Charcoal Briquettes as Locomotive Fuel

Abstract

A. F. JOSEPH and B. W. Whitfield¹ described in 1921 the production of charcoal briquettes made from Sudan woods. They used as binder gum arabic or sorghum flour, both of which are available locally. Such briquettes are satisfactory for firing a stationary boiler, but are quite unsuitable as locomotive fuel. For this use 20–25 per cent volatile matter is needed; furthermore, the briquettes have to withstand the severe conditions within the locomotive fire-box where, if the briquettes are weakly bound, forced draught and shaking may cause loss of fuel and where high temperature may produce clinker. On the instructions of Dr. J. D. Tothill, director of agriculture and forests, Sudan Government, work was resumed with the war-time object of finding a locally produced substitute for coal needed by the Sudan railways.