CHEMICAL
£• M E T A L L U R G I C A L
ENGINEERING
v o l u m e 4 0 E s t a b l i s h e d 1902 n u m b e r 10 M C G R A W -H IL L PUBLISHING C O M P A N Y , INC.
S. D. KIRKPATRICK, Editor
OCTOBER, 1933
ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP IN THE NEW DEAL
F R O M N O W O N T H E S U C C E S S o f th e re c o v e ry p r o g ra m is g o in g to d e p e n d m o re a n d m o re on in d u s tria l m a n a g e m e n t. G o v e rn m e n ta l g u id a n c e a n d s u p p o r t w e re n ee d e d a t th e s ta r t b e c a u se e v e ry in d u s tr y w a s so re ly affe c te d by e x te r n a l fo rc e s o v e r w h ic h th e in d iv id u a l p la n t m a n a g e r h a d little o r n o c o n tro l. B u t w ith th e c o m p le tio n o f th e co d e a n d in d u s try a g re e m e n ts, th e G o v e rn m e n t slip s in to th e b ac k g r o u n d . T h e e x te r n a l jo b o f in d u s tr y p la n n in g g iv e s w a y to th e v a s tly m o re im p o r ta n t in te rn a l jo b o f tr a n s la tin g th e co d e p r o v is io n s in to p ra c tic al, w o rk in g p r o c e d u re s .
E v e n in ch em ical in d u s try a s u r p r is in g n u m b e r o f n e w p ro b le m s a r e g o in g to c e n te r a ro u n d e m p lo y e r-e m p lo y e e re la tio n s . W h e th e r w e like it o r n o t, S e c tio n 7 a o f N .I .R .A . is la b o r ’s bill o f r ig h ts u n d e r th e N e w D eal. R a th e r th a n c o n tin u e to a r g u e a b o u t in te r p re ta tio n s a n d e x ce p tio n s, p r o g re s s iv e m a n a g e m e n t is g o in g to g e t b a c k o n th e jo b , r e -e x a m in e its old p e r so n n e l policies, a n d m u s te r fu ll c o o p e ra tio n in c a r r y in g n e w id e a s in to effect.
O n e o f th e m e a n s to w a r d th is c o o p e ra tio n is th e w o rk s c o u n c il f o rm o f em p lo y ee r e p r e s e n ta tio n . U n f o r tu n a te ly , th r o u g h p o o r le a d e rs h ip o r la c k o f s u p e rv is io n d u r in g th e p a s t few y e a rs , m a n y o f th e s e g r o u p s h a v e b ee n d is b a n d e d o r h a v e b e e n a llo w e d to becom e m o rib u n d . N o w th e y a r e b a d ly n e e d e d a n d s h o u ld b e re -o rg a n iz e d — n o t a s c o m p a n y u n io n s o r a s a m e a n s o f g e ttin g a r o u n d th e p ro v isio n s o f th e re c o v e ry act, b u t r a th e r in th e in te r e s t o f p ro m o tin g t r u e p a r tn e rs h ip — o f g iv in g th e w o rk e r a vo ice in th e a f fa ir s o f h is in d u s try — a n d th u s e n lis tin g th e c o o p e ra tio n w h ic h th r o u g h o u tsid e m e d d lin g h e is o f te n d isin c lin e d to give.
E m p lo y e e tr a in in g h a s also b e e n a llo w ed to la g d u r in g th e d e p re ssio n . I t seem ed lik e a n o n
p ro d u c tiv e e x p e n se w h e n th e re w e re no jo b s f o r w h ich m en sh o u ld be tra in e d . N o w , b y in c re a sin g th e n u m b e r o f s h if ts b ec au se o f s h o r te r
h o u rs, th e re is a lre a d y a n e e d in som e p la n ts i f o r a d d itio n a l su p e rv is o rs. I n th e p a st, t h e ' p la n t m a n a g e r tu r n e d to th e co m p a n y ’s school as th e s u r e s t w a y to p ic k th e m a n f r o m th e ra n k s w h o k n e w th e m o s t a b o u t th e jo b ah e ad . I t is w ell to re m e m b e r th a t em ployee tr a in in g is w o rth w h ile , n o t m e re ly a s a n aid to p ro d u c tio n b u t a s a m e a n s o f in c re a s in g th e m a n ’s u n d e rs ta n d in g o f a c o m p a n y ’s p ro b lem s a n d policies.
S ele ctio n o f n ew em ployees is a n o th e r te c h n iq u e th a t n ee d s re v ita liz in g o r it w ill so o n becom e o n e o f th e lo s t a r ts . D u rin g th e p a s t th r e e y e a r s m a n y y o u n g e r m e n h av e been held d o w n to jo b s th a t th e y th o u g h t w e re m e re ly ste p p in g sto n e s to so m e th in g b e tte r in th e p la n t o rg a n iz a tio n . S h o rtly th e re w ill com e th e tim e w h e n th e s e lo n g -a w a ite d o p p o rtu n itie s a r e g o in g to d ev elo p . S h o u ld th e y be filled f ro m th e ra n k s o r f ro m th e o u ts id e w ith o ld e r m e n a v a il
able f o r th e sa m e m o n e y ? I f th e b e g in n e rs ’ jo b s a r e v a c a te d , sh o u ld th e y go to a n ew cro p o f y o u n g s te rs o r to m o re e x p e rie n c e d m e n fro m a m o n g th e u n e m p lo y e d ? R e -e m p lo y m e n t is n e c e s sa ry a n d d e s ira b le b u t it is o u r fe e lin g th a t it sh o u ld n o t be m a d e a t th e e x p e n se o f th o se w h o h a v e se rv e d o v e rtim e on th e lo w e r r u n g s o f th e la d d e r.
A f t e r all th e se a r e o n ly a fe w o f th e social im p lica tio n s in v o lv ed in o u r g r e a t ec onom ic e x p e rim e n t. B u t th e success o f o n e d e p e n d s on th e o th e r. W h a t econom ic p ro g re s s ca n be ac h ie v ed in th e em e rg e n c y w ill be lo st in th e lo n g p u ll u n le ss th e re is a p ro fita b le p a r tn e r sh ip o f e m p lo y e r a n d em ployee. T o a tta in th is f a ir ly a n d p ro m p tly , w ill b e th e r e a l te s t o f m a n a g e m e n t.
E D I T O R I A L S
C ongratulations T o the W inner!
B
Y V O T E o f a d is tin g u is h e d c o m m itte e o f le a d e rs in th e in d u s tr y a n d p ro fe s s io n , th e firs t A w a r d f o r C h e m ic a l E n g in e e r in g A c h ie v e m e n t is to b e m a d e to th e C a rb id e a n d C a rb o n C h e m ic a ls C o r p o r a tio n a t th e tim e o f th e fo rth c o m in g C h e m ic al E x p o s itio n . P u b lic re c o g n itio n is th u s to be g iv e n to th e c o m p a n y th a t in th e o p in io n o f th e C o m m itte e on A w a r d h a s c o n trib u te d m o s t sin c e J a n u a r y , 1930, to th e a d v a n c e o f ch e m ic al in d u s try a n d o f th e ch e m ic al e n g in e e rin g p ro fe s s io n . I t w ill b e o u r p riv ile g e n e x t m o n th to p r e s e n t a c o m p re h e n s iv e d isc u ssio n o f th e u n iq u e a c c o m p lish m e n t o f th e C a rb id e o rg a n iz a tio n in e s ta b lis h in g a s y n th e tic a lip h a tic c h e m ic al in d u s tr y in th e U n ite d S ta te s , w h ic h in b u t th r e e y e a rs h a s ris e n to a p o s itio n o f w o rld le a d e rs h ip . T h e re c o rd is o n e o f w h ic h all ch e m ic al e n g in e e rs m ay w ell be p ro u d .R eports o f Its D eath A re G reatly Exaggerated
L
I K E M A R K T W A I N , th e N R A se em s to be h a v - j in g a little tr o u b le w ith p e o p le w h o p e r s is t in c irc u la tin g r u m o r s o f its d e a th . P e r h a p s th is is sim p ly a s o r t o f w is h f u l th in k in g t h a t h a s th o u g h tle s s ly b ee n ta k e n f o r f a c t o r p e rh a p s it is d e lib e ra te p r o p a g a n d a d e s ig n e d f o r a l tr u is tic o r o th e r re a s o n s to p u t a n e a rly e n d to o u r p a r tn e r s h ip e x p e rim e n t. B u t w h a te v e r it is, it is m a n if e s tly in a c c u ra te a n d u n f a ir , a n d a b r a n d o f ta lk w ith w h ic h e n g in e e rs , o f all p e o p le , s h o u ld n o tid e n tif y th e m se lv e s.
I t is tr u e , o f c o u rse , th a t p la n n e d re c o v e ry h a s n o t in f o u r m o n th s b e e n ab le to u n d o th e e ffe c ts o f n e a rly f o u r y e a r s o f d e p re s s io n . I t is tr u e th a t th e P R A , h a v in g q u ie tly s e rv e d its re a l p u rp o s e s , is n o w b e in g a llo w ed to d ie w ith a n a p p e a r a n c e o f f a ilu re . I t is t r u e th a t liv in g c o s ts h a v e ris e n f a s te r th a n in co m e, th a t re -e m p lo y m e n t h a s n o t m e t th e o v e r-o p tim is tic b o g ey s e t f o r it, a n d th a t r a c k e te e r in g la b o r a g ita to r s h av e b ee n c a p ita liz in g o n th e in c ip ie n c e o f re c o v e ry . I t is tr u e th a t re sp e c ta b le la b o r o rg a n iz a tio n s h a v e b ee n lo a th to c o o p e ra te , th a t th e P r e s id e n t h a s fa ile d to c o m e o u t fla t-fo o te d ly a g a in s t d ir e c t m o n e ta ry in fla tio n . . . . B u t lo o k a t th e o th e r sid e o f th e le d g e r.
I t is eq u a lly tr u e th a t a n e x c e lle n t s t a r t to w a r d re c o v e ry h a s b e e n m a d e in th e c o n s u m e r s ’ g o o d s in d u s trie s w h ile , s o m e w h a t b e la te d ly , N R A h a s tu r n e d its e n e rg ie s to w a r d th e re h a b ilita tio n o f c a p ita l g o o d s. I n d u s tr y n o w h a s w h a t it h a s lo n g c rie d f o r , a r e la x a tio n o f th e o u tm o d e d p ro v is io n s o f th e a n t i - t r u s t la w s . A n d b e s t o f all, f o r o u r f u tu r e g o o d , w e h a v e m o v e d a little c lo se r to a n u n d e r s ta n d in g o f o u r ec o n o m ic s y s te m a n d th e w a y it w o rk s .
N o e n g in e e r n e e d s to be re m in d e d o f th e v a lu e o f e x p e r im e n t. N o e n g in e e r in h is r ig h t m in d w ill d is c a rd a n e x p e r im e n t b e f o r e it h a s b ee n d is p ro v e d n o r h o ld b ac k f r o m e x p e r im e n t f o r f e a r o f f a ilu re . N o
e n g in e e r, re c a llin g th e 13 y e a rs th a t it to o k to e s ta b lish th e f a ilu r e o f p ro h ib itio n , w ill b eliev e th a t a s c a n t f o u r m o n th s w ith a m u c h m o re f a r - r e a c h in g e x p e r i
m e n t ca n be ta k e n to p ro v e its su c ce ss o r fa ilu re . N o o n e ca n d e n y th e e x is te n c e o f th e a b u s e s a g a in s t w h ic h th e N I R A is so s q u a re ly a im e d , a n d fe w b eliev e th a t th e y c a n n o t b e a t le a s t p a r tia lly c o rre c te d . O u r f irs t a tte m p t m a y n o t su cceed , n o r th e se c o n d , n o r th e th ir d . B u t th e m a in th in g is th a t w e sh a ll b e tr y in g . N R A is n o t d e a d ; it is n ’t e v e n w e a k e n in g . N o t o n ly a re th e r e p o r ts o f its d e a th g r e a tly e x a g g e r a t e d : it h a s j u s t b e g u n to fig h t.
T rucking C hem icals
D eserves N ew C onsideration
A C C I D E N T S in c id e n t to th e tr u c k in g o f ch e m ic a ls l \ o f flam m ab le o r e x p lo siv e n a t u r e h a v e o c c u rre d
re c e n tly . T w o o r th r e e su c h s p e c ta c u la r a f f a ir s w ith in a s h o r t p e rio d in A u g u s t a n d S e p te m b e r h a v e t h r e a t e n e d to p la c e th e w h o le c h e m ic al in d u s tr y o n th e d e f e n sive. E v e r y in te r e s te d p a r ty s h o u ld g iv e e a rly a tte n tio n to th is m a tte r.
T h e ch e m ic al i n d u s t r y h a s a n e n v ia b le r e p u ta tio n o f s a fe ty in th e ra ilw a y m o v e m e n t o f d a n g e ro u s m a te ria ls . C o o p e ra tio n o f th e in d u s tr y w ith ra ilw a y traffic sp e c ia lists u n d e r th e a d m in is tra tiv e s u p e rv is io n o f th e I n te r s ta te C o m m e rc e C o m m issio n h a s g iv e n a se t o f c o n ta in e rs a n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n p ra c tic e s w h ic h p ra c tic a lly e lim in a te fr o m th is a c tiv ity th e d ifficu lties w h ic h w o u ld be in h e r e n t w e re c a re le ss p ra c tic e s to le r a te d o r im p r o p e r c o n ta in e rs u se d . L ik e th o u g h t m u s t be g iv e n to tru c k in g .
T h e p u b lic o n th e h ig h w a y s is e n title d to c o n s id e ra tio n j u s t a s m u c h a s th e u s e rs o f th e r a ilr o a d f o r p a s s e n g e r o r f r e ig h t se rv ic e . S lo v e n ly p a c k a g in g a n d c a re le ss h a n d lin g w ill in e v ita b ly b e e lim in a te d . T h e in d u s tr y s h o u ld lead in th is e f f o rt a n d n o t s it b a c k a n d w a it u n til n e e d le ssly b u rd e n s o m e r e s tr ic tio n s a r e im p o sed b y official e d ic t.
A W elcom e Change O f C onflicting D ates
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U S T A S W E g o to p re s s w o rd co m es f ro m th e C o u n c il o f th e A m e ric a n I n s titu t e o f C h e m ic a l E n g i n e e rs t h a t th e d a te s f o r th e a n n u a l m e e tin g in R o a n o k e , V a ., h a v e been c h a n g e d to D ec. 12, 13, a n d 14. T h u s is a v o id e d a n u n f o r tu n a te co n flict w ith a n o th e r im p o r ta n t c h e m ic al e n g in e e rin g a c tiv ity , th e F o u r te e n t h N a tio n a l E x p o s itio n o f th e C h e m ic al I n d u s tr ie s , w h ic h w ill be h e ld in th e G ra n d C e n tr a l P a la c e in N e w Y o r k d u r in g th e w e e k o f D ec. 4. T o h a v e co m b in e d th e tw o in a sin g le w e e k w o u ld h a v e ta x e d th e in g e n u ity o f m a n y c h e m ic al e n g in e e rs a s w e ll a s th e t r a i n s c h e d u le s o f se v e ra l e a s te rn r a ilro a d s . T o h o ld th e m in fo llo w in g w ee k s, h o w e v e r, g iv e s a m p le o p p o r tu n ity to s p e n d suffic ie n t tim e w ith e a ch to g e t th e f u ll b e n e fit o f th e a d v a n ta g e s o ffe re d .
506 C h em ica l & M e ta llu rg ic a l E n g in e e r in g— V o l.4 0 ,N o .l0
C H E M I C A L C O D E S D E M A N D IN D U S T R Y 'S C O O P E R A T I O N
• • * U n a n im o u s s u p p o r t f o r c h e m ic a l a n d f e r t i l i z e r c o d e s a p p e a r e d , u n t i l la te ly , to b e f o r th c o m in g . R e c e n t d e v e lo p m e n ts sh o w d e t e r m in e d o p p o s it io n o n th e p a r t o f c e r t a i n c o m p a n ie s , p a r t i c u l a r l y to t h e f e r t i l i z e r c o d e . M o s t o f t h e o p p o s it io n se e m s to c e n te r i n s u b s id i
a r ie s o f A llie d C h e m ic a l a n d D y e C o rp .
• • • I t is m o s t u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t s u c h a n o u t
s t a n d i n g m e m b e r o f t h e i n d u s t r y s h o u ld a t th is l a t e d a te f in d i t n e c e s s a ry to r a is e o b s ta c le s to t h e official a p p r o v a l of t h e C h e m ic a l A llia n c e c o d e a n d th e c o d e f o r m u l a te d
u n d e r N a t i o n a l F e r t i l i z e r A s s o c ia tio n . H o w e v e r m e r i
to r io u s t h e o b je c ti o n s m a y b e , i t is m u c h to o l a t e to o ffe r th e m . T h e y s h o u ld h a v e b e e n p r e s e n te d w e e k s ago.
• • • I t is t h e la w o f t h e l a n d t h a t c o d e s s h a ll b e f o r m u l a t e d . I t is s e e m in g ly t h e g e n e r a l j u d g m e n t o f b u s i
n e ss t h a t c o d e s a r e d e s ir a b le u n d e r p r e s e n t c irc u m s ta n c e s . C o o p e r a tio n is t h e o r d e r o f th e d a y . C o o p e r a tio n i n th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y f u r t h e r i n g its c o d e , a n d g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t o n t h e f e r t i l i z e r c o d e , s h o u ld b e h a d — a n d so o n .
C
h e m i c a l a l l i a n c e’s code is still, a t the date of w ritin g , not fo rm ally approved. D u rin g A u g u st it re ceived general acceptance, seem ingly alm ost unanim ous support. In like m an
n er d u rin g S eptem ber th e fertilize r code, u n d er auspices of N ational F e rtilizer A ssociation, w as form ulated and ac
cepted. N ow serious obstacles appear to lie in the w ay of both.
N atio n al F e rtiliz e r A ssociation is o u t
spoken in its statem ent to m em ber com panies an d non-m em ber concerns in the in d u stry th a t the opposition to its code o rig in a te s alm ost exclusively w ith the B a rre tt Com pany. T h is prom inent sub
sid iary of A llied Chemical and Dye Corp. is the m a jo r m ark eter of inorganic fertilize r n itro g e n sold o ther than th ro u g h fertilize r com pany channels. I t is understood th a t this com pany declined to p articip a te in the p rep a ra tio n of the code. A lthough its p a rt in the industry rep rese n ts only ap proxim ately one per cent of the total tonnage sales of fertilizer, the opposition raise d has been sufficient to delay final action a t N .R .A . for several weeks.
It ap p ears th a t an effort w as made to cre ate the appearance of controversy be
tw een chem ical com panies and fertilizer com panies before G eneral W illiam s, deputy ad m in istra to r of N .R .A . O ppo
sition seemed to come from a v arie ty of
potash and nitro g en m anufacturing and m arketing groups. A t one stage these groups appeared to include domestic potash producers, potash im porters, by
product nitro g en m anufacturers, syn
thetic nitro g en products m akers, and re
lated m ark etin g groups.
C onfronted by this hostile element, N ational F e rtiliz e r A ssociation imm edi
ately m ade inq u iry as to the occasion for the opposition. M uch of it collapsed when the facts w ere made clear. A t present only p a rt of the synthetic n itro gen com panies of the country continue th e ir outspoken attack on the fertilizer code.
A llied subsidiaries have opposed many codes, app aren tly as a general m atter of corporation policy. T he opposition to the fertilize r code is based on a participation in the m ark etin g of byproduct am monium sulphate th rough the B a rre tt Co. and the m anufacture by A tm ospheric N itro g en Corp. of synthetic products at H opewell, V a., also m arketed by B a r
rett. Some of the codes opposed are for com m odities in w hich the corporation ap
pears to have m uch less, or even negli
gible, interest.
A s form ulated the fertilizer code would require m arketers of chemical n itrogen to observe this code w hen selling for fer
tilizer usage eith er to consum ers or to dealers. T h is m eans com pliance w ith the
open-price agreem ents there provided for. T h is requirem ent amply explains the opposition by A llied subsidiaries to acceptance.
T he m agnitude of various industries involved in the fertilizer business has been sum m arized by N ational F ertilizer A ssociation as follow s:
Tonnage of mixed fertilizer Short marketed by fertilizer com- Tons panies ... 4,600,000 Fertilizer materials sold by
mixed fertilizer makers . . . 1,378,000 Fertilizer materials sold by
others ... 357,000 Total ... 6,335,000 In the last named group, 5.6 per cent of the total, are 1,000 tons of potash, 24,000 tons of phosphate rock, and nitrogen used separately, principally for top and side dressing. Of this total 192,000 is organic nitrogen, mainly cottonseed meal. The inorganic “ chem ical” nitrogen is 140,000 tons, o r 2.2 per cent of the nation’s total.
It is this small per cent which occasions the controversy.
T h e chemical code has been delayed significantly for other reasons. A s p re
sented a t the hearing, it contained the m erit clauses to w hich organized labor has objected. U ntil this m atter lias been decided by the A lliance board and a new d raft form ulated on the basis of the h ea r
ings, G eneral W illiam s’ office would not norm ally take action. F u rth e r proceed
ings are, however, expected shortly, may even take place between this w ritin g and publication date. It is unlikely, however, that the m erit clauses will be retained as G eneral Johnson has em phatically an nounced th at the autom obile code in
cluded both the first and the last appear
ance of such provisions.
Delay in obtaining industry agreem ent on the basic chem ical code is not being perm itted to in terfere w ith the plans for the special supplem entary codes for each of the tw enty odd subdivisions of chemi
cal industry. A d raft of w hat such a sup
plem entary code m ight contain was mailed from G eneral W illiam s’ office on Sept. 22 and 23 to m ore than two dozen trade associations in the chemical field.
In this outline the separate groups w ere urged, in the interest of sim plicity and uniform ity, to om it any provisions al
ready covered by the Chemical Alliance code for it is assumed that th eir members have already approved or intend to ap
prove the general code.
General W illiam s, in a recent in te r
view w ith C lion. & M et., indicated th at he wishes to interfere as little as possible in this w ork on the supplem entary codes.
A lthough open hearings m ust be held under the law, this w ork is essentially th a t of “self-governm ent of industry.” In short, he would like to see the whole in
dustry recognize this opportunity to work out its own destiny under the codes.
O c to b e r, 1933 — C h em ica l & M eta llu rg ic a l E n gin eerin g 507
Lamp block scrubbers
t-mi/e trans
mission line
High pressure
aas meter Condensers
Butti
mixing Relief holder
W ater gas
purifiers t/h a u s te rs
C o n tro l]
calorimeter C ity gas
holders
Naphthalene scrubbers
Blue g a s a n d /o r wafer g a s with some _ oi/ enrichm ent
Use of refinery gas at Greenpoint works
By R. S. McBRIDE
Editorial Representative, Chem. & Met.
Petroleum
Refinery Gas for
City Supply
n e c e s sa ry h e a tin g v a lu e so m e lig h tly c a r b u r e tte d w a te r g a s is p ro d u c e d . T h e q u a n tity o f o il e m p lo y e d to go w ith th e r e fin e ry g a s m a k e s u p th e to ta l e n r ic h e r re q u ir e m e n t. ( 3 ) W h e n m o re th a n su ffic ie n t f o r co ld c a rb u r- e ttin g , so m e re f in e r y g a s is r e - f o r m e d by th e p ro c e s s d e sc rib e d belo w . T o th e e x t e n t th e r e f in e r y g a s is u s e d in th is m a n n e r, it s e rv e s a s a s u b s titu te , n o t o n ly f o r e n r ic h in g oil, b u t a lso in p a r t f o r th e so lid f u e l u s e d in th e w a te r -g a s g e n e r a to r .
T h e o b je c t o f th e g a s c o m p a n y is o b v io u sly to m a in ta in th e lo w e s t o v e r-a ll c o s t f o r th e fin ish e d g a s. T h is r e q u ir e s a v e r y clo se w a tc h o f th e v a r ia b le f a c to r s in v o lv e d , all o f w h ic h a r e m o d ifie d b y th e a v a ila b le s u p p ly o f re fin e ry g a s . F o r m e r l y th e s e n d o u t f r o m th e G re e n p o in t w o rk s c o n s is te d sim p ly o f co k e o v e n g a s a n d c a r
b u r e tte d w a te r g a s. T h is re a c h e d th e b u lk o f th e a r e a s s u p p lie d b y th e co m p a n y , b u t w a s a u g m e n te d b y a d d i
tio n a l w a te r g a s f r o m th e o th e r w o rk s o f th e c o m p a n y a s d e m a n d r e q u ir e d . In c id e n ta lly th e u se o f r e fin e ry g a s h a s sig n ific a n tly in c re a s e d th e g a s -m a k in g c a p a c ity o f th is w o rk s , th u s re d u c in g to so m e e x t e n t th e q u a n tity w h ic h m u s t b e m a d e a t th e o th e r w o rk s . A fe w e x a m p le s o f th e o p e r a tin g p r a c tic e w ill illu s tr a te th e im p o r ta n c e o f th e s e ch a n g e s .
D u r i n g c e r ta in s e a so n s th e G re e n p o in t w o r k s s e n d s o u t a b o u t 5 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 c u .f t. o f g a s p e r d a y , c o n ta in in g a p -
U
S E O F B Y P R O D U C T G A S fr o m a p e tro le u m re fin e ry a s a r e g u la r p a r t o f city s u p p ly m ix tu r e h a s b e e n a c c o m p lish e d u n d e r a d v a n ta g e o u s c o n d itio n s in B r o o k ly n . T h e r e s u lts a ff o rd n e w p e tro le u m b y p r o d u c t in c o m e, a n d p r e s e n t a n a d v a n ta g e in effec tiv e city g a s su p p ly . T h u s th e p a r tie s o f in te r e s t a r e b e n e ficially a ffe c te d b y th is d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e B ro o k ly n U n io n G a s C o., u tiliz in g u p to 4 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 c u .f t. a d a y o f th e g a s f ro m th e B ro o k ly n re fin e ry o f S ta n d a r d O il Co.
o f N e w Y o rk .
T h e re fin e ry g a s u se d in th is d e v e lo p m e n t is p u m p e d a b o u t a m ile a t a p p r o x im a te ly 50 lb. p r e s s u r e , f ro m th e re fin e ry to th e g a s w o rk s . T h e r e it is re c e iv e d th r o u g h h ig h - p re s s u r e C o n n e rs v ille p o s itiv e -d is p la c e m e n t r o ta r y m e te rs , a n d e ith e r u tiliz e d d ire c tly o r s to r e d in tw o h ig h - p r e s s u r e b u lle t h o ld e rs w h ic h flo at on th e line.
M o s t o f th e h y d ro g e n su lp h id e in th e g a s as rec e iv e d f r o m th e re f in e ry h a s b e e n re m o v e d b y th e liq u id p u r i fica tio n u n it a t th e oil p la n t; th e r e m a in d e r is less th a n w o u ld r e s u lt f r o m g a s -o il e n r ic h m e n t f o r w h ic h th e re fin e ry g a s h a s b e e n s u b s titu te d . T h e h e a tin g v a lu e v a r ie s m a te ria lly , a v e r a g in g b e tw e e n 1,750 a n d 1,800 B .t.u . p e r c u . f t .; sp e cific g r a v ity is a p p r o x im a te ly u n ity . T h e q u a n tity re c e iv e d , d e p e n d in g o n th e r a te o f o p e r a tio n a t th e re fin e ry , is c o m m o n ly a b o u t 4 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 c u .f t.
p e r d a y . T h e q u a n tity d e liv e re d is a lw a y s c a lc u la te d in te r m s o f to ta l h e a t re c e iv e d a n d th e p ric e is c a lc u la te d p e r th e r m (1 0 0 ,0 0 0 B . t . u .) . A n o r m a l re f in e ry o p e r a tio n s u p p ly a m o u n ts to 6 0 ,0 0 0 to 8 0 ,0 0 0 th e r m s p e r 2 4 h r .
T h e m e th o d o f u se d e p e n d s u p o n th e q u a n tity a v a il
a b le : ( 1 ) A ll m a y b e u se d m e re ly f o r cold c a r b u r e ttin g o f b lu e w a te r g a s . S o u s e d 1 M o f re f in e ry g a s e n ric h e s a b o u t 6 M o f b lu e g a s to th e d e s ire d h e a tin g v alu e.
( 2 ) ' I f th e s u p p ly o f c o ld -c a r b u re ttin g g a s is n o t su fficie n t to e n ric h all o f th e re q u is ite w a te r g a s to th e
508 C h em ica l & M e ta llu rg ic a l E n g in e e rin g — V o l.4 0 ,N o .l0
Hot scrubbers for removing lamp black after water-gas machines
p r o x im a te ly eq u a l q u a n titie s o f o v en g a s a n d w a te r g as.
U n d e r th o se c irc u m sta n c e s, th e 2 5 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 c u .f t. o f w a te r g a s is j u s t a b o u t th e sufficient v o lu m e to a b s o rb all o f t h e 'r e f i n e r y g a s c o m m o n ly a v a ila b le by cold e n ric h m e n t a lo n e .
I n th e s u m m e r lo w -lo a d se aso n , a sm a lle r to ta l d e m a n d is p la c e d o n th is w o rk s a n d so m e re d u c tio n in o u tp u t is a c c o m p lish e d . R e fin e ry g a s is th e n u se d m o re e x t e n siv e ly f o r r e - fo r m in g . F o r th is p u rp o s e th is g a s is p a s se d th r o u g h th e w a te r -g a s g e n e r a to r w ith th e ste a m , b o th o n th e d o w n -r u n s a n d on th e u p - ru n s . T h e rich
h y d ro c a rb o n s o f th e re fin e ry g a s a r e cra c k e d , f o rm in g lig h te r h y d ro c a rb o n s. F r e e c a rb o n is d e p o s ite d in th e fu e l bed a n d th is becom es a p a r t o f th e solid fu e l to be used b o th d u r in g th e b la st a n d d u rin g th e g a s -m a k in g p erio d s. I n effect, th e re fo re , u n d e r th e se co n d itio n s som e o f th e re fin e ry g a s becom es n o t o n ly a su b s titu te f o r e n ric h in g oil, b u t also a s u b s titu te f o r th e coke u se d as a so lid fu el.
D u rin g cold w e a th e r th e fu ll w o rk in g ca p ac ity o f th e G re e n p o in t w o rk s is u tilize d . T h e d e m a n d th e n g re a tly e x c ee d s th e p o ssib le s u p p ly w ith o u t u se o f b o th th e re fin e ry g a s a n d som e oil f o r th e n o rm a l ty p e o f w a te r g a s c a rb u re ttin g . W h e n th is co n d itio n p re v a ils, it is p ossible e ith e r to a d d oil to all th e m a ch in e s o r, b e tte r, to ru n som e m a ch in e s f o r b lu e -g a s g e n e ra tio n a n d o th e rs w ith su b s ta n tia l q u a n titie s o f oil p e r M c u .f t. m ade. A ll th e g a s fro m th e g e n e r a to r s is th e n m ix e d a n d b r o u g h t u p to th e re q u is ite h e a tin g v a lu e b y cold e n ric h m e n t w ith th e re fin e ry g as. U n d e r su c h c irc u m sta n c e s o th e r w o rk s o f th e c o m p an y m a k e u p th e re q u isite to ta l city su p p ly b ey o n d th a t w h ic h can be m a d e a t G re e n p o in t.
U n if o r m ity in h e a tin g v a lu e a n d in specific g ra v ity o f th e g a s a t th e c u s to m e rs' p re m ise s is essen tial f o r go o d service. T h is th e r e f o r e n e c e s sita te s n o t o n ly close co n tro l a t G re e n p o in t b u t su c h c o rre la tio n o f its o u tp u t w ith th a t o f o th e r w o rk s as to av o id difficulties in th e a re a s o f th e c ity w h e re th e tw o so u rce s o f su p p ly b o th c o n trib u te to th e c o n s u m e rs ’ n eed . S in ce all th e w o rk s can re a d ily m a in ta in a p p ro x im a te ly 537 B .t.u . p e r c u .ft.
a t all tim es, th e h e a tin g v a lu e m a d e n e c e s sa ry b y sta te re q u ire m e n ts, th e a d ju s tm e n t o f th e h e a tin g v alu e is n o t com plicated. T h e se n d o u t o f o th e r w o rk s, c o n ta in in g n o coke o ven g as, is o f h ig h e r d e n s ity th a n th e n o rm a l s e n d o u t f ro m G re e n p o in t. H e n c e to p re v e n t c u s to m e rs ’ tro u b le s it is n e c e s sa ry a t th is w o rk s to m a k e a w a te r g a s o f re la tiv e ly h ig h g r a v ity in o r d e r th a t th e g ra v ity o f th e m ix e d g a s u ltim a te ly g o in g in to th e city m a in s m a y n o t be to o low c o m p a re d w ith th a t f ro m th e o th e r w o rk s o f th e co m p an y . T h e h ig h g r a v ity g a s is easily m a d e by a g e n e ro u s u se o f th e b lo w -ru n on one o r m o re m ach in es.
T h e u se o f th e re fin e ry g a s also is h e lp fu l as th e specific g ra v ity o b ta in e d is n e a rly u n ity , m u c h ab o v e th a t o f a n y o f th e o th e r c o n s titu e n ts in th e g a s m ix tu re .
A d d itio n o f th e re fin e ry g a s f o r cold e n ric h m e n t is au to m a tic a lly c o n tro lle d b y a C u tle r- H a m m e r C a lo rim ix . T h is device m a in ta in s th e h e a tin g v alu e o f th e m ix tu re by a d ju s tm e n ts f ro m m in u te to m in u te on th e b u tte rfly valve o n th e e n r ic h e r g a s, so th a t th e m ix tu re g o in g to th e p u rifie rs d o es n o t v a ry m o re th a n a fe w B .t.u . e ith e r w ay fro m th e a v e ra g e w h ich th e m ix e r is se t to m a in ta in .
General view showing two high-pressure bul
let-type holders, con
trol house, and naph
thalene scrubbers
O cto b er, 1933 — C h em ical & M eta llu rg ica l E n gin eerin g 509
>, J u n k e rs
.¡■ N aphthalene s c r u b b e r s , E n ric h in g / J o i l g a s Ii n e C alorim ix
''P u rifie rs R e tu rn lin e R a n a re x
r e c o r d e r s S u c h sm a ll v a r ia tio n s fro m th e d e s ire d a v e ra g e , o f
c o u rse , d is a p p e a r a lto g e th e r b y th e tim e th e g a s h a s e n te r e d th e big w o rk s s to ra g e h o ld e r a n d h a s b e c o m e m ix e d w ith th e c o k e -o v e n g a s p r e p a r a to r y to p u m p in g in to th e tr a n s m is s io n s y ste m o f th e c o m p a n y .
O p e r a tin g r e c o rd s a r e m a d e o f th e sp e cific g r a v it y o f th e v a r io u s g a s e s m a k in g u p th e c ity s u p p ly , b u t n o a u t o m a tic c o n tro l is n e c e s sa ry . S u ffic ie n tly u n if o r m s e n d o u t is e n s u re d b y th e su p e rv is io n g iv e n to th is p h a s e o f p la n t o p e ra tio n b y th e a s s is ta n t s u p e rin te n d e n t in c h a rg e on a n y s h if t. T h a t ju n io r e x e c u tiv e also is re s p o n s ib le f o r
su p e rv is io n a n d a d ju s tm e n t, a c c o rd in g to th e p re v a ilin g c o n d itio n s, o f th e p r o p o rtio n s o f g a s m a d e b y co ld e n r ic h m e n t, th a t m a d e b y r e f o rm in g , a n d a lso o f th e q u a n tity o f oil, if a n y , u se d in c a r b u re ttin g .
T h e h ig h - p re s s u r e re fin e ry g a s s to r a g e c o n s is ts o f tw o h ig h -p re s s u r e b u lle t-ty p e h o ld e rs , e a c h o f 4 5 ,0 0 0 c u .f t.
f re e sp ace c a p a c ity . T h e s e flo at o n th e p u m p in g lin e th r o u g h w h ic h th e g a s is re c e iv e d , j u s t b e y o n d th e s ta tio n m e te r. N o rm a lly th e y o p e ra te a t a b o u t 3 0 lb. g a g e p re s s u re , th u s h o ld in g in re s e rv e a b o u t 1 8 0,000 c u .f t.
o r a little o v e r o n e h o u r 's re c e ip ts o f re fin e ry g as.
Arrangement of instruments and piping at the control house P r e s s u r e regulator
with high - pressure, Connersville, positive- displacement, rotary
meters
H. P. o i l g a s h o ld e r
'H. P. o il g a s h o ld e r
'7 7 7 7 -7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 }
S e c tio n A -A S e c t i o n B - B
*777777777777777,
S e c t io n D -D s c r u b b e r Oil t a n k s
R e l i e f lin e t o r e l i e f h o ld e r
Oil g a s m e t e r
Oil g a s l i n e to g e n e r a t o r h o u s e
510 C h em ica l & M e ta llu rg ic a l E n g in e e r in g— V o l.4 0 .N o .W
o p e ra tio n w ill be m a in ta in e d w ith a view to m a x im u m g e n e r a to r efficiency.
T h e co k e o ven o p e ra tio n is n o t affec ted by a n y o f th is w a te r g a s a d ju s tm e n t. I t r u n s a t all tim es on w h a te v e r base load is p re sc rib e d by th e m a n a g e r, a n d all a d j u s t
m e n ts n eed ed fro m h o u r to h o u r a re acco m p lish ed in th e w a te r g a s house. M a jo r se aso n a l c h a n g es o f d em an d a re , h o w ev e r, sig n ific a n t in d e te rm in in g a t a n y p a r tic u la r tim e th e o p e ra tin g sc h ed u le a t th e co k e o ven b a tte ry . O b v io u sly , h o w ev e r, f r e q u e n t o r ra p id c h a n g es a r e n o t a t all feasible.
T h e a d v a n ta g e w h ich th e lo w ere d p ro d u c tio n cost o ffe rs th e g a s co m p a n y d ep e n d s on th e ra tio b etw e en th e co st o f co k e a n d th e co st o f re fin e ry g as m o re th a n on a n y o th e r sin g le fa c to r. T h e co st o f coke d ep e n d s p r i
m a rily on th e p re v a ilin g m a rk e t c o n d itio n s in B ro o k ly n a n d n e a rb y te r r ito r y w h e re th e d o m e stic sizes o f co k e a re .sold f ro m th e co m p a n y ’s ow n ovens. T h e p rice o f th e p u rc h a se d re fin e ry g a s v a rie s w ith th e p re v a ilin g m a rk e t
S in c e th e q u a n titie s p u m p e d f ro m th e re fin e ry d ep e n d s tr ic tly o n th e w ish e s o f th e re fin e ry a n d th e c o n d itio n s o f o p e r a tio n th e re , it is o f te n n e c e s sa ry f o r th e g a s w o rk s , o n v e ry s h o r t n o tic e, to ta k e d is tin c tly la rg e r o r sm a lle r q u a n titie s . U n d e r o r d in a r y c o n d itio n s th e y ta k e all th e r e f in e r y w ill se n d — a n d , e x c e p t in th e s u m m e r seaso n , w is h th e y co u ld g e t m o re . I t is th e d u ty o f th e s h if t s u p e rin te n d e n t to k e e p clo se w a tc h on th e q u a n titie s o f th is e n ric h e r g a s o n h a n d a n d a d a p t h is g e n e r a to r h o u se p ra c tic e to th e c o n s ta n tly flu c tu a tin g c o n d itio n s o f its su p p ly . T h e w o rk th e r e is so o rg a n iz e d th a t in less th a n 3 0 m in . a n y m a c h in e m a y g o on o r off re - fo rm in g , o r 011 o r o ff oil c a r b u re ttin g , w ith o u t sig n ific an t loss in efficiency. T h e c h a n g e -o v e r is p ra c tic a lly in s ta n ta n e o u s e x c e p t f o r th e n e e d o f b u ild in g u p h ig h e r te m p e r a tu re s o r lo w e rin g th e te m p e r a tu re s in a se t so th a t a t all tim e s th e c o n d itio n s m o s t a p p r o p r ia te to th e p a r tic u la r ty p e o f
f o r fu el oil. I t is a nice p ro b lem o f e n g in e e rin g m a n a g e m e n t a t all tim es p ro m p tly to a d a p t th e w o rk s p r o c e d u re to m a in ta in a m in im u m o v er-all w o rk s cost o f gas. T h e a d ju s tm e n ts m u s t ta k e ac c o u n t o f th e v a r ia tio n s in th e su p p ly o f re fin e ry g a s w h ich ca n be h ad , th e c h a n g es in b o th a b s o lu te a n d re la tiv e v alu e o f th e fu els use d , a n d th e flu c tu a tin g d e m a n d f o r city gas. T h is la tte r fig u re is, o f c o u rse , a n im p o rta n t on e, w h o lly b e y o n d th e c o m p a n y ’s c o n tro l, a n d la rg e en o u g h to be v e ry tro u b le so m e a t tim es. In fa c t th e p ea k w in te r d a y ’s se n d o u t is o fte n tim e s th e a v e ra g e su m m e r re q u ir e m e n t.
F ro m th e sta n d p o in t o f th e p e tro le u m refin ery , th is o u tle t f o r b y p ro d u c t g a s is eq u a lly a d v a n ta g e o u s. W h e n u se d in th e refin ery , th e g a s se rv e s m e re ly as a b o ile r fu el o r in a n y e q u iv a le n t h e a tin g o p e ra tio n w h e re a v e ry low - g r a d e h ea v y oil o r still re sid u e s w ill d o ju s t as good w o rk . Calorimeters for automatic control
of heating value of gas mixture Connections for sending
oil refinery gas to water-gas machines for
re-forming
O cto b er, 1933 — C h em ica l & M eta llu rg ica l E n gin eerin g 511
Heat Transfer in an Industrial Glass Heat Exchanger
By H. C. BATES
Corning Glass W orks, Corning, N . Y .
Water
m e te r rThermometer
Thermometer..
•Pyrex, tubing
MetaI piping
R
E C E N T e x p e r im e n ts c o n d u c te d in th e la b o ra to rie s o f th e C o rn in g G la s s W o r k s h a v e sh o w n th e h e a t - t r a n s f e r c h a r a c te ris tic s o f a n e w ja c k e te d h e a t e x c h a n g e r re c e n tly c o n s tru c te d o f P y r e x b r a n d g la s s tu b in g . T h e e x c h a n g e r c o n s is ts o f a s e rie s o f s tr a i g h t g la s s p ip e s c o n n e c te d b y g la ss r e tu r n b e n d s a n d s u r r o u n d e d o n th e s tr a i g h t se c tio n s w ith h e a tin g ja c k e ts . T h e jo in ts a r e s im ila r to th o s e u se d in th e c o m p a n y ’s n e w g la s s p ip in g ( s e e C h e m . & M e t., M a y , 1932, p. 2 8 8 ) , h a v in g sm all conical u p s e t e n d s w ith s u ita b le h a r d w a r e , etc. S u c h jo in t s b e tw e e n g la s s p ip in g a n d b e tw e e n g la ss a n d m e ta l h a v e b e e n te s te d in th e la b o r a to r y a n d in p la n t p ra c tic e a n d h a v e g iv e n v e r y s a tis f a c to r y re s u lts .F o r lo n g -tim e te s t p u rp o s e s , th e e x c h a n g e r w a s c o n n e c te d in th e c irc u it sh o w n in F ig . 1. T w o ja c k e te d h e a te r s w e r e a sse m b le d in s e rie s w ith a g la s s o v erflo w ta n k a n d e ig h t le n g th s o f g la s s c o o lin g p ip e co n n e c te d w ith u p s e t-e n d r e tu r n b e n d s . T w o te le s c o p in g slip jo in ts p ro v id e d f o r e x p a n s io n . T h e e q u ip m e n t w a s u n d e r te s t so m e 12 m o n th s , 2 4 h o u r s a d a y a n d 7 d a y s a w ee k , o p e r a tin g u n d e r a b o u t 2 5 lb. s te a m p r e s s u r e , h e a tin g a n d c o o lin g a b r in e so lu tio n . T h e o n ly a tte n tio n r e q u ir e d w a s to re p le n is h th e w a te r lo s t b y v a p o riz a tio n th r o u g h th e o p e n n e c k o f th e c a rb o y . H a d h ig h e r s te a m p r e s s u r e s b e e n u se d , m o re h e a t w o u ld h a v e b e e n su p p lie d th a n co u ld be re m o v e d a n d th is w o u ld e v e n tu a lly h a v e b r o u g h t th e liq u id to a b o il a n d e m p tie d th e sy ste m . F o r th is re a s o n , o n ly 2 5 lb. s te a m p r e s s u r e w a s u se d . H o w e v e r, in th e h e a t t r a n s f e r te s ts , u p to 100 lb. p r e s s u r e w a s u se d
su c c e ssfu lly . I n s ta lla tio n s in v o lv in g la r g e r n u m b e r s o f se c tio n s h a v e also b e e n m a d e a n d it h a s b e e n d e m o n s tr a te d th a t n o d ifficu lty is e n c o u n te re d in m a k in g p la n t- size o u tfits.
T h e sin g le h e a te r se c tio n u se d in th e te s t c o n s is te d o f a le n g th o f P y r e x b r a n d g la s s tu b in g f o r w h ic h ' th e f o l
lo w in g c o n s ta n ts w e re e s ta b l is h e d :
O v e r a ll le n g th . . . . 9 6 in . I n s id e d i a m e t e r . . 1.10 in . E ffe c tiv e l e n g t h . . .8 7 .5 in. W a ll th ic k n e s s . .0 .0 7 5 in . O u ts id e d ia m e t e r . 1.25 in. E ffe c tiv e a r e a . . 323 sq .in .
T h e d e ta ils o f c o n s tru c tio n o f th is h e a te r a r e sh o w n in F ig . 2 . I n p r a c tic e a n y n u m b e r o f le n g th s m a y be c o n n e c te d b y th e u s e o f g la s s r e t u r n b e n d s h e ld to th e s tr a ig h t le n g th s b y r e g u la r u p s e t e n d s a n d c lam p s.
F le x ib le c o u p lin g s to a n d f r o m th e ja c k e t m a k e it p o ssib le to a s se m b le th e u n its w ith o u t difficulty. T h e stu ffin g b o x a n d g a s k e t a r r a n g e m e n t is im p o r ta n t in th a t it p r o v id e s a le a k p r o o f c o n n e c tio n y e t slip s e n o u g h to ta k e c a r e o f th e d iffe re n tia l e x p a n s io n b e tw e e n th e g la s s a n d th e m e ta l o f th e ja c k e t. T h e stu ffin g b o x e s e a c h h a v e p ip e th r e a d s o n o n e e n d to c o n n e c t to th e m e ta l p ip e . T h e r e s tr ic te d o p e n in g s a t th e c e n te r a r e j u s t la rg e e n o u g h to p a s s th e u p s e t e n d s o f th e g la ss p ip e . T h e a s b e s to s g a s k e ts sh o w n a r e slit so a s to fit f a ir ly c lo sely to th e g la s s w h ile th e o n e r u b b e r g a s k e t is s tr e tc h e d o v e r th e e n d o f th e g la ss a n d sq u e e z e d b e tw e e n th e tw o s e ts o f a s b e s to s g a s k e ts .
P y r e x b r a n d g la s s tu b in g h a s p re v io u s ly b e e n u s e d in v a r io u s d e s ig n s o f h e a t e x c h a n g e r, b u t th e p r e s e n t a s se m -
Fig. 1, Left—Layout of heater and cooler for testing all-glass, jacketed heat ex
changer
O verflo w Sfeam m
y '-Rubber Asbestos
Condensate o u tle t
Fig. 2, Above—Detailed construction of a single glass heat exchanger element, show
ing stuffing box construction and type of asbestos gasket employed
S p lit Asbestos Gasket End Elevation ofStuffingBox
512 C h em ica l & M e ta llu rg ic a l E n g in e e r in g— V o l.4 0 ,N o .l0
A veraged Data fo r H eat Transfer Coefficient B etw een Steam and Water T hrough 1-In. I.D. Pyrex B rand Glass T ube, 0.075 In. W all Thickness
Steam Pressure Lb. per Sq, In.
18.0 18.0 18.0 18.717.6 17.018.0 16.6 41.0 40.740.0 37.636.6 39.7 39.0 61.659.3 61.560.0 61.5 60.060.3 59.7 60.060.3 60.0
10 0 .0
102.5 102.0 103.0 102.6 100.0
Steam 255.0 255.0 255.0 256.0 254.0 254.0 255.0 242.0 288.0 287.5 286.5 283.8 282.6 286.3 285.6 308.8 306.7 308.7 307.3 308.7 307.3 307.6 307.0 307.3 307.6 307.3 338.0 339.6 339.0 339.9 339.7 338.0
52.7In 52.452.4 51.951.5 51.6 51.651.9
53.752.4 53.2 52.251.5 52.452.4
53.252.5 52.4 52.452.6 52.452.4 52.452.4 52.4 52.4 52.752.4 52.151.9 51.951.9
-Tem peratures, Deg. F - --- Water---
Out95.1 82.2 74.169.5 67.5 66 .0 65.364.7
1 1 2 . 0
102.5 98.083.1 77.570.5 68.3 117.0 97.5 86. I 83.779.5 77.675.2 72.574.0 71.569.7
115.4 98.087.0 76.070.8 70.5
-Water Flow-
Rise M.T.D. Lb. per
Hour F t. per
Second
42.4 181 996 0.67
29.8 188 1544 1.03
21.7 192 2241 1.50
18.0 195 3196 2.14
15.6 194 3735 2.50
14.4 195 4233 2.83
13.7 197 4382 2.93
12.8 184 4631 3.10
58.3 205 747 0.50
50.1 211 963 0.64
44.8 211 1096 0.73
30.9 216 1809 1.21
26.0 218 2320 1.54
18. 1 225 3635 2.43
15.9 225 4330 2.90
63.8 224 847 0.57
45.0 232 1295 0.87
33.7 239 1942 1.30
31.1 239 2092 1.40
27.1 243 2440 1.63
25.2 242 2739 1.83
22.8 244 2988 2.00
21.6 244 3287 2.20
20. 1 245 3735 2.50
19. 1 246 3785 2.54
17.3 246 4283 2.87
62.7 256 1038 0.70
45.6 264 1502 1.00
34.9 269 2091 1.40
24. 1 276 3187 2.13
18.9 278 4432 2.97
18.6 277 4432 2.97
-— ---H eat Transfer--- « B.t.u. per if.B .t.u. per Sq. F t.
Hour per Hr. per Deg. F
42,200 104
46,000 109
49,000 114
58,000 133
58,000 133
61,000 139
60,000 136
59,000 143
43,500 95
48,200 102
49,100 104
55,900 115
60,200 123
65,800 131
68,800 136
54,000 108
58,300 112
65,400 122
65,100 121
66,100 122
69,000 127
68,100 125
71,000 130
75,100 137
72,300 131
74,100 134
65,100 113
68,500 116
73,000 121
76,800 124
83,800 134
82,400 133
b ly d iffe rs in th a t a n in d iv id u a l ja c k e t is u se d f o r each p ip e , th e flu id b e in g tr e a te d is c irc u la te d e n tire ly in g lass, a n d its tr e a tm e n t m a y be e ith e r u n d e r h ig h o r re d u c e d p r e s s u r e . S im ila rly , th e h e a tin g o r c o o lin g m e d ia m a y be e ith e r u n d e r h ig h o r low p re s s u re . I n p re v io u s h e a t t r a n s f e r m e a s u re m e n ts , u s in g g la ss tu b in g a n d s te a m as th e h e a tin g m e d iu m , o n ly lo w p re s s u re s w e re em p lo y ed .
H e a t t r a n s f e r m e a s u re m e n ts w e re c a r rie d o u t by m e a s u r in g th e r is e in te m p e r a tu re o f th e w a te r p asse d th r o u g h th e tu b e a t v a rio u s ste a m p re s s u r e s a n d w a te r r a te s . W a t e r r a te s w e re m e a s u re d b y u se o f a c a lib ra te d m e te r a n d th e te m p e ra tu re s by th e rm o m e te rs , w h o se b u lb s
Fig. 3—Variation of overall heat transfer coefficient, K, with flow rate. (Transfer from steam to water through a 1-in. I. D. Pyrex Brand glass tube of 0.075 in. wall
thickness)
w e re p laced in th e lin e o f flow . S te a m te m p e ra tu re s w e re d e te rm in e d fro m th e p r e s s u re b y u se o f th e ste am tables.
T h e re s u lts a r e su m m a riz e d in th e ac c o m p a n y in g ta b u la tio n . A t each flow ra te a n d ste a m p re s s u re , sev eral re a d in g s w e re ta k e n a n d a v e ra g e d . T h e a v e ra g e valu es a r e th o se re p o rte d w h ich ac c o u n ts f o r th e n u m b e r o f sig n ific an t fig u re s sh o w n f o r th e se v eral v alu es, re p re s e n tin g g r e a te r a c c u ra c y th a n w a s ju s tifie d fro m a sin g le o b se rv a tio n . F o r m o st re a d y use, th e c u rv e p lo tte d in F ig . 3 re c o rd s th e v alu es g iv e n in th e 7 th , 8 th a n d 10th colum ns.
A s w o u ld be ex p e cted , h e a t tr a n s f e r in c re a se s w ith b o th in c re a s in g m e a n te m p e ra tu re d iffe re n c e a n d in c re a s
in g w a te r flow ra te . H o w e v e r, th e s c a tte rin g o f th e p o in ts fo r d iffe re n t ste am p re s s u re s sh o w s th a t th e o v erall co
efficient does n o t v a r y w ith c h a n g in g ste a m p re ssu re , b u t o n ly w ith flow ra te . H e n c e th e re a r e e v id en tly n o co n d i
tio n s o p e ra tin g to ch a n g e th e film re sis ta n c e o n th e steam sid e o f th e h e a t tr a n s f e r s u rfa c e . I t sh o u ld be n o te d th a t all ra te s o f flow w e re su c h a s to giv e tu rb u le n c e .
S o f a r as th e e x te n s io n o f th e se d a ta to o th e r co n d i
tio n s is c o n c ern ed , it is n e c e s sa ry to c o n s id e r th e fa c to rs w h ich w o u ld a ffe c t su c h h e a t tr a n s f e r. I n u sin g a liq u id o th e r th a n w a te r, th e n ew film coefficient w ill d e p e n d on th e th e rm a l c o n d u c tiv ity , specific h e a t, v iscosity, d e n sity a n d velo city o f flow. T h e c u rv e o f F ig . 3 sh o w s h o w th e o v era ll coefficient, K , v a rie s w h e n th e liq u id is w a te r a n d its v elo city in th e g la ss tu b e is v a rie d . T h e ta b le gives h e a t tr a n s f e r v a lu e s w hich , m odified f o r o th e r film s, p r o v id e a g u id e in r e g a rd to th e g la ss s u rfa c e re q u ire m e n ts f o r a g iv e n p ro b lem . T o ac co m p lish th e n e c e ssa ry m o d i
fication, th e re a d e r sh o u ld r e f e r to su ch d isc u ssio n s o f p rin c ip le s as B a d g e r’s “ H e a t T r a n s f e r a n d E v a p o ra tio n ,”
C h a p te r S, o r W a lk e r, L e w is a n d M c A d a m s’ “ P rin c ip le s o f C hem ical E n g in e e r in g ,” C h a p te r 4. F o r a d isc u ssio n o f th e effect o f g la ss th ic k n e ss, w h ich v a rie s w ith th e tu b e d ia m e te r, see L ittle to n a n d B a te s, C h em . & M e t., Ju n e , 1932, pp. 315-18.
O cto b er, 1933 — C h em ical & M eta llu rg ica l E n gin eerin g 513
Protecting Underground Pipe Lines Against Soil A c tio n
By K. H. L O G A N
U. S. Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.
For elev en years th e B u reau o f Standards has conducted an investigation of the relation of soils to corrosion and now it appears possible to draw som e ten tative conclu sions as to the nature and m echanism o f underground corrosion
T
H E P R O P E R D E S I G N o f a s y s te m to p ro te c t u n d e r g r o u n d p ip e s f ro m c o rro s io n m u s t b e b a se d u p o n a k n o w le d g e o f th e f u n d a m e n ta l n a tu r e o f th e p h e n o m e n a in v o lv e d . U p to th e p r e s e n t tim e , th e r e p o r ts o f th e in v e s tig a tio n o f th e re la tio n o f so ils to c o rro sio n , u n d e r ta k e n in 1922 b y th e U .S . B u r e a u o f S ta n d a rd s h a v e b ee n c o n fin e d a lm o s t e n tire ly to th e p r e s e n ta tio n o f e x p e r im e n ta l re s u lts . T h is h a s b ee n d o n e b ec au se it w a s fe lt th a t c o n c lu sio n s r e g a r d in g th e f u n d a m e n ta l f a c to rs w h ic h c a u se c o r ro s io n a n d in flu e n ce its r a te o f p ro g re s s s h o u ld n o t be u n d e r ta k e n u n til a d e q u a te d a ta w e re a t h a n d . I t n o w a p p e a rs to b e p o ssib le to d r a w a t le a st so m e te n ta tiv e c o n c lu sio n s a s to th e n a tu r e a n d m e c h a n ism o f u n d e r g r o u n d c o rro s io n .C o rr o s io n is p ro b a b ly a lw a y s a n e le c tro c h e m ic a l p h e n o m e n o n , th e re la tiv e in flu e n c e o f th e v a r io u s fa c to rs a ffe c tin g its r a te o f p ro g re s s d e p e n d in g u p o n th e c o n d i
tio n s u n d e r w h ic h it ta k e s place. A m e ta l w h ic h re s is ts c o rro s io n w ell w h e n e x p o s e d to th e a tm o s p h e re , f o r in sta n c e , m a y n o t p e r f o r m so w ell u n d e r w a te r a n d its p e r f o rm a n c e u n d e r g r o u n d m a y be still d iffe re n t. T h e d a ta 011 u n d e r g r o u n d c o rro s io n in d ic a te q u ite d efin itely , h o w e v e r, th a t all o f th e c o m m o n ly u se d f e r r o u s p ip e m a te ria ls c o r ro d e a t n e a rly th e sa m e r a te u n d e r th e sa m e soil co n d itio n s. O n th e o th e r h a n d , b o th th e r a te o f c o rro s io n a n d th e fo rm a n d d is tr ib u tio n o f th e c o rr o d e d a re a s d if fe r w id e ly f o r d if fe r e n t so ils a n d a p p e a r to b e c h a r a c te ris tic o f th e soil.
I t se e m s q u ite p ro b a b le th a t th e p o te n tia l d iffe re n c e s w h ic h ca u se m o s t o f th e c o rro s io n u n d e r g r o u n d a r e th e r e s u lt o f v a r ia tio n s in o x y g e n s u p p ly a t d if fe r e n t p o in ts on th e s u r f a c e o f th e b u r ie d m e ta l. T h e c h e m ic al c h a r a c te ris tic s o f so ils se em to h a v e a d ire c t a ffe c t on th e ir c o rro s iv e n e s s a n d on th e ir p h y sic a l c h a ra c te ris tic s . T h e s e in t u r n a ffe c t th e a b ility o f th e soil to a d m it o x y g e n a n d h o ld m o is tu re a n d d e te r m in e th e c h a n g e s in
B a s e d u p o n a r t i c l e p r e s e n te d b e f o re E le c tr o c h e m ic a l S o c ie ty . C h ic a g o , 111., S e p t. 11.
P u b lic a tio n a p p r o v e d b y th e D ir e c to r o f t h e B u r e a u o f S t a n d a r d s o f -the U . S. D e p a r t m e n t o f C o m m e rc e .
th e soil a s it d r ie s o r a b s o rb s m o is tu re . S h e p a r d a t th e B u r e a u o f S ta n d a r d s p la c e d o p e n -e n d in s u la tin g c y lin d e r s filled w ith e a r th o n a ste el s h e e t a n d o b se rv e d th e d iffe re n c e o f p o te n tia l b e tw e e n th e tw o c y lin d e rs c o n ta in in g th e sa m e soil a s o n e w a s a llo w e d to d r y o u t w h ile th e o th e r w as m a in ta in e d w e t ; h e fo u n d p o te n tia l d if fe r en ces a s h ig h as 0.9 v. w ith o n e soil a n d 0.5 v. o r m o re w ith se v e ra l o th e rs .
T h e so lu b le s a lts p r e s e n t in flu e n c e th e b e h a v io r o f soils a s th e y d r y o u t a n d „ th u s a ffe c t th e r a te o f c o r r o sion. T h e y also in flu e n c e th e c o n d u c tiv ity w h ic h d e te r m in e s th e a m o u n t o f c u r r e n t th a t c a n flow u n d e r th e p o te n tia l d iffe re n c e s d u e to d iffe re n c e s in o x y g e n s u p p ly o r o th e r c a u se s. T h e c o n d u c tiv ity , th e r e f o r e , m a y b e ta k e n a s a ro u g h in d ic a tio n o f th e c o rro s iv e n e s s o f a g iv e n soil, a t le a s t f o r so ils h ig h in so lu b le sa lts.
A se c o n d a ry f a c to r w h ic h in flu e n c e s th e r a te o f u n d e r g ro u n d c o r ro s io n is th e a r e a o f th e a n o d ic a n d c a th o d ic s u r fa c e s . T h is is a fu n c tio n o f th e p h y sic al c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th e soil. T h e e ffec t o f v a r ia tio n s in soil c o n ta c t is e v id e n t fro m a c o m p a ris o n o f th e fo rm o f th e c o rr o d e d a re a s.
O n e o f th e m o s t im p o r ta n t c o n s id e ra tio n s in co n n e c tio n w ith p ip e lin e p ro te c tio n is th a t o f co st. A lth o u g h t h e a n n u a l loss by u n d e r g r o u n d c o r r o s io n is e s tim a te d a t $ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 f o r th e U n ite d S ta te s a lo n e , o th e r fa c to r s su c h as o b so le sce n ce w h ic h lim it th e u s e f u l lif e o f a p ip e lin e sh o u ld b e ta k e n in to c o n s id e ra tio n . B o th th e B u r e a u o f S ta n d a r d s field d a ta a n d o b s e rv a tio n s o f c o rro s io n o f w o rk in g p ip e lin e s sh o w th a t th e r a t e o f p ittin g d e c re a s e s w ith tim e u n d e r m o s t soil co n d itio n s.
I t fo llo w s th a t if a p ip e w a ll is su fficie n tly th ic k , it w ill n o t be p u n c tu re d w ith in th e ec o n o m ic lif e o f th e lin e . A s a ru le o n ly a sm a ll p r o p o r tio n o f th e to ta l c o s t o f a p ip e lin e c a n be s p e n t e c o n o m ic ally f o r p ro te c tio n a g a in s t c o rro sio n .
A n o th e r f a c to r to b e c o n s id e re d is th e n a tu r e o f t h e te r r ito r y in w h ic h th e p ip e lin e is to b e lo c a te d . M a n y oil a n d g a s tr u n k lin e s a r e in r u g g e d a n d p o o rly d e v e l
o p ed te r r ito r ie s a n d e x p e d itio u s c o n s tru c tio n is o f te n of
514 C h em ical Sc M e ta llu rg ic a l E n g in e e r in g— V o l.4 0 ,N o .l0
