IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN GAS, AND IN THE MANUFAC- TURE OF AMMONIA
Year: 1881

page_text: "s
LETTERS PATENT to Edward Simpson Samuell, of the City of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN GAS, AND IN THE MANUFAC-
TURE OF AMMONIA."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Simpson Samuell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1881.
EDWARD SIMPSON SAMUELL, of the City of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN GAS,
AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA."
This Invention relates to a cheap and expeditious mode of producing hydrogen
gas to be utilised in the manufacture of ammonia, as hereinafter described, but
equally applicable for illuminating, for driving gas engines, for use as gaseous
fuel in metallurgical operations, and for other analogous purposes.
In performing the first part of my Invention I employ a cupola, by preference
iron cased and lined with fire brick, and in the lower part of which I burn coke
or other suitable combustible, and I arrange a steam or superheated steam jet to
play into an elongation of the upper part of this cupola, and thus by producing a
rarifaction I cause air (heated or otherwise) to enter the lower part of the cupola
through suitable orifices, and which air rushes into the cupola with such velocity
that the fuel rapidly becomes white hot; or I produce the rarifaction within the
cupola by mechanical means; or I force air through the coke or other combustible
by means of a pump or fan for the same purpose. This accomplished, I turn off
the steam jet and introduce steam below or amongst the incandescent fuel, and
thus I produce hydrogen gas mixed with carbonic oxide in great quantities, and
which continues to be evolved until the fuel cools, when the introduction of steam
is stopped, the steam jet again turned on, and the same operation is repeated.
It will be obvious that by having more than one cupola so fitted up, and by
alternating their action, a continuous supply of hydrogen gas and carbonic oxide
could be produced, and which gas could be collected in a gasometer, or exhausted
by a suitable pump or exhaust blower for test gases.
The second part of this Invention consists in producing ammonia by the
combustion of hydrogen gas so produced as aforesaid. To collect the ammonia
I use a condensing tower filled with picces of brick or coke, through which
dilute muriatic or other acid is caused to trickle, and which meets the ascending
vapours.
The ammonia liquid so produced is then worked up in any of the well known
methods.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Simpson Samuell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th November 1881.
EDWARD SIMPSON SAMUELL, of the City of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN GAS,
AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMMONIA."
This Invention relates to a cheap and expeditious mode of producing hydrogen
gas to be utilised as gaseous fuel in metallurgical operations for driving gas
engines, for illuminating, and for other analogous purposes.
In performing the first part of my Invention I employ a cupola, by preference
iron cased and lined with fire brick, and in the lower part of which I burn coke or
other suitable combustible, and I arrange a steam or superheated steam jet to play
into an elongation of the upper part of this cupola, and thus by producing a
rarefaction I cause air (heated or otherwise) to enter the lower part of the cupola
through suitable orifices, and which air rushes into the cupola with such velocity
that the fuel rapidly becomes white hot; or I produce the rarefaction within the
cupola oy mechanical means; or I force air through the coke or other combustible
by means of a pump or fan for the same purpose. This accomplished, I turn off
the steam jet and introduce steam below or amongst the incandescent fuel, and
thus I produce hydrogen gas mixed with carbonic acid gas, and carbon mon-oxide
in great quantities, and which continues to be evolved until the fuel cools, when
the introduction of steam is stopped, the steam jet again turned on, and the same
operation is repeated.
If I desire to produce hydrogen gas in a still purer state, instead of or in addition
to the coke or other combustible, I introduce iron borings or scrap iron into the
cupola, which iron must first be heated by a furnace arrangement to a white heat,
and I then proceed with the manufacture, as herein before described.
It will be obvious that by having more than one cupola so fitted up, and by
alternating their action, a continuous supply of hydrogen gas and carbonic oxide
could be produced, and which gas could be collected in a gasometer or exhausted
by a suitable pump or exhaust blower for test gases. I would here state that
since filing my Provisional Specification I have found that the quantity of ammonia
produced by the combustion of hydrogen gas so produced as aforesaid, is not
sufficient in quantity for commercial purposes, and therefore I desire to disclaim
this part of my Invention.
Having thus particularly described the nature of this my said Invention, together
with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, and
desire to secure by Letters Patent,-
Passing steain through incandescent coke or other combustible, or through
incandescent iron borings or scrap iron contained within a cupola, such incandescence
being maintained by producing a rarefaction of the air within such cupola by
means of a steamn jet, and so inducing steam to pass through the incandescent
material with great velocity, and whereby hydrogen gas is produced in large
quantities, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Simpson Samuell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 16th day of November, in the year of our Lord
EDWARD SIMPSON SAMUELL. (L.S.)