Coalite

Coalite is a brand of low-temperature coke used as a smokeless fuel. The title refers to the residue left behind when coal is carbonised at 640 degrees Celsius. It was invented by Thomas Parker in 1904. In 1936 the Smoke Abatement Society awarded its inventor a posthumous gold medal.

Coalite is darker and more friable than high temperature coke. It is easier to ignite, burns with an attractive flame, and is lighter than coal, making it an ideal fuel for open domestic firegrates. Drawbacks are its tendencies to produce an excessive residual ash, to burn quickly and give off sulphurous fumes.

Coal delivered by rail, first from the nearby Bolsover colliery, and later from other sources, was heated in 8 large air sealed ovens called "batteries". Volatile constituents were driven off and condensed into coal oil and a watery fraction called ammoniacal liquor. Coal gas was used to heat the ovens and also burned in the works boilers and furnaces. Any excess was flared off. The coal oil and liquor were piped over the road to the chemical works section where they were processed into various fractions and industrial chemicals. The residual Coalite solid fuel was cooled, then sorted into various grades based on size and stockpiled for distribution by road transport.

Two years after Thomas Parker died in 1915, the forerunner of the Coalite company was formed with the building of a production unit at Barugh near Barnsley. In the 20s two more plants at Askern near Doncaster and at East Greenwich in London were opened, the latter being operated under license by the South Metropolitan Gas Company.

In April 1937 the main manufacturing plant at Buttermilk Lane, Bolsover was opened by the Duke of Kent. At the time it was the largest one of its type in the world.

In 1939 another works was opened at Wern Tarw in South Wales. In the 50s older plants were closed and production was concentrated at the expanded Bolsover and Askern plants. Plants were also opened later in Rossington near Doncaster and at Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire. The coal oil and liquor from all these plants was processed at the central refinery at the Bolsover plant. The ovens continued producing Coalite until the Bolsover works closed down in 2004.

By 1939 the company was producing a low octane petrol called "Coalene" as well as diesel and other fuel oils. It continued to do so through the Second World War and into the early 60s. It supplied fuel to the RAF and Royal Navy during the war, allegedly keeping 12 squadrons flying and 2 battleships sailing.

...
Wikipedia