British Coal Utilisation Research Association

Abstract

ON December 14, the British Coal Utilisation Research Association held its first ordinary general meeting under the presidency of Sir Evan Williams. It was founded in April last, having incorporated the Research Department of the Combustion Appliance Makers Association (Solid Fuel) and with a membership covering all sections of the industries of coal and its appliance manufacturers. Its income from these sources and Government grant is guaranteed at £29,000 for five years. Premises near West Brompton Station have been secured and are being adapted to the purposes of an experimental station. It was stated that fruitful work has already been done in both the domestic and the industrial sections. In the former this has been concerned with the open fire, and the use of natural smokeless fuels and smoke reduction. In this connexion it is claimed that success has been achieved in the design of solid fuel cookers to replace in railway restaurant cars those fired with oil gas. On the industrial side, the supply and use of solid fuel for small industry, pulverized fuel, and industrial temperature measurement have engaged attention. A special committee has been set up to study the question of producer gas transport and supplement the work already in progress at the Fuel Research Station. It has long been a matter of reproach against the coal industry that it has shown complete indifference to the rational and efficient utilization of its commercial product. The launching of this Association will remove this reproach, and, as the president said, it will be “the missing member of a team which will work in harmony to bring about a more perfect knowledge of the properties of coal measures and advances in their fuller and better utilization”.