IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT FOR FUEL, AND IN Apparatus FOR THE SAME
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT FOR FUEL, AND IN Apparatus
FOR THE SAME." -A communication from abroad by Jean François
Félix Challeton, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 9th May 1873, and dated the 14th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th March 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT FOR FUEL, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:
-
This Invention relates to an improved treatment of peat and also to
apparatus for converting the same into fuel. The said apparatus are

page_text: Drawings.
The following is the method of operating:-The ulmine composing
the peat deposits, and which is found mixed with other substances,
after having been extracted by mechanical means is put in heaps for
obtaining a preliminary fermentation in order to effect the decomposition
of the salts contained. It is then discharged into a trough a, through
the bottom of which a stream of water passes, and above which are
placed two crushers or stampers (not shown). The disintegrated ulmine
falls to the bottom, whence it is raised by a pump or by a chain of
buckets b, which supplies it to two toothed cylinders c, c, and a rasper d.
After this treatment the matters pass to a sifter e which separates all the
lighter substances than the particles of ulmine. After this preliminary
separation the particles of ulmine are submitted to the action of a steam
jet in order to decompose the alkaline ulmates it may still contain and
set at liberty the organic mucilaginous matter, a certain proportion of
which enters into the organization of bog plants. The ulmates being
decomposed the free particles of ulmine are received in a vat or
receptacle f, at the bottom of which are deposited all the matters which
were formerly mixed or combined with the particles of ulmine, and
which have a greater density than the same and are discharged there-
from in such manner that the ulmine and mucilaginous matter above
referred to alone remain in suspension. The mass is then placed in
reservoirs where a double reconstitution takes place, that is to say, the
particles of ulmine serve to filter and retain the mucilaginous matter
which in the first places facilitates their agglomeration, and enables them
after the mass has rested a suitable time to obey the law of crystallization
which regulates the attraction of all mineral bodies. (The like molecules
unite the more readily the fewer the foreign molecules interposed
between them). By means of the chemical and mechanical treatment
of the ulmine contained in the peaty deposits, a fuel is obtained there-
from similar to coal and of a much higher density than that of the
hardest wood, and this without the aid of pressure. The mass in a
pulpy condition is next cut up into fragments of suitable size, and then
allowed to remain until it acquires sufficient firmness to be put up in
heaps, and after a certain time it loses its moisture and gradually
becomes harder, in which condition it may be used as fuel for various
purposes.

page_text: If it is desired to obtain coke or a combustible similar to hard wood
charcoal and possessing the same properties, the crystallized ulmine is
placed in an oven of special construction which is also illustrated in the
Drawings in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Figure 3 is a longitudinal
vertical section of the oven; Figure 4 a horizontal section on line 1-2
Figure 5, which is a transverse section on line 3-4, Figures 3 and 4;
Figure 6 shows a transverse section on line 5-6, Figures 3 and 4, and
Figure 7 a part longitudinal section on line 7-8, Figure 4.
The furnace is composed of brickwork g divided into several compart-
ments 1, 2, 3, by means of sliding doors or partitions h. The temperature
differs in each of the compartments and may be graduated with facility,
the heat being obtained from gas jets, as shown at i, except at starting,
when the two lateral furnaces j, j, are used. The temperatures increase
inversely to the progress of the combustible to be converted through the
oven, which is effected in a continuous manner, so that the combustible
entering at k in a raw state leaves at 7 converted into coke or charcoal.
All the liquid and gazeous products produced during this decomposition
are collected, the gases being applied for heating the apparatus at i, and
for lighting the premises while the ammonia salts are recovered in
solution and converted into sulphates, hydrochlorates, or nitrates, or they
may be decomposed, in which case liquid ammonia is obtained at
22 degrees Beaumé. The light and heavy oils, pitch, and paraffine, are
also separated in condensing apparatus consisting of compartments m
having graduated temperatures disposed at the upper part of the oven
and heated by the waste heat from the same. In this manner all the
products are economically obtained in a continuous manner, the whole
of the waste heat being employed in producing the several decom-
positions, which are all effected in the same oven having the special
distillatory apparatus combined therewith. j, j, grates from which flues
lead to the central part or vault n of compartment 3. The central part
or vault in which is placed the matter to be carbonized is heated by gas
burners shown at i. The 2nd compartment receives the flame from
compartment 3 through the flues communicating therewith, and which
flame acts on the matters placed therein before passing to the next
compartment, and so on for the remainder of the compartments, if any,
until the cooled gases escape at the chimney p. The oven is closed at
both ends by means of doors for admitting the receptacles or metal

page_text: retorts containing the matter to be carbonized. With such an arrange-
ment as that described the carbonizing operation can be controlled
during all its stages with facility, and the exact condition at once
ascertained, so that the charcoal may be either torrefied to redness, or so
as to no longer contain any hydrocarburets, or the latter may be allowed
to remain in the desired proportion to form an energetic flaming fuel,
the operation as before-mentioned being conducted in a continuous
manner to suit the various purposes desired. Moreover with such an
apparatus a much larger product may be obtained with a reduction of
hand labour.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent.
Office on the 13th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PEAT FOR FUEL, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by Jean François Felix
Challeton, of Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
.

page_text: filter and retain the mucilaginous matter, which in the first place
agglomerates the particles of ulmin, and enables them, after the mass
has rested a suitable time, to obey the law of crystallization, which
regulates the attraction of all mineral bodies. (The like molecules
aggregate the more readily as there are fewer foreign molecules inter-
posed between them). The mass in a plastic condition is next cut up
into blocks of suitable size, which are left until they have acquired suffi-
cient firmness to be stacked. After a certain time the mass loses its
combined water, and gradually becomes hard, in which condition it may
be used as fuel for various purposes. By the above-described chemical ]
and mechanical treatment of the ulmin contained in the peaty deposits,
I am enabled to obtain without the aid of pressure a fuel resembling
pit coal, and of greater density than the hardest wood.
If it is desired to obtain coke or a combustible similar to hard wood
charcoal, and possessing the same properties, the crystallized ulmin is 1
placed in a kiln of special construction, which is also illustrated in the
Drawings..
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the kiln; Figure 4, a
horizontal section on line 1-2, Figure 5, which is a transverse section
on line 3—4, Figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 shows a transverse section on
line 5-6, Figures 3 and 4; and Figure 7, a part longitudinal section on
line 7-8, Figure 4.
The kiln is composed of brickwork g, divided into several compart-
ments 1, 2, 3, by means of sliding doors or partitions h. The temperature
differs in each of the compartments, and may be graduated with facility, 2
the heat being obtained from gas jets, as shown at i, except at starting,
when the two lateral furnaces j, j, are used. The temperature increases
inversely to the progress through the kiln of the combustible to be con-
verted, so that the matters introduced continually at % in a raw state are
withdrawn at converted into coke or peat charcoal. All the liquid and a
gaseous products of this decomposition are collected, the gases being
applied for heating the apparatus at i, and for lighting the manufactory
while the ammonia salts are recovered in solution, and converted into
sulphates, hydrochlorates, or nitrates, or they may be decomposed, in
which case liquid ammonia is obtained at 22 degrees Beaumé. The
light and heavy oils, tar and paraffine, are also separated in condensing

page_text: apparatus in compartments m, which have graduated temperatures, and
are disposed at the upper part of the kiln, and heated by the waste heat
therefrom. In this manner all the products are economically obtained
in a continuous manner, the whole of the waste heat being employed in
producing the several decompositions, which are all effected in the same
kiln by means of special distillatory apparatus placed thereon. j.j, grates,
from which flues lead to the central part n of the last compart-
ment 3. This central part, in which is placed the matter to be carbonized,
is heated by gas burners shown at i. The flames escaping from com-
partment 3 pass through flues into the second compartment, and play
against the charged receptacle placed therein, passing thence to the
next compartment, and so on for the remainder of the compartments, if
any, until the cooled gases escape at the chimney p. The kiln is closed
at both ends by means of doors for admitting the receptacles or metallic
retorts containing the matter to be carbonized. With such an arrange-
ment as that described the carbonizing operation can be controlled
during all its stages with facility, and its exact progress at once ascer-
tained, so that the charcoal obtained may be either torrefied or red, or it
may no longer contain any hydrocarburets, or a sufficient proportion of
the latter may be allowed to remain to produce a fuel of great heating
power, the operation as before mentioned being conducted in a
continuous manner to obtain a product to suit the various purposes
desired.

page_text: and continuous manner, whereby fuel of different qualities may be
obtained, the whole as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.