Process for Generating Gases known as Water-gas and Producer Gas.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process for Generating Gases known as Water-gas and
Producer Gas.
We, JOSEF VON LANGER, Engineer, and LEONARD COOPER, Iron Merchant, both
of 32, Park Row, Leeds, in the County of York, 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 a process by means of which gases known as water-gas,
and producer or Siemens gas, is generated in a more economical, efficient and safer
manner, than has hitherto been performed.
In the ordinary method of generating the above named gases, a mass of fuel
burning within a receptacle called a generator or producer, is alternately exposed
to a blast of air, (heated or otherwise), from the bottom; and a jet of steam
(usually superheated), or water, entering at the top. The air blast, passing
through the fuel from the bottom upwards, quickly heats the fuel and carries with
it the gases or products of combustion of the fuel through an outlet at, or near,
the top; and these gases are termed producer or Siemens gas. When the fuel is
sufficiently hot, the air blast at the bottom is shut off, and the steam is turned on at
the top, (thus passing through the fuel in the reverse direction), and this becoming
decomposed in its downward passage through the incandescent fuel, its products are
generally known as water-gas. The steam quickly cools, down the burning fuel, so
that it is necessary to shut it off and again use the air blast to raise the fuel to the
required heat for decomposing the steam, and this process, going on intermittently,
in reverse directions, may be termed the intermittent reverse process for generating
water-gas and producer gas.
By this invention, the air, which is usually highly heated, is admitted at the top
of the generator or producer, and after passing downward through the burning fuel,
mixing with the gases or products of combustion thereof, finds one or more exits at
the bottom of the generator, and is also known as producer gas.
The air supply is
now likewise shut off, and the steam being turned on at the top of the generator,
passes downward and becoming decomposed in its passage through the incandescent
fuel, is taken off as water-gas. This process, going on intermittently in the same
direction, may be termed the intermittent direct process for generating water-gas and
producer gas.
"
In both cases,
the fuel is put in the generator at the top, and coke or anthracite
coal is almost always used.
If coal of a bituminous character were used, the upper
part or green fuel" being farthest from the air blast replete with oxygen, and also
first exposed to the steam or water used, would cake, and greatly obstruct the passage
of both air and steam through its compacted substance. But in this invention the
difficulty is greatly reduced or removed altogether, so that we are enabled not only to
use coal, but also small or slack coal of the cheapest description.
Furthermore, the highly heated air, entering at the top, combines with the gases
from the fresh fuel and fires the same; thus producing a larger mass of incandescent
fuel in the generator for the steam, entering afterward, to act upon. The result is,
that less producer gas and more water-gas is made from the fuel, than in the usually
practiced process. By the latter method, more producer gas (the least valuable), and
less water-gas, (the most valuable product), is generated, than is generally wanted.
In addition to these advantages, the time required for bringing the fuel up to the
required heat is reduced, and consequently more water-gas passages inay take place
within a given time. As there are no reversals in direction of the air and the steam,
in this process, there is not only less chance of spaces in, or about, the valves, con-
taining portions of water-gas and air, to form explosive mixtures, but the free oxygen

page_text: has been consumed in its passage through the fire, thereby greatly reducing, the well
known risk of exploding the water-gas.
It will be understood that our process may be directed to the making of producer
gas only, or mainly, if it be so desired. In this case, while we admit both air and
steam at the top as before, we reduce the amount of steam. that would otherwise be
used in generating water-gas, and we admit air at one or more points to the burning
fuel mid-way between the top and the bottom of the fuel in addition to the air
admitted at the top, as has already been described. In thus generating producer gas;
a cold air blast may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. An intermittent direct process of generating gases known as water-gas and
producer gas; substantially as described.
2. In the generation of gas or gases, the process of intermittingly blowing steain
and heated air from the top through a mass of burning fuel in a furnace; substantially
as described.
3. The process of blowing heated air from the top through a mass of bituminous
coal in a state of combustion; substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
4. The process of generating producer gas by blowing highly heated air downward
through a mass of burning fuel; substantially as described.
5. The process of alternately passing steam and air from the top of burning fuel
in the same direction for the generation of water-gas and producer gas, whereby the
formation of explosive mixture is partly or wholly avoided; substantially as
described.
Dated this 16th day of May 1880
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.