Improvements in or relating to Gas Producers.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gas Producers.
I, JOHN DYMOND, of 112, High Street, Crediton, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In gas producers in which air is induced to flow into the fuel within the gas
producer chamber by means of one or more jets of steam, the air is usually brought
whilst at the temperature for the time being of the surrounding atmosphere into
direct contact with the steam a portion of which is thereby condensed with the
result that the efficiency of the steam is reduced, the gas produced is not of
uniformly good quality, and frequent stoppage with consequent loss of time in
the generator of the gas takes place.
Now according to this invention in order to obviate the foregoing disadvantages
I heat the air before it comes into contact with the inducing steam whereby con-
densation thereof is prevented and gas of a more uniform quality obtained. The
air may be heated for the purpose mentioned in various ways.
According to one arrangement the gas produced is provided with a jacket or
casing in such a way as to leave between the two an annular or other shaped air
chamber or space that is in communication through an opening that preferably
surrounds the gas outlet pipe with the external atmosphere and in which is
located the steam ejector nozzle or nozzles and air induction pipe or pipes for
conveying the mixed current or currents of air and steam to the interior of the
gas producer.
The arrangement is such that when the gas producer is in opera-
tion and the steam jet or jets is or are in action air will be drawn through the air
inlet from the external atmosphere and caused to flow in contact with the heated
producer chamber before reaching the steam nozzle with the result that the air
will be supplied to the issuing steam in a heated and dried state, the mixed jet
of air and steam then passing through the air induction pipe or pipes to the
interior of the gas producer. The air chamber or space may be provided with
baffles or divisions to increase the distance through which the air must flow from
the inlet before reaching the steam nozzle or nozzles.
The gas producer chamber may be provided externally with a closely fitting
metal covering and the surrounding jacket or casing may also be of metal.
My invention may be applied in connection with gas producers of various con-
structions and whether provided with a water bottom or solid bottom.
Dated this 25th day of September 1897.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Gas Producers.
:
I, JOHN DYMOND, of 112, High Street, Crediton, in the County of Devon,
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:.
In gas producers in which air is induced to flow into the fuel within the gas
producer chamber by means of one or more jets of steam, the air is usually brought
whilst at the temperature, for the time being, of the surrounding atmosphere, into
direct contact with the steam a portion of which is thereby condensed with the
result that the efficiency of the steam is reduced, the gas produced is not of
uniformly good quality, and frequent stoppage with consequent loss of time in
the generation of the gas takes place.
Now according to this invention in order to obviate the foregoing disadvantages
I heat the air before it comes into contact with the inducing steam whereby con-
densation thereof is prevented and gas of a more uniform quality obtained. The
air may be heated for the purpose mentioned in various ways.
My invention may be applied in connection with gas producers of various con-
structions and whether provided with a water bottom or solid bottom.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying illustrative drawings are vertical sections
taken in planes at right angles to one another, and Fig. 3 a horizontal section
on the line of Fig. 2, showing one construction of gas producer according to
this invention. Figs. 4 and 5 show details. Fig. 6 shows a modified form of
producer chamber.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the gas generating chamber 1,
which may be of any suitable construction, is provided with a jacket or casing 2
so arranged as to leave between it and the wall of the chamber, an annular, or
it may be other shaped, air chamber or space 3 that is in communication through
an opening 4, that preferably surrounds the gas outlet pipe 5, with the external
atmosphere, and in which space is located the steam ejector nozzle G and the air
induction pipe 7 for conveying the mixed current of air and steam to the interior
of the gas generating chamber 1. Instead of a single nozzle G and air induction
pipe 7, there may be two or more of such nozzles and pipes. As will be seen, the
arrangement is such that when the gas producer is in operation and the steam jet
or jets is or are in action, air will be drawn through the air inlet 5 from the
external atmosphere and caused to flow around the air chamber or space 3 in
contact with the heated wall of the gas generator chamber 1 before reaching the
steam nozzle 6 with the result that the air will be supplied to the issuing steam
in a heated and dried state, the mixed jet of air and steam then passing through
the air induction pipe 7 to the interior of the gas generator chamber.
The gas producer chamber may be provided externally with a closely fitting
metal covering 9 and the surrounding jacket or casing 2 may also be of metal.
The air chamber or space 3 may be provided with vertical baffles or divisions 8
arranged to form vertical passages that are connected alternately at top and
bottom so as to increase the distance through which the air must flow from the
inlet 4 before reaching the steam nozzle (or nozzles). 8° is a vertical baffle
plate or division that extends from top to bottom of the air chamber or space 3
at the place shown and serves to ensure that all the air passing from the air
inlet. to the part 3 of the air chamber or space in which the steam nozzle G
and air induction pipe 7 are located shall take the longest course indicated by
In this way I
the, arrows a and thus be raised considerably in temperature.
have been able to raise the temperature to 240° Fah. and higher at which

page_text: temperature the gas producer has worked with satisfactory results. It is to be
understood however that the temperature may vary considerably from that
mentioned.
The steam supplied to the injector nozzle is preferably led through a super-
heater formed as a coil of tubing 10 arranged within the hot gas outlet 5, the said
steam being thence led through a pipe 10 located within the annular space 3
in order to prevent it from being exposed to the cooling action of the external air
after being superheated.
For the purpose of controlling at will the quantity of gas to be generated,
the steam injector 6 is provided with a hand regulator which comprises a screwed
spindle 6 having a cone-shaped end that may be ground to fit the opening in the
steam injector nozzle. The spindle 6ª passes through a stuffing box G³ and is
provided with a hand-wheel 6°.
For the purpose of preventing steam from remaining under the firebrick base
of the generator and being there condensed, the outlet end 7" of the induction
pipe 7 is led into a space 11 that is of cone-shape and has its smaller end at the
top and of a size corresponding approximately to that of the bottom of the gas
generating chamber.
By my invention I am able to produce gas of such a good quality that after
being scrubbed and purified it can advantageously be used without being washed
and without being enriched for incandescent gas lighting. With a gas producer
having internally a height of about five feet and a diameter of about three feet.
I have obtained very satisfactory results when using steam at a pressure of
about forty pounds to the square inch and air supplied to the steam nozzle at a
temperature of 240° Fahrenheit and above, but it is to be understood that these
data are given merely by way of example as equally good or even better results
may be obtained from other sizes or proportions. Furthermore my invention
enables gas producers to be worked efficiently whatever may be the condition of
the external atmosphere, which is not the case with producers as ordinary con-
structed and worked.
In order
In the example shown the gas producer is provided with fire bars 12.
to free such fire bars from ash and clinker from the outside without stopping the
gas producing process, a cleaning apparatus may be provided comprising a series
of arms 13 carried by a rod 13 the ends of which are fixed to eccentric discs 13b
having trunnions 13 rotatably mounted in brackets 14 on opposite sides of the
generator, one or each of said trunnions being provided at the outer end or ands
with a lever 15. The arrangement is such that on a turning movement being
given to the said shaft by means of its lever 15, the arms 13" will be raised so as
to enter between the firebars 12 and free them from ash and clinker. Figs. 4
and 5 show respectively one of the arms and one of the eccentrics separately and
to a larger scale. By mounting the cleaners eccentrically in this manner, they
may be given a greater lift in cleaning the bars, and when not required for use
they can be swung well out of the way to one side of the central steam space 11.
By my invention however, much less clinker than usual is formed.
At a convenient part of the gas outlet pipe 5 there may be provided a double
cone valve 16 for controlling the escape of gas from the gas generator. This
valve with its seats 16", 16" is so arranged that when it is in the central position
shown, it closes the gas outlet: when it is raised into contact with
its seat 16° it allows gas to escape from
the generator through the
down
when moved
onto the lower
pipe 17
a gas holder; and
seating 16 it closes the gas in the holder and allows that from the generator to
blow through the waste pipe 18 into the outer air or other desired place. 19 is
a clearing door for gaining access to the outlet pipe 5, and 20 is a stuffing box
through which the valve spindle 21 passes.
to
A suitable hopper 22 enables fuel to be supplied to the producer chamber, the
lower end of such hopper being normally closed by a lift valve 23 that can be

page_text: operated by a lever 24 connected thereto by a link 23*.
at the top by a cover 25.
The hopper is closed
The valve end 23b enables the operator to ascertain when the coal in the
generator is at the right height.
In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the hopper 22 is arranged at one side of
the producer chamber, the fuel being fed therefrom through an inclined passage to
the producer chamber. An opening 26 is provided to give access for cleaning
the said opening being normally closed by a suitable ground-faced valve or
cover 27 that is securely bolted to the top plate of the generator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A gas producer of the kind herein referred to, wherein air is heated by heat
from the producer and supplied in a heated state to the jet or jets of inducing
steam whereby condensation of the latter is prevented and gas of a more uniform
quality is obtained, as set forth.
2. A gas producer of the kind herein referred to provided with a jacket or
casing arranged to form in conjunction with the wall of the producer a chamber
or space that is in communication through a suitable opening with the external
atmosphere and in which is located one or more steam ejector nozzles and one or
more air induction pipes for conveying a mixed current or currents of air and
steam to the interior of the gas producer, the arrangement being such that when
the gas producer is in operation and the steam jet or jets is or are in action, air
will be drawn through the air inlet from the external atmosphere and caused to
flow in contact with the heated producer chamber whereby it will become heated
before reaching the steam nozzle or nozzles, substantially as herein described for
the purpose specified.
3. The combination with a gas producer, of a surrounding jacket or casing
having an inlet for air and one or more steam nozzles with steam supply pipe or
pipes and air induction pipe or pipes the whole constructed, arranged and oper-
ating as herein before described with reference to and, shown in the drawings
annexed for the purposes specified.
041
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