IRON
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COAL
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COAL
Small coal consumption at the boilers averaged 750 tons per week, this being 6.32% of the gross output.
There were nineteen boilers, thirteen of which were of the ordinary single flue Cornish type with a blow-off pressure of 60 lbs per sq inch, and six Lancashire type with a blow-off pressure of 90 lbs per sq inch. All boilers were in constant use and the output of the colliery suffered should any boiler be taken out of service.
The water supply was partly obtained from pit water and the river near No5 Level.
The feedwater for the thirteen Cornish boilers is heated during pit winding hours by exhaust steam from the No 1 pit winding engine and by a new exhaust steam injector fitted to the fan engine, however, for fifteen hours a day half the feed water is supplied to these boilers cold and the feed water to the Lancashire boilers is always supplied cold.
A recommendation was made that a new closed feed water heater, at a cost of £250 should be erected near the new compressor engines, which work non-condensing, and that the water to the Lancashire boilers be heated by the exhaust steam. This would realise an annual saving of £112 that is 450 tons of coal at 5/- per ton.
Another recommendation was for the installation of a closed feed water heater to No 2 winding engine at a cost of £350 which would realise a saving of £150 per annum.
Owing to the scarcity and inferior quality of water no recommendations could be made with a view to saving coal consumption at the boilers.
However, due to the boiler power being just on balance, one new Lancashire boiler at a cost of £700 was recommended to be installed.
The main underground haulages were operated by steam taken from the surface boilers through a range of 9 inch cast iron pipes which were well covered and in good condition.
The in-bye haulages and Dip pumps were powered by compressed air and, although in some cases were too small, were in good condition with very low leakage.
Underground Workings
The output from the pit was obtained from the Rhas Las and Little Vein seams each being worked by two districts. The estimated reserves of the former being 556,000 tons and the latter 1,600,000 tons.
Ras Las Seam – West Side
From here half the output was derived, the seam being of normal thickness but with a rather weak roof. A portion of the working face would be exhausted in about two years with the remainder following in about five to six years.
From here half the output was derived, the seam being of normal thickness but with a rather weak roof. A portion of the working face would be exhausted in about two years with the remainder following in about five to six years.
Ras Las Seam– East Side
This district is fast being exhausted and during the first four months of 1908 the length of the face was reduces from 380 yards to 160 yards owing to disturbed ground and weak coal being experienced. The life of the District was very uncertain.