Improved Methods of and Apparatus for Burning Liquid Hydrocarbons.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods of and Apparatus for Burning Liquid
Hydrocarbons.
I, PIERRE HUMBERT, Junior, of 83 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is the production from crude petroleum, lime oil or
the other similar liquid hydrocarbons of a combustible gas having a composition
similar to natural gas and having a higher heat producing value than the combustible
gases which have been produced from liquid hydrocarbons by the methods hereto-
fore used.
The said invention consists in adding to the liquid hydrocarbon while exposed to
the action of a high temperature in a suitable retort or volatilizing chamber an
element which changes the relative proportions of the elements of which the liquid
hydrocarbon is composed, and thus converts the latter into a compound of methane
or marsh gas causes the production of a gas which burnt in contact with air in a
burner constructed on the Bunsen principle produces a flame of great caloric
energy.
The invention also consists in the apparatus hereinafter set forth whereby my method
is carried into effect.
In carrying my invention into practice I can convert the liquid hydrocarbon into
a mixture of methane and other gases either by the addition of oxygen or by the
addition of hydrogen and oxygen produced by the decomposition or dissociation of
steam or water.
The liquid hydrocarbons which I use in my process are preferably the crude
petroleums. These hydrocarbon are composed of a mixture of various members of
the paraffin group and have for their composition carbon and hydrogen combined in
the proportion expressed by the formula Cn H₂ n + 2.
When oxygen either pure or mixed with nitrogen as in common air, is brought
into contact with the vapours of these oils, these vapours are converted into a mixture
of methane or marsh gas, C, H, and of other gases as shown by the following
equation Cn H, n + 2 + 0 P (CH) (C, H₂) + S (CO) in which formula
the coefficients indicate variable quantities of the several gases.
=
16
8
Thus if we assume that a certain oil consists of a mixture of C, H₁ + C in
equal parts, and we add oxygen to this oil when the latter is exposed to a high
temperature the result will be 7 (CH) or marsh gas 7 (C, N,) or ethano 6 (CO) or
carbonic oxide.
Where dissociated steam is combined with the volatilized liquid hydrocarbon the
decomposition will be expressed by the following formula Cn H, n + 2 + (H₂ 0)
= S (CH) + (0).
-
An apparatus which I may use for carrying out this method of burning liquid
bydrocarbons consists of a coil in which the oil is vaporized the said coil being
placed within a shell and heated by the flame produced by the gas or which is
obtained from the oil, but I can use any other suitable form of apparatus.
The apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional view of one form of apparatus combined with means for
supplying oxygen or air to the utilizing coil.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of an injector, and
Figure 3 is a sectional view of another form of apparatus as combined with a device
for introducing into the volatilizing coils the products derived from the decomposition
bu bent of stands on water

page_text: In these several figures the same letters refer to the same parts.
Referring to the drawing A is a cylindrical shell which may be made of fire clay
or iron and which encloses the volatilizing coil B, through which the liquid hydro-
carbon circulates, and to which the liquid hydrocarbon is conveyed by means of the
pipe C, and D is the pipe which conveys to the burner E under the coil B the gas
produced by the volatilization of the liquid hydrocarbon in the coil B. These pipes (
and D are preferably placed outside of the cylinder A, and thus are protected from
the heat of the flame.
A¹ A are concentric cylinders successively decreasing in heighth which are placed
between the burner E and the outer cylinder, and are separated by air passages. By
this means the gas issuing from the burner E is successively supplied with air at
different points and thus its perfect combustion is facilitated. The flame of this
burning gas surrounds the coil B and thus heats the coil to a temperature sufficiently
high to convert the oil supplied thereto into a vapour or gas while at the same time
the protection afforded to the coil by the outer casing ensures the equal heating of
the coil.
Above the coil upon curved bars is supported a conical deflector H. This deflector
is not shown in Figure 3 but it will preferably be used with the form of burner shown
in that figure.
The device shown in Figure 3 is somewhat different in form from that shown in
Figure 1 inasuch as there is a shell of iron or fire clay which is placed inside the
coil so that the coil instead of being heated by the direct action of the flame is heated
by radiation from the shell, but openings are provided in the shell so that if desirable
the flame may be brought into direct contact with the coil. These openings may be
closed by a suitable damper L. This inner shell is bent over at the top and connected
with the top of the outer casing and openings, a, are provided through which the
flame can pass. There is also an entrance into the space between the shells I and A
whereby air may be supplied to the surface of the coil and which entrance may be
closed by a damper.
In Figure 1 I have shown means for supplying oxygen or air to the coil by means
of the pipe F, which may be connected with a suitable blower or pump and be con-
nected either with the pipe C or the pipe D, but it is preferable to connect the
pipe F to the pipe C. The air may also be supplied to the oil by means of an
injector Gas shown in Figure 2. I can also use an air supply with the device shown
in Figure 3, but I have shown this device as combined with the means for supplying
decomposed water to the volatilizing coil. M M are two pipes or chambers supported
on each side of the prolongation of the shell I and above the mouth of the shell A¹,
these pipes are divided by partitions and the spaces between the partitions are
filled with asbestos or some other similar substance. Cross pieces N N extending
over the mouth of the shell A² connect these spaces. Pipe O is connected to the
lowest space c on one of the chambers M by means of which pipe, steam or water is
conveyed to the chamber, and a pipe O is connected to the uppermost space in the
same chamber M and to the upper part of the volatilizing coil. The steam or water
supplied by the pipe O circulates through the pipes N N and is exposed to a high
temperature, and is dissociated or decomposed into its elements of oxygen and hydrogen
and these gases pass into the volatilizing coil and coming into contact with the
vaporized hydrocarbon in the coil cause a decomposition of the elements which
results in the production of methane or marsh gas and oxygen as expressed by the
equation before given.
These gases as they issue from the burner E are burnt in contact with a draught or
air successively supplied to the flame at different points by means of the shell A A¹ A³
with the result that all of the gas is consumed and a smokeless flame of great caloric
power is produced.
By means of this process the carbonization of the oil in the coil and the consequent
formation of coke which would tend to clog is prevented and consequently in con-
nection with the perfect combustion of the gases produced in the volatilizing coil the
full heat equivalents of the components of the liquid hydrocarbon is obtained, and

page_text: the elements added, resulting in a great economy as compared with other processes of
burning liquid hydrocarbons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The method substantially as described of converting lime oil, crude petroleum
or other similar liquid hydrocarbons, into a combustible gas by adding to the liquid
hydrocarbon when exposed to heat in a suitable coil or retort an element which
changes the relative proportion of the elements of which the liquid hydrocarbon is
composed and results in the production from these elements of a mixture of methane
or marsh gas and other gases.
Second. The method substantially as described of converting lime oil crude
petroleum or other similar liquid hydrocarbon into a combustiblo gas by adding to
the liquid hydrocarbon when exposed to heat in a suitable coil or retort oxygen, air,
or steam when said steam is previously exposed to the action of heat.
Third. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of the
volatilizing coil and a pipe for conveying oxygen or air under pressure to
said coil.
Fourth. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth with
the volatilizing coil of a device for conveying heated steam or water to the coil.
Fifth. The combination substantially as and for purpose set forth with the
volatilizing coil B of the burner E the shells A A A³, the pipes M M and the pipes N N
connecting the pipes M M arranged above the burner so as to be heated by the flame
issuing from the same, the pipe O conveying steam or water to one of the pipes M and
the pipe O¹ connecting this pipe to the volatilizing coil.
Ӧ
Sixth. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of the coil B,
the pipe C, for conveying a liquid hydrocarbon to the coil, the burner E, the pipe D
connecting the coil B and the burner E, the shell A, outside the coil B, the shell I,
within the coil B the concentric shells A' A' separated by air passages and succes-
sively increasing in height, the vertical pipes or chambers M M within the shell I, on
each side thereof, and above the mouth of the shell A² partitions & in these chambers,
pipes N, connecting the spaces between these partitions, the pipe O, communicating
with the lower part of one of the pipes or chambers M, and the pipe O'connecting the
upper part of this pipe or chamber with the upper part of the coil B.
Dated this 15th day of August 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.