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and grit, sticky tar and sulphur dioxide gas. It also takes
with it warm air from the room. When the fire is being lit or
being replenished with coal —especially small coal —it is obvious
that the smoke will be at its maximum.
Fuel
The fuels with a high carbon content are anthracite, hard
cokes, certain proprietary fuels and so on. Some of them have
the disadvantage of being more difficult to light when the fire
is being started than the bituminous coals, but this objection
is readily overcome by gas or electric ignition.
Fuel in the Home
Solid fuels vary in their bulkiness. Broken bituminous
coal occupies approximately 2 cubic yards per ton; gas coke
4 cubic yards per ton; semi-coke (low temperature carbonized)
is slightly less bulky than gas coke. It will be seen, therefore,
that on the weight-for-bulk basis the volume of smokeless solid
fuel is twice that of coal. A strong point in its favour is its
greater efficiency which results in more radiant heat and a
saving in fuel. it is, of course, a cleaner fuel in every respect;
it can be more readily stored indoors; it keeps the chimney
flue clean for longer periods and money is saved in chimney
sweeping; it assists in reducing atmospheric pollution, which
apart from improving health, saves money for cleaning materials,
reduces the cost of cleaning clothing, linen, curtains, fabrics etc.,
and of painting and repairing buildings.
It may be that if fuel storage accommodation is limited,
an increase in the number of deliveries of smokeless solid fuel
will be necessary, but this should present no difficulty because
the fuel distributors have expressed their readiness to co-operate
to the full.
Grates
The modern solid smokeless fuel burning appliances are
designed to ensure effective combustion and to produce the
maximum heat from the fuel used. An essential principle in
domestic fires or industrial furnaces is the supply of sufficient
air both below and above the burning fuel —the amount of this
air must be controlled as necessary.
The air coming in from below (primary air) is controlled by
adjustable apertures in the fret; that which passes over the
fire is known as secondary air; it is about 15 times the volume
of the primary air and may be regulated by an adjustable