Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas and for the Utilization of the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for Manufacturing
Gas and for the Utilization of the same.
I JOHN THOMAS KEY of Roxwell Road Shepherd's Bush London in the County of
Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in the process for producing or manufacturing
gas for heating and other purposes from solid carbonaceous materials, to apparatus
therefor and for utilizing or applying the same.
My improvements in the process of producing gas consists in feeding to the pro-
ducer tho solid carbonaceous fuel or material in a constant and regulated supply, and
withdrawing in a similar constant and regulated manner the coke and any ashes or
clinker produced, with the simultaneous crushing or breaking up of the coke (and
ashes or clinker); these being delivered directly and automatically into a cistern of
water; the requisite supply of air (or steam) for the partial combustion of the fuel or
the production of water gas), taking place through the revolving crusher, which is
caused to revolve partly immersed in the water for slacking or quenching the coke;
whilst the supply opening for the fuel and the delivery opening for the coke are so
arranged as to prevent access of air to the producer otherwise than through the
revolving crusher.
My improved apparatus consists of a producer provided with a corrugated or
suitably recessed supply drum, which delivers the fuel in a constant and regular
supply to the producer whilst at the same time preventing the access of air to the
producer and with a hollow revolving delivery drum provided with holes for
admitting air (or steam) to the producer, and with both longitudinal and
circular corrugations, or a surface having corresponding projections or recesses.
for the purpose of withdrawing the coke and ashes or clinker from the producer.
The upper part of this delivery drum is arranged to revolve between two plates
having recesses and projections corresponding to the circular corrugations of the
drum. The lower part of this drum revolves immersed in water contained in a tank
or cistern, one end of which is inclined or sloped, so that the slacked coke or ashes and
clinker can be readily withdrawn by hand or machinery, whilst a curtain placed
opposite this end and reaching below the surface of the water shuts off all access of
air to the part of the cistern in which the drum revolves. The cistern or tank may
be of any convenient shape, rectangular or circular in plan, and the curtain may be
placed opposite or on all sides, and the bottom of the tank immediately below
the revolving delivery drum may be wedge shaped or conical, so as to direct the
coke etc. towards the sides of the tank to facilitate its removal. The drum is carried
in adjustable bearings, so that the width of the spaces between the drum and the above
mentioned side plates can be regulated, thereby regulating the size to which the coke
(or ashes and clinker) is crushed. The bearings are so arranged that no access of air
can take place through them to the interior of the tank or cistern, except through
one of the axles of the drum, which is made hollow for the purpose and provided
on the outside with a suitable bush or gland to connect it to the fixed pipe. The two
axles of the supply drum and this drum itself are formed hollow, so that a streain of
water, as for example the feed supply for steam boilers, can be passed through the
same for the double purpose of cooling the axles and the drum, and of heating the
water. The axles of the supply drum and the coke delivery drum are geared together
by pitch wheels and chain, so as to ensure corresponding uniformity in the rate of the
fuel supply and of the coke delivery or withdrawal.
The accompanying drawings Figs. 1 2 and 3 represent a gas producer constructed
in accordance with my invention. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the producer parallel to

page_text: the axes of the supply and delivery drums. Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles
and Fig. 3 a vertical section parallel to the same axes. In these a is the producer,
preferably cylindrical over the middle portion and approximately conical towards the
top and bottom. b is the sheet iron casing of the same. is the supply hopper
preferably rectangular in horizontal section, the lower end of which fits a rectangular
opening in the top of the producer. d is the feed or supply drum which may be
corrugated, or as shewn in Fig. 2 provided with longitudinal recesses i, into which
the fuel drops; and which as the drum revolves deliver the fuel in definitely regulated
quantity to the producer. Instead of merely touching, the sides of the hopper c may
be made to encircle or fit the drum d over part of its circumference.
ee are the axles
of this drum, which as the drum, are made hollow, so that a stream of water can be
passed through the same to keep them cool or to heat the water. f is the hollow
revolving delivery drum for withdrawing the coke (and ashes or clinker) from the
producer and delivering the same into the tank or cistern g. hh are two side plates,
between which and the drum f the coke is crushed. jjare the axes of the drum /
one or both of which (1) are hollow for the admission of air or steam, and both are
supported in bearings k, which by means of the hanging rods and the nuts m m are
carried in an adjustable manner from the lugs n n. oo are holes through the shell of
the hollow delivery drum for the purpose of admitting air (or steam) to the pro-
ducer. p is the curtain opposite the sloping or inclined end g of the cistern or
tank, and which dipping below the surface of the water prevents any access of air to
the interior of the cistern or tank g. g is the manhole or the hand feed supply
opening. is a ball safety valve for the gases. ss are manholes for entering the
producer when repairs are required. ttare pillars or standards for supporting the
bottom plates of the producer. u is the outlet pipe for the gases. vis a pulley for
driving the delivery drum f.
The side plates h h may be differently shaped to those illustrated and arranged
to be moveable or adjustable, in which case the bearings for the axles j j¹ may be
made fixed.
The fuel is thrown into the hopper c which is preferably kept at least one half
full. From thence it is supplied in regular definite quantities as above described by
the supply drum d to the producer. The coke (or ashes or clinker) is similarly with-
drawn from the producer and at the same time crushed or broken up by the delivery
drumas it revolves between the side plates hh, and thereby thrown down into the
water in the tank or cistern g for the purpose of being quenched. It is afterwards
conveniently raked or withdrawn by hand or machinery from the tank or cistern g,
up the inclined or sloping side gl. The air requisite for the production of the
gas, or the steam for the production of the water gas is admitted through the
hollow axle into the interior of the drum f, and thence through the holes o into
the producer. The gas produced passes off through tho outlet pipe u. The delivery
drum as it revolves partly immersed in water is kept cool and is not therefore so
rapidly worn away, and the coke and clinker are also more readily broken up and
withdrawn.
My improvements in apparatus for the utilization of producer gas comprise an
atmospheric burner of special construction, and fire brick blocks to be used in the
internal flues of steam boilers heated with producer gas.
My improved atmospheric burner is shewn in longitudinal section in Fig. 4, whilst
Fig. 5 represents a cross section of the same along the line A. A Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7
are respectively side and end elevation of the same. The burner consists a central
passage for the hot producer gases, which is surrounded by an annular passage w of
suitable size for the necessary supply of air for the proper combustion of the gases.
The central gas passage and the annular air passage ic unite at a to form a single
annular mixing or combustion passage, where the gases are ignited and combustion
commences. Shortly before the termination of the dividing wall between the two
passages and c, I provide stays or bridges y to connect and support the outside and
the dividing wall, and also similar stays or bridges to support the core of the mixing
or combustion annulas a. This arrangement of gas burner on the one band prevents
2

page_text: the gas passage becoming too hot and on the other hand warms the air supply prior
to combustion facilitating thereby the proper combustion of the gases.
This improved form of burner is specially suited for use in steam boilers heated
with producer gas, and is placed at or within the entrance to the inner flues of steam
boilers. As the gas and air are not mixed immediately on leaving the burner, but
enter the flue in two concentric streams, the combustion takes place gradually, flame
be produced along the greater length of the flues; instead of almost complete com-
bustion with too intense a heat at the beginning of the flue. To prevent the combustion
however being too long delayed, and to absorb the intense heat and give it out more
uniformly to the sides of the flues along their length, and to ensure the more perfect
combustion of the whole of the gases, I introduce into the internal boiler flues at
various intervals along their length fire brick blocks of such shapes shewn in Figs. 8, 9
and 10, as will break up the air, gas, and incandescent gas currents and cause the
heated gases and flame in all parts of the flues to be constantly moved towards and
in contact with the sides of the flues for more readily heating the same and the better
utilization of the heat of the gases. These fire brick blocks are therefore best formed
with openings so arranged, that whilst not unduly restricting the passage of the current
through the centre of the flue, they give readior passage to the current along and in
contact with the sides of the flues. In order the more effectually to break up and mix
the gases, I prefer to arrange successive blocks so that the openings of the one break
line with the solid parts of the other, and vice versa. As more of the gas becomes con-
sumed, it becomes more difficult to complete the combustion of the remaining
unconsumed gas, especially as the far end of the flues is not so hot as near the
commencement. I therefore propose to use one or two burners, so that the current
in the internal flues may be reversed at intervals, in order that the hottest part of the
gases may be made to meet the least hot of the fire brick blocks, and the more
difficulty combustible part of the gaseous current may be made to impinge on the
hotter portions of the fire brick blocks, thereby promoting the more efficient combustion
of the gases.
Although my invention has been above described with reference to the manufacture
of producer gas, I propose and claim its application to the manufacture of lighting
gas.
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 :-
1° The improved process in the manufacture of producer or lighting gas, which
consists in the combination of the following steps or operations viz.-feeding in the
fuel in a constant and regulated supply, and withdrawing in a similar constant
regulated and connected manner the coke (or ashes and clinker produced), with the
simultaneous crushing or breaking up of these latter, with or without the automatic
delivery of the same into a cistern of water substantially as set forth.
2° As a step in the manufacture of producer or lighting gas the simultaneous
withdrawal and crushing of the coke and ashes or clinker substantially as set forth.
3° The combination with a producer.or apparatus for the manufacture of gas, of
a curtained off or water sealed tank to which the coke is delivered and from which
it can be removed without access of air substantially as set forth.
4° In apparatus or producers for the manufacture of gas, the combination of a
corrugated or recessed feed or supply drum with and geared to a corrugated coke or
clinker delivery drum stantantially as set forth.
5° In apparatus or producers for the manufacture of gas, the combination of a
coke or clinker delivery drum, (preferably revolving partly immersed in water), with
and in a curtained off or water sealed cistern substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
6 In apparatus or producers for the manufacture of gas, the use of a hollow
corrugated or recessed feed or supply drum traversed internally by a current of water
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 7° In apparatus or producers for the manufacture of gas, the use of a corrugated
druin revolving between correspondingly toothed side plates, having either the axes
of the drum or the position of the side plates adjustable for withdrawing and
crushing the coke or clinker, and with or without hollow axle and interior provided
with holes, generally and substantially as herein set forth.
8 The improved gas apparatus or producer constructed in accordance with one or
more of the above claims substantially as heroin set forth and illustrated.
9° The use of an atmospheric burner substantially of the construction herein set
forth and illustrated for heating steam boilers with producer gas.
10° The use in the internal flues of steam boilers heated by gas of fire brick
blocks substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, A.R.S.M., Wh. Sc.,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, A.R.S.M., Wh. Sc.,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.