LETTERS Sir : Congratulations on your September editorial. . . in which you cite portions of a n address by P. V. Danckwerts to the 1.Ch.E. Professor Danckwerts’ appreciation of the role of sound experimentation in engineering research is well known to those who have had contact with him or are familiar with his work. Your comments further stress the need for a reconsideration of the incentives for undertaking engineering research. Hopefully, the growing new maturity in the profession. . is replacing the outburst of rather indiscriminate enthusiasm which has accompanied the adoption of the fundamental approaches in engineering. Some of the ingenuity exerted on devising schemes for analysis and computation can well be applied to the design of fruitful and realistic experiments. If valid criteria for selecting engineering research projects are not adopted spontaneously by researchers themselves, they should, and probably will, be imposed by fundgranting organizations. There are too many important problems calling for attention for us to squander money and effort on insignificant research activities. A. L. Shrier Englewood, N. J. Sir : I enjoyed your article on “Technical Thinking” in the June 1966 issue of I&EC. It contains an important and heretofore badly overlooked message. With all the emphasis on fundamentals-science and mathematicsthere is an almost overwhelming pressure to relegate to dark corners areas of technology which don’t lend themselves readily to fundamental analysis. I believe that in doing so we are missing veins of gold deeply buried in a n apparently uninteresting overburden. Hopefully a more enlightened generation, taking the broader view suggested in your editorial, will be willing to mine the neglected depths. R. F. McCartney Wilniirigton, Del.
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Skinner Mulll~l~=H~arlh Furnaces lor broduction of have these advantages: N
can process at high enough temperatures to produce the desired product.
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can hold down the gas velocity to prevent product losses.
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can treat all of the material uniformly.
One of two 20 ft. dia. 13 hearth Skinner Furnaces f o r producing M g O , shown during erection.
B can precisely control temperature by zones for maximum fuel economy. This particular installation involves roasting Mg(OH)*, obtained from sea water, t o produce refractory grade MgO for use in high temperature applications such as basic oxygen steel production.
Other Applications o f Skinner Furnaces for P r o d u c t i o n of MgO. Other applications include light burning of magnesite and dolomite to produce MgO for use by the fertilizer, chemical, paper and cement industries,
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Write for new Skinner Furnace Catalog 766.
Laboratory Test Service Most pyro-processing problems must be solved by test work. We offer both batch and continuous testing service i n our laboratory. Or you may purchase or lease a continuous pilot plant or batch laboratory unit.
MINE AND SMELTER SUPPLY CO. Dept. IES-5,3800 Race Street, Denver, Colorado 80216
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