Improvements in Method of and Apparatus for Making Gas for Heating Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1899—Accepted, 3rd Feb.,
1900
Improvements in Method of and Apparatus for Making Gas for
Heating Purposes.
A communication from abroad by THE AMERICAN STOKER COMPANY, of 141, Broad-
way, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
a corporation organised under the laws of the State of New York.
1
I, REGINALD WILLIAM JAMES, of 1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My present invention relates to improvements in method of and apparatus for
making gas for heating purposes, and it consists of certain novel parts and of
certain novel methods hereinafter pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention applied in forms
which are at present preferred by me, but it will be understood that various
modifications and changes in the apparatus may be made without departing from
the spirit of my invention; and that with respect to the methods of making
such gas, these are not dependent in any respect upon the mechanism shown,
or, indeed, upon the use of any specified mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a gas generator
involving my invention, the same being on the line 1, 1, Fig. 4; Fig. 3, is a
longitudinal section through the same, on the line 3, 3, Figs. 1 and 4; Fig. 2
is a cross-section through the underfeed stoker, showing the same in enlarged
view and in detail; Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4, 4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an
enlarged detail of one of the nozzles through which air and steam are introduced,
series of which are shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section through the generator on
the line, 6, 6, Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a top view of the said generator.
Up to the present time it has been, as far as I know, the universal practice in
generators of producer gas, to apply the fresh coal on top of the incandescent
coke, the result being that the gases produced are charged with the water
expelled from the green coal, and, under certain conditions, with vaporized liquid
hydrocarbons, such as tar. These form unstable gases, which it is the common
practice to remove when a stable gas is needed.
One of the principal features of my present invention consists in reversing
this practice by the introduction of the green fuel below the incandescent body
of coke instead of above it. The result of this change is marked. In the first
place, the water expelled from the green coal, in passing up through the incan-
descent body of coke, is converted into hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases, which
are stable. In the second place, the liquid hydrocarbons are oxidized and also
converted into hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases. In the third place, since the
distillation of the hydrocarbons takes place in a zone in which free oxygen is
present, they are decomposed and converted into carbonic acid gas; which, in
its passage through the incandescent coke on its way to the exit flue, is con-

page_text: verted into carbonic oxide gas, in precisely the same way that the carbonic acid
gas, resulting from the combustion of the coke, is, on its way to the flue, con-
verted into carbonic oxide gas. As a result, the gas produced is more nearly
pure carbonic oxide and hydrogen gases, free from moisture and volatilized liquid
hydrocarbons, and therefore a stable gas generated as such, and not made stable
by any subsequent process, such as washing or scrubbing, or draining off of the
non-stable and deposited constituents. Various difficulties, arising from the un-
stability of producer gas as now made, are therefore avoided, and a gas which
is suitable for general heating purposes is produced. In the manufacture of such
gas, I prefer to introduce steam, as it is the common practice to do in the manu-
facture of producer gas, to supplement the combustible gases produced.
The following is a description of the structure shown in the accompanying
drawings:
10 are the walls of the furnace, which are contracted at 11; 12 are suitable
hoppers, arranged on top of the furnace, through which the initial charge of
fuel is introduced; these hoppers are provided with weighted doors 13; 14, 14
are the uptakes leading to the gas main 15; 16 is a conduit leading to a regenera-
tive furnace, or other device, for utilizing the gas produced in the generator;
17, 17 are devices for introducing the fuel under the bed of incandescent coke
contained in the generator chamber. These devices are shown as a well-known
form of under-feed stoker, in which the coal is fed from the hopper by means of
an archimedes screw, and is by said screw elevated into the gas generating
chamber; 18, 18 are steam pipes, and 19, 19 are air openings, the parts being
assembled and arranged so that the issuing steam forces into the lower part of
the generating chamber commingled air and steam. The underfeed stoker is
shown in detail in Figure 2, in which 20 is the archimedes screw; 21 the coal
reservoir; 22 an air chamber provided with a forced draft; 23, 23 are tuyere
blocks; and 24, 24 are openings from which air is ejected. These stokers, as
shown in Figure 3, may be arranged end to end, and placed at or near the pinnacle
of a central abutment 25, located so as to discharge the green fuel above the point
where the air and steam enter through the nozzles 18, 19; 25ª, 25ª are water-
sealed ash-pits into which the incombustible ash or residue descends.
The operation of the device shown in the drawings may thus be described:
Through the hoppers 12, 12 on starting the generator, kindlings are first intro-
duced, and on top of them coke is introduced to the desired depth. The fire being
lighted, and the coke brought to the required condition of incandescence, the
stokers are started, and green coal is continuously fed into the generator under
the incandescent coke. This fuel, as it is fed upward, is converted into coke by
the distillation of its hydrocarbon constituents (solid and liquid) which, in the
presence of the air issuing through the tuyere openings, are decomposed, forming
carbonic acid gas (which, passing upward through the incandescent body of coke
above it, is converted into carbonic oxide gas before it leaves the generator) and
hydrogen. The water contained in the coal is, like the steam introduced through
the nozzle 18, decomposed, producing hydrogen gas. The fresh coke overflows
from the stoker and passes down at the sides of the abutment on which it is
located, where it meets the incoming air and steam introduced through the
nozzles, 18, 19. In the presence of the free oxygen (and perhaps aided by the
oxygen of the steam) combustion of the coke ensues, and carbonic acid gas is
produced, which, passing upward through the incandescent body of coke above
it, is converted into carbonic oxide gas. The hydrogen which results from the
decomposition of the steam passes up through the incandescent coke unchanged.
As a result, a new industrial gas is formed, which differs from ordinary producer
gas in that it is practically free from water, tar and other unstable constituents,
and in which a portion at least of the hydrocarbon has been converted into car-
bonic oxide gas by combustion and subsequent carbonization; it being under-
stood that carbonic acid, in its passage through the incandescent body of coke,
takes up carbon and is converted into carbonic oxide gas.

page_text: It will, of course, be understood that in the practice of my process, any means
whereby the green fuel is introduced under the incandescent body of coke may
be employed; and that, furthermore, my invention in its broader aspects is not
limited to the use of a stoker of the construction shown, or of any particular
construction-the advantage of this feature of the apparatus described being
that a continuous and uniform feed of fuel is assured with the minimum labor.
Although I now prefer to use separate nozzles 18, 19 for the introduction of
air and steam, to effect the combustion of the coke, the passages through the
tuyeres of the stoker may be relied upon for the introduction of all the atmo-
spheric air required in the operation; and, in addition, steam may be introduced
by way of these openings. In any event, the introduction of steam may be
omitted altogether, although it is universally recognized as good practice to
introduce so much steam as can be decomposed without reducing the tempera-
ture within the generator below the required point.
Dated this 3rd day of abr 1800
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Method of and Apparatus for Making Gas for
Heating Purposes.
A communication from abroad by THE AMERICAN STOKER COMPANY, of 141, Broad-
way, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
a corporation organised under the laws of the State of New York.
I, REGINALD WILLIAM JAMES, of 1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
The present invention relates to improvements in method of and apparatus for
making gas for heating purposes, and it consists of certain novel parts and of
certain novel methods hereinafter pointed out.
In order that this invention may be the better understood I will now proceed
to describe it in relation to the drawings which accompany my Provisional
Specification, reference being had to letters and figures marked thereon. Like
letters refer to like parts in the various figures.
In the drawings referred to I have shown my invention applied in forms which
are at present preferred by me, but it will be understood that various modifica-
tions and changes in the apparatus may be made without departing from the
spirit of my invention, and that with respect to the methods of making such
gas, these are not dependent in any respect upon the mechanism shown, or,
indeed, upon the use of any specified mechanism.
In the drawings referred to, Figure 1 is a cross-section through a gas generator
involving my invention, the same being on the line 1, 1, Figure 4; Figure 3
is a longitudinal section through the same, on the line 3, 3, Figures 1 and 4;
Figure 2 is a cross section through the underfeed stoker, showing the same
in enlarged view and in detail; Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4, 4,
Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the nozzles through which
air and steam are introduced, series of which are shown in Figure 4. Figure 6
is a section through the generator on the line 6, 6, Figure 1. Figure 7 is a
top view of the said generator.

page_text: Up to the present time it has been, as far as I know, the universal practice in
generators of producer gas, to apply the fresh coal on top of the incandescent
coke, the result being that the gases produced are charged with the water
expelled from the green coal, and, under certain conditions, with vaporized liquid
hydrocarbons, such as tar. These form unstable gases, which it is the common
practice to remove when a stable gas is needed.
One of the principal features of my present invention consists in reversing
this practice by the introduction of the green fuel below the incandescent body
of coke instead of above it. The result of this change is marked. In the first
place, the water expelled from the green coal in passing up through the incan-
descent body of coke, is converted into hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases, which
are stable. In the second place, the liquid hydrocarbons are oxidized and also
converted into hydrogen and carbonic oxide gases. In the third place, since the
distillation of the hydrocarbons takes place in a zone in which free oxygen is
present, they are decomposed and converted into carbonic acid gas, which, in
its passage through the incandescent coke on its way to the exit flue, is con-
verted into carbonic oxide gas, in precisely the same way that the carbonic acid
gas, resulting from the combustion of the coke, is, on its way to the flue, con-
verted into carbonic oxide gas. As a result, the gas produced is more nearly
pure carbonic oxide and hydrogen gases, free from moisture and volatilised liquid
hydrocarbons, and therefore a stable gas generated as such, and not, made stable
by any subsequent process, such as washing or scrubbing, or draining off of the
non-stable and deposited constituents. Various difficulties, arising from the un-
stability of producer gas as now made, are therefore avoided, and a gas which
is suitable for general heating purposes is produced. In the manufacture of such
gas, I prefer to introduce steam, as it is the common practice to do in the manu-
facture of producer gas, to supplement the combustible gases produced.
to.
The following is a description of the structure shown in the drawings referred
10 are the walls of the furnace, which are contracted at 11; 12 are suitable
hoppers, arranged on top of the furnace, through which the initial charge of
fuel is introduced; these hoppers are provided with weighted doors 13; 14, 14,
are the uptakes leading to the gas main 15; 16 is a circuit leading to a regenera-
tive furnace, or other device, for utilizing the gas produced in the generator;
17, 17 are devices for introducing the fuel under the bed of incandescent coke
contained in the generator chamber. These devices are shown as a well-known
form of under-feed stoker, in which the coal is fed from the hopper by means of
an archimedes screw, and is by said screw elevated into the gas generating
chamber: 18, 18 are steam pipes, and 19, 19 are air openings, the parts being
assembled and arranged so that the issuing steam forces into the lower part of
the generating chamber commingled air and steam. The underfeed stoker: is
shown in detail in Figure 2, in which 20 is the archimedes screw; 21 the coal
reservoir; 22 an air chamber provided with a forced draft; 23: 23 are tuyere
blocks and 24, 24 are openings from which air is ejected. These stokers,. as
shown in Figure 3, may be arranged end to end, and placed at or near the pinnacle
of a central abutment 25, located so as to discharge the green fuel above the point
where the air and steam enter through the nozzles 18, 19; 25ª, 25ª are water-
sealed ash-pits into which the incombustible ash or residue descends.
The operation of the device shown in the drawings may thus bé described.
Through the hoppers 12, 12 on starting the generator, kindlings are first intro-
duced, and on top of them coke is introduced to the desired depth. The fire being
lighted, and the coke brought to the required condition of incandescence, the
stokers are started, and green coal is continuously fed into the generator under
the incandescent coke. This fuel, as it is fed upward, is converted into coke by
the distillation of its hydrocarbon constituents (solid and liquid) which, in the
presence of the air issuing through the tuyere openings, are decomposed, forming
carbonic acid gas (which, passing upward through the incandescent body of coke

page_text: above it, is converted into carbonic oxide gas before it leaves the generator) and
hydrogen. The water contained in the coal is, like the steam introduced through
the nozzle 18, decomposed, producing hydrogen gas. The fresh coke overflows
from the stoker and passes down at the sides of the abutment on which it is
located, where it meets the incoming air and steam introduced through the
nozzles, 18, 19. In the presence of the free oxygen (and perhaps aided by the
oxygen of the steam) combustion of the coke ensues, and carbonic acid gas is
produced, which, passing upward through the incandescent body of coke above
it, is converted into carbonic oxide gas. The hydrogen which results from the
decomposition of the steam passes up through the incandescent coke unchanged.
As a result, a new industrial gas is formed, which differs from ordinary producer
gas in that it is practically free from water, tar and other unstable constituents,
and in which a portion at least of the hydrocarbon has been converted into car-
bonic oxide gas by combustion and subsequent carbonization; it being under-
stood that carbonic acid, in its passage through the incandescent body of coke,
takes up carbon and is converted into carbonic oxide gas.
It will, of course, be understood that in the practice of my process, any means
whereby the green fuel is introduced under the incandescent body of coke may
be employed; and that, furthermore, my invention in its broader aspects is not
limited to the use of a stoker of the construction shown, or of any particular
construction-the advantage of this feature of the apparatus described being
that a continuous and uniform feed of fuel is assured with the minimum labor.
Although I now prefer to use separate nozzles 18, 19 for the introduction of
air and steam, to effect the combustion of the coke, the passages through the
tuyeres of the stoker may be relied upon for the introduction of all the atmo-
spheric air required in the operation; and, in addition, steam may be introduced
by way of these openings. In any event, the introduction of steam may be
omitted altogether, although it is universally recognized as good practice to
introduce so much steam as can be decomposed without reducing the tempera-
ture within the generator below the required point.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
1st. The method of making fuel gas from coal, consisting in passing both
the products resulting from the distillation of the hydrocarbons and the products
of the combustion of the carbon over or in contact with incandescent carbon,
substantially as described.
2nd. The method of making fuel gas from coal, consisting in distilling and
decomposing the hydrocarbons, and passing the products resulting from the dis-
tillation and combustion of the hydrocarbons as well as the products of the com-
bustion of the carbon over or in contact with incandescent carbon, substantially
as described.
3rd. In a gas generator, the combination of a suitable chamber adapted to
contain incandescent coke, with means, substantially as described, for introducing
fresh fuel at a point where all the products of distillation and combustion will
pass through the incandescent coke on the way to the exit, substantially as
described.
4th. In a gas generator, the combination with a chamber adapted to contain
incandescent coke, of an underfeed stoker arranged below the body of said coke,
and adapted to introduce therein fresh fuel; and means for introducing likewise
below the body of said coke atmospheric air, substantially as described.
5th. In a gas generator, the combination with a chamber adapted to contain in-
candescent coke, of an underfeed stoker arranged below the body of said coke,
and adapted to introduce therein fresh fuel; and means for introducing likewise
below the body of said coke air and steam, substantially as described.
6th. In a gas generator, the combination with a chamber adapted to contain

page_text: 1.
incandescent coke, of an underfeed stoker arranged below the body. of said coke,
and adapted to introduce therein fresh fuel and atmospheric air, substantially
as described.
.
7th. In a gas generator, the combination with a chamber adapted to contain
incandescent coke, of an underfeed stoker arranged below the body of said coke,
and adapted to introduce therein fresh fuel; and means for introducing below
the level of said stoker atmospheric air and steam,, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day November 1899.
1.