Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminating or Heating Gases.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1889
Specification Accepted 11th May, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Illuminating or
Heating Gases.
I, WILLIAM MORELAND COSH of 2820 Lancaster Street, Baltimore in the State of
Maryland in the United States of America, Merchant, 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
This invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating or
heating gases. It is of that class in which hydrogen gas is produced by the decom-
position of steam in the presence of incandescent coal.
The invention consists in the special arrangement of generator and superheater
with connecting pipes and valves and steam, air, and hydrocarbon pipes, and it
consists further of a combination of generator with duplicate superheaters, and a
special arrangement of connecting pipes with their valves and with steam, and air
supply pipes whereby various processes can be carried on, all as hereinafter
explained.
In connection with the apparatus I have also hereinafter necessarily explained
varions methods of use by which improved results are obtained.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification :
Fig. 1 represents partly in side elevation, mainly in section, my improved
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 shows a rear elevation of the apparatus.
g
In these figures A represents a generator provided with a cover a and adapted to
receive a charge of coal. Below the grate M, is a pipe f, to admit the air blast with
a steam supply connected therewith having a stop cock g'. On each side of the
generator is built a chamber adapted to act as a fixing chamber or as a superheater,
one being marked B, and the other B¹. These are to be filled with pieces of brick or
any suitable refractory material through which the steam may freely pass and be
heated in its passage. These superheaters have each a combustion chamber h¹ in the
base with passages therefrom to the superheating and fixing chamber above, and with

page_text: +
an air supply pipe i having a suitable valve 5, for regulating or cutting off the supply
of air. These superheaters or fixing chambers have suitable covers on the tops. The
combustion chambers underneath are connected by pipes C, C, directly with the space
in the generator beneath the grate M, and these pipes are provided with valves c, c¹.
From the pipes C, C¹, vertical pipes D, D', extend to branches E, E', which connect
then with the upper part of the generator. In the upper ends of the pipes D, D¹
are valves b,, by means of which communication between the upper part of the
generator and the combustion chambers of the superheaters can be obstructed, while
the valves c, c', serve to cut off connection between the lower part of the generator
and the combustion chambers. Another set of pipes connects the upper part of the
superheaters and the generator with the purifying chambers W. Of these pipes H, H¹,
are exit pipes from the superheaters. They extend from the upper parts of the super-
heaters and are turned to meet in a pipe G, which is the exit from the generator and
extends down therefrom to the wash box, the entrance to the generator being shown
at G¹. The pipes H and H', have valves d, d', and pipe Ġ, valve e respectively, by
means of which communication may be shut off between the upper part of the super-
heaters or upper part of the generator and the wash box. The valve e in the upper
extension of the pipe G, above the junction of the pipes H and H', closes the passage
when the valves d and d' are open. In addition to the steam supply pipe g, there is a
second, k, and a third, in the pipes H and H¹ respectively and a fourth m in the
upper extension of the pipe G above the valve e. These steam pipes all have stop
cocks and suitable connections with a steam generator (not shown). In addition to
these pipes is a pipe m entering the upper part of the pipe G, for supplying naptha
or other liquid hydrocarbon.
The simple apparatus above described is capable of a variety of methods of use, all
productive of valuable results by slight and easy manipulations.
Supposing the generator be charged with coal and the cover of the generator be
secured in place, and the covers of the superheaters removed; the valves b, b, are
opened and the valves c and c', and d¹ and d, and e are closed, the valve of the blast
pipe is opened and the air admitted at the bottom of the generator and to the
combustion chambers h and h¹.
While this access of air is bringing the mass of coal in the generator to an incan-
descent condition the carbonic oxide and unconsumed carbon in the products of
combustion are carried through the pipes E, E, D, D', and C, C, to the combustion
chamber, ', where they meet an additional supply of air and undergo complete
combustion, the products thereof passing through the refractory contents of the
superheaters. This brings the refractory material within the superheaters up to an
intense heat. When the coal within the generator has been brought to a state of
thorough incandesence the covers of the superheaters (if both are used) are secured
in place, the air is cut off at the bottom of the generator and superheater, the valves d d'
in the outlet pipe are open, and steam is admitted at the bottom of the generator.
This passes through the body of incandescent coal and by removal of its oxygen is
converted to hydrogen gas. If it be desirable to manufacture illuminating gas, naphtha
or other hydrocarbon liquid may be admitted to the top of the generator, the vapor
of which is taken up by the hydrogen and the whole passes through the pipes E, E',
and their connections to the bottom of the superheaters, through the superheaters,
acting then as fixing chambers, and thence to the wash box or purifying chamber.
The apparatus may be used in the way above described, but the construction of the
apparatus is adapted to give better result by another mode of operation by which
.the quality of the gas is improved and a larger quantity obtained from a given quantity
of coal.
For the production of the hydrogen gas by the method just referred to the coal
in the generator is brought to a proper condition of incandescence as heretofore
described. The blast from the pipe is then shut off and the top of the superheaters
secured in place. The valves 6, 61, and d, d¹, are closed, the valve e in the outlet
pipe from the generator and the pipes c, c, in the connecting pipes at the bottom of
the generator are opened. Steam shut off elsewhere is then admitted to the top of

page_text: the superheaters B, B¹, through the pipes k, k¹, and the steam passes through the
intensely heated refractory material contained in the superheaters and is brought
thereby to a highly superheated and attenuated condition and is then admitted
through the pipes (,, into the bottom of the generator. In this dry and heated
state the steam is brought more readily into contact with the heated coal and is more
thoroughly decomposed. The hydrogen gas thus generated passes through the
opening into the pipe G and thence directly down into the wash box, and in its
passage may be made to take up hydrocarbon vapor admitted through the pipe m'.
After this process bas been continued for a time, the length of which may be deter-
mined by an operator skilled in the art the point for admitting the steam is changed.
The valves b, b, and e are closed, and the valves d, d², c, cl, are opened, and steam is
admitted at the top of the generator through the steam pipe m. The steam is thus
brought into contact with a fresh surface of coal, and passes downward through the
mass of coal, being decomposed in its passage. The hydrogen gas passes through
the pipes C, C, up through the superheaters and by way of the outlet pipes to the
wash box.
Thus the apparatus may be made to operate in two directions in a single heat for
the production of hydrocarbon gas, or the direction of the current may be reversed
in the manner above described, as many times as may be desired, since after the
supply of coal has been exhausted it may be renewed and brought to a proper condition
as at first described.
The apparatus is adapted to another method of manufacturing gas, more especially
applicable to the manufacture of illuminating gas. In accordance with this method
after the requisite heat has been obtained as heretofore described, the valves b, d, e
and e', are closed and the valves c, 61, d¹, are opened, the steam is admitted at the
top of the superheaters B and passes through the heated material therein, and to the
bottom of the generator through the connecting pipes in a superheated state. It
then passes up through the incandescent coal and by removal of its oxygen is con-
verted into hydrogen gas. In the top of the generator it meets hydrocarbon vapor
from the liquid hydrocarbon introduced in any suitable and well known way as through
the pipe m and the hydrogen with the vapor taken up in the generator passes to
the bottom of the superheater B¹ and in ascending through the highly heated material
therein, it becomes thoroughly mixed and fixed and thence passes through the outlet
pipe to the wash box as above explained. It is obvious that the direction of the
passage of the steam may be reversed in this method of operation and that it may be
made to pass down through the coal and from B to B¹.
I am aware that generators and superheaters in variety of forms and with a variety
of arrangements of pipes are old and well known, having for their object the pro-
duction of gas by the same principle of operation, and I therefore limit my claims
to the form and combination as hereinafter set forth.
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 1
claim is
1. In combination, a generator A, provided with a grate M, and with a steam and
air pipe communicating with said generator beneath the grate thereof and provided
also with a hydrocarbon and steam supply pipe communicating with the upper part of
the generator, a superheater or fixer having a combustion chamber in its lower part
provided with an air pipe, a steam supply pipe communicating with the upper part
of the superheater or fixer, a pipe connecting said combustion chamber with the
space beneath the grate of the generator and provided with a valve c, a pipe DE,
having a valve and leading from the upper part of the generator into the combustion
chamber of the superheater or fixer, the parts being constructed and arranged to
operate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In combination, a generator A provided with a grate M and with a steam and
air supply pipe communicating with the generator beneath the grate thereof, and
provided also with a hydrocarbon supply pipe communicating with the top of the

page_text: generator superheaters or fixers B and B' each having a steam supply pipe com-
municating with its upper part and a combustion chamber in its lower part provided
with an air supply pipe, pipes C, C, connecting their respective combustion chambers
with the space in the generator beneath the grate, valves in these pipes, pipes D, E,
and D, E, with their respective valves, connecting the top of the generator with
the combustion chambers of the superheaters or fixers respectively, and an exit pipe
from each of the superheaters and fixers, all-substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
3. In combination, a generator A provided with a grate M, and a steam and air
supply pipe communicating with said generator below the grate thereof, and provided
also with a hydrocarbon supply pipe communicating with the top of the generator,
superheaters or fixers B, B¹, each having a steam supply pipe communicating with
its upper part and a combustion chamber in its lower part provided with an air supply
pipe, pipes C, C, connecting the combustion chambers with the space in the generator
beneath the grate, valves in these pipes, pipes D, E, and D', E', with their respective
valves, connecting the top of the generator with the combustion chambers of the
superheaters or fixers respectively, an exit pipe G, from the top of the generator
having a valve e, pipes H and H¹ leading from the top of the superheaters and fixers
and uniting with the pipe G at a point below the valve e, said pipes H and H being
provided with valves, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dotal thin 96th dox of March 1880.
:
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.