Patent GB-689616-A (GB)
Title: Process for producing carbonised fuel from carbonaceous material and apparatus therefor
IPC: C10B1/04
Filed: 1951-12-14
Abstract: 689,616. Carbonizing apparatus; vertical retorts. CRAMP, G. B. Dec..14, 1951, No. 29357/51. Classes 51 (ii) and 55 (i). Solid carbonaceous material is carbonized in vertical immobile columns in indirect contact along one vertical surface with gas at about 1800‹F flowing from a heat source over a series of columns the position of which in the circuit is periodically changed so that each is heated in stages of increasing temperature ; the material is supported on the side opposite to the gas passage and yieldably pressed towards it by a slotted curtain through which evolved gases are withdrawn. One unit of five retorts A1 ... A5 is associated with two heaters D1, D2, by main flues B, C connected to opposite ends of a flue 46 within each retort. Each main flue comprises three superposed flues 72 ... 74 and 91... 93 respectively communicating with the retorts through passages 75 ... 77 having dampers 78 ... 80 and passages 94 ... 96 with dampers 97 ... 99. By means of cams mounted in a series of aligned shafts periodically rotated through <SP>1</SP>/ 5  revolution by a hydraulically actuated pawl and ratchet, the dampers are so regulated as to provide a flow of gases increasing in temperature at each stage through each retort flue alternately from each end to the other. Fig. 10 shows the course of the gases and their temperature in each retort at one position of the dampers ; towards the end of a cooling-off pass which succeeds the hottest pass a retort is discharged and recharged in readiness for the first heating pass. In the alternately operated heaters D1, D2, products from a downwardly. directed fuel gas flame heat up the brickwork lining to such a temperature that when combustion, is shut down, a stock valve D9 closed and a valve D17 opened, circulation of residual gas can be continued through the retort flues and back to the heater for 1-2 hours to maintain a temperature of 1800‹F for the first pass. Each retort comprises a casing 10 with an elongated charging opening 14 surmounted by a cover 16 with skirt plates 21a dipping into water in troughs 15. A discharge opening at the bottom is closed by a similarly sealed cover 23 carried on latch bars 40, 41 ; the middle part 25 forms a heat-insulated tray for supporting the charge. The flue 46 is suspended from ribs 45 by hanger rods 44 and rods 48 which engage stay bars 47. At each end the flue opens into a transfer flue B4, C4, leading to the dampered passages to the main flues. A steel end section 49 projects into a brick-lined coupling 50 supported from a hanger 51 carried by the retort casing. Expansion joints 53, 54 form a gas seal between the coupling and the retort and end section. At each side of the flue 46 a curtain of insulated slats 58 is suspended from hangers 57, and by means of short links 65, 66 pivoted respectively to the curtain and retort, wall and to T bars 64 suspended from beams 62. The slats are moved inwardly and outwardly to discharge coke upon the beams being raised and lowered by a grapple bar 67 operated from the charging car mechanism. The charge is confined between the flue and slats and by end plates 68 which have an insulating compartment 69 filled with lampblack. Liberated gases and vapours pass through slots 59 between the slats under a slight applied suction and flow down through outlets 34, 35, and pipes 30, 31 to a collector main.