Improved Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Carbonic Acid Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Carbonic
Acid Gas.
I, BENJAMIN THOMAS LINDSAY THOMSON of 85 North Side, Clapham
Common, in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention it is proposed to produce pure carbonic acid gas by
passing steam through heated carbon and subsequently passing the resultant gases
through oxide of copper or other material capable of giving up its oxygen to
hydrogen and carbon monoxide so that the final products passing over will be
carbonic acid and steam or vapor.
In carrying out the process it is proposed to have one or more externally heated
retorts containing carbon connected with a source of steam supply, the exit pipe
or pipes from such retorts leading to a gas holder or directly to the oxidizing
retort or retorts which are also externally heated, and the outlet pipe or pipes
from which lead to a condensing chamber and eventually to a gas holder.
When
desired or deemed necessary a pump or exhauster may be used in connection
with the retorts to reduce the internal pressure therein and facilitate the passage
of the gases.
In practice it will probably be preferable to have at least two sets of oxidizing
retorts so arranged that the gases from the carbon retorts can be caused to pass
through them alternately while the material in the retorts temporarily out of use
is being in like manner alternately reoxidized by air forced therethrough
With this construction of apparatus the entire process will be as follows:-The
steam passing through the heated charcoal or carbon is decomposed, the oxygen
combines with the carbon to form carbon monoxide and carbonic acid, and these
gases with the hydrogen set free then pass through the heated oxide of copper
where the carbon monoxide takes up the further atom of oxygen and forms carbonic
acid gas while the hydrogen combines with some of the oxygen and at this
temperature becomes steam or vapor which with the carbonic acid gas passes to a
condenser in which the steam or vapor is thrown down in the form of water while
the carbonic acid gas passes to a suitable holder for subsequent use. In the
meantime the material in the oxidizing retorts previously used has been
reoxidized.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICAT ON.
Improved Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Carbonic
Acid Gas.
I, BENJAMIN THOMAS LINDSAY THOMSON, of 85 North Side, Clapham
Common, in the County of London, Engineer, 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 :-
According to this invention it is proposed to produce pure carbonic acid gas
by passing steam through heated carbon and subsequently passing the resultant.
gases through oxide of copper or other material capable of giving up its oxygen
to hydrogen and carbon monoxide so that the final products passing over will be
carbonic acid and steam or vapor.
In carrying out the process it is proposed to have one or more externally heated
retorts containing carbon connected with a source of steam supply, the exit pipe
or pipes from such retorts leading to a gas holder or directly to the oxidizing
retort or retorts which are also externally heated and the outlet pipe or pipes
from which lead to a condensing chamber and eventually to a gas holder.
When
desired or deemed necessary a pump or exhauster may be used in connection with
the retorts to reduce the internal pressure therein and facilitate the passage of the
gases.
In practice it will probably be preferable to have at least two sets of oxidizing
retorts so arranged that the gases from the carbon retorts can be caused to pass
through them alternately, while the material in the retorts temporarily out of use
is being in like manner alternately reoxidized by air forced therethrough.
With this construction of apparatus the entire process will be as follows:-The
steam passing through the heated charcoal or carbon is decomposel, the oxygen
combines with the carbon to form carbon monoxide and carbonic acid, and these
gares with the hydrogen set free then pass through the heated oxide of copper
where the carbon monoxide takes up the further atom of oxygen and forms
carbonic acid gas while the hydrogen combines with some of the oxygen and at
this temperature becomes steam or vapor which with the carbonic acid gas passes
to a condenser in which the steam or vapor is thrown down in the form of water
while the carbonic acid gas passes to a suitable holder for subsequent use. In
the meantime the material in the oxidizing retorts previously used has been
reoxidized.
A convenient arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my process is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings which represent in side elevation a plant consisting
of one carbon retort, two oxidizing retorts, two washing retorts for the gas, one
acting as a condenser for the steam and two blowers or exhausters together with
the pipe connection and valves.
In said drawings A is the steam inlet pipe, the steam being supplied from any
convenient source. The steam passes into vessel B which is a inetallic or other
retort externally heated and filled with charcoal or other carbon or carbonaceous
matter which as consumed may be replenished through the lid. The contents of
retort B being heated, the steam in passing through becomes decomposed, the
oxygen combining with the carbon and the resultant gases leaving the retort
consist of hydrogen, carbonic oxide, and carbonic acid. These gases with any
impurities they may contain flow from the retort B preferably into an ordinary
gas washer or purifier D (although this may be omitted) from whence they are
drawn by the gas exhauster F. In order to provide for variations between the
speed with which the gas is generated in retort B, and drawn away by exhauster F,
I prefer to place at E an intermediate reservoir or gas holder. The exhauster F

page_text: having received the gas drives it forward through the four way cock G¹ into one of
the oxidizers C. These oxidizers are shown in duplicate and are charged with
metallic oxide or other material which when heated in contact with atmospheric
air will absorb oxygen and when so charged will give off some or all of such
oxygen if hydrogen or carbonic oxide is passed over or through them, and thus
oxidize the gas. The oxidizers are made of metal or other suitable material, and
are externally heated. By means of the two four way cocks G1, G2, the gases
from retort B, or air from the atmosphere may be passed at will alternately
through one of the oxidizers C. When the valves G1, G2, are in the position
shown the gas from G¹ in passing through the oxidizer has its hydrogen converted
into steam and its carbonic oxide converted into carbonic acid. The resulting
mixture of carbonic acid and steam flows through valve G2 and passes into the
cooler washer or condenser J which condenses the steam and washes the carbonic
acid gas which passes thence to a main gas holder or other receptacle. As soon as
the contents of one of the oxidizers are exhausted of their oxygen the valves G1, G³
are reversed, and the gas from retort B is then directed through the other oxidizing
retort C. H is an air blowing machine which is so connected with the valve G³,
the oxidizers C and the valve G¹ that during the period the contents of one
oxidizer is being deprived of its store of oxygen, the coutents of the other oxidizer
is taking up oxygen owing to the passage therethrough of atmospheric air from
blower H. It is of course evident that the plant need not be confined to one or any
particular number of retorts B, or oxidizers C, nor to any particular method of
heating the retorts or oxidizers. The number and size of retorts and oxidizers
naturally depend on the output desired. In many cases it may be preferable to
heat the retorts and oxidizers by gaseous fuel ou the well known regeneration
system, while in some cases the necessary steam required may be generated by
using the heat of the air or gases passing from the retorts and oxidizers.
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 improved process for the manufacture of carbonic acid gas consisting in
passing steam through heated carbon so as to produce carbonic oxide and hydrogen
and subsequently passing these resultant gases through a heated oxide (such as
oxide of copper) or other material capable of giving up its oxygen to hydrogen so
as to produce steam and carbon monoxide so as to form carbonic acid substantially
as described.
2. The improved process for the manufacture of carbonic acid gas consisting in
passing steam through heated carbon so as to produce carbonic oxide and hydrogen
then passing these resultant gases through a heated oxide or material capable of
giving up its oxygen thereto so as to produce carbonic acid and steam then to and
through a washer for the carbonic acid gas and a condenser for the steam
substantially as set forth.
3. The improved arrangement of apparatus for the manufacture and purification
of carbonic acid gas from steam, heated carbon and heated oxide, substantially as
described.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.