Improvements relating to the Preparation of Peat for Fuel, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1997
Improvements relating to the Preparation of Peat for Fuel, and to
Apparatus therefor. .
I, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS,, M.D., of 130 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method or process and apparatus for the
treatment of peat to prepare the same for use as fuel.
In the preparation of peat by the drying and compression of the same as
heretofore practised, great difficulty is experienced, by reason of the spongy naturė
of the pent, in properly compressing the same and expelling all the water there
from. This difficulty is due to a great extent to the presence of air in the mass of
peat under treatment, which air cannot be completely expelled by the pressuré,
and, after the pressure is removed, expands and thus increases, the bulk of the
compressed peat.
Now en important feature of my present invention consists in drawing or
exhausting from, the mass of peat the air contained therein, whilst the mass is
being subjected to heavy pressure. I can treat the peat in this manner at any
stage in the drying thereof. I prefer, however, to subject it to such treatment
after it has been partially dried and compressed.
In preparing peat for fuel by my improved process in which the peat is subjected
to compression in vacuo as above mentioned, I find it advantageous to proceed as
followe, viz. -The peat from the bog is first pressed between rollers or in any other.
convenient manner and thus deprived of the greater portion of the water which it.
containe. The partially dried peat is then separated or disintegrated to remove
from it any. roots or other deleterious substances,, which would interfere with the
subsequent compression of the mass. After being again pressed between rollers or
ctherwise, it is subjected to heat, and pressure, by forcing through it superheated
steam or heated air under pressure. After this treatment, the peat is subjected to
a high degree of compression in a closed chamber from which the air is exhausted,
which chamber is kept beated to a suitable temperature. The compressed peat is
forced from this chamber through a small aperture and then further compressed, if
desired, and cut into pieces of any desired size.
The machinery or apparatus which I prefer to use in carrying on my improved
process, comprises a drying chamber, preferably of cylindrical form, which is
provided with a jacket for heating it by means of steam or other heating medium,
and in which is arranged a rotating screw-conveyor, whereby the peat introduced
through a hopper at one end of the said chamber, is fed along the same. The
blade of this conveyor is formed or fixed, ou a tubular shaft which extends through
a stuffing-box in one end. of the chamber, and which is suitably perforated within
the said chamber. Through the said tubular shaft superheated steam or heated
compressed air is to be forced so that it will, escape through the perforations into
the chamber and will effectually dry the peat fed along the same by the screw-
conveyor. Pipes are provided at suitable intervals for drawing off by means of an
exhaust fan or the like the steam or air after it has taken up moisture from the
peat. The discharge-eud of this drying chamber is made conical or taper and is

page_text: connected with another chamber from which the air is exhausted and in which the
peat is further subjected to a high degree of compression.
The volatile bye-products of my process, such as naphtha and ammonia, drawn
off by the exhaust-fan or the like, I sometimes collect and use in any desired
I find it advantageous to condense the said volatile products in separate
condensers under different pressures and temperatures. I can, however, condense
them all in one condenser and afterwards separate them by re-distillation.
By constructing the drying apparatus in the manner above mentioned, I am
enabled to very efficiently regulate the heat applied to the peat and thus
obviate the linbility to overheating thereof and consequent diminution of its
calorific value.
1 find it advantageous to connect the said drying chamber with another chamber
in which there is a screw-conveyor and which is connected with a press or a kind
of pug-mill. The interior of this press is conical or taper, and at the smuller end
thereof is a discharge-aperture of small diameter. A taper screw is mounted on a
shaft in the said press and the said shaft is provided with a strong thrust-bearing
80 that the peat can be compressed to a very high degree by the said screw and
can he forced thereby out of the small discharge-aperture. The last named
chamber and the press or pug-mill I connect with a suitable exhaust-fan or the liko
for the purpose of creating a vacuum or partial vacuum in the said chamber and
press, so as to withdraw the air contained in the mass of peat and thus enable it
to be more highly compressed than it otherwise could be.
I can, by these means, produce compressed peat of greater specific gravity and
capable of yielding more heat in proportion to its bulk than the peat compressed
by the methods hitherto adopted.
The said chamber and the press are preferably provided with jackets for keeping
the sume heated to a suitable temperature. As the compressed peat is forced out
of the press or pug-mill, it is received between two rollers, by which it is further
compressed and is cut into pieces of suitable length and of approximately semi-
circular form or of other suitable form in transverse section, which pieces fall from
between the rollers into a suitable receptacle and are ready for use. I prefer to
connect the space between the discharge-aperture of the press or pug-inill' and the
Faid rollers with the exhaust-fan or the like so as to draw from the said space any
air that may be forced into it by the action of the said rollers, or so as to form a
vacuum or partial vacuum in the said space, if desired.
Dated the 21st day of Auril 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Preparation of Peat for Fuel, and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, CHARLES DUNSFORD JENKINS, M.D., of 130 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusette, United States of America, 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 an improved method or process and apparatus for the
treatment of peat to prepare the same for use as fuel.
In the preparation of peat by the drying and compression of the same as hereto-
forė practised, preat difficulty is experienced, by reason of the spongy nature of

page_text: the peat, in properly compressing the same and expelling all the water therefrom.
This difficulty is due to a great extent to the presence of air in the mass of peat
under treatment, which air cannot be completely expelled by the pressure, and, after
the pressure is removed, expands and thus increases the bulk of the compressed
peat.
Now an important feature of my present invention consists in drawing or
exhausting from the mass of peat the air contained therein, and at the same time
subjecting the mass to heavy pressure, or in other words, subjecting the peat to a
high degree of compression in a vacuum or partial vacuum, 1 cau treat the peat in
this manner at any stage in the drying thereof. I prefer, however, to subject it to
such treatment after it has been partially dried and compressed.
In preparing peat for fuel by my improved process in which the peat is subjected
to compression in vacuo as above mentioned, I find it advantageous to proceed as
follows, riz.-The peat from the bog is first pressed between rollers or in any
other convenient manner and thus deprived of the greater portion of the water
which it contains. The partially dried peat is then separated or disintegrated to
remove from it any roots or other deloterious substances, which would interfere
with the subsequent compression of the mass. After being again pressed between
rollers or otherwise, and again separated or disintegrated, it is subjected to heat
and pressure by forcing through it superheated steam or heated air or other
suitable drying mediumn under pressure. After this treatment, the peat is subjected
to a high degree of compression in a closed chamber from which the air is exhausted,
which chamber is kept heated to a suitable temperature. The compressed peat is
forced from this chamber through a small aperture and then further compressed, if
desired, and cut into pieces of any convenient size and shape.
My improved apparatus is constructed substantially as hereinafter described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, of one part of my
improved apparatus, in which the peat is subjected to heat and dried while being
forced through the same.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, drawn to an enlarged
scale, and
Figure 3 an end elevation, partly in transverse section on the line a, z, Figure 2,
showing another part of my improved apparatus, in which the peat is subjected to
compression while the air is exhausted therefrom.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of my peat-press, and
Figure 5 is a diagram showing an apparatus in which I employ a series of drying
chambers connected with each other and with the press.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figure 1, A is the drying chamber, which is shown of cylindrical
form, and is provided with a jacket B for heating it by means of steam, heated air
or other heating inedium, the said heating medium entering the jacket through an
inlet-pipe a and being discharged through the outlet-pipe b. Within the chamber A
is arranged a screw-conveyor C which is mounted in bearings C', C' and is driven
by means of spur-gearing; this conveyor serves to feed along the chamber A, the
separated or disintegrated pent which is introduced into the same through a hopper D
at one end of the said chamber. The said hopper preferably has arranged therein
suitable disintegrating rollers (not shown in the drawing) to ensure the efficient
separation of the fibres of the peat before the latter is fed into the drying chamber A.
The shaft C' of the conveyor C extends through a stuffing-box A' in one end of
the chamber A. The said shaft is made tubular aud the part thereof within the
chamber A is provided with perforations C; the outer end of the said shaft is
connected, by means of a sliding coupling or union E', to a pipe E for the supply
of a suitable heating medium, preferably dry or superheated steam or heated
compressed air. This steam or air will be forced through the perforations C* into
the chamber A and will effectually dry the peat fed along the same by means of
the screw-conveyor C. The chamber A is provided at intervals with pipes

page_text: through which the steam or air is drawn off together with the volatile products by
means of an exhaust fan G or similar apparatus, after it has taken up moisture from
the peat. The discharge-end A of the drying chamber is shown conical or taper,
and is, if desired, connected directly with a press or a kind of pug-mill such as in
shown in Figures 2 and 3, from which the air is exhausted and in which the peat
is subjected to a high degree of compression.
It is preferable, however, to pass the peat through a series of two or more
drying chambers connected as hereinafter described, before its introduction into the
press.
By constructing the drying apparatus in the manner above mentioned, I am
enabled to very efficiently regulate the heat applied to the peat and thus obviate
the liability to overheating thereof and consequent diminution of its calorific
value.
The volatile bye-products of my process, such as naphtha and ammonia, drawn off
by the exhaust-fan G or by other suitable means, I sometimes collect and use in
any desired manner. For this purpose I find it advantageons to condense the said
volatile products in separate condensers under different pressures and temperatures.
I can, however, condense thom all in one condenser and afterwards separate them
by re-distillation.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, in which I have shown one form of my improved
press or pug-mill, H is the chamber of the press, the interior of which is conical
or taper; at the smaller end of the said chamber is a discharge-aperture H
of small diameter, the inlet-aperture H being arranged at the larger end, and
being connected with one or other of the said drying chambers. A taper screw J
in the said chamber is mounted on a shaft J provided with a strong thrust-
bearing J so that the peat can be compressed to a very high degree by the
screw J and can be forced thereby out of the small discharge-aperture H'.
The air is exhausted from the press H by the aforesaid exhaust-fan, so that a
vacuum or partial vacuum is created therein, and the air contained in the mass of
peat is withdrawn therefrom, thus enabling the peat to be more highly compressed
than it otherwise could be, and to have the moisture more efficiently, eliminated
from it. Moreover the peat when thus compressed in vacuo will not expand as
heretofore when the pressure is removed from it.
I cau, by these means, produce compressed peat of greater specific gravity and
capable of yielding more heat in proportion to its bulk than the peat compressed
by the methods hitherto adopted. The press is, if necessary, provided with a
jacket for keeping the same heated to a suitable temperature. In some cases,
however, the temperature of the press will be maintained at the desired degree by
the highly beated peat passing into and through it.
As the compressed peat is forced out of the press or pug-mill, it is received
between two pressing and cutting rollers K, K, by which it is further compressed
and is cut into pieces of suitable length and of approximately circular forin or of
other suitable form in transverse section, which pieces fall from between the rollers
iuto a suitable receptacle and are ready for use. The space between the discharge-
aperture H' of the press or pug-mill and the said rollers K, K' is closed in on both
sides by means of cheeks or guide-plates L and is connected with the exhaust-fan
or the like by means of pipes M, so that any air that may be forced or carried
into the said space by the aetion of the said rollers will be withdrawn therefrom
and thus a vacuum or partial vacuum will be maintained in the said space.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3, the conical screw J and the
rollers K, K' are driven from a common driving shaft N. This shaft N is provided
with a driving pulley N' und with a pinion N2, Figure 2, geared with a spur-
wheel P mounted on the gudgeon or axle K' of the roller K, the spur-wheel P
also driving the roller K by means of the spur-wheel Q mounted on the axle K
thereof. At the other end of the shaft N is mounted a bevel-wheel R eugaging
with a bevel-wheel S whereby motion is communicated to a counter-shaft T, from
which the screw-shaft J' is driven through the spur-gearing U, V, W.

page_text: Figure 4 shows another form or modification of my improved press or puz-mill,
in which the rollers K, K' and the screw J are driven independently of each other..
In this arrangement a driving shaft T is mounted in bearings beneath the
chamber H, and is provided with a driving pulley T and with a spur-wheel U
whereby motion is communicated to the shaft J' through the spur-wheel W. In.
this manner the relative speeds of the screw J and of the rollers K, K' can be
varied as may be found necessary. When the screw J and rollers K, K' are
separately driven, I can, if desired, uso two press-chambers and screws in
conjunction with a single pair of the said rollers and with one drying apparatus.
In Figure 5 I have shown by a diagram, the arrangement of apparatus which
I prefer to employ in the preparation of pont according to my said invention. In
this arrangement, three drying chambers A are arranged one above another in a
heating chamber or jacket B, and are connected by pipes or passages e. These
drying chambers are provided with sorew-conveyors similarly cutistructel an
'arranged to that shown in Figure 1, with the exceptions that, while the screws in
the uppermost and lowermost chambers feed the peat along in the same direction,
the screw in the middle chamber feeds it along in the reverse direction, and the
tubular shaft of the screw-couveror in the lowermost chamber, instead of being
perforated like those in the other two chambers, is preferably made without
'perforations, sufficient hent being imparted to the peat at this stage from the
heating medium in the jacket B and in the hollow shaft C. The lowermost drying
chamber is connected by a pipe or passage d with the chamber H of the press, aud
the three drying chambers are conuected by pipes F with an exhaust-fan G or its
equivalent. The said press may be placed below and at one side of the drying
'apparatus.
The peat fed from the hopper D into the uppermost drying chamber A will be
moved along by the screw therein, at the same time being heated and dried by the
superheated steam or air forced through the perforations in the shaft C. On
arriving at the end of this chamber, the peat will fall through the pipe or passage o
into the next chamber, wherein, as it is moved along in the reverse direction, it
will be further heated and dried. The peat from the second chamber will then
fall into the third chamber and will be moved along the latter and forced into the
chamber H of the press. The partially dried peat supplied to the apparatus will,
therefore, be thoroughly dried, compressed and cut into pieces of suitable size by
a continuous process.
It is obvious that the number of drying chambers in the said series can be varied,
if desired, and that the construction of my improved apparatus may be somewhat
further modified without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. The improved process of preparing peat for fuel, consisting in first
subjecting the mass of peat to the action of heated air or other drying medium
under pressure, and then compressing the said mass and at the same time drawing
or exhausting therefrom the air contained therein, substantially as herein before.
described.
Second. In the preparation of peat for fuel, subjecting the same to the action of
heated air or other suitable drying medium during its passage through a chamber,
and at the same time drawing from such chamber the air or vapour together with
the volatile by-products, substantially as herein before described.
Third. In the preparation of peat for fuel, subjectiug the same to heavy pressure.
while the air contained in the mass of peat is drawn or exhausted therefrom (with.
or without the application of heat), substantially as herein before described.
Fourth. The improved process of preparing peat for fuel, consisting in first
subjecting the mass of peat to the action of heated air or other suitable drying
medium and simultaneously drawing off or exhausting the air contained therein

page_text: together with the by-products, and then strongly compressing the mass in a vacuum
or partial vacuum, substantially as described.
Fifth. The preparation of peat for fuel by a process in which the peat is subjected
to heavy pressure in a vacuum or partial vacuum in a suitable press, and is then
further compressed and cut into pieces of any desired shapo, and size by means of
suitable pressing and cutting rollers.
Sixth. An apparatus for the treatment of peat, comprising a drying chamber
(with or without a heating jacket), pipes or passages conuecting the interior of the
said chamber with an exhausting apparatus, and a conveyor for feeding the peat
along the said chamber, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Seventh. An apparatus for the treatment of pent, comprising a drying chamber
(with or without a heating jacket), pipes or passages connecting the interior of the
said chamber with an exhausting apparatus, pipes, or passages for supplying a
heating or drying medium to the said chamber, and a conveyor for feeding the
peat along the said chamber, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Eighth. In an apparatus for the treatment of peat, the employment, in the
drying chamber, of a screw-conveyor having a perforated tubular shaft, substantially
as, and for the purpose, bereinbefore described.
Ninth. The combination, with a press or pug-mill, of pressing and cutting rollers
for operating upon the material as it leaves the discharge-aperture of the said
press, (with or without exhaust-passages opening into the space between the said
discharge-aperture and the said rollers), all substantially as, and for the purposes,
hereinbefore described.
Tenth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Eleventh. The improved apparatus, constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 2 and 3 or to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings and
operating as and for the purposes above specified.
Twelfth. An apparatus comprising a series of drying chambers and a press,
connected with each other and with an exhausting apparatus, and means for heating
the said chambers, substantially as described with reference to Figure 5 of the
drawings, and operating as and for the purposes above specified.
Dated the 21st do
100%
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, Loudon, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.