloys used. Other than iron and silicon, the alloys normally contained approximately the following impurities: carbon, 0.03 per cent; manganese, 0.07; phosphorus, 0.008; sulphur, 0.02; copper, 0.07; tin, 0.01, and from nil to a trace of chromium, nickel and copper. All of the alloys used were melted in open-hearth furnaces, except where otherwise noted, and were hot-rolled to 0.100-in. plate. Samples approximately 1/2 in. square were then cut from these materials. So that the surface conditions of the samples used for oxidation would be standardized, each sample was ground through 000 emery paper immediately before oxidation. Two different techniques were employed in carrying out the oxidizing treatments. One consisted simply of heating the samples with free access to air. In this treatment the samples were set on edge on a refrac-

Jan 1, 1945

By E. O. Wagner, V. F. Parry, W. S. Landers

Development work has shown that the yield of primary tar from coal is proportional to the heat in the volatile matter of the coal and that the yield of tar from noncoking coals may vary from 10 to 45 gal per ton on the ash-free and moisture-free basis. Pilot plant operations have proved that 100 to 135 pct of the bench-scale carbonization-assay yield of tar can be obtained. FOLLOWING investigations by the Denver Bureau of Mines on drying fine coal in the entrained state,'. ' Texas Power & Light Co. employed the fluidized technique to upgrade Texas lignite for use in power plants. Because of the rapidly rising cost of natural gas in Texas the company agreed to cooperate with the Bureau of Mines in studying further the upgrading of lignite by low-temperature carbonization, since potential value of the tar would help offset the cost of fuel. Considerable interest was aroused, therefore, when Aluminum Co. of America decided to use dried lignite in its 240,000-kw power plant at Rockdale, Texas, operated by Texas Power & Light. Carbonization of coal before burning in a power plant is not new. Plants in Germany have been operated for many years on carbonized brown coal and lignite briquets produced in large integrated plants. Large-scale experiments in carbonizing pulverized coal with hot flue gases were made 30 years ago at Milwaukee," and many inventors have proposed other processes. In the U. S., technical and economic problems have prevented successful operation of large plants on carbonized coal. but new techniques of handling solids in fluidized beds may overcome these difficulties, particularly if the higher volatile noncoking coals are used. Any bituminous material will decompose when heated to about 900°F to yield primary tar, gas, and char. The quantity of tar obtained from various coals depends on their rank and volatile content and to some extent on rate and method of heating. The liquid products derived from thermal decomposition of peat, brown coal. lignites, oil shale, and noncoking bituminous coals can be easily liberated by rapidly heating these materials in a fluidized bed at about 500°C (932°F). Since it takes only a few minutes to heat small particles of fuel to carbonizing temperature in a fluidized bed, processing plants can be built to handle up to 50 tph at relatively low cost. The pioneering development work being conducted at Rockdale, Texas, by Alcoa and Texas Power & Light will solve many engineering problems of such operations. The Bureau of Mines at Denver has studied the carbonizing properties of several hundred coals by small scale assay at 500°C, deriving a simple correlation between the potential yield of tar and the proximate analysis. This correlation, shown in Fig. 1, compares the heat in the volatile matter of the coal with the potential yield of primary tar. The yield of primary tar varies from 12 to 50 gal per ton of pure coal." About the same amount of heat is needed to * MAF equals moisture-and-ash-free basis. distil any dry coal at 500°C, and the time required to carbonize a given particle size is about the same for any coal. It is therefore obvious that coals rich in volatile matter will show the greatest profits when processed. Texas lignites are rich in volatile matter, which contributes some 5700 Btu per lb of MAF coal, and the potential primary tar and oil yield from this lignite averages 12 pct by weight or 27 gal per ton from the pure lignite. Texas lignites are considerably richer in potential tar than lignites of North Dakota and Montana. During 1950 the Bureau of Mines conducted many experiments on carbonizing fine dry coal in the entrained state, publishing a report4 n major features of pilot and commercial-size units required to carry out the process. Additional experimental work has been done at Denver and the pilot plant has been improved, particularly the facilities for studying removal of fine dusts from tar vapors and gases at high temperatures by electrostatic precipitation. A number of materials have been carbonized, including sawdust, peat, brown coal, Brazilian oil shale, lignites, and the lower rank bituminous coals having noncoking properties. Straight coking coals cannot

Jan 1, 1957

By J. Stuart Warner

The reaction COSO4(c)?CoO(c) + So3(g)was investigated from 950° to 1170OK by two different methods. The sulfate was decomposed in a previously evacuated space and Pso3 calculated from the measured total pressure on the assumption that Pso2 = 2P02. The sulfate was also decomposed under conditions of controlled oxygen pressure. The difference in the results obtained by these experimental techniques is attributed to the effects of thermal diffusion. The standard free energy change for the reaction is given by ?F° = 66,292 + 17.273T log T — 102.57 T (±300 cal/mole). It was found by DTA and X-ray diffraction studies that CoS04 undergoes a transformation at 617°± 4°C. THE metal sulfates may decompose directly to the oxide or pass through one or more intermediate basic sulfates. Provided the oxidation state of the cation does not change in the course of the reaction, the decompositions may be described in general as follows: One of the major objectives of this work was to determine the validity of Eq. [3] as much of the existing sulfate data has been calculated from decomposition pressures by Eq. [5]. The type of apparatus generally used for these measurements consists of a reaction vessel at high temperature which communicates with a manometer at room temperature. A temperature gradient is thus imposed on the gas phase causing thermal diffusion which brings about a partial separation of the different gaseous species present in an initially uniform mixture. The basic theory and experimental facts associated with this phenomenon are summarized elsewhere1 and it will suffice to state here that the heavier gaseous species diffuses down the temperature gradient. Since thermal diffusion destroys the homogeneity of the gas phase, it is not necessarily true that Pso2 = 2Po2 in any particular volume element of the gas phase even though there are twice as many molecules of SO, as of 0, in the gas phase considered as a whole. Under these conditions, the decomposing sulfate gives off SO, which dissociates to SO, and 0, and all three species are distributed throughout the system by thermal diffusion. However, the sulfate will continue to dissociate until the equilibrium value of PSo3 is established on the hot zone. Thermal diffusion may distribute SO2 and O2 throughout the gas phase in any way so long as Eq. [2b] is satisfied in the hot zone; i.e. Pso2(Po2)1/2=K3pso3. When a steady state is reached, we can characterize Pso2 in that

Jan 1, 1962

By H. C. Johnson, J. K. Elliott

One of the primary requirements for successful operation of an enriched gas-drive project is to control the composition of injection gas. This can become a serious and difficult problem, particularly in cases where the enrichment material is being furnished from a number of field -produced gas streams. It is possible to effect control of the injection gas composition through frequent or continuous sampling; however, this can be extremely costly and, in many cases, impractical due to laboratory requirements of time. Another alternative would be to provide a calculation technique which would be flexible and sufficiently accurate to predict composition of the liquid and gas streams of interest at any point in the system. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a technique that was used successfully on an operating enriched gas-drive project for developing information which could be used for controlling composition of the injected gas. FIELD OPERATIONS The particular field (hereafter called Example field) in the example operation being discussed is composed of four oil reservoirs (A. B, C and E) and one gas condensate reservoir (D). Casinghead gas from the oil reservoirs and gas from the gas condensate reservoir are gathered through a field gathering system as shown in Fig. I for injection into Reservoir C. The gas mixture which is recovered from the five reservoirs for injection purposes is composed of gases liberated in 19 individual separators, each operating at a separate temperature and pressure. PROPOSED CALCULATION TECHNIQUE It is well known that vapor-liquid equilibrium calculations in general use throughout the petroleum industry can be used to predict reliably the phase behavior of hydrocarbon mixtures, particularly at pressures less than 1,000 psig. It is then a simple matter to account for the material on a ComPonent basis by m''ing flash and material balance calculations at each separation point in a hydrocarbon system. Accordingly, it was proposed to use vapor-liquid equilibrium and material balance cal- culations with a medium-sized electronic digital computer as a basis for developing a control procedure for use in controlling injection gas composition in the enriched gas-drive project. Although the approach is a simple one, the numerous vapor-liquid equilibrium calculations involved make the problem laborious; in this particular case, it would have been impractical to make sutficiently complete analysis without the aid of digital computing equipment. SAMPLING AND VERIFICATION OF CALCULATION PROCEDURE To obtain representative gas and liquid stream samples and to provide a quantitative measure of overall system Performance for comDarative purpLses, a thorough test of the field and plant system was conducted in the summer of 1957. Oil production at each battery was sta-

By A. G. H. Andersen, A. W. Kingsbury

SILICON bronzes containing iron are used to a considerable extent in industry, under the trade name of P.M.G. alloys. Various classes of wrought alloys fall in the composition range 1.5 to 3.5 per cent silicon, and 0.5 to 2.5 per cent iron. Castings may contain as much as 6 per cent silicon and 3 per cent iron at present. The constitutional diagrams of these alloys are thus of considerable practical importance. Copper-silicon-binary alloys have been thoroughly investigated by a number of workers, the latest reports being those of C. S. Smith1 and of A. G. H. Andersen.2 Although much work has been done on iron-copper alloys,3 recorded investigations on the copper-rich copper-iron binary constitutional diagram are not numerous. Tammann and Oelsen4 determined the solubility limits of iron in copper by means of magnetic measurements, and found that the solubility of iron in copper amounts to a fraction of one per cent at 400°C., increasing slowly to one per cent at 800°C. From 800°C., the solubility increases rapidly and attains 4 per cent at 1100°C. Hanson and Ford,5 using electrical resistivity measurements and the microscope, determined a somewhat different solubility limit. Of earlier X-ray works on the copper-iron system, very little has been published. The work by Bradley and Goldschmidt6 on copper-iron-aluminum alloys includes some information on the copper-iron binary. These investigators conclude that substitution of iron in the copper lattice decreases the spacings, which is contrary to the evidence of the present work. Hanson and West7 have investigated the ternary alloys of copper with iron and silicon. Although their diagrams are valuable contributions to the understanding of these alloys, they did not recognize the kappa phase,12, 7,8 and their diagrams do not everywhere conform to the phase rule. The present work contains a check by means of X-rays of the solid solubility limit of iron in copper, and an X-ray investigation of the ternary-phase diagram, which, owing to present conditions, it became necessary to curtail considerably. PREPARATION OF SAMPLES Castings weighing about 75 grams were melted under vacuum. The charges were made up of ingot iron, copper cathodes from Laurel Hill, and refined silicon supplied by the Electrometallurgical Co. Alundum crucibles were generally used. The exceptions were alloys 77 and 78, which were melted in graphite crucibles. The ingots were annealed at 800°C. for one week, then samples were cut for chemical analysis. Longitudinal sections of the binary alloy ingots were hammered into plates 3 in. thick. Wherever possible, these plates were homogenized at temperatures ensuring

Jan 1, 1942

By W. S. Reid

In March, 1938, E. P. Fleming, metallurgist for the American Smelting and Refining Co. inaugurated an investigation into the possibilities of recirculating the gases from Dwight-Lloyd sintering machines operating on lead charge, with the twofold object of concentration of the SO2 content and reduction in volume of total gas produced. The possibility of recovering a commercial grade of SO2 gas from D & L machines operating on lead charge had previously been considered by several investigators. Early History of Recirculation The Selby Smelter Commission Report, published by the Bureau of Mines in 1914, contains a chapter by A. E. Wells regarding results obtained at Selby, wherein some of the richer gas was recirculated through a hood over the pallets. Oldright and Miller of the U. S. Bureau of Mines had also made tests at Trail, B.C., and at Kellogg, Idaho. R. C. Rutherford, while at the Chihuahua, Mexico, Smelter of the American Smelting and Refining Co., in May, 1937, proposed recirculation of D & L gases to decrease the volume of gas handled by the baghouse. At none of these plants, however, was the operation commercialized. In July, 1938, Mr. Fleming, in correspondence with the Selby Plant, inquired regarding the possibility of obtaining 6 pct SO2 gas from the Selby D & L machines. At that time, the writer advised that there was slight possibility of obtaining 6 pct SO2 gas without re- circulation, but believed that it was possible with recirculation, and that experimental work toward that end should be tried at some plant where spare D & L machines were available. The foregoing statement was based on the following information then available— 1. Tests on Selby first-over machines showed 2.28 pct SO2 from first windbox and 1.03 pct SO2 from second windbox, and corresponding figures for second-over charge of 0.81 pct SO2 for first windbox and 0.08 pct SO2 for second windbox. 2. Oldright and Miller (US. Bureau of Mines) in 1932 at Bunker Hill, on 42 in. X 22 ft machines found: a. First-over charge—Maximum SO2 concentration (leaving cake) of 9.5 pct. b. First-over charge—SO2 concentration of over 8 pct from the 4 ft to the 12 ft points beyond the front dead-plate and that the concentration then dropped rapidly. c. That approximately 80 pct of the total sulphur eliminated on the second-over machines occurred during the travel of the pallets from the 1 ft to the 6 ft distances from the dead-plate. d. That approximately 94 pct of the total sulphur eliminated on the second-over machines occurred over the first windox. 3. Oldright and Miller (US. Bureau of Mines) in 1932, at Trail, on 42 in. X 50 ft machines found: a. First-over charge—SO2 varied from 2.0 pct to 5.5 pct (leaving cake) from the 12 ft to 28 ft points from the deadplate. b. That the average SO2 increased from 1.0 pct at 7 ft from dead-plate to maximum of 3.3 pct at 20 ft, then dropped to 1.5 pct at 40 ft. c. That on a 22 ft, second-over machine with an 11 in. bed the SO2 varied from 4.5 pct to 6.5 pct from the 2 ft to the 8 ft points from the dead-plate. d. That on the final roast, the SO2 concentration also varied across the pallets; that is, 2 1/2 pct at the side, increasing to 6.0 pct, 5 in. in, and to 7.0 pct at 10 in. to 20 in. in, then decreased vice versa at the opposite side. e. Concluded that most of the sulphur on a 22 ft machine was removed over the first 7 ft of the first windbox; therefore, they partitioned the first windbox so that the exit gas from the second 4 ft section was returned to the surface of the pallets over the fist 7 ft section, and during a seven-day trial the gas from the 4 ft section averaged 2.4 pct SO2, while the recirculated gas from the first 7 ft section only increased to 3.8 pct SO2. (Excess suction over the 7 ft section to prevent escape of SO2 laden gas from the 4 ft section caused dilution by air.)

Jan 1, 1950