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The chemical engineering catalog
Oct., 1923. ]
BOOK REVIEWS.
567
PHYSICS IN INDUSTRY. Lectures delivered before the Institute of Physics. 39 pages, 8vo. New York, Oxford University Press, American Eranch, 1923. Price 85 cents. This volume contains the text of three lectures, respectively, " Physic.~ and Engineering Science," by Prof. Archibald Barr; " T h e Physicist in Engineering Science." by Sir James Alfred Ewing, and " The Physicist in Electrk:al Engineering," by Clifford C, Patterson. These lectures are initiative to a course which the Institute of Physics has decided to offer, both for the purpose of interesting the public in general as to the value of research and pure science in aiding practical applications, and also as a guide to students, suggesting lines of usefulness in their studies. Undoubtedly there has been in most great nations an indifference to the value of abstract research. Englishspeaking peoples have been probably the greatest offenders in this line. Matters have improved somewhat of late years, largely through the severe lessons taught by the war, but much still remains to be done. It is claimed in the preface of this book that there is work to he done for the industries that only physicists can do. This is true, but the claim must not allow us to overlook the fact that there is also much that the chemist alone can do. It is not difficult to name discoveries that when made have seemed remote from practical value and yet have been the initiative of highly useful inventions. The lectures arc a useful contribution to the general propaganda in the cause of greater public support of research. HENRY LEFFMANN. THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CATALOG. Eighth Annual Edition, 1o49 pages, 4to, flexible cover. New York, The Chemical Catalog Company, I923 . Price $IO. Notice was made of the seventh edition in the issue of this JOURNAL in November, I922. The present issue covers the same ground and is made up in the same way. The method of leasing the volume for a comparatively small sum is still followed, but the book may be purchased outright for the sum noted above. It is the official standard work of reference for chemical engineers, works managers, purchasing agents and many others who are connected with the now extensive development of the chemical industries and especially those that buy equipment and materials for use in chemical processes. The volume is prepared under the supervision of a joint committee of the American Chemical Society, the Society of Chemical Industry and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, but the members thereof have no financial interest in the work. The book consists in the main in a compendium of many catalogues and is intended to inform the purchaser rather than advertise the wares. The supervising committee takes care that general claims, exaggerated statements and display material are excluded, and endeavors to secure the presentation of precise data, including specific uses or adaptation of the equipment or materials. The extensive development of chemical indt~stries in this country is one of the encouraging conditions, tending as it does to render us independent of other nations, and thus able to " go it alone " if war or other catastrophe occurs. The lesson given during the late war does not seem to have
568
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
been fully learned by the American people, who are apparently allowing some of the important key industries, especially that of nitrogen fixation, to lapse. The preface contains a great deal of information concerning the distribution of the work. By furnishing to all firms that carry space a printed list giving the names and addresses of those to whom the book is distributed the value of tile compilation is greatly increased. The book is really a wonderful compilation. It is, of course, abundantly illustrated, and being printed on fine paper with clear type and with excellent taste in the display portions, it constitutes a most interesting demonstration of the high degree of efficiency and extensive specialization that the mechanical and chemical interests have undergone. The binding is flexible and permits the book to lie open flat at any page. HENRY LEFFMANN. LE MAZOUT. Par E. Davin. 96 pages, I2mo. Paris, A. D. Cillard, editeur, 1923. Price 22 Francs. Mazout is a Russian word meaning heavy petroleum, that is, fuel-oil. Why such a barbarous term should be introduced into science is difficult to understand, b u t it seems to have been adopted by French engineers. The pamphlet contains much information on the nature, testing and uses of fuel-oil. The subject is one of great and growing importance, and has, indeed, become one of the most critical problems in international relations. The constantly increasing price of coal and liability of the industry to interruption from strikes have turned the attention of all active nations to the substitution of oil for solid fuel. The saving of labor is immense. In a recent accomit of the installation of a sea-water distillation apparatus in Chile, it was stated that the substitution of oil for coal enabled the operation to be carried on with two men where eight had been needed when coal was used. Power engineers of all types will be much interested in this pamphlet, both theoretical and practical data being included. The author states that the first use of petroleum in boiler-firing was by a Russian engineer, Spakowski, in 1867. This was probably the use in locomotives and steamers in the Baku region, where the Russian heavy oil is obtained. Considerable space is given to the recently suggested, so-called " colloidal," fuels, that is, heavy combustible oils containing suspensions of finely powdered solid fuels. Notes of experiments in this field are given from American sources. A U. S. destroyer was fired by a mixture of 31 per cent. of Pocahontas coal and the fuel-oil commonly used in the U. S. Marine. A small quantity of an emulsifying agent had been added to maintain the mixture. There seems to be great promise of useful, economical results along this line. HENRY LEFFMANN. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS. Report No. 166, The Aerodynamic Plane Table. By A. F. Zahm. I! pages, illustrations, quarto. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1925. For the accurate and expeditious geometrical measurement of models in an aerodynamic laboratory, and for miscellaneous truing operations, there is frequent need for a specially equipped plane table. For example, one may
BOOK REVIEWS.
567
PHYSICS IN INDUSTRY. Lectures delivered before the Institute of Physics. 39 pages, 8vo. New York, Oxford University Press, American Eranch, 1923. Price 85 cents. This volume contains the text of three lectures, respectively, " Physic.~ and Engineering Science," by Prof. Archibald Barr; " T h e Physicist in Engineering Science." by Sir James Alfred Ewing, and " The Physicist in Electrk:al Engineering," by Clifford C, Patterson. These lectures are initiative to a course which the Institute of Physics has decided to offer, both for the purpose of interesting the public in general as to the value of research and pure science in aiding practical applications, and also as a guide to students, suggesting lines of usefulness in their studies. Undoubtedly there has been in most great nations an indifference to the value of abstract research. Englishspeaking peoples have been probably the greatest offenders in this line. Matters have improved somewhat of late years, largely through the severe lessons taught by the war, but much still remains to be done. It is claimed in the preface of this book that there is work to he done for the industries that only physicists can do. This is true, but the claim must not allow us to overlook the fact that there is also much that the chemist alone can do. It is not difficult to name discoveries that when made have seemed remote from practical value and yet have been the initiative of highly useful inventions. The lectures arc a useful contribution to the general propaganda in the cause of greater public support of research. HENRY LEFFMANN. THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CATALOG. Eighth Annual Edition, 1o49 pages, 4to, flexible cover. New York, The Chemical Catalog Company, I923 . Price $IO. Notice was made of the seventh edition in the issue of this JOURNAL in November, I922. The present issue covers the same ground and is made up in the same way. The method of leasing the volume for a comparatively small sum is still followed, but the book may be purchased outright for the sum noted above. It is the official standard work of reference for chemical engineers, works managers, purchasing agents and many others who are connected with the now extensive development of the chemical industries and especially those that buy equipment and materials for use in chemical processes. The volume is prepared under the supervision of a joint committee of the American Chemical Society, the Society of Chemical Industry and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, but the members thereof have no financial interest in the work. The book consists in the main in a compendium of many catalogues and is intended to inform the purchaser rather than advertise the wares. The supervising committee takes care that general claims, exaggerated statements and display material are excluded, and endeavors to secure the presentation of precise data, including specific uses or adaptation of the equipment or materials. The extensive development of chemical indt~stries in this country is one of the encouraging conditions, tending as it does to render us independent of other nations, and thus able to " go it alone " if war or other catastrophe occurs. The lesson given during the late war does not seem to have
568
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
been fully learned by the American people, who are apparently allowing some of the important key industries, especially that of nitrogen fixation, to lapse. The preface contains a great deal of information concerning the distribution of the work. By furnishing to all firms that carry space a printed list giving the names and addresses of those to whom the book is distributed the value of tile compilation is greatly increased. The book is really a wonderful compilation. It is, of course, abundantly illustrated, and being printed on fine paper with clear type and with excellent taste in the display portions, it constitutes a most interesting demonstration of the high degree of efficiency and extensive specialization that the mechanical and chemical interests have undergone. The binding is flexible and permits the book to lie open flat at any page. HENRY LEFFMANN. LE MAZOUT. Par E. Davin. 96 pages, I2mo. Paris, A. D. Cillard, editeur, 1923. Price 22 Francs. Mazout is a Russian word meaning heavy petroleum, that is, fuel-oil. Why such a barbarous term should be introduced into science is difficult to understand, b u t it seems to have been adopted by French engineers. The pamphlet contains much information on the nature, testing and uses of fuel-oil. The subject is one of great and growing importance, and has, indeed, become one of the most critical problems in international relations. The constantly increasing price of coal and liability of the industry to interruption from strikes have turned the attention of all active nations to the substitution of oil for solid fuel. The saving of labor is immense. In a recent accomit of the installation of a sea-water distillation apparatus in Chile, it was stated that the substitution of oil for coal enabled the operation to be carried on with two men where eight had been needed when coal was used. Power engineers of all types will be much interested in this pamphlet, both theoretical and practical data being included. The author states that the first use of petroleum in boiler-firing was by a Russian engineer, Spakowski, in 1867. This was probably the use in locomotives and steamers in the Baku region, where the Russian heavy oil is obtained. Considerable space is given to the recently suggested, so-called " colloidal," fuels, that is, heavy combustible oils containing suspensions of finely powdered solid fuels. Notes of experiments in this field are given from American sources. A U. S. destroyer was fired by a mixture of 31 per cent. of Pocahontas coal and the fuel-oil commonly used in the U. S. Marine. A small quantity of an emulsifying agent had been added to maintain the mixture. There seems to be great promise of useful, economical results along this line. HENRY LEFFMANN. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS. Report No. 166, The Aerodynamic Plane Table. By A. F. Zahm. I! pages, illustrations, quarto. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1925. For the accurate and expeditious geometrical measurement of models in an aerodynamic laboratory, and for miscellaneous truing operations, there is frequent need for a specially equipped plane table. For example, one may