OILS, PAINTS, CHEMICALS HOUSEHOLDÊPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, FOOD PRODUCTION GENERAL ENGINEERING ETC.
S A T U R D A Y , D E C E M B E R 15, 1945
REOI8TEHEI> AS A NEWSPAPER 6D. PEU COPT
POST FREE 8D.
SEND YO INDUSTRI AND TRA
I TRAPS it INDUSTRIAL ENQUIRIES T O W N C L E R K . HUL L
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5
A . C . W E L L S
& CO. LTD
P R O V I D E N C E M I L L S - H Y D E • C H E S H I R E
Write for fuller particular* of these oil filter*.
Telephone : Hyde 953 Telegrams: C/n- hreakobk Hyde.
WELLS OIL FILTERS
M A R «
VALVES A N D ACCESSO RIES IN ALL APPROPRIATE
M ETALS FOR THE C H E M IC A L T R A D E
B
r it is hS
t e a mS
p e c ia l t ie sL
t d.
W H A R F STREET. LEICESTER STANDARD PRODUCTJONS fROM STOCK A T .—
LEICESTER, L O N D O N , LIVERPOOL, W H IS T O N , G L A SG O W , BRISTOL, M ANCHESTER A N D N E W C A S T L E . O N -T Y N E
BAKE LAQUE PHENOLIC RESINS
HOPW OOD STREET M 'ILL
give OLD 0 1 1 1 *1 ® NEW LIFE
W ith W alls* W a ste - O ll F ilte r y o u can use y o u r oil s e v e ra l tim e s
o v e r an d ch a n g e I t m o re o fte n . A th o ro u g h ly re lia b le su p p ly o f oil,{Is as s u re d w ith th e use o f W ells*
Special F ilte r Pads w h ich w o r k In c o n ju n c tio n w ith W e lls ' P a te n t
S yp h o n F eed.
ÄTTWÄTER & SONS, Ltd
E st. 1868
PRESTON, ENG .
H
■
for acid-proof coatings
for abrasive w heels
for electrical insulation
A. J. RILEY & SON, L t d .
BATLEY, YORKS
Telegrams: “ BO ILERS, B A T L E Y ." Tele phone: 6 S 7 B A T LEY (3 lines) E S T A B L IS H E D IB8B
M akers of
MILD STEEL RIVETED A N D WELDED VESSELS JACKETED PANS COMPLETE
W ITH AGITATORS SHEET LEAD O R HO M OG EN EO US
LINED VESSELS TAR, BENZOLE & OIL STILLS CONDENSERS, EVAPORATORS
A N D DISTILLING PLANTS MILD STEEL PIPES
ALL PRESSURES LANCASHIRE, CORNISH ECONOM IC & W .T . BOILERS
De c e m b e r 1 5, 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
Q rr ,l\[T7'T? * Q Chemical Engineers
JLVUjO X i 1 JCjXY O
5 G R O SVEN O R G A R D E N S, LONDON, S .W .l.We will gladly send you our new catalogues Nos. 257 on application.
For o v er fifty years w e have specialised in fans for th e chemical industry, built to resist th e corrosive action of acid gas.
E x a m p le s : For handling chlorine gas w e make K estn er fans of Keebush ;
for sulphuric acid gas, lead o r lead alloy ;
fo r nitric acid gas, stainless steel, etc.
etc.
A
W ALLACH
BROSL T DF. W. POTTER & SOAR l t d.
49 • TA BER N A C LE ST - L O N D O N . . J C L E rk en w ell 1448.9
— P O T T E R ’S — - Machinery Guards
» D E S I G N E D F O R S A F E T Y
» B U I L T
FO R S E R V IC E
T Industrial
Y "SAFETY E QUI P ME NT
Potter’s guards are installed in works through
out the country and are distin- guishableby their sound construc
tion, good fitting and many exclu
sive features.
IBIS
P H I P P S T R E E T . L O N D O N . E . C.2
T t'e o te n tt : B lShopigote Ï177{3 !>«*«)
NITRALLOY STEELS
T ele p h o n e: i f 1 / | \ Tele graphic C l e r k e n w e l l I | ^ \ | 0 , \ ] Address:
2908 I I J “ G a s t h e r m o , M T he m ark o f j J S m i t h , L o n d o n . precision and B R I T I S H M A D E
efficiency. T H R O U G H O U T
If you use n ea t— It pays to m easure it accurately
B. B L A C K & S O N , LTD.
180, G o s w e ll R o a d , L o n d o n , E .C .I T h erm o cue ler M an u factu rers (M ercu ry in G lass T ype)
O f all the p rin cip a l S cien tific In stru m en t and Laboratory A p p a r a tu s M anufacturers.
N itro g en case h ardened by th e N IT R A L L O Y p a te n t process, SURFACE HARDNESS 1050-1150 Brinell— “ th e h ard est Metal Sur
face know n to m an .’.’ W rite now for full particulars.
N ITRÄ LLO Y LTD.
Ï S , T A P T O N V IL L E R D „ S H E F F I E L D , 10.
P h o n e : 60689, G ra m s : N Itra llo y , Sheffield T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5
S a f e t y F i r s t
S A F E T Y F I R S T
THE “ O LD B U R Y ” PATENT C A R B O Y D I S C H A R G E R w ill e m p ty and e le v a te u p to 50 fe e t th e c o n te n ts o f any ca rb o y , b o ttle o r v essel, and co m p lies w ith all th e c o n d itio n s of th e F acto ry A ct o f 1937.
KESTNER’S
5, G ro sv e n o r G ard en s, W e stm in ste r, L o n d o n , S.W .
THE S H A D O W OF D ERM AT IT IS
D e r m a t it i s r e d u c e s P r o d u c tio n , it causes W astage of Labour and Time — hence dislo
cation of in dustry. Safeguard y o u r W o rk e rs ! R ozalex— th e proved P rotective Film — applied before w o rk p re v e n ts D erm atitis and keeps th e W o rk e rs ’ hands healthy.
P a cked in K egs, 7 , 1 4 , 28 56 lb. A G rade fo r every T rade
R O Z A L E X
ROZALEX LTD., 10 N ORFOLK ST., MANCHESTER.
De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
F i n e C h e m i c a l s F o e E v e r y p u r p o s e
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5
The Research Chemist
The interest aroused in the public mind by the achievements o f the Research Chemist is based primarily on the practical value of his discoveries, but the lay mind has little understanding o f the difficul
ties and the problems encountered before laboratory synthesis can be translated into factory production.
After the dram atic discovery comes the generally far more difficult task of meeting the demand occasioned by it, and such problems have been accentuated during the last few years by the worry of wartime scarcities. Patience, resource and unremitting effort are just as necessary in research and develop
ment work as the occasional flash o f inspiration, and these qualities have helped the chemist to deal successfully with the many trouble
some situations which the war has brought.
The research workers of May &
Baker have had their share o f war
time difficulties to overcome.
W ithout their efforts many o f our customers would have been less satisfied with the service we have been able to give them. Perhaps the problems which face you fall within the scope o f their experience?
If so, we should be pleased to attempt to solve them. Telephone:
Ilford 3060. Extensions 71 o r 72.
May&BakerLtd
D A G E N H A M
M & B Industrial Chemicals Series (Nssm 3
DEVELOPMENT
REPLACEMENT
C A N N O N
Acid-resisting
Glass-lined
EQUIPMENT
C ast Iron or M ild Steel
C A N N O N IR O N F O U N D R IE S LTD.
DEEPFIELDS, NR. BILSTON, STAFFS.
De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E V
A COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL RUBBER SERVICE
TRANSMISSION
*» DUNLOP
D U N L O P RUBBER CO. LTD. (G EN E R A L RUBBER G O O D S D IV ISIO N ) W O R K S A N D H E A D OFFICE C A M B R ID G E STREET, M AN CH EST ER .
Birm ingham : Dunlop House, Livery S tre e t, 3. Glasgow : 48-60 and 70-78, N o rth W allace S treet, C.4. London: C lerkenw ell House, C lerk en w ell G reen , E.C .I. Liverpool : 24, C ornhlll, Park Lane, I.
A good transm ission b e lt is a com bination of many qualities. Am ong th ese are grip, durability, flexibility and absence of stre tc h . Dunlop belts com bine all th es e and a re designed and co n stru cted to ensure m axim um efficiency and long life. O btainable th ro u g h y o u r usual suppliers.
4S/GEG?6e
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5
B A R B I T O N E
B A R B IT O N E S O L U B L E A L L O B A R B ITO N E
CYCLOBARBITONE
F IN E S T Q U A LIT Y .
A C T U A L L Y M A N U F A C T U R E D A T B A R N E T
= fay = = = _ = ^ = = _ .
PIERSON, MORRELL & CO., LTD.
(THE ORIGINAL BRITISH ASPIRIN MAKERS)
Q U E E N ’S R O A D - B A R N E T - H E R T S
Phone : B arnet 0723 G ram s : Pierson M orrell, Barnet
B rillian t filtrates fro m all ty p es o f chem ical liq u id s p ro d u c e d th ro u g h th e M e ta filter are a m o n u m e n t to th e h ig h -q u a lity filtration w hich it en su res. I n a d d itio n to chem ical liq u id s, th e M e ta filter h an d le s w ith equal facility a n d success sy n th e tic d ru g s, b io chem ical p ro d u c ts , g elatine, sy ru p s, an d e x tr a c ts ; a n d it w ith stan d s th e actio n o f acids, alkalis, oils, a n d o rg an ic liq u id s
T H E M E T A F I L T R A T I O N C O . L T D ..
B E L G R A V E R O A D , H O U N S L O W , M I D D L E S E X .
T e lep h o n e: T e le g r a m s : H o u n slo w 1 1 3 1 /3/3 M eta filter, H o u n slo w .
A Monument to
Quality
De c e m b e r 1 5, 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
W lO W th e AN T is a g re a t o rganiser . . . his detailed system s cover every
* * aspect of industrious life. Though man o r beast may d e stro y his o u t
w orks. th en th e organisation functions sm oothly— each A nt has his task in reco n stru ctio n .
Industrial plans m ust be laid th a t way to-day. A business is virile only if It adapts to changing circum stances ; if its organisation is responsive to th e call of new conditions.
T h ere should be no field of industry w ith a g re a te r aw areness than th a t of th e Chemical T rades. As consulting engineers, designers and chemical plant m anufacturers W E are fully equipped to help you w ith problem s involving heating, cooling, condensation, fractio n atio n , filtra tio n , etc. For units o r com plete installations in stainless steel, light m etal, co p p er, m onel, etc., etc., w rite to T he London A lum inium Co., Ltd., W itto n , Birmingham, 6.
IN FERROUS £- NON-FERROUS METALS
Please ask for Leaflets L .A A and L.A.5
v i i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5, 1 945
NEW ZEALAND IMPORTING COMPANIES SEE K A G E N C IE S
T he T o d d G rou p of C om panies, established o v e r SO years— com bined paid-up capital
£825,000— invites corresp o n d e n ce from leading m anufacturers and e x p o rte rs (of ail classes of goods th a t offer scope fo r substantial tu rn o v e r) desirous o f e x p o rtin g — o r increasing th e ir e x p o rts—to N ew Zealand.
T he G ro u p is experienced in th e im porting and m erchandising of diversified lines including engineering and technical eq u ip m e n t and supplies. W e a re also very in te rested in basic m aterials and chemicals. Specialists are em ployed in th e various sp h eres. R epresentatives th ro u g h o u t N ew Z ealand. Paym ents cash. References : T he N ational Bank of N ew Z ealand, Ltd., 8, M oorgate, London, E.C.3.
We invite confidential correspondence giving full particulars o f your lines and bank references.
TODD GROUP
T O D D G R O U P L O N D O N M A N A G ER, C H A IR M A N , T O D D G R O U P ,
TERM INUS CHAM BERS, T O D D BUILDING,
6 , H O L B O R N V IA D U CT, W E L L IN G T O N , N E W ZE A LA N D .
L O N D O N , E .C .I. C a b le s : " T o d d B ros., W e llin g to n ."
Replies in the first instance to Todd Group London M ana ger, address above
N ow offered in bulk
: —H Y D R A Z IN E S U L P H A T E
T O C O P E W I T H W A R T I M E D E M A N D S A N E N T I R E L Y N E W T Y P E O F P L A N T F O R T H E C O N T I N U O U S P R O D U C T I O N O F H Y D R A Z I N E S U L P H A T E h a s b e e n in o p e r a tio n f o r th e la s t y e a r o r tw o . A m p le s u p p lie s a r e n o w a v a ila b le fo r s p o t d e liv e ry .
S a m p le s , in fo r m a tio n a n d p ric es a re a v a ila b le f r o m th e m a k e r s , w ho w ill be g la d to assist in th e d eve lo p m en t o f th e use o f h y d r a z in e s u lp h a te in y o u r processes.
G E N A T O S A N L T D . , L O U G H B O R O U G H , L E I C E S T E R S H I R E T elep h o n e : L o u g h b o ro u g h 2 2 9 2
Expert advice is a lw a ys at you r disposal
ILLUSTRATIONS.
TO P RIGHT. Jacketed Paddle Mixer.
Retorts in Heat-Resisting Cast Iron.
LO W ER LEFT. Sulphur Burner.
NEWTON CHAMBERS
NEWTON C H A M B E R S C CO LTD THOHNCLIFfE N r SHEFFIELD
De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 94 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
CHEMICAL
PLANT < # >
N ew ton C h a m b e rs specialise in the design and m anufacture o f all types o f plant for application to the C h e m ica l Industries.
E S T A B L IS H E D 18 40
DANKS OF NETHERTON LTD
CHEMICAL PLANT PRESSURE VESSELS JACKETTED PANS MIXERS RECEIVERS
ALL TYPES OF WELDED AN D RIVETED STEEL
FABRICATIONS
N E T H E R T O N , D U D L E Y , W O RCS.
L O N D O N O F F I C E -
329, HIGH HO LBORN, L O N D O N , W .C . I
S T E A M Ô* W A T E R . F IT T IN G S FORALL P U R P O S E S
E N S U R E T H E M AX IM U M OF E F F IC IE N C Y T O G E T H E R W IT H LONG L I F E U N D E R
A L L W O R K IN G CONDITIONS Also S A N D C A S T IN G S I N A ll N O N -F E R R O U S M E T A L S I N C L U D I N G H I G H T E N S ILE 8 R O N Z E S & A L U M IN IU M
Trionite Ltd., Cliffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent PH«NE i eTOKE—ON-TRENT 21T1-2
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
AMMONIUM BIFLUORIDE ACCUMULATOR ACID
SODIUM FLUORIDE FLUORIDES
¿4/so Specially Pure H ydro
chloric, N itric and Sulphuric A C ID S F O R A N A L Y S I S
JAMES W ILKINSON & SON, Ltd.
TINSLEY PARK ROAD, SHEFFIELD
T e le jra m * : “ C hem ical*. S h effield ’* P h o n e : 41208-9
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 945
W orks T his fine
Valor
Steel C u p b o a rd
for Office and
R e f . O . 1X0 S iz e 1 8 ' X 1 2 ' X 3 6 "
W ith o n e a d j u s t a b l e s t e e l s h e lf . E x t r a s h e l v e s c a n b e f i t t e d 6 L e v e r e d L o c k a n d 2 K e y s
T H E VALOR Co. L td.
B R O M F O R D , F .R D I N G T O N , B I R M I N G H A M .
CHEMICAL AND GAS EN GIN EERIN G CONTRACTORS
SPECIALISTS IN THÍDISICHMO MANUFACTURE OF COMPLETE PROCESS PLANT EQUIPMENT
r e -s u r v e y o f s o l v e n t s
di-isobutyl ketone
T h i s is in m a n y w a y s o n e o f t h e m o s t in te r e s t in g o f T P ’s w id e r a n g e o f ' s o lv e n ts . I t is a slo w e v a p o r a tin g , h ig h - b o ilin g m a te r ia l o f p a r ti c u l a r v a lu e in n itr o c e llu lo s e la c q u e r f o r m u la tio n s , p r o m o tin g g o o d le v e llin g a n d e n s u r in g e x c e lle n t b lu s h r e s is ta n c e .
T h e slo w e v a p o r a tio n r a t e o f d i - is o b u ty l k e to n e p e r m i t s t h e u s e o f a r e la tiv e ly h ig h p r o p o r t io n i n n i t r o c e llu lo s e la c q u e r s a n d th in n e r s w ith r e s u l t a n t im p r o v e m e n t i n flo w . Di-isobutyl ketone has other useful applications in the manufacture of hot dipping lacquers, for the synthesis of resins and dyes, and in' the compound
ing of synthetic rubber.
T h e T P p r o d u c t m a in ta in s a c o n s is te n t h i g h d e g r e e o f c h e m ic a l p u r ity . W e s h a ll b e g la d to s e n d c o m p le te s p e c if ic a tio n s o n r e q u e s t , a n d o u r T e c h n ic a l S e r v ic e is a lw a y s a t t h e d is p o s a l o f th o s e w h o a r e in v e s tig a tin g n e w u s e s f o r th is m a te ria l.
TECH NICAL PRO DUCTS L T D ST. H E L E N ’S C O U R T , G R E A T S T . H E L E N ’S
L O N D O N , E .C .3 T E L E P H O N E : A V E N U E 4321
D e c e m b e r i 5 , i9 4 5 TH E CHEM ICAL AGE
LODGE COTTRELL
H IG H EFFIC IEN CY R E C O V E R Y O F DU STS A N D FUMES FROM I N D U S T R I A L G A S E S T H E O N L Y M A N U F A C T U R E R S IN T H IS C O U N T R Y P R O D U C IN G E X C L U S I V E L Y E L E C T R IC A L
PRECIPITATO RS
H e a d Office and W o rk s : B I R M I N G H A M
London Office : D R A Y T O N H O U S E - G O R D O N S T R E E T - W - C - I T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 945
D escriptive Literature and Advice free on request
PETER BROTHERHOOD LTD. ■ PETERBOROUGH R E F R I G E R A T I N G A N D W A T E R C O O L I N G P L A N T ;
H O M O G E N IS ERS ;
S T E A M E N G I N E S A&N D
5-STAGE C O M PRESSO R T U R B I N E S
BROTHERHOOD
AIR AND GAS COMPRESSORS
The Chemical Age
A W eekly Jou rn al Devoted to In du strial and E ngin eering C h em istry
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 154 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .G .4 T e le g ra m s: A L L A N G A S F L E E T LO N D O N
G LA SG O W : n 6 H ope S tre e t (C entral 3970)
T e le p h o n e : C E N T R A L 3 2 13 (10 lines) B IR M IN G H A M : D aim le r H o u se, P a ra d ise S tr e e t (M id lan d 0784 5) T H E C H E M IC A L A G E offices are d o s e d on S a tu rd a y s in acco rd an ce w ith th e a d o p tio n o i th e fiv e -d ay w eek b y
B en n B ro th e rs L im ited
V O L . L I U
N o . 1 3 8 1 .
December 15 , 1945
A n n u al S u b sc rip tio n 2 1 s.O verseas 26s.
T h e Scientific W ork of the B ritish C ouncil
T
H E B r i ti s h C o u n c il is a s to r m c e n tr e a r o u n d w h ic h a g o o d d e a l o f p u b lic c o n tr o v e r s y r a g e s . O n th e o n e h a n d , th e r e a r e th e s e w h o r e g a r d its w o r k a s n e c e s s a r y a n d v a l u a b l e ; o n th e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e a r e s u p p o r t e r s o f th e e x tr e m e v ie w t h a t it d o e s l i t t l e o r no g o o d a n d is a w a s te o f p u b lic f u n d s . T h o s e f u n d s a r e p r e t t y c o n s id e r a b le : th e y a m o u n te d in th e f in a n c ia l y e a r 1944/45 to ,£ 2,336, 140. T h e a n n u a l r e p o r t f o r th e y e a r e n d in g l a s t M a r c h s u g g e s t s a v e r y b r o a d a p p r o a c h , w ith a l a r g e v o lu m e o f w o r k a l l o v e r th e w o r ld . T h e C o u n c il’s p u r p o s e is b r o a d ly t o ' s h o w a n d e x p la i n to o th e r c o u n tr i e s th e s p e c ia l c o n tr i b u t io n w h ic h B r i ta i n a n d its p e o p le h a v e m a d e to t h e w o r l d ’s c iv ilis a tio n . W e h a v e f r e q u e n tl y in th e s e c o lu m n s u r g e d t h a t m o re p u b lic ity s h o u ldb e g iv e n to o u r s c ie n tific a n d t e c h n ic a l a c h ie v e m e n ts , a n d it i l l b e c o m e s 'us: to c a s t s to n e s a t a n y o n e w h o is a tt e m p t i n g to d o th is . N e v e r t h e le s s , i t is o u r d u ty in p u r s u a n c e o f o u r a im s to m a k e c o n s tr u c tiv e s u g g e s tio n s .
I t is d iffic u lt to m a k e a n e s t im a te o f t h e n e e d f o r th e w o r k o f th e C o u n c il in d ir e c tio n s o t h e r t h a n i n . ' s c ie n c e . T h e r e a r e d e p a r t m e n t s d e a l i n g w ith s u c h s u b je c ts a s b o o k s , p e r io d ic a ls ;
On O ther P ages
-Votes a n d C om m en ts N e w C on tro l O rders M e a su re m e n t o f S te a m F lo w A c tiv a tio n o f C a ta lysts I . C . I . ’s T e e s-S id e P ro je c t A N o te on C orrosion
C hem icals fr o m Coal in th e N o r th 5G5 W a rn in g o f H a za rd o u s C hem icals 569 P h ysic a l S o c ie ty ’s E x h ib itio n ... 570 Ila c ter ia in P a in t
Iso m ér is a tio n S tu d ie s F re n ch C h em ica l N o tes F ire a t C hem ical W o r k s P a rlia m en ta ry T opics C anada’s E x p o r t T rade P erso n a l N o tes ...
(ie n e r a l N ew s fr o m W e e k to W e e k 576 C om m ercial In te llig e n c e ■ ... 578 N e w C om panies R eg iste re d ... 578 S to c k s a n d S h a re s ... 580 K ritish C hem ical P rices ... 582
film s , m u s ic , a n d so f o r th . O u r im p r e s s io n o f m u c h o f th is w o r k is t h a t it is h ig h b r o w in c h a r a c t e r a n d c a l c u l a te d to a p p e a l m a i n l y to th o s e p e o p le in f o r e ig n c o u n tr ie s w h o le a s t n e e d to h a v e o u r c o n tr i b u t io n s b r o u g h t to th e i r n o tic e . T h e r e is s o m e th in g f a i n t l y d i s t a s te f u l to o u r m in d in “ p u s h i n g ” B r i ti s h m u s ic a b r o a d . i f o u r c o m p o s e r s a r e g o o d e n o u g h , if t h e i r a i r s a p p e a l to th e e a r o f m e n a n d w o m e n o f o t h e r n a tio n s , th e y w ill m a k e t h e i r w a y . I t d id n o t r e q u ir e a G e r m a n C o u n c il to m a k e th e n a m e s o f B e e th o v e n o r B a c h k n o w n th e w o r ld o v e r . N o N o r w e g ia n C o u n c il i n tr o d u c e d u s to th e m u s ic o f G rie g . I f P u r c e l l , E l g a r , V a u g h a n W i l l i a m s a n d o th e r s do n o t fin d f a v o u r to -d a y w ith f o r e i g n a u d ie n c e s , n e it h e r w ill th e y d o so t h o u g h tw e n ty B r itis h
C o u n c ils a r o s e to c ry a lo u d t h e i r m e r its . T h e r e w a s n o E l i z a b e th a n C o u n c il to p u s h th e c la im s o f o n e W i l l i a m .S h a k e s p e a r e , b u t h is f a m e h a s s o m e h o w b e c o m e n o is e d a b r o a d .
W h y s h o u ld th e r e b e t h i s e f fo r t to te l l th e w o r ld a b o u t o u r w a y s a n d a b o u t w h a t w e a r e d o i n g ? T h a t is a q u e s tio n o n w h ic h w e s h o u ld l ik e to h e a r a n a u th o r i t a t iv e r e p ly . W e d o n o t a s k th is q u e s tio n in a n y c a r p i n g s p i r i t , b u t b e c a u s e u p o n th e 557
558 559 562 563 564
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555556 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5
a n s w e r t h a t is o ffic ia lly g iv e n to it d e p e n d s th e m a n n e r in w h ic h th e w o r k o f t h e C o u n c il is c a r r i e d o n . O u r c o n s id e r e d v ie w is t h a t i t is g o o d t h a t th e B r i ti s h w a y o f l if e s h o u ld b e c o m e m o r e w id e ly k n o w n th e w o r ld o v e r. B r i ta i n is o f te n m is u n d e r s to o d ; b u t s h e h a s w o n a w a r m r e g a r d f r o m m u c h o f th e w o r ld . F r o m th e U .S .A . th e r e h a s b e e n a s tr e a m o f film s,, o f b o o k s a n d o f v is ito r s — n o t a f e w o f th e s e l a t t e r in b a ttle - d r e s s . T h a t h a s n o t b e e n d u e to a n A m e r ic a n C o u n c il, b u t h a s b e e n th e n o r m a l m a rc h o f e v e n ts , f o r th e m o s t p a r t n o r m a l c o m m e r c ia l e n te r p r is e . T h e r e s u l t is t h a t w e t h in k w e k n o w th e U .S .A . b e tt e r th a n w e k n o w a n y E u r o p e a n n a t i o n ; b e tte r e v e n t h a n w e k n o w a n y o t h e r n a tio n in th e w o r ld . S o m e o f o u r y o u n g e r p e o p le e v e n e s s a y to s p e a k h e r la n g u a g e . T h e r e s u l t is, b l u n tl y , t h a t w e fin d w e lik e A m e r ic a . T h e A m e r ic a n s a r e p e o p le lik e o u r s e lv e s a n d w e fe e l .a t h o m e w ith th e m . T h u s t h e i n te r c h a n g e o f k n o w l e d g e b e tw e e n n a ti o n s m a k e s f o r i n t e r n a ti o n a l g o o d w ill a n d f o r m u tu a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g .
I f t h a t is th e g o a l o f th e B r itis h C o u n c il, d o e s i t a c h ie v e i ts a i m ? D o e s it g o th e r i g h t w a y a b o u t it ? . L e t u s s a y a t o n c e t h a t w e s h o u ld a g r e e t h a t t h e t r a n s l a t i o n o f s u i t a b l e b o o k s g i v in g th e r i g h t c o n c e p tio n o f lif e in th e s e i s l a n d s a n d p u t t i n g th e B r i ti s h c a s e f a i r l y a n d d i s p a s s i o n a te l y w o u ld b e a w o rk w e ll w o r th d o in g . S i m il a r ly , v i s i ts f r o m B r itis h o r c h e s t r a s , B r itis h a c to r s , th e p r o v is io n o f B r i ti s h film s s u i t a b l e f o r th e c o u n tr ie s in w h ic h th e y a r e to b e sh o w n w o u ld b e o f im m e n s e v a lu e . L e t u s e n c o u r a g e o t h e r n a tio n s to c o m e a n d se e u s ; le t u s g o to see th e m . B u t d o e s t h e B r i ti s h C o u n c il m a k e th is s o r t o f a p p r o a c h ?
I n th e a n n u a l r e p o r t w e r e a d o f th e e x p o r t o f t e a c h e r s o f E n g l i s h , o f
“ b r o c h u r e s ” in f o r e ig n l a n g u a g e s , of p e r s o n n e l g i v i n g “ v o l u n ta r y a r t c la s s e s , ” o f m a k i n g B r itis h b o o k s a v a i l a b le in f o r e ig n c o u n tr ie s , o f th e d i s t r i b u tio n o f m o r e t h a n 1000 p e r io d i c a l s , o f t h e d i s t r ib u t i o n o f d o c u m e n ta r y film s (film s c o m p le te d d u r i n g th e y e a r i n c lu d e d “ S t e e l , ” “ P l a s t i c s , ” “ O p tic a l G l a s s , ” a n d “ E n g l i s h V i l l a g e , ” in t e c h n i c o l o u r ; w ith “ T r a d e U n i o n s , ”
“ A F a r m e r ’s B o y ,” a n d “ T h e M a n on th e B e a t ” ). T h e g e n e r a l im p r e s s io n l e f t u p o n u s is t h a t o f a g o o d d e a l o f
v a lu a b l e w o r k , b u t m u c h o f i t h i g h b r o w a n d o f r e s t r ic te d v a lu e . A n o r g a n is a t i o n w h ic h h e lp e d c o m m e rc ia l e n te r p r is e s to d o th e s e t h in g s f o r th e m s e lv e s , w h ic h p r o m o te d th e c o m m e r c ia l e n te r p r i s e s to d o so , w o u ld b e m u c h m o r e s u c c e s s f u l t h a n o n e a tt e m p t i n g to d o m a n y o f th e s e t h in g s a s a G o v e r n m e n t- s p o n s o r e d b o d y .
W e h a v e d e a l t w ith th e g e n e r a l b a c k g r o u n d to so m e e x te n t, b e c a u s e it fo rm s a c o n v e n ie n t s t a r ti n g - p o i n t f r o m w h ic h to d is c u s s b r ie f ly t h e w o r k o f th e S c ie n c e D e p a r t m e n t o f th e B r itis h C o u n c il. T h e S c ie n c e C o m m itte e , h e a d e d b y th e P r e s i d e n t o f th e R o y a l S o c ie ty , c o n ta in s m en o f g r e a t e m in e n c e , but. to p u r m in d i s 1 o v e r w e ig h te d o n th e a c a d e m ic sid e , i n h is f o r e w o r d to a r e p o r t j u s t is s u e d , S ir H e n r y D a l e s a y s : “ I t m a y b e t h a t t h e e x p e r ie n c e o f w a r , th e e ffe c t o f w h ic h , in a r o u s i n g a tt e n ti o n to th e s i g
n if ic a n c e o f s c ie n c e , is n o w so w id e ly a p p a r e n t , w a s n e e d e d to s u g g e s t t h a t th e p e o p le o f o th e r c o u n tr ie s o u g h t to k n o w s o m e th in g o f w h a t h a s b e e n d o n e fo r s c ie n c e a n d its a p p li c a t io n b y B r itis h in v e n to r s , d is c o v e r e r s a n d t e a c h e r s , if th e y w e re to o b ta in a n y th i n g lik e a b a la n c e d a p p r e c ia t io n o f o u r n a t i o n ’s c u l t u r a l c o n tr i b u t io n to th e w o r ld . I t s e e m s c le a i t h a t s o m e o r g a n is e d e ffo rt w a s n e e d e d to e n a b l e th e o u ts id e w o r ld to r e c o g n is e th e n a t u r e a n d d im e n s io n s o f B r i ti s h c o n tr i b u t io n s to th e w o r l d ’s, s c ie n c e . . . . ” W e k n e w t h a t y e a r s a g o !
T h e th r e e m a in o b je c tiv e s o f th e s c ie n c e d e p a r t m e n t o f th e B r i ti s h C o u n c il a r e : ( i ) T o p r e s e n t a n d i n t e r p r e t th e B r i ti s h c o n tr i b u t io n to s c ie n c e ; ( 2) to p r o v i d e in f o r m a tio n o n a l l m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g to s c ie n c e in B r i ta i n a n d i ts o r g a n is a t i o n in th is c o u n t r y ; .an d (3) to d e v e lo p c lo s e r c u l t u r a l r e la ti o n s b e tw e e n th e s c i e n tis ts o f a ll n a tio n s . W h y d o w e w a n t th e r e s t o f th e w o r ld to b e a w a r e o f th e c o n tr i b u t io n th is c o u n tr y h a s m a d e , a n d is m a k i n g , to th e w o r l d ’s s c ie n tific k n o w le d g e a n d .to i t s t e c h n ic a l d e v e l o p m e n t ? T h e a n s w e r a p p e a r s to u s to b e s i m p le ; o u r a n s w e r m a y n o t b e th e B r itis h C o u n c il’s a n s w e r , b u t i t is t h is : I f w e l e t t h e f o r e i g n e r k n o w t h a t w e a r e a h i g h l y s c ie n tific n a ti o n , w ith a n i n d u s t r y s e c o n d to n o n e , w ith s c ie n tis ts s e c o n d ■ to n o n e , a n a ti o n r i g h t in th e f o r e f r o n t o f th e w o r l d ’s s c ie n tific a n d t e c h n ic a l p r o g r e s s , th e y w ill c o m e to u s
De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 557 w ith th e i r p r o b le m s . T h e y w ill lis te n
w ith r e s p e c t to w h a t w e h a v e to te ll th e m . T h e y w i l l b u y o u r 'p ro d u c ts.
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T h e w o rk o f th e C o u n c il a s s e s s e d a s d ir e c te d to t h a t e n d s tr ik e s u s a s being- g o o d . in p a r ts . T h e m o n th ly s c ie n tific c o m m e n t, th e P r e s s m a t e r i a l p r o v id e d (w e a s s u m e i t is g o o d m a t e r i a l b u t w e h a v e n e v e r s e e n a n y o f it), th e s u p p l y o f s c ie n tific b o o k s to f o r e ig n l ib r a r i e s , th e l e c t u r e to u r s , a n d th e p r o v is io n o f s c ie n tific in f o r m a tio n a r e a ll u s e f u l m e a s u r e s ; e v e r y th in g d e p e n d s u p o n h o w th e y a r e p u t in to e ffe c t. W e s h o u ld h a v e p r e f e r r e d to se e m o re i n d u s t r i a l m e n 011 th e C o u n c il ; m o re m e n w ith a s o u n d k n o w le d g e o f p u b lic ity . W h e t h e r film s o f
“ H o w A n im a ls D e v e l o p , ” “ C lo c k s a n d W a t c h e s , ” “ M e c h a n ic a l M o v e m e n t ” a n d “ E n g i n e e r i n g C o lle g e ” a r e g o i n g to h e lp in th e s a le o f B r itis h g o o d s w e d o n o t k n o w . W e s u s p e c t th e a c a d e m ic m in d is b e h in d th is lis t.
O f v e r y d if f e r e n t c a l i b r e is th e w o rk o f D r . N e e d h a m in C h in a . H e r e th e r e is a b r a n c h office w h ic h is g i v i n g d ir e c t a s s is ta n c e a n d s c ie n tific h e lp to th e C h in e s e . T h is is th e s o r t o f w o r k t h a t th e B r i ti s h C o u n c il s h o u ld d o , n o t o n ly
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H E R E is n o d o u b t in g th e f a c t t h a t S ir J o h n A n d e r s o n , w h e n h e t a l k s a b o u t t h e o r g a n is a t i o n o f s c ie n c e , is w e ll w o r th l is t e n i n g to. H is a d d r e s s e a r l i e r t h is m o n th , to th e M a n c h e s te r J o i n t R e s e a r c h C o u n c il, g a v e a r e a l l y c o m p r e h e n s iv e v ie w o f th e p o s s ib ilitie s in t h a t d i r e c tio n , a n d ‘M r. H in c h lif f e , c h a i r m a n o f th e C o u n c il, p a id h im a g r a c e f u l c o m p lim e n t w h e n h e s a id t h a t S ir J o h n ’s p r e s e n c e in M a n c h e s te r w a s th e g r e a t e s t e n c o u r a g e m e n t t h a t C o u n c il h a d y e t r e c e iv e d . N e v e r t h e le s s , b e fo re g e t t i n g d o w n to h is s u b je c t, S ir J o h n m o d e s tly ju s tifie d h is p r e s e n c e on t h a t p l a t f o r m b y a n i n tr o d u c t io n e x p la i n in g h is i n te r e s t in , a n d h is w o r k fo r, B r itis h s c ie n c e . H is m a in th e m e w a s t h a t th e b u i l d i n g u p o f o u r " in d u s tr ie s , b y s c ie n tific m e a n s , to a le v e l o f e ffic ie n c y h i g h e r t h a n a n y w e h a v e y e t a tt a in e d is e s s e n tia l to th e m a i n t e n a n c e o f o u r p r e w a r s t a n d a r d s a n d th e r e s t o r a t io n o f o u rin C h i n a b u t in e v e r y c o u n tr y n o t a l r e a d y in d u s t r ia l is e d . T h e d ir e c t h e lp t h r o u g h m e n o n th e s p o t w h o e it h e r h a v e th e i n f o r m a t io n th e m s e lv e s o r w h o c a n b e r e a d i l y p r o v id e d w ith it f ro m th is c o u n tr y , is th e s u r e s t w a y to e n c o u r a g e o t h e r c o u n tr ie s to r e a l is e t h a t w e c a n a n d w ill m a k e a c o n tr i b u t io n to t h e i r w e lf a r e . L e t u s h a v e m o r e o f it.
T h e f u t u r e m a r k e ts o f th e w o r ld m u s t i n e v i t a b l y b e in c o u n tr i e s t h a t h a v e n o w a lo w s t a n d a r d o f l iv i n g . T h e v e r y b e s t w a y o f h e l p i n g o u r s e lv e s a n d o f h e l p i n g th e r e s t o f th e w o r ld w o u ld b e to a s s is t t h e s e c o u n tr i e s d i r e c tl y to w a r d s a r i s i n g s t a n d a r d o f l iv i n g . T h e a d v ic e t h a t m ig h t b e p r o v id e d t h r o u g h th e B r i ti s h C o u n c il in th e w ay. t h a t is b e in g d o n e in C h in a c o u ld He a n o u t s t a n d i n g c o n tr i b u t io n to th e -w elfare o f th e w o r ld .
O u r v ie w , f o r w h a t it is w o r th , is t h a t th e r e is m u c h o f v a lu e in th e w o rk t h a t th e B r i ti s h C o u n c il is d o in g , b u t t h a t it w o u ld b e a ll th e b e tt e r fo r a n o v e r h a u l b y p r a c t i c a l i n d u s t r i a l i s t s . W e w o u ld n o t d e s tr o y n o r r e d u c e t h e “ c u l t u r a l ” a s p e c ts o f th e C o u n c il ’s w o rk , b u t w e s h o u ld e n d e a v o u r to g e t b e t t e r v a lu e fo r o u r m o n e v .
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e c o n o m ic life . D i s c o u n t in g t h e te n d e n c y to d e c r y o u r e f fo its in a p p li e d s c ie n c e , S ir J o h n c la im e d t h a t th e tw o m a in r e a s o n s f o r o u r l a g g i n g b e h in d in th is fie ld w e re th e d e a d h a n d o f t r a d i t io n in o u r o l d e r in d u s t r ie s , a n d th e p r e ju d ic e a m o n g s c ie n tis ts ( e s p e c ia lly in h ig h a c a d e m ic c ir c le s ) a g a i n s t p u t t i n g t h e i r d is c o v e r ie s to a n y p r a c t ic a l u se . I n o u r v ie w th is l a t t e r r e a s o n is te n d i n g to d i s a p p e a r ; e v e n a c a d e m ic s c ie n tis ts a r e b e g in n i n g to r e a l is e t h a t th e y c a n n o t liv e o n th e p r o d u c ts o f p u r e r e a s o n .
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N c o n s i d e r i n g w h a d is n o w n e e d e d to m a k e th e m o s t o f o u r s c ie n tif ic r e s o u r c e s , S ir J o h n d e a l t w ith th e p r o b le m u n d e r t h r e e h e a d s : P e r s o n n e l , F i n a n c e , a n d O r g a n i s a t i o n . U n d e r th e f ir s t h e a d h e r e c a ll e d S ir E r n e s t S im o n ’s r e p o r t w h i c h . m a d e a d v e r s e c o m m e n t o n th e n u m b e r s o f t r a i n e d s c ie n tific p e r s o n n e l tu r n e d o u t in t h is c o u n tr y a s c o m p a r e d55s T H E C H E M IC A L A G E D e c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5 w ith th e U .S .A . T h e q u a li t y w a s no
d o u b t a l l r i g h t , b u t th e o u t p u t h a s b e e n f a r b e lo w o u r r e a l n e e d s . T e a c h i n g i n s t it u t io n s m u s t b e e n l a r g e d , a n d th e n e e d s o f i n d u s t r y m u s t g iv e w a y to so m e e x te n t to th o s e o f th e u n i v e r s it i e s , a s th e L o r d P r e s i d e n t s u g g e s te d n o t l o n g a g o . A n e s t im a te o f o u r r e q u ir e m e n t s in th is d i r e c ti o n , b o th q u a l i t a t i v e a n d q u a n t i t a tiv e s h o u ld b e d r a w n u p f o r th w ith .
T he F inancial S id e
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E A N T I M E , r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t m u s t b e fin a n c e d e it h e r b y i n d u s t r i a l i s t s , in t h e i r o w n l a b o r a to r i e s o r t h r o u g h i n d u s t r i a l r e s e a r c h a s s o c i a t i o n s ; by. u n i v e r s i t i e s ; o r b y G o v e r n m e n t, e it h e r t h r o u g h t h e i r o w n r e s e a r c h e s t a b l is h m e n ts o r t h r o u g h g r a n t s to a s s o c ia tio n s , to u n i v e r s it i e s , o r to in d iv i d u a ls . O n e g r e a t s te p .a l r e a d y ta k e n w a s th e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a p e r m a n e n t g r a n t to th e D . S . I . R . , a n d e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t w a s S ir J o h n ’s o w n s c h e m e , a s r e g a r d s u n i v e r s it i e s , in t a k i n g c a p i t a l e x p e n d i t u r e in to a c c o u n t w h e n a s s e s s in g G o v e r n m e n t g r a n ts . W e s h o u ld h a v e lik e d to h e a r a s u g g e s tio n f o r th e f o u n d a ti o n o f s o m e th in g a p p r o a c h i n g t h e M e llo n R e s e a r c h I n s t i tu te , w h e r e d if f e r e n t g r o u p s o f i n d u s t r i a l i s t s c o m b in e to a w a r d F e l lo w s h i p s w ith th e a im o f f u r t h e r i n g s o m e sp e c ific ty p e o f a p p li e d r e s e a r c h . D u e r e f e r e n c e w a s m a d e to th e s y s te m b y w h ic h i n d u s t r i a l r e s e a r c h e x p e n d i t u r e is ta k e n in to a c c o u n t in m a k i n g d e d u c tio n s b e f o re a s s e s s in g in c o m e ta x o n i n d iv i d u a l u n d e r ta k in g s . S i r J o h n a s s e r te d t h a t t h e r e w a s l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t th e e x p e n d i t u r e d i r e c t l y i n c u r r e d b y G o v e r n m e n t f o r r e s e a r c h p u r p o s e s w o u ld
“ in c r e a s e s u b s t a n t i a l l y ” ; w e a r e n o t v e t q u ite c o n v in r e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t th e c h e e s e p a r i n g p o lic y o f th e T r e a s u r y h a s b e e n f in a lly a b a n d o n e d .
O rgan isation for the Future
O
N th e a ll - i m p o r t a n t p r o b le m of o r g a n is a t i o n , S i r J o h n h a d q u i te a fe w w o r d s to s a y . H is s ix m a i n s u g g e s tio n s c o v e r (i) s t a n d a r d s o f r e m u n e r a tio n , (ii) c o n d itio n s o f s e r v i c e w i t h u n i f o r m p e n s io n s , ( iii) f r e e e x c h a n g e of id e a s , (iv ) a p p li e d r e s e a r c h i n t e a c h i n g in s t it u t io n s , (v) f u n d a m e n ta l r e s e a r c h in i n d u s t r i a l r e s e a r c h e s t a b l i s h m e n t s — th e c o r o ll a r y o f (iv ) — , a n d (v i) th ea p p o in t m e n t o f c o m m itte e s to c o -o rd m a te th e w o r k o f i n d u s t r i a l a n d a c a d e m ic r e s e a r c h e s ta b lis h m e n ts ,, in o r d e r to a b o lis h w a s t e f u l o v e r la p p in g . T h o u g h r e je c t i n g th e id e a o f a p p o in t i n g a
“ M i n i s t e r o f S c ie n c e ,’’ h e a d v o c a te d c e r t a i n c h a n g e s in th e f u n c tio n s o f th e L o rd P r e s i d e n t, w h o is d i r e c tl y r e s p o n s ib le f o r t h e g e n e r a l s c ie n tific a c t i v it i e s o f th e G o v e r n m e n t. W h il e m a i n t a i n in g t h is g e n e r a l r e s p o n s ib ility , h e w o u ld a d v o c a te th e c o n tin u a n c e , o n a p e a c e tim e f o o tin g , o f th e wra r - tim e S c ie n tific A d v is o r y C o u n c il a s th e p r i n c i p a l a d v is e r o f t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t ; a n d h e w o u ld c r e a te a s p e c ia l s c ie n tific s e c tio n o f th e C a b in e t S e c r e t a r i a t to a s s i s t th e L o r d P r e s id e n t. I t w ill b e s e e n t h a t th e r e is n o t h in g in a n y wra y r e v o lu t i o n a r y o r u t o p ia n in a n y o f th e s e s u g g e s tio n s ; a n d a s w e r e m a r k e d l a s t w e e k , th e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s s e e m s d e t e r m in e d t h a t s o m e th in g s h a l l b e d o n e . N o d o u b t t h is p r o n o u n c e m e n t o f so d i s t in g u i s h e d a s ta te s m a n a s S ir J o h n A n d e r s o n h a s n o t g o n e u n n o tic e d e v e n in th e G o v e r n m e n t c a m p .
N ew Control Orders
R e le a s e o f M ic a
T
H E C o n tro l of M ica (No. 5) (R ev o cation) O rd e r, 1945 (S. R. & O. 1945, N o.
1489), w hich cam e in to fo rce 011 D e ce m b e r 1, rev o k es th e C o n tro l of M ica (Nos. 3 a n d 4) O rd e rs, 1944-5, u n d e r w h ich th e a c q u i
sitio n , tr e a tm e n t, u se a n d co n su m p tio n of c e rta in c a te g o rie s of m ica in ex cess of an a g g reg a te w o rth of £ 5 in any one c a le n d a r m o n th a re s u b je c t to licen ce. L ic en c e s w ill n o lo n g er b e r e q u ire d fo r th e a c q u isitio n , tr e a tm e n t, u se o r c o n su m p tio n of an y c a te g o ries of m ica. I n q u ir ie s sh o u ld b e a d d resse d to th e M ica C o n tro l, E u sto n H o u se, E v e rs h o lt S tr e e t, L o n d o n , N .W .l.
I r o n a n d S t e e l O r d e r
U n d e r th e C o n tro l of I r o n a n d S te e l (No.
45) O rd e r, 1945 (S. R . & O. 1945, N o. 1502), w hich c am e in to fo rce o n D e ce m b er 12, th e follow ing m a te ria ls m ay now be a cq u ired w ith o u t licen ce : (1) F e r r o alloys (o th er th a n sp ielg eleise n an d fe rro -m a n g an e se sm e lted in a b la s t f u r n a c e ) ; (2) calciu m sili- c id e ; (3) tu n g s te n m eta l p o w d e r; tu n g ste n m e ta l s in te re d la m p s ; tu n g s te n m e ta l s c r a p ; (4) tita n iu m c a r b id e ; (5) c em en te d c a rb id e h a r d m e ta l; (6) m olybdenum m eta l p o w d e r;
m olybdenum m e ta l s c r a p ; (7) any chem ical com pound of m o ly b d en u m o r tu n g s te n o r v an ad iu m .
De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 559
M easurem ent of Steam Flow
Suitable Instrum ents Aid Econom y
b y T . F . H U R L E Y , O . B .E . , B . S c ., A . C . G .I . , A . M . I n s t .C . E . t
T
H E p re s e n t s h o rta g e an d h ig h cost of fu e l a n d th e w id e sp rea d p u b lic ity w hich h a s b e en given d u rin g th e w a r to m eth o d s of re d u c in g fu el c o n su m p tio n m ak e it u n n e ce ssa ry to s tre ss th e b en efit to be d e riv e d fro m th e use of su ita b le in s tru m e n ts in th e b o ile r ho u se a n d in . th e fa c to ry . I t is g e n era lly a cc e p te d t h a t w ith o u t th em th e m an a g e m e n t c a n n o t know w h e th e r a p la n t is oeing r u n efficiently, o r how its p e rfo rm a n c e com p a re s w ith t h a t of sim ila r p la n t. T h e o p e r a to r u ses th em to d e te c t a n d m ea su re v a ria tio n s in o p e ra tio n s , to a s c e rta in th e cause of any ch an g es, a n d to re c tify fa u lts.A t th e sam e tim e m ere ly in s ta llin g in s tru m e n ts , no m a tte r how w ell m ad e o r how e x p en siv e th e y m ay h a p p e n to be,
L e f t 'nadf shows c o n s tru c tio n for c o rn e r ta - j^ in ^ s . R ig h t h&lf c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r a.nnub.r t i l i n g s . If desired the annular t a k i n g s m&y be m ade integral w ith th e n o z z le a s s e m b ly .
F i g . 1. S t a n d a r d n o z z l e .
Ufofoer h a l f s h o w s c o n s t r u c t i o n w ith a n n u l a r t a k i n g s . L o w e r h a l f s h o w s c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h tajojoings Into [oifoe f l a n g e .
F i g . 2 . O r if ic e p l a t e w i t h c o r n e r t a p p i n g s . does n o t b y its e lf in crease efficiency. If
th e y a re n o t c o rre c tly fitted a n d p ro p e rly m a in ta in e d th e y becom e e ith e r a s o u rc e -o f w o rry an d confusion o r else so m uch m ore o r less o rn a m e n ta l b u t u seless ju n k . T h is is p a r tic u la r ly tr u e of th e ste am m e te r. I t is n o t a difficult o r a co m p licated m a tte r to in s ta l a steam m e te r c o rre c tly o r to m ain ta in it in good w o rk in g o rd e r, b u t, on th e
* F ro m ail artic le 111 F u e l Econom y Review, 1 9 45,24. 53.
+ P rin c ip a l S cientilic Officer, F u e l R e se a rc h S ta tio n , D e p a r tm e n t of S cientific a n d I n d u s tr ia l R esearch .
o th e r h a n d , it is a lso q u ite easy to fit a well- m ad e a n d p ro p e rly d e sig n e d in s tru m e n t in such a w ay t h a t it w ill givo co m p letely w ro n g r e a d in g s w h ile apparently- w o rk in g p e rfe c tly . T h e aim of th e p re s e n t p a p e r is to e x p la in som e of tlio sn ag s a n d to show how th ey c a n b e avoided.
S te a m flow c an b e m ea su re d in many' w ays, th e b e s t of w h ich d e p e n d s u p o n th e p re ssu re d ro p th a t o c cu rs w hen the, ste a m flows th ro u g h an orifice. M ost coins m e re ia l m e te rs use th is m eth o d a n d th e ir co n s tru c tio n a n d o p e ra tio n a re b a sed on th e assu m p tio n t h a t th e w eig h t of ste am flow ing th ro u g h a n orifice is p ro p o rtio n a l to th e sq u a re r o o t o f th e p re ssu re d ro p , i.e ., Q = k J h7 w h e re Q = w e ig h t of ste am p e r h o u r, k = . a c o n s ta n t, a n d h = th e p re s
su re d ro p . N o o th e r v a ria b le s a re ta k e n in to a c c o u n t b y th e u s u a l m ech an ism .
T h e n e ce ssa ry e q u ip m e n t co n sists of th re e p a r ts : (1) a n orifice fitted in th e steam lin e , (2) a n in s tru m e n t in d ic a tin g d iffe re n tia l p re s s u re , a n d (3) th e p re s s u re le a d s c o n n ec tin g th e in s tru m e n t to th e steam lin e 011 e ith e r sid e of th e orifice. T w o ty p e s of oi-ifice a re in g e n e ra l use, th e sh a p e d
5 6 o T H E C H E M I C A L A G E De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5
n o z zle, an d th e s h a rp sq u a re-e d g e d orifice, bo th of w hich h av e b e en s ta n d a rd is e d by th e B .S .I . in th e desig n s show n in f ig s . 1 an d 2 re sp ec tiv e ly . I t w ill be no ticed t h a t w ith e ith e r ty p e a g e o m e tric ally sim ila r d e sign is used, w h a tev e r th e size of th e pipe in to w h ich th e orifice is in tro d u c e d .
T h e in s tru m e n t m ay, a n d in p ra c tic e d o es, ta k e m an y form s, as m ig h t be e x p e cte d fro m th e fa c t th a t any device c a p a b le of sta n d in g th e m ain s p re ssu re a n d in d ic a tin g a d iffe re n tia l p re s s u re m ay b e u sed. In its sim p le st fo rm it c o n sists m erely of a m er.
cury-filled U -tu b e , a n d m uch u seful and re lia b le in fo rm a tio n c an b e o b ta in e d w ith a
“ hom e-m ade ” in d ic a to r of th is ty p e.
R e alisin g th is , th e F u e l Efficiency C om m it
te e of th e M in istry of F u e l an d P o w e r h a s sp o n so red a ch ea p b u t efficient in d ic a to r w hich c an be b u ilt u p fro m sim ple c as tin g s an d w h ich show s p re ssu re d ro p (a n d hen co ste am flow) by th e h e ig h t of a co lu m n of m erc u ry in a gauge g la s s.]
C o m m ercial in s tru m e n ts a re u su a lly fa r m o re e la b o ra te a n d in c o rp o ra te a m e c h a n ism e n a b lin g th e flow to b e re a d m o re easily by m ea n s of a p o in te r m oving o v e r a scale, an d in som e th e re a d in g s a re re c o rd e d on a tim e c h a rt. T h ey also h av e z e ro a d ju s t
m e n ts an d sa fety devices w hich g u a rd a g a in st ex cessiv e p re s s u re d ifferen ces acro ss
Condensation Chamber
Steam Pipe-jy
Pressure Leads Equalising Valve for Checking Zero Evenly Divided
Scale
Ring Balance-*/;:
Knife Edge Suppoi
'^ F le x ib le Connections W ater -Mercury
-Cam
I I—Balance Weight F i g . 3 . R i n g B a la n c e .
th e in s tru m e n t in e ith e r d ire c tio n . O ne ty p e c o n sists e sse n tia lly of a m e rc u ry U -tu b e in w h ich th e m ech an ism is a c tu a te d by a m eta l flo at, w hile o th e rs em ploy som e form of c o n tro lle d d ia p h ra g m w h ic h m ay be a single re in fo rc e d ru b b e r disc o r a m u ltip le bellow s a rra n g e m e n t sim ila r to t h a t u sed in a n a n e ro id b a ro m e te r.
W ith th ese in s tru m e n ts , sin ce th e r a te of
$ F u e l E fficien cy B u lle tin No. 6.
flow is p ro p o rtio n a l to th e sq u a re ro o t of th e p re ssu re d ro p , th e steam flow scale is v e ry c o n s tric te d fo r th e low er l o a d s ; for e x am p le, a t o n e -te n th full lo ad th e d iffere n tia l p re ssu re a n d th e m ovem ent of th e p o in te r is only o n e -h u n d re d th t h a t a t full lo ad . T h is in cre as es th e difficulty of r e a d ing th e in s tru m e n t an d of c a lc u la tin g th e to ta l flow in a giv en tim e from a re c o rd e r c h a rt.
I n th e in g en io u s rin g b a la n ce ty p e show n d ia g ra m m a tic a lly in F ig . 3 th e d iffere n tia l p re ssu re is a rra n g e d to se t u p a to rq u e w h ich is b a la n ce d by a w e ig h t so su sp en d ed t h a t th e a n g u la r ro ta tio n of th e rin g is p ro p o rtio n a l to th e sq u a re ro o t of th e d iffe re n tia l p re ssu re . T h is m ea n s in p ra c tic e th a t th e scale is evenly d iv id e d , i.e ., th e p o in te r m oves an e q u al d istan c e fo r e q u al in c re a s e s in th e r a te o f flow. T h e sam e a d v a n ta g e c an b e o b ta in e d w ith e le c tric a lly -o p e ra te d in s tru m e n ts .
A p a rt fro m any q u e stio n of scale the sm all d iffe re n tia l p re ssu re a v a ila b le to o p e ra te th e in s tru m e n t a t low lo ad s m ean s th a t a sm all c o n s ta n t e r ro r in c o n stru ctio n o r o p e ra tio n m ay becom e in cre as in g ly im p o r ta n t as th e lo ad is re d u ce d . A steam m e te r sh o u ld th e re fo re n o t be o p e ra te d at less th a n , say , o n e -th ird o f its fu ll lo a d if a hig h d eg ree of a cc u rac y is re q u ire d . T h e sam e in s tru m e n t c an be m ad e to w o rk on a d iffere n t scale by u sin g a m o re su ita b le orifice d ia m e te r.
E a s y C h e c k o n A c c u r a c y
I t is n o t alw ays re a lis e d th a t, as th e in s tru m e n t p a r t of a steam m e te r is m erely a “ g lorified U -tu b e ,” it is c o m p a ra tiv e ly easy to check its acc u rac y . I f th e p re ssu re lea d s a re re p la c e d by tw o v e rtic a l glass tu b e s w hich c an be filled w ith w a te r to d iffe re n t levels, th e m o v em en t of th e p o in te r c a n be c o m p ared w ith th e h e ad of w a te r n e ce ssa ry to p ro d u ce t h a t m ovem ent. A fu ll-sca le deflection should c o rre sp o n d to th e m a k e rs ’ d esig n figure (u su ally of th e o rd e r o f 40 to 00 in. o f w a ter) an d if th e in te rm e d ia te re a d in g s th en give a s tr a ig h t lin e th ro u g h th e o rig in w hen th e sq u a re ro o t of th e d iffe re n tia l h e a d is p lo tte d a g a in s t flow re a d in g , th e in s tru m e n t its e lf is in good o rd e r.
T h e c o n n ec tio n s be tw een th e in stru m e n t a n d th e steam m ain a re u su a lly m ad e w ith sm all-b o re c o p p er p ip e a n d a re filled w ith w a te r. A s an y differen ce in th e h e a d o f w a te r in th e tw o le a d s w ill affect th e d if
f e re n tia l p re s s u re a cro ss th e in s tru m e n t, i t is e sse n tia l th a t b o th p ip es should be com -«
p le te lv filled, th a t th ey sh o u ld b e at th e sam e te m p e ra tu re , a n d t h a t th e y should b e free fro m a ir locks.
I n o r d e r to m a in ta in th e pipes fu ll u p to th e level of th e orifice ta p p in g it is u su al to p ro v id e cooling to w e rs o r c o n d en satio n c h a m b e rs , of w hich a lte rn a tiv e ty p es, fitte d
De c e m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E to h o riz o n ta l an d v e rtic a l m a in s re sp ec
tiv e ly , a re show n d ia g ra m m a tic a lly in F ig s.
4 and 5. I n com m ercial u n its th e cooling to w e rs a re o ften in te g ra l w ith a special orifice c a r r ie r , th u s e n su rin g a c o rre c t a s sem bly of th e orifice, cooling to w e rs an d p re s s u re leads.
I t w ill be re a lis e d th a t th e co n d en satio n c h am b ers p ro v id e a re s e rv o ir of w a ter, w h ich is a u to m a tic a lly m ad e u p , w hen n e ce ssa ry , b y co n d en sed steam , to c o m p en sa te fo r th e p u m p in g a ctio n w h ich la k e s place d u e to th e m ovem ent of p a r ts of th e in stru m e n t w hen th e lo ad flu c tu a te s. T hey sh o u ld be larg e en o u g h to e n su re t h a t th e w a te r level does n o t fall below e ith e r orifice ta p p in g , an d w hen th ey a re fitte d , to a v e r tic a l p ip e (F ig . 5) th e ste am co n n ectio n sh o u ld b e lag g ed a n d la rg e en o u g h fo r any c o n d en s ate to d r a in in to th e m ain without, b e in g tra p p e d .
F i g . 4 . C o o lin g t o w e r s f o r h o r i z o n t a l s t e a m m a i n .
I f th e p re ssu re le a d s becom e w a rm to th e to u ch e ith e r th e cooling c h a m b e rs a re n o t la rg e en o u g h or, m o re p ro b a b ly , th e re is a lea k in th e system . E v en a slig h t le a k w ill affect th e d iffe re n tia l p re ssu re a t th e m e te r an d sh o u ld b e e lim in a ted . T o avoid a ir locks th e le a d s sh o u ld e v ery w h e re h av e a
“ fall ” of a t le a s t one in tw e n ty , an d v e n ts , w hich sh o u ld b e o p en ed p e rio d ic a lly , sh o u ld b e p ro v id ed w h e rev e r a ir locks a re lia b le to occur.
A d e ta ile d m a th e m a tic a l an aly sis of th e fa c to rs affectin g th e flow o f ste am th ro u g h orifices is given in “ T h e C o m m ercial M e te r
ing of A ir G a s an d S te a m ,” * bv J . L . H o d g so n , an d in B .S . C o d e 1042/1943:
“ F lo w M e a s u re m e n t.” B o th p u b lic a tio n s give am p le d a ta on w hich to d e sig n an d to in s ta l orifices, a n d th e r e a d e r w ho m ak es
* P ro c. I n d . C .E . 1916-17, 230, P a r t 2.
h is ow n orifices is ad v ised to stu d y e ith e r o r both . T h e a n aly sis show s t h a t tfie e q u a tio n Q = k J h is tr u e on ly u n d e r c e rta in specified c o n d itio n s. T h es e c o n d itio n s c a n u su ally be m et w ith o u t difficulty, b u t if th ey a re n o t th e m e te r m ay give a c o rre c t d iffe re n tia l-p re ss u re re a d in g b u t a w ro n g - steam -flow re a d in g . T h u s th e re la tio n does not hold fo r a p u lsa tin g flow a n d a n orifice ty p e m e te r sh ould th e re fo re n e v e r be used
F i g . 5 . C o o lin g t o w e r s f o r v e r t i c a l s t e a m m a i n .
close to a re c ip ro c a tin g ste am en g in e. I t m ay give a stead y re a d in g , b u t i t w ill be a false re a d in g .
S im ila rly , th e e q u a tio n sh o u ld , s tric tly sp e a k in g , c o n ta in a te rm involving d e n sity , w hich is ig n o red in its a p p lic a tio n to com m erc ia l m ete rs . T h e m e te r w ill th e re fo re re a d in c o rre c tly if th e steam p re s s u re a n d th e s u p e rh e a t te m p e ra tu re , o r in th e case of w et, ste am , th e d ry n e ss fa c to r, differ from th o se fo r w hich th e m e te r w as d esig n ed . In sucli cases a c o rre c tio n fa c to r m u st be a p p lie d to s u it tfie m odified e q u a tio n , Q = k .
I
li , w h ere w , an d w, a re th eV w ,
w eight of a cu b ic fo o t of steam u n d e r th e a c tu a l a n d th e d esig n c o n d itio n s re s p e c tively.
Som e m ak e rs w ill su p p ly a n .a tta c h m e n t w hich a u to m a tic a lly c o rre c ts fo r p re ssu re , b u t w ith d ry s a tu r a te d o r s u p e rh e a te d steam it is n ot difficult to m ak e re a d in g s en ab lin g a c o rre c tio n fa c to r to be c a lc u la te d from th e steam ta b le s. T h e c o rre c tio n should obviously be a p p lie d to se v e ra l in d iv id u a l p o in ts a n d n o t av e ra g ed o v e r a w hole c h a r t.
I n th e ease of w et ste am , o b ta in in g th e d r y n ess fa c to r o fte n p re s e n ts difficulties, b u t fo r som e p u rp o se s i t m ay b e sufficiently a c c u ra te to in s ta l a steam s e p a ra to r a t a su ita b le p o in t b e fo re t h e m e te r a n d assum e a c o n sta n t d ry n e ss fa c to r.
T h e e q u a tio n also assum es th a t th e steam flow is evenly d is trib u te d over th e cro ss se c tio n o f th e p ip es lea d in g to a n d fro m th e orifice a n d a cro ss th e orifice its e lf. T h is gives rise to se rio u s e r ro r s if th e flow is u p se t by th e p re sen c e of o b stru c tio n s , such
