Document 0qO1v1YqG2pzZBJVBzyaw41qb

Progress In Underground Gasllieatlon of Coal Appbovai. or a contract between Bureau of Mines and Alabama Power Co for a second and larger cooperative experiment in underground coal gasification at Gorges, Ala., was announced recently by James Boyd, director of the bureau. (See Power, Aug, 1947, p 138, (or announcement of first expert* raent). The initial joint experiment last Bum mer showed that gases produced by burning unmined cool offer a potential source of fuel for power and raw ma terials for synthetic liquid fuels. If proven feasible, underground gasifica tion offers possibilities for minimizing, expensive mining end for utilizing coal veins difficult or uneconomical to mine. FltlO TEST COST Cost of the Large-scale field test, in cluding bureau expenditures and those' of the company that are reimbursable, is estimated at $411,000 for a one-year period. Under the contract, the com*, pony will provide engineering and op erating services on an actual cost basis and will contribute as a site for the experiment some 300. acres of Pratt seam cool, averaging 40 in. in thick ness. Director 'Boyd estimated the sile- preparation work would be completed this falL At that time, he added, inter secondly, the quantity of ter end re iV ; ested persons will be invited to inspect lated products obtained (S) to obtain the underground workings before the information on effect of heat on overly coal bed is fired for the first experi ing strata (6) to obtain fundamental mental run. technical and economic information Objectives of the experiment are: concerning plant sites, installation* and (l) to determine quantity of coal that operating processes. can be gasified from a given combustion sqne end shape and extent of burnedout area formed (2) to determine EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENTS whether fixed outlets for product goa Moscow [McGraw-Hill IPorId News): are practicable, either at the outcrop of Soviet fuel engineers have "in the mnin the coal bed or at vertical bore holes. Various designs of inlets, outlets and seals will be tested (3) to determine operating characteristics of the installa tion under a variety of conditions (4) solved the problem of underground gasification of coal," S I Vavilov, presi dent of U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, recently stated, adding that "a method for underground gasification.o! shale Is Oct.3-7--American Institute of trical Engineers, Middle Eaticrn 4b meeting, Hotel Staffer, Washington, p, H H HeoUite, secretary, S3 W S9U1 New York IB, N. Y. to determine quality and quantity of being worked out." Oct 5-7--New England Material* product gas generated with on air blast Meanwhile, industrial power experts dllng Exposition, Mechanics Hall 7 under experimental conditions and, [Condnued on pegs 154) [Continued on poge 158) 1)1 (570)