Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Water Gas.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Water Gas.
We, GEORGE ROSE, Engineer, of 70 Wellington Street, ARCHIBALD BAIRD, Steel
Manufacturer, of 59 Waterloo Street, and MATTHEW BARR BAIRD Stoel Manufacturer,
of 59 Waterloo Street, all in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to bo as follows
-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for the
manufacture of water gas and it has for its object to improve and simplify the present.
method and apparatus.
In carrying out our invention we, under one arrangement, construct a cylindrical
or other shaped, preferably, brick or brick lined furnace in the centre of which is
placed or fitted a cast iron or other gas producer or retort, this retort may have shelves
or their equivalent in it on which carbon, preferably coke or char, and which may be
mixed with iron scrap or nails is or may be placed or the carbon may be charged
loosely into the retort. The furnace, under our invention, is preferably heated by
means of a liquid fuel flame from a lamp or burner, the lamp we prefer to use is one
of the construction wherein water is converted into steam in a coil pipe or boiler
heated by the flame of the lamp, such as that for which an application for Letters
Patent No. 11517 of 1888 was applied for by George Rose one of the present
applicants although any other liquid fuel heating appliance may be used, or the
furnace may be heated by a coke or coal fire or by gas jets. When liquid fuel is used
the flame of the lamp is led through an opening in the side of the furnace and fills
or partially fills the annular space left between the retort and the furnace walls. By
thus confining the liquid fuel flame an intense heat is raised in a short time in the
furnace. The water to be converted into water gas is brought from any convenient
source of supply and is conducted, by preference, to a small cistern which auto-
matically supplies itself with water by means of a ball cock or float valve arrange-
ment fitted in it. The water from the cistern is led by piping to, by preference, a
steam generating coil pipe, although a small boiler may be used, which is either placed
in the funnel or flue of the furnace or else in the furnace itself. The superheated
steam generated in the coil or other boiler is led by a pipe connection, having cut
off and drip cocks on it, througli the furnace walls, into the retort. The retort being
highly heated by the liquid fuel flame raises the superheated steam to a high tem-
perature and thus enables it to be converted into gas.
fitted to the
The furnace top may be of a 'still' shape and the part where it
furnace may be embedded in a well filled with lead or other suitable metal or
material to prevent gas escaping at the joint. In some cases, if desired, liquid
hydro carbon or other oil may be supplied to the interior of the retort the vapour
arising off which intermingles or combines with and enriches the water gas. The
liquid hydro-carbon or other oil may be led from a gravitation or other tank fitted
on top of the furnace or in other convenient situation the liquid hydro-carbon or
oil from which is allowed to flow into the top or side of the retorts and -to fall
down in a spray therein.
The heated gases from the retort pass, by preference, to a cooling and cleansing
apparatus which consists of a number of iron pipes which may be brick lined or
fireclay or other suitable pipes may be used. The gases are led into the lower end
of the first, or other one, of the pipes ascending which they then pass down the next,
up the next one and so on alternatively up one and down another. There may be
arranged at the top of each of the pipes a water jet nozzle or rose preferably fitted in
a single box extending along the top of the pipes or in a series of boxes bolted.or

page_text: otherwise fitted together. The jet nozzles or roses emit a constant spray or shower
of water down each pipe and thus serve to cool and clarify the highly heated gases
from the retort. At the lower end of the tubular cooling and cleansing apparatus a
water trough or receptacle (for the collection of the water passing down the pipes),
which may be divided into compartments, is provided. The water is drawn off from
the trough or receptacle by any well known means. The pipes of the cooling and
cleansing apparatus may be filled with stones, broken fire brick, scrap iron or other
material to aid in the cleansing of the gases.
From the cleansing and cooling apparatus the water gas is conducted either away
to the place where it is to be burned or it may be collected in a gasometer. When
it is stored we prefer to make the gasometer with a hollow central spindle or pillar
which both serves as a guide to the upper part or cover of the telescopic gas holder
and at the same time serves as a conduit or conveyer for the water gas which is led
into its lower end by a suitable pipe connection. If desired, to aid in the cooling of
the gases, water may be supplied to the gasometer continuously an overflow arrange-
ment being supplied to carry off the surplus water.
Under a modified arrangement, the retort may be made more or less of bottle shape
and on the top of the neck, which would by preference project out of the top or side
of the enclosing furnace, a cover or lid would be secured preferably by bolting. Into
this cover a fireclay or other pipe, extending nearly the whole length of the retort
would be fitted into and down which the liquid hydrocarbon to enrich the gas would,
if used, be injected. The superheated steam from the steam boiler or coil would be
admitted into the annular space left at the neck of the retort between its inner side
and the hydrocarbon pipe. The inside of the retort would, preferably, as before, have
carbon, with or without the admixture of iron scrap, placed either on trays or shelves
or in loose pieces therein. The gas would be drawn off in any convenient manner.
With this arrangement the liquid hydro-carbon pipe would be so fitted in the door
or cover of the retort that when the door or cover was taken off the pipe would come
out with it thus leaving the interior of the retort open and free to be easily
cleaned out.
Under another arrangement instead of fitting the retort in a furnace as hereinbefore
described it may be fitted, supported or suspended above the liquid fuel flame of a
lamp or above a fire or gas jets or other heating arrangement or appliance. The
steam necessary to produce the gas being generated in a coil or boiler fitted at the
side or bottom of the retort, or the steam, when Rose's patent self generating steam
lamps are used to heat the retort, may be conducted from the steam coil or boiler of
the lamp. The gas from the retort could be led either direct to the burners or to a
gasometer or other collector.
In cases where a liquid fuel spray flame is used to heat the retort, we prefer to use
a burner made solid and bored with two channels or ways in it, one for oil and one
for steam or air to spray the oil. On top of the oil channel a cross or tee piece would
be fitted on the upper side of which a cock or valve is mounted for regulating the
vacuum of the burner and so to control the flame. If desired when water gas is
supplied to the burner a separate channel or a number of channels may be bored in
it into which the gas is conducted.
When it is desired to have the gas manufacturing apparatus self contained the
water and the oil would preferably be supplied from a single tank divided into two
compartments, the one for water and the other for oil or from two tanks either bolted
or rivetted together or separate. In this case the oil and water may each be forced
into the retort by the action of compressed air forced into the tanks or compartiments
by a small force pump or by other means.
In some cases a supply of water gas may be led from the gasometer or from the
retort or the cooling apparatus and be conducted to the lamp burner or to a burner or
series of burners arranged at the bottom of or around the retort when it would be
burned to generate heat to raise the temperature of the retort. Or a supply of water
gas may be burned in the fire or in conjunction with the liquid fuel flame.
In some cases the furnace may be used in lieu of the retort. The furnace would

page_text: preferably be filled or partially filled with coke or other carbonaceous material which
may be mixed with scrap iron and after the flame had played on it for some time and
heated it up, the flame would be cut off and steam lead into the furnace to be con-
verted into gas. The furnace under this arrangement would preferably be fitted with
a charging hopper on top or at other convenient part and be also fitted with a sliding
door to close over the flame opening when the flame is cut off.
Instead of having a cooling and cleansing apparatus as hereinbefore described the
gas may pass from the retort to a scrubber if so desired.
The whole apparatus may if desired be made on a small scale and be mounted
portably on a platform having wheels or feet.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Water Gas.
We, GEORGE ROSE, Engineer of 70 Wellington Street, ARCHIBALD BAIRD, Steel
Manufacturer of 59 Waterloo Street, and MATTHEW BARR BAIRD, Steel Manufacturer,
of 59 Waterloo Street, all in the City of Glasgow, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for the
manufacture of water gas and it has for its object to improve and simplify the present
method and apparatus.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon―
Fig. 1 is a general view, partly in section of our water gas plant.
Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections of one arrangement of gas generator.
Fig. 4 is a front clevation of the gas generator, fig. 3. and showing a sliding door
applied thereto.
Figs. 5 and 6 show in section modified constructions of the gas generator.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the water gas cleanser or scrubber."
Figs. S&& show burners for the liquid fuel heating apparatus.
Fig. 9 is a section of a furnace for generating gas.
Fig. 10 is a part sectional view of gas generating retort with liquid fuel burner
underneath.
On the drawings the same reference letters wherever repeated indicate similar or
like parts.
Referring to fig. 1-
Our improved water gas plant as here illustrated consists of a gas generator A, from
which gas is conducted to a cooling and cleansing apparatus or "scrubber" B from
which in turn the gas, preferably, passes to a. purifier C and from thence to the
gasometer D. E is an oil tank and the liquid fuel heater.
The gas generator consists, preferably, as shown at figs. 2, 3 and 4 of a brick built
or brick lined body or furnace A in the centre of which is fitted a, preferably, cast
iron retort G. This retort may have shelves or their equivalent in it, on which carbon,
preferably coke or char, mixed or not with iron scrap or nails, is or may be placed;
or the retort may have only a single shelf or grating H supported on lugs I (as shown)
upon which the carbon J in loose pieces, is placed. The grating H is removably fitted
at a little distance above the bottom of the retort as shown. The retort has at its
upper end a flange K to which is fitted by studs K¹ or bolts the lid L. This lid L has
a raised ring or projection L' on its underside which fits into a corresponding female
groove in the flange K. By making the lid L to fit into the groove in the flange a
tight joint is effected. Packing may be fitted between the lid and the flange K. The
flange K may be either to the outside (as shown at fig. 2) or inside (as shown at fig. 3)

page_text: ' of the retort. The lid L has two openings in it through which pipes M, N pass. The
pipe N is for the steam to be converted into water gas and the pipe M is for oil.
The steam for conversion into gas is, in the arrangement shown in figs. 2, 3 and 4,
generated in a coil pipe O, fitted in the funnel or flue P, of the furnace so as to be
heated by the waste products of combustion. Water is supplied to the coil pipe 0,
from any convenient source. The oil is supplied by gravitation. to the pipe M from
the oil tank E (fig. 1) which is or may be supported on a bracket E¹ fitted to the
wall E of the building or it may be supported on a trestle or in any other convenient
manner. The pipe. M has preferably a U shaped bend in it so as to prevent gas
escaping from the rotort and has also a cup or receiver M' into which the oil is run.
from the tank E by the pipe M² on which is fitted a supply regulating valve M³.
The retort G is or may be.supported in the furnace on a brickwork grating G¹ or it
may simply rest on a few bricks or on raised parts at the bottom of the furnace. When
the brickwork supports are used, openings G2 are left between the bricks for the
purpose of allowing the flame to pass through and heat the bottom of the retort. The
retort is heated by a liquid fuel flame which enters the furnace at Q, and fills up or
partially fills up the annular space between the furnace walls and the retort. The
liquid fuel heating apparatus F which is shown at figs. 1, 3, 5, 8 and 8, is of a some-
what similar construction to the lamp patented by George Rose one of the present
applicants on the Tenth day.. of August 1888 No. 11517. The apparatus consists,
preferably, of two semicircular tanks R, R rivetted or bolted together or of a tank
divided into two compartments. The tank or compartment R¹ contains oil whilst the
tank or compartment R contains water. The oil and water may be supplied by gravi-
tation to the burner T of the apparatus or they may be forced thereto by the action
of compressed air forced into one or both tanks or compartments by a small force
pump R2. In figs. 1 and 3 the tanks R, R' are fitted up on a small stand S and the
oil is supplied to the burner by gravitation whilst the water is forced thereto under
pressure of air forced in by pump R². In fig. 5 both the oil and water is supplied
under pressure. The oil from the tank R¹ passes by the pipe S₁ to the burner T and
the water from the tank R by the pipe R³ to a coil pipe U fitted in front of the
burner T. The flame issuing from the burner T heats the coil U and converts the
water therein into steam to spray the oil in the same manner as described in the prior
patent No. 11517 of 1888. The pipes S and R³ have cocks or valves V on them for
regulating the oil and water supply to the burner. The coil O, may, if desired be
supplied with water from the tank R.
The liquid fuel flame from the burner T playing into the furnace A heats the
retort G to a temperature sufficient to turn the steam, from the coil O, into gas and
also convert the oil entering by M into gas. The two gases pass down through
the coke or char J and out by the outlet pipe W to the cooling and cleansing
apparatus B. This apparatus consists as shown more particularly at fig. 7 of a
number of iron pipes X (or fireclay or other suitable pipes may be used). These
pipes X are at their upper ends fitted into a box Y divided by partitions Y' into
compartments or instead of using a subdivided box Y separate boxes bolted together
may be employed. At their lower ends the pipes X are fitted into a water trough
or receptacle Z every alternate pipe of the series being made to dip under the water
in said receptacle Z which is divided into two compartments by a partition Z' having
in it a hole Z through which the water is free to circulate from one compartment
.io the other. The water passes off from the trough Z at Z3. Each of the pipes X
except the first one which is closed as shown at X2 may have at their lower ends, a
grating X to support broken fire brick, stones, scrap iron or other material X³ for
aiding in the cleansing of the gases. The box Y has, preferably, a series of smail
water jet roses Y' which are supplied with water from any convenient source by the
pipe and branch pipes Y³. These branch pipes Y3 are provided with valves or
cocks Y for cutting off or regulating the water supply to said roses Ys. The pipes X
are shown as having flanges on them at each end and as being merely inserted into
the boxes Y, Z. They may however be screwed or bolted into position if so desired.
The whole apparatus B is shown as being braced and held together by means of

page_text: stays 6 capable of being braced or screwed up taut. The water from the roses Y¹
issues in spray form into the subdivided box Y and then percolates through the
refractory material X³ to the trough Z and in so doing cools the heated gas which
enters at a and passes first up one pipe into the box Y then down the next into the
trough Z back again up the third pipe to the box Y and so on through the whole
series of pipes, of which there may be any desired number although only 5 are shown,
the gas finally passes away by the pipe to the purifier C or gasometer D. The
purifier C may be an ordinary dry lime purifier, the lime being placed on trays as
usual. The gas from the pipe c passes first up through the compartment d and then
down through the compartment e and out by the pipe to the gasometer D. The
gasometer may be of any usual construction but is preferably made with a hollow
column D¹ in its centre in which works telescopewise a guiding spindle D2 fitted in
the cover of the gasometer. The gas is supplied to the column D' by the pipe f
and passes into the holder, the column serving at the same time, by means of the
spindle D to guide the cover as it rises and falls. The spindle works through a
frame D³ secured to the sides of the gasometer.
As shown in fig. 5 the retort G may be made more or less of bottle shape, having
a neck part g made in one piece with or bolted or rivetted to the body of the retort.
This neck part g which has a grooved flange K on it projects out of the side of the
enclosing furnace A. The lid or cover L is bolted to the flange. Packing L' is
shown as inserted between the lid and the flange. Into the lid La fireclay or other
pipe L² extending nearly the whole length of the retort is fitted, into and down which
the liquid hydrocarbon to enrich the gas if used is injected. The superheated steam
to be converted into gas may be supplied from a steam boiler or as shown may be
generated in a coil O which is heated by the radiated heat. from the liquid fuel
burner T the flame from which, in this arrangement, is made to play into the back
of the furnace A and impinges against a partition A' made therein, being .divided
into. two parts which enter the main body of the furnace through two or more
openings A2, A³ in the partition and heat up the retort G. Water is supplied to the
coil from a small tank i placed on top of the furnace. From the coil O the steam
is conducted by a pipe which is embedded in the furnace hearth and passes out at
its other end where it is jointed to a pipe h' leading through the door L into the
annular space left between the neck y of the retort and the pipe L2. The inside of
the retort is preferably as before charged with carbon or with refractory material.
The gas is drawn off by the pipe W which may have a small perforated metal
grating on top to prevent it being choked with the material in the retort and a
cleaning door at the side with a second grating if desired. As will be seen
with this arrangement the liquid hydro-carbon pipe and the superheated steam pipe
are so fitted that after the connections have been broken the lid L can be taken off
and the pipe L' easily drawn out so as to clean the interior of the retort.
The generator shown at fig. 6 is the same as those shown at figs. 2 and 3 except
that instead of having a lid or door L the retort or furnace top is made of "still"
shape as shown at figs. 1 and 6. The still C¹ is, preferably, embedded in a groove
or well C filled with lead or other suitable soft metal or material which, when the
generator is working, melts and prevents gas escaping at the joint. In this view also
water may be supplied to the coil O, from a small cistern (see the detail view).
having a float in it which so operates the inlet valve as to keep up a steady
supply of water to the coil. The steam from the coil O is in this instance conducted
into the bottom of the retort G and percolates upwards through the incandescent
carbon J finally passing away to the scrubber or cleanser B by the still head Cª—
03 is a small cock for blowing off condesed water.
In figs. 8 and 8 two burners for the liquid fuel apparatus are shown in section.
The burner in fig. 8 is made of a solid piece bored with a channel for oil and a
channel for steam or air to spray the oil. The channel is preferably tapered as
shown and the channel is bored at such an angle that they meet at the cup shaped
nose or point of the burner. On the top of the oil channel a cross piece T¹ is fitted,
on the
upper side of which is screwed à small valve or cock. T for regulating the

page_text: vacuum at the burner nose. The oil from the oil tank or cistern enters the tee piece
by the branch S¹. The burner has preferably a hollow chamber T3 closed by a
plug T at its rear end into which the steam from the self generating coil of the
burner or air from an air compressor enters at T to spray the oil. T is a drip cock..
The burner at fig. S is essentially the same as that described and claimed under
George Rose's prior patent No. 17826, 6th December 1888 and differs only from that
shown at fig. in having no nose picce, the channel being tapered only for a part
of its length and in a reverse way and in the channel being vertical. The spraying.
cup is also larger in this burner. If desired, water gas may be supplied to the
burners T in which case, a separate channel or a number of channels may be
bored in them into which the gas is conducted. In this case the gas may be used
to spray the oil instead of air.or steam.
In some cases, as shown at fig. 9, the furnace A may be used without the
retort G. The furnace A is filled or partially filled with coke or other car-
bonaceous material J which may be mixed with scrap iron and is heated up by
allowing the liquid fuel flame to play upon it for some time. After it is
sufficiently heated up the flame is cut off by means of the closing door m and
steam is led into the furnace by the pipe N and converted into gas. The door m
is shown for the sake of illustration as applied to the generator at fig. 4 although
it would never be used with such class of generator. It is fitted in grooves or
their equivalent in the furnace wall and is held tightly in position by means of a
screw m working in a bridge or latch m² capable of being lifted into and out of the
catch m³. When the door is released by unscrewing the screw m¹ it falls out of the
grooves and can be pulled up so as to allow the liquid fuel flame to play upon the car-
bonaceous material J by means of the lever m, fulcrumed at m³, and connecting
rod m³. In the furnace fig. 9 the coke or other suitablo material is charged by the
bell hopper n. G is a grating. W is the water gas outlet provided with a cut off
valve W. The steam coil O has a branch pipe o having a stop cock o' on it which
when opened allows steam to play into the funnel P and create a draught in the furnace.
02 is a valve for controlling the supply of steam to the furnace. A gas-tight damper
of any suitable construction is fitted in the funnel P above the coil Ŏ. The working
of this generator is different from the retort generators. The flame is first allowed
to play in upon the carbonaceous material J through the opening Q. The oil and
steam supply to the furnace being cut off by means of the cocks o2, M*, but the cock
or valve of and damper door in the funnel being open to create a draught. The
valve W' is also closed. The carbonaceous material being sufficiently heated up, the
flame is stopped and the door m dropped down and screwed tightly up against
the furnace wall. The damper in the funnel and the valve O' are also closed. The
valves M, O and Ware however opened, the consequence is that the steam from
the coilpasses into the furnace and is converted into gas as also, is the oil from the
pipe M, the combined gases passing away to the scrubber by the pipe W. After the
coke J is cooled the valves, W, O and M are closed, the door m drawn up and
the valve O and damper opened. The coke is then heated up by the liquid fuel
flame and when sufficiently heated steam and oil are admitted to the furnace to be
converted into gas as before.
In fig 10 a small portable arrangement of generator is shown, the retort G being
fitted in a casing 9 and heated from underneath by the burner T. In this case the
steam to be converted into gas is drawn off by the piper from the self generating coil
pipe U of the burner. It is an advantage to draw off the steam in this manner in
cases where a sinall supply is desired as it saves the expense of fitting up extra
generating coils in the furnace..
Instead of using only one liquid fuel heater two or more may be used.
Instead of heating the furnace by liquid fuel flames it may be fired in the ordinary
way or heated up by a hot air blast. In the generator figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 the
furnace may be enlarged and the retort be heated by a coal or coke fire whilst in the
generator, fig. 9, the coke J may be fired itself.
In some cases a supply of water gas may be led from the. gasometer or from the

page_text: retort or the cooling apparatus and be conducted to the lamp burner, or to a burner or
series of burners arranged at the bottom of or around the retort, where it would be
burned to generate heat to raise the temperature of the retort. Or a supply of water
gas may be burned in the fire or in conjunction with the liquid fuel flame.
A charging and withdrawing door may be fitted in the side of the retort if desired.
The whole apparatus may, if desired, be made on a small scale and be mounted
portably on a platform having wheels or feet.
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 method of manufacturing gas consisting in first externally heating a closed
retort charged with coke or other carbonaceous substance to a high temperature by
means of one or more liquid fuel flames and then admitting steam, superheated or not,
to the interior of said retort, the gas from the retort being then passed to an apparatus
to be cooled and cleansed before being collected for use, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The method of manufacturing gas consisting in first externally heating a closed
retort charged with coke or other carbonaceous substance to a high temperature by
means of one or more liquid fuel flames and then admitting steam, superheated or not,
and hydro-carbon oil to the interior of said retort; the gases from the retort being
then passed to an apparatus to be cooled and cleansed before being collected for use,
substantially as herein before described.
3. A water gas generator consisting of a furnace having in its funnel or flue a coil
pipe for generating steam, and in which is supported a closed retort charged with
carbonaceous material and externally heated by means of a liquid fuel flame,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.
4. The combination with the furnace A of the retort G charged with carbonaceous
material, the steam generating coil pipe O situated in the funnel or other convenient
part of the furnace and the liquid fuel heating apparatus, substantially as herein before
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
5. The combination with the furnace A, charged with carbonaceous material of the
steam generating coil pipe O, and hydrocarbon supply pipe M, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.
6. The combination with the furnace A, of the retort G charged with carbonaceous
material, the steam generating coil o, the liquid hydrocarbon supply pipe M and the
liquid fuel heating apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on
the drawings annexed.
7. In the manufacture of water gas the combination with a furnace or generator
having or not a retort fitted therein, of a liquid fuel heating apparatus and a water
spray gas-cleansing and cooling apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the improved plant for the
manufacture of water gas the whole being arranged and operating substantially as
bereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this Sth day of February 1890.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.