Improvements in the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
I, JOHN FRANKLIN ALLEN, of 82-84 Nassau Street, New York, County and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ILLUMINATING Gas," 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 a process for the manufacture of illuminating gas by
the destructive distillation of coal, oil or other heavy hydro-carbons and to the
apparatus employed in such process.
Its object is to secure an increased quantity of etheline gas, or the homologues
thereof and lean gas, such as light carburated hydrogen, which latter gas will also
be produced in much greater quantities.
I accomplish this object by the continuous circulation through carbonaceous
material, of the crude gas distilled therefrom, the product, in the process of
circulation being highly heated in a regenerated fire and the circulation continued
until the watery and tarry vapors in the crude gas are decomposed and thereby
converted into a permanent gas and the carbonic acid produced in distillation, is
converted into carbonic oxide, a combustible gas; and further the necessary heat
is conveyed from the fires to carry on the distillation. This is accomplished by
a distillation chamber or cupola and one or more regenerated fires, preferably two,
connected therewith by upper and lower passages provided with valves, so that
at will the line of circulation through the distillation chamber may be alternated
from one regenerating chamber to the other or may pass through both for a part of
the time.
By this means the products of destructive distillation are brought into continual
contact with fires and heated surfaces of incandescent carbon, one of the chamber
fires being heated while the other by passing off the gas through it, is being lowered
in temperature.
Thus by changing the circulation from time to time from one fire chamber to
the other, the increased heat of the crude gas is continually maintained during the
process of distillation. I am thus enabled to de-carbonize the heavy hydro-carbon
vapors from the tars from coal or oil by oxidizing a portion of their carbon by
means of the oxide of hydrogen natural to them or added thereto and by this
means to produce a portion of hydrogen to hydrogenize the heavy hydro-carbon
vapors which is equivalent to decarbonizing them, thereby producing etheline or its
homologues, which only differ in structure or density, all of them possessing the
chemical equivalents, C,N,H,2,N.
The invention therefore principally consists of the forced circulation of the
products of destructive distillation through regenerative fires, into and through the
primary or distillation cupola or chamber and maintaining such circulation without
the admission of air in said distillation chamber and regenerating chamber or
chambers containing regenerated fires, whereby the heat is conveyed to carry on
the distillation in the primary chamber and the watery and tarry clements of the
crude gas are decomposed and converted into a permanent gas and the resulting
coke greatly improved by reason of being coked in mass, instead of in small retorts.
It further consists in the process of heating the watery and tarry vapors in the
manufacture of gas for illuminating and other purposes by the forced circulation of
such vapors through a fire of carbonaceous material previously regenerated to
an incandescent state whereby such vapors are destructively redistilled and
decomposed.
It also consists in the various details of the apparatus which are hereinafter
described.

page_text: In the drawing:
Fig. 1 is an elevation, in perspective, of my improved apparatus, showing the
distillation chamber and the two regeneration chambers connected therewith.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section drawn through line a, a, of Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 is a plan. view in section at different heights..
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the bottom of the distillation chamber.
-
A, is the distillation chamber or cupola supported on pillars 12, and provided.
with tunnel head H, through which the coal is fed to the cupola and tuyers 14;
through which the heated gases are passed from out of the regeneration chambers B
and C. The belt of tuyers is surrounded by annular space 3, this space being
connected by a valved passage or passages 15, with the annular spaces around the
regenerating furnace Bi
The tunnel head is opened or closed by means of the bell valve H', and when
the coal is fed to the cupola its proper distribution therein is secured by the
deflecting surface of the bell shaped valve. M, is the discharge pipe which carries
the excess of permanent gas to the hydraulic main and purifiers, the pipe being"
always open but under a seal of water in equilibrium with the atmosphere as is
practiced in the ordinary way of making gas.
That portion of the chamber below the enlarged part A (which surrounds the
annular space and tuyers leading therefrom) is preferably suspended from the cupola,
as best shown in Fig. 2.
It is surrounded by a shell a", thus forming the annular air space 16 around the
base of the cupola.
Cold air is admitted into this annular space through opening 8, cooling the coke
within the chamber and also utilizing the heat thereof on its way to the furnaces of.
the regenerating fire chambers B and C.
D, is a tub or barrow, having handles D', and wheels D", which seals, when in
position, opening at the base of the cupola. This barrow is intended to convey
away by means of the track E, the coke which is being formed in the cupola. It
is placed and held in position by the ram F, fitting in a recess beneath the barrow.
The water which exerts the required hydraulic pressure to elevate the barrow being
admitted through the valve F, from a small tank placed at a proper height to
develope the force, the ram is lifted by this means carrying the empty barrow into
position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position the valve F, is closed and an
increased pressure is put upon the ram by means of valve F", sufficient to carry the
load and seal the base of the cupola:
When the barrow is to be removed the valve F", is closed and the valve F¹;
opened. The weight of the coke and the barrow causes a back action on the
column of water and forces it back into the tank. When the barrow is lowered the
valve F, is closed.
The barrow is run off on the rails and an empty one is immediately lifted into
position by opening valve F. In order to break out from the base of the cupola a
barrow load of coke and at the same time support the column of carbonaceous
material above it, the radial spurs G are provided. These spurs act as wedges to
the tenaceous body of coke which they enter and break off the coke just above
the line of the upper edge of the barrow.
The spurs are inserted and withdrawn by means of wheels G', having a threaded
opening at the center, engaging with threaded portion of the spurs G, the wheel
acting as a set screw upon said spurs.
The regenerating chambers B and C, are provided with furnaces as shown
by B, in Fig. 2. These furnaces are surrounded by annular space 2, from which
leads the belt of tuyers 17, through which the air, admitted through opening 8,
from the annular space 16, passage 13 and annular space 2, is fed to the fire within
the furnace.
This belt of tuyers extends from the bottom of the furnace to nearly the height
of the bed of fuel within it.
The purpose of this construction is to promote through an equal distribution of.

page_text: the air when forced into the body of the fuel, a more perfect and more rapid com-
bustion than would otherwise be obtained is so deep a fire.
By this means I prevent the formation of carbonic oxide gas when the fires are
being regenerated, which if allowed to be formed would rob the furnace of heat in
volatilizing the extra carbon, and consequently secure economy in the utilization of
heat elements upon the fuel and when the currents of hot gases are blown upwards
through the fire brick construction to heat the same above the furnace, and
until the proper temperature is secured, out through opening I, into the
atmosphere.
The furnace is fed through opening B, a movable cap operated by a lever
covering said opening. The two regenerated fires are connected with the
distillation chambers by means of the T-shaped pipe O, connected with the
blower K.
Each arm of the T, is provided with a valve, so that the line of circulation
continually maintained in the distillation chamber may be caused to alternate at will
from one of the regenerating chambers to the other.
Similar valves are provided in the openings 15, which connect the annular
spaces 2, 3, so that a complete circuit in the movement of the heated gases can be
secured during the process of destructive distillation.
P, is the elevated track along which the coal bucket P', containing material for the
distillation chamber is carried by means of wheel pulley 4, pulleys 5, 7 and lifting
rope 6. The curved lower end P, of the track arrests the inclined movements of
the wheel pulley and thus permits the empty bucket when it reaches this point to
descend for a new load.
'
The manner of operating my improved apparatus is as follows:
The bottom of the distillation chamber A, is closed by the barrow, D, the top
edge of which impinges against a ring of asbestos Z placed in a recess or shoulder
at the lowest portion of such chamber.
The base of the chamber is filled with
large coke to a line just above the belt of tuyers. On this coke and filling the
cupola nearly to the base of the tunnel head, is placed the coal which is to be
destructively distilled.
The valve H, is then closed. One of the regenerating fire chambers, for
example chamber B, being filled with anthracite coal or other carbonaceous
fuel is then fired, the belt of tuyers surrounding it admitting the forced draft
of air to the body of the fuel in the furnace. The cap of the furnace is
to be removed when the fire is to be started, the valve in upper passage O,
leading to the distillation chamber through blower K, and passage N, and the valve
on lower passage 15, connecting the annular spaces 2, 3, being closed, while this
blowing up or heating of the fire brick flues is continued. When the fire and fire
brick above it, have reached the proper temperature, the cap is placed in position,
the valves in the upper and lower passages opened, the blower K, started, and the
contained atmosphere of the distillation chamber is forced down through the flues
and through the furnace fire of the regenerating chamber passing through the
tuyers 17, into annular space 2, through the passage 15, into annular space 3
and through the tuyers leading from said space into the coal or other carbonaceous
material within the distillation chamber. Passing up through. the coal, the
crude gas is again forced down through the regenerating chamber and fire as
above, and the circulation continued until a portion of the heat taken up by the
crude gas in the regenerating chamber is transferred to the distillation chamber.
The watery and tarry vapors in the crude gas in their passage through the
regenerated chamber and fire by exposure to the carbon at the high temperature
therein are decomposed and converted into permanent gas.
While this rapid circulation of the products of destruct ive distillation is going
on, the other regenerating chamber C, is being regenerated or fired to the proper
degree of heat.
When this has been obtained the line of circulation is changed by opening the
valves in the upper and lower passages which connect with the distillation chamber

page_text: :
and the valves leading to chamber B, are closed, the temperature in this chamber
having been reduced by the continuous contact of the dense hydro-carbon vapors
with its fire and heated surfaces.
Thus the process is continued, alternating from one regenerating chamber to
another, the excess of gas produced passing off through the discharge pipe--M.
As the coal within the distillation chamber is coked a new supply is fed through
the tunnel head, the coke at the base of the cupola being removed in the barrow D,
as before described.
In making oil and water gas by this process, all that is necessary to do is to fill the
distillation chamber with coke instead of coal. The regenerating chambers are
heated as hereinbefore described.
Oil, preferably in the form of spray, is admitted through the pipe V, above the
line of the coke in the distillation chamber. Steam injected into the regenerating
chamber through opening 19, becomes superheated and decomposed as it is forced by
the action of the blower down through the highly heated flues and furnace fire and
mingling with the hydro-carbon vapors of the oil passes through the tuyers up
through the body of coke, communicating portions of its heat thereto, the
circulation of the highly heated vapors going on continuously the same as if the
destructive distillation of coal was being carried on.
:
One of the essential features which distinguish my process from others hitherto..
used is that the necessary heat for the destructive distillation of the carbonaceous
material is created in and transferred from another chamber and is not generated in
the distillation.
By this means I can avoid the admission of atmospheric air into the distillation
chamber, prevent combustion therein and by the transferance of the crude gas at a
high temperature and without air, into the body of the material giving out the
products of distillation and its circulation through the heated fire decompose the
watery and tarry vapors, convert them into permanent gas and thus increase not
only the quantity, but the quality of the illuminating gas produced.
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 process of making gas for illuminating and other purposes, consisting of
the forced circulation of the products of the destructive distillation from a primary,
chamber through a fire previously regenerated and back into and through the
primary chamber, whereby the watery and tarry vapors are destructively redistilled
and the necessary heat conveyed to continue the destructive distillation in. the
primary chamber, substantially as specified.
2. The process of making gas from bituminous coal or oil for illuminating and
other purposes by forcing the watery and tarry vapors produced in the distillation
thereof in the primary chamber through a fire of carbonaceous material previously
regenerated to an incandescent state whereby such vapors are destructively
redistilled and decomposed, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the open base of a coke making cupola, of a removable..
bottom in the form of a tub or barrow, fitted to and movable to and from the
mouth or opening in the base of the cupola in a direct vertical direction, and means
substantially as described by which the bottom is brought into and out of connection
with the base of the cupola, whereby the coke as it is produced is received. in the
barrow and in it is removed from time to time as required, substantially as
specified.
4. The combination with the open base of a cupola, of a removable bottom in the
form of a tub or barrow fitted to and movable to and from the mouth or opening in
the base of the cupola in a direct vertical direction, means substantially as described,
and a ring of asbestos placed in a recess in the base of the cupola and forming a
fixed seal for the joint between it and the top edge of the removable barrow,
substantially as specified.

page_text: 5. The combination with a distillation chamber for holding coal or other
carbonaceous material to be destructively distilled and provided with a belt of
tuyers as shown, of one or more regenerating chambers connected with said
distillation chamber by upper and lower passages provided with valves, and
regenerating chamber or chambers having an annular space surrounding the
furnace thereof and a belt of tuyers.opening from said annular space into the
furnace whereby combustion is promoted within said furnace by the equal distribu-
tion of air through said tuyer into the body of the fuel therein as shown and
described; a blower located in the line of circulation in the upper connnecting
passages and means for driving said blower and maintaining the circulation of the
crude gas generated through said distillation chamber, and the regenerating chamber
or chambers, connected therewith, substantially as specified.
6. The combination with the distillation chamber A, having annular spaces 3
and 16, air supply pipe 8, and tuyers 14, of regenerating chamber B, having cap L,
feed opening B, furnace B, annular space 2, tuyers 17, said chamber being "
connected with the distillation chamber by upper passages N, O, and lower
passages 15, the two latter provided with valves and with the air space 16 by
passage 13; blower K, and means for driving said blower, whereby the circulation
of the products of destructive distillation may be maintained through one or both
chambers, and the watery and tarry vapors contained in said products decomposed
by the increased temperature imparted thereto, substantially as specified.
7. The combination with a cupola of an outer shell a", provided with opening 8,
forming an annular air space around the base of said cupola; of connecting
passage 13, regenerating chamber B, having annular space 2, and furnace Bu
provided with tuyers 17, substantially as specified.
Dated this 9th day of June 1891
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.