London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Deptford 1914
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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From this table the average calorific power of a pound of ordinary ashbin refuse, when dry, is 3,696 units of heat, and if fully utilized would evaporate 3.826 lb. of water from and at 212° Fah.:-
| Evaporative power of— | Calorific power, or units of heat per pound of the combustible— | |
|---|---|---|
| When dry. | When containing the average amount of moisture. | |
| Coal | 14,000 | 9,334 |
| Coke | 12,000 | 8,000 |
| Bones and offal | 8,000 | 5,334 |
| Breeze and cinder | 6,000 | 4,000 |
| Rags | 5,000 | 3,334 |
| Paper, straw, fibrous material and vegetable refuse | 3,800 | 2,534 |
The combustion of town's refuse and the utilization of the heat
generated for power-producing purposes have now become firmly
established, and very satisfactory results are obtained. The problem of
dealing with large quantities of dry and wet refuse is a very pressing
one, and the refuse destructor provides not only a means of meeting
the difficulty, but of meeting it in a commercial manner.
The quality of refuse from a combustion point of view naturally
varies very much, but the methods of dealing with same have much in
common, combustion being assisted by hot air delivered into the furnace
ashpit The furnace is of ordinary construction, having movable
firebars. From 1.8 lb. to 2 lb. of water are usually evaporated from
and at 212° Fah. per pound of refuse, and about 50 lb. to 70 lb. of
refuse are-consumed per square foot of grate area per hour.
It will, of course, be understood that, owing to the large varieties of
refuse and the particular conditions as to transport, etc., to be met, it is
a difficult matter to lay down any rules as to refuse destruction, or to
draw any comparisons between different types of destructors.
The clinker remaining after combustion is completed may be used
for making mortar, paving blocks, etc.
Antizan Dwellings.
The County Council dwellings existing in the district are in :—
Armada Street (Greenwich)—consisting of 2 to 4 rooms, and
let at a rental of 5s. to 7s. per week.