Utilizing "Producer-gas."
Year: 1887

page_text: Utilizing "Producer-gas."
We, H. C. BULL AND COMPANY, Limited, and HENRY CLAY BULL, Engineer both
of 31 Poultry, London, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as
follows:
This Invention has for its object amongst other things the production of what is
known as "
producer gas" of a high per centage of combustibility and the utilization
of it in such a manner that the sensible heat of it is retained and usefully employed as
well as the heat capable of being produced by its combustion with air. To these ends
the apparatus is constructed to serve as a gas producer and steam generator; the gas
produced being either wholly burned or only partially burned to carbonic oxide. That
is to say the fuel is converted into gas in the one case and afterwards completely
burned by a secondary supply of air, whilst in the other case the secondary air is not
supplied. Hence in the former case the total heat of the fuel is used to generate
steam and in the latier the sensible heat only of the gas produced is used to generate
steam. The gas so ridded of its sensible heat is available for power or other purposes.
An apparatus according to this Invention consists of a gas producing chamber or
chambers, and certain ducts or passages connected therewith tubulous water vessels
(preferably vertical); and a sediment collector. And further according to this
Invention the water is circulated in a certain manner and the heavy hydro carbon
gases are treated or generated in a certain manner.
A convenient apparatus embodying substantially the above characteristics and
operating according to this Invention is constructed and arranged as follows:-The
gas producing portion consists of a fire brick lined chamber of any suitable form
provided with a bar grate and having suitable doors for having excess thereto above
and below such grate. A vessel is placed vertically above the gas producing chamber
and serves as the sediment depositing vessel; the fuel is fed to the producer through
a tube placed within this vessel. Three other tubulous vessels are provided two of
which are used to receive the gas as it comes from the producing vessel and the
third serves as a water heater, through which the gases after leaving the other two
vessels pass. Below this vessel again there is provided a tube filled vessel through

page_text: the tubes of which the products of combustion or the cooled gases are passed to
heat the secondary supply of air for burning the gases when so required or water
may be passed through it for cooling the gases before they are led away. The
upper portions of the three tubulous vessels are used as a steam chamber and super-
heaters or dryers and communicate with each other and also with the upper portion of
the sediment collector vessel. The steam generated in the sediment vessel and the
other vessels passes into the enclosed upper space of it by tubes.. The two side tubulous
vessels are placed upon chambers wherein the gas from the producing chamber is first
passed and in which the gas is burned by the secondary supply of air when so desired.
The gas and air are supplied through apertures one above the other. These apertures
communicate with annular passages for air and gas respectively. The air used is first
heated in the tubulous vessel above described and the gas is led in a hot state from
the gas producing chamber to the annular passages by suitable ducts. The three
tubulous vessels communicate with each other at the upper parts in which water is used,
and the central tubulous vessel communicates also at its upper part in which water is
used with the sediment depositing vessel. The sediment depositing vessel also com-
municates with the two side tubulous vessels at the lower parts. All these communi-
cations are formed by connecting pipes which are so constructed that the vessels can
be disconnected from each other at these pipes.
The gas producing chamber consists of a rectangular vessel having a fire brick
lining and apertures at either side or end for the escape of the permanent gases. The
volatile gases given off from the fuel are led from the surface through a suitable duct
under the grate where they meet with air and are consumed. The products of their
combustion together with the air and the steam produced by their heat from the water
which is constantly maintained in the ash pit are passed upward through the incan-
descent fuel upon the hearth of the furnace and converted into permanent gases. The
gas eduction passages are placed at such a height up the chamber that none but
permanent gases will pass through them in as much as the fuel about these passages is
of a sufficient temperature to render them permanent.
The water is introduced into the bottom of the centre tubulous vessel and rises up
and over the tubes thereof; leaving the upper part of such vessel it passes into the
sediment depositing vessel. In this vessel it travels from the upper to the lower
portion and passes from such lower portion by pipes to the lower portion of the two
outer tubulous vessels. In these vessels it rises and flows by pipes back into the
upper portion of the central tubulous vessel and so on. The steam generated passes
first in the steam space of the sediment depositing vessel and then to the superheating
or drying portion at the top of the three tubulous vessels, from whence. it is drawn off
The steam and water spaces are separated by a diaphragm.
for use.
The sediment depositing vessel is provided with concentric plates so arranged that
the water is given in passing through or over them a rapid downward flow and slow
ascension thereby causing the solid particles or matter contained in the water to be
thrown down and collected. The matters so deposited can be drawn off, and the
collecting plates being out of contact with the heat all liability to injury of the plates
is obviated. The fuel is supplied to the gas producing chamber by suitable hopper
and charging device.
The gases are led from the top of the outer two tubulous vessels to the centre one
by a brick lined duct. The chambers below the two outer tubulous vessels into which
the gas or the air and gas as the case may be are brought are lined with fire brick
which brickwork also forms the annular air and gas passages above specified.
Dated this 20th day of October 1887

page_text: Utilizing "Producer Gas."
We H. C. BULL AND COMPANY Limited and HENRY CLAY BULL, Engineer, both of
31 Poultry, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 has for its object amongst other things, the production of what is
known as "producer gas" of a high percentage of combustibility, and utilization of it
in such a manner that the sensible heat of it is retained and usefully employed as well
as the heat capable of being produced by its combustion with air. To these ends the
apparatus is constructed to serve as a gas producer and steam generator; the gas
produced being either wholly burned, or the fuel only partially burned to carbonic
oxide. That is to say the fuel is converted into gas in the one case and afterwards
completely burned by a secondary supply of air whilst in the other case the secondary
air is not supplied. Hence in the former case the total heat of the fuel is used to
generate steam and in the latter the sensible heat only of the gas produced is used to
generate steam. The gas so ridded of its sensible heat is available for power or other
purposes.
An apparatus according to this invention consists of a gas producing chamber or
chambers, and certain ducts or passages connected therewith; tubulous water vessels
(preferably vertical); and a sediment collector. And further according to this
invention the water is circulated in a certain manner and the heavy hydro carbon
gases are treated or generated in a certain manner.
An example of apparatus embodying the above described characteristics, and applied
with my improvements and operating according to this invention is illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings which form a part of this Specification. The various views of
the Drawings are marked with figures and letters of reference corresponding with
those used in the following explanation of them.
The Drawings together with the description of them are together sufficient to enable
others skilled in the art or arts to which this invention belongs, or appertains to put the
same into practical operation.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the tubulous water vessels.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus in section through E F Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the apparatus in sectional side elevation.
Figure 4 is a plan in section through O P Figure 1; and
- Figure 5 shows gas producing vessel in sectional elevation.

page_text: With reference to the Drawings; the gas producing portion consists of a fire brick
lined chamber A of rectangular form provided with a bar grate e and having suitable
doors and m for having access thereto above and below such grate. A vessel B is
placed vertically above the gas producing chamber and serves as the sediment depositing
vessel; the fuel is fed to the producer through a tube a¹ within this vessel. Three
other tubulous vessels D D and E are provided, two of which namely D D are used to
receive the gas as it comes from the producing vessel and the third E serves as a
water heater through which the gases after leaving the other two vessels pass. Below
this vessel again there is provided a tube fitted vessel F through the tubes of which
the products of combustion, or the cooled gases are passed to heat the secondary
supply of air for burning the gases when so required, or water may be passed through
it for cooling the gasses before they are led away. The upper portions G of the three
vessels D D and E are used as a steam chamber and superheaters or dryers and
communicate with each other and also with the upper portion of the sediment collector
vessel by pipes gl. The upper portions G are separated from the lower portions of the
vessels D D E and B by diaphragms h. All the steam generated in the vessels first
passes into the enclosed upper space G of the sediment vessel B by the tubes. The
two side tubulous vessels D D are placed upon brick lined chambers H wherein the
gas from the producing chamber is first passed and in which the gas is burned by
the secondary supply of air when so desired. The gas and air are supplied through
the apertures and respectively placed one above the other. These apertures
communicate with annular passages and for air and gas respectively. The air
used is first heated in the tubulous vessel F entering through the bottom of the casing
and passing over the surface of the tubes leaves at the upper part by passages. The
gas is led in a hot state from the gas producing chamber to the annular passages
the brick lined ducts a² and a³. The three vessels D D and E communicate with each
other at the upper parts in which water is used by connecting pipes e e and the central
vessel E communicates also at its upper par in which water is used with the sediment
depositing vessel B by a pipe el. The vessel B also communicates with the two
vessels DD at the lower parts by ducts d¹. All these communications are formed by
connecting pipes which are so constructed with flanges as shown so that the vessels
can be disconnected from each other at these pipes.
by
The gas producing chamber A consists of a rectangular vessel having a fire brick
lining and apertures a² at either side for the escape of the permanent gases. The
volatile gases given off from the fuel are led from the surface through a pipe and a
duct I under the grate where they meet with air and are consumed. The products of
their combustion together with the air and the steam produced by their heat from the
water which is constantly maintained in the ashpit c are passed upward through the
incandescent fuel upon the grate of the furnace and converted into permanent gases.
The gas eduction passages a² are placed at such a height up the chamber that none but
permanent gases will pass through them, inasmuch as the fuel about these passages
will be of a sufficient temperature to render them permanent.
The water is introduced into the bottom of the centre vessel E at any convenient
point and rises up and over the tubes thereof; leaving the upper part of such vessel
it passes into the sediment depositing vessel B. In this vessel it travels from the
upper to the lower portion by the pipes d to the lower portion of the two outer
vessels D D. In these vessels it rises and flows by the pipes e back into the upper
portion of the central vessel E and so on. The steam generated passes first into the
steam space of the vessel B and then to the superheating or drying portion G of the
three tubulous vessels from whence it is drawn off for use.
The sediment depositing vessel B is provided with concentric plates 6' and 62 which
are so arranged that the water is given, in passing down the narrow space between
the plate and the shell of the vessel B, a rapid downward flow and in passing
upward, between the larger annular space lying between the plates 61 and 62, the water
receives a retardation of velocity, thereby causing the solid particles, or matter
contained in the water to be thrown down and collected by the plate 62. The matters
so deposited can be drawn off and the collecting plates being out of contact with the

page_text: heat all liability to injury of the plates is obviated. The fuel is supplied to the gas
producing chamber by the hopper and star charging device J.
The gases are led from the top of the outer two tubulous vessels to the centre one
by a brick lined duct. The chamber H below the two outer tubulous vessels into
which the gas, or the air and gas, as the case may be, are brought, are lined with
firebrick, which brickwork also forms the annular air and gas passages and as
shown.
Suitable mud and mudhole doors are provided in the apparatus, vessels D D E
and B, at parts where it may be desired to have access to them, and close fitting
doors are provided for gaining access to the chamber H.
The apparatus is provided with a platform P at its upper portion. This is provided
to deposit coal (elevated to it in any known suitable way) upon and to operate the
charging device J.
When the apparatus is used to generate gas and utilize the sensible heat of such gas
only, that is when the carbon of the fuel is burned to carbonic oxide, and the heat of
such gas and other gases evolved with it, are first used to generate steam in the
apparatus and afterwards for another or other purposes such as for burning in a gas
engine, the vessel F is used to condense or cool the gases. In such a case a stream of
cool water would be kept circulating round the tubes in the manner of an ordinary
surface condenser and the gases would be led away from the space at the bottom of
the vessel F by a pipe or duct and collected: also the ducts would be dispensed
with.
It will be observed from the Drawings that the length of run or surface for the
gases of combustion to pass over relatively to the grate area is large in comparison to
that ordinarily employed in steam generators of tubulous type. This extra length of
run, or surface is provided to give a greater length of time for the gases to radiate
their heat to the metal of the tubes, such greater length of time being rendered
necessary by the physical fact of the slow radiating power possessed by gases of
complete combustion as compared with those containing solid particles of carbon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we would state in conclusion that we
are aware that steam generators in which gas is first produced and then burned in the
vertical tube filled vessels has heretofore been proposed and we make no claim to such
in principle of arrangement, or operation, but what we claim in respect of the herein
described invention is:
First. Apparatus comprising (1) a gas producer A having above it a sediment
depositing vessel B, and (2) vessels D D and E constituting water heating, or steam
generating vessels, the gases from the gas producer being first passed through the
vessels D D and then through the vessel E; all connected and operating as, or sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. In apparatus in which gas is produced from coal and utilized as described,
effecting the production of such gas as herein described, which consists in disposing
the apertures, or ducts by which the gas is led away, at such a height that all gas
passing therethrough is rendered permanent, and conveying the volatile gases of the
coal given off, by a duct, and passing them with the air through the incandescent
fuel, substantially as set forth.
Third. In apparatus comprising tubulous vessels D, D, E, and a sediment vessel B,
connecting such vessels by pipes e el and d', disposed as described, by which the circu-
lation of the water is effected as herein set forth.
Fourth. In apparatus of the type herein described in which a depositing vessel is
placed above the gas producing vessel, effecting the deposition of the sediment in
such depositing vessel by plates-such as and arranged as described-the plate
in which such deposition is arranged to take place being out of contact with the fire,
all arranged substantially as set forth and as illustrated in the Drawings.

page_text: Fifth. The apparatus herein described and illustrated in the Drawings, comprising
a gas producing vessel A, the water vessels D, D, E and B, steam spaces G, vessel F,
chambers H having the air and gas passages h, and ports ², ³, ducts a³ and f
and duct all constructed disposed and operating as set forth.
12.2
11
2017
T
1000
H. C. BULL & CO., LIMITED.
HENRY CLAY BULL.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.