A log of the data should be entered in notebooks or on blank sheets
suitably prepared in advance. This should be done in such manner that
the test may be divided into hourly periods, or if necessary, periods of
less duration, and the leading data obtained for any one or more periods
as desired, thereby showing the degree of uniformity obtained.
Half-hourly readings of the instruments are usually sufficient. If there
are sudden and wide fluctuations, the readings in such cases should be
taken every 15 minutes, and in some instances oftener.
The coal should be weighed and delivered to the firemen in
portions sufficient for one hour's run, thereby ascertaining the
degree of uniformity of firing. An ample supply of coal should
be maintained at all times, but the quantity on the floor at the
end of each hour should be as small as practicable, so that the
same may be readily estimated and deducted from the total
weight.
The records should be such as to ascertain also the consumption
of feed water each hour and thereby determine the degree of
uniformity of evaporation.