An Improved Method or Process for Use in Obtaining Hydrogen Gas from Water, and Means for Obtaining by the Aid of such Method or Process Carburetted Hydrogen and other Combinations of Hydrogen, and Apparatus for. Use in such Method or Process.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Process for Use in Obtaining Hydrogen Gas
from Water, and Means for Obtaining by the Aid of such Method
or Process Carburetted Hydrogen and other Combinations of
Hydrogen, and Apparatus for. Use in such Method or Process.
1, JOHN GREEN, M.R.C.S., etc., of Montford House, Waterloo Road South,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention. to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an improved method or process by the use of
which hydrogen gas is obtained from steam, or carburetted hydrogen or other
combination of hydrogen. is obtained from steam and carbon (in the form of a
hydro-carbon) or other substance which in combination with hydrogen will form
the desired combination; and comprises also apparatus for use in such method or
process.
The method or process by which, according to this invention, hydrogen is obtained
from steam, consists in burning steam with hydrogen gas or with carburetted
hydrogen or other hydrogen compound, or carbon monoxide. If it is desired to
produce carburetted hydrogen or other hydrogen compound, hydro-carbon or other
substance as may be required to cause the desired combination with hydrogen, is
supplied with the steam and is burnt therewith and with hydrogen or a compound
thereof, or carbon monoxide, which is separately supplied; or the hydro-carbon or
other substance to cause the desired combination with the hydrogen of the steam
may be brought in in association with the hydrogen or combination thereof, or
carbon monoxide, which would be used for burning with the steam if it were desired
to obtain simply hydrogen gas.
Apparatus employed according to this invention for use in the above method or
process comprises, a chamber having an outlet pipe from the top. which commu-
nicates with a gas holder. The steam and gas which are to be burnt together to
obtain hydrogen are brought into the chamber and burnt within it, and the resulting
hydrogen together with the hydrogen brought into the chamber not in combination
in the steam, or the hydro-carbon, or carbon monoxide, in lieu thereof, passes out
through the pipe from the top of the chamber and is collected within the gas holder.
If it is desired to obtain hydrogen in combination, such for instance as carburetted
hydrogen, the carbon (in the form of a hydro-carbon), or other substance to cause
the desired combination with the hydrogen of the steam, may be brought into the
chamber either directly in association with the steam or in association with the gas
which is to be burnt with the steam.
.
The steam and gas each pass through a considerable length of tubing coiled or
otherwise arranged within the chamber, and thus both are heated (and the steam
thus dried or superheated) on their passage to the point at which they are burnt
in combination. The initial heat of the chamber is got up by first burning the gas
only, air to support combustion being supplied through a suitable opening in the
wall of the chamber and the products of combustion passing off into the atmosphere
through an opening at the top of the chamber. While the heat is being got up,
the communication between the chamber and gas holder is closed. When the
interior of the chamber has become thoroughly heated, the steam is turned on; the
outlet to the atmosphere is then closed up, and the communication opened between

page_text: the chamber and the gas holder.
closed when the steam is turned on.
The inlet opening to the chamber should be
The chamber may be supplied with iron turnings or filings, or be filled, or
partially so, with other material.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Process for Use in Obtaining Hydrogen Gas
from Water, and Means for Obtaining by the Aid of such Method
or Process Carburetted Hydrogen and other Combinations of
Hydrogen, and Apparatus for Use in such Method or Process.
I, JOHN GREEN, M.R.C.S. etc., of Montfort House, Waterloo Road South,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, 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 has for its object an improved method or process by the use of
which hydrogen gas is obtained from steam, or carburetted. hydrogen or other
combination of hydrogen is obtained from steam and carbon (in the form of a
hydro-carbon) or other substance which in combination with hydrogen will form
the desired combination; and comprises also apparatus for use in such method or
process.
The method or process by which, according to this invention, hydrogen is obtained
from steam, consists in burning steam with hydrogen gas or with carburetted
hydrogen or other hydrogen compound, or carbon monoxide. If it is desired to
produce carburetted hydrogen or other hydrogen compound, hydro-carbon or other
substance, as may be required to cause the desired combination with hydrogen, is
burnt with the steam and with hydrogen or a compound thereof, or carbon
monoxide.
Apparatus employed according to this invention for use in the above method or
process comprises, a chamber having an outlet pipe from the top which
communicates with a gas holder. The steam and gas which are to be burnt
together to obtain hydrogen are brought into the chamber and burnt within it, and
the resulting hydrogen passes out through the pipe from the top of the chamber
and is collected within the gas holder. If it is desired to obtain hydrogen in
combination, such for instance as carburetted hydrogen, the carbon (in the form
of a hydro-carbon) or other substance to cause the desired combination with the
hydrogen of the steam, may be brought into the chamber either directly in
association with the steam or in association with the gas which is to be burnt
with the steam.
The steam and gas each pass through a considerable length of tubing coiled or
otherwise arranged within the chamber, and thus both are heated (and the steam
thus dried or superheated) on their passage to the point at which they are burnt
in combination.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a
convenient form of apparatus for use in carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan taken on line x of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on line of Figure 1; and
Figure 4 a sectional plan taken on line y y of Figure 1.

page_text: A is a cylindrical chamber of metal or other suitable material, and B a surrounding
casing of fire-clay material (conveniently surrounded and lined with sheet metal)
or other suitable material, leaving an annular space between itself and the chamber.
This annular space is filled partly with a layer a of asbestos or other suitable fire-
resisting material which immediately surrounds the chamber A, and with a packing
of fireclay bor other suitable fire-resisting material which is filled in between the
layer of asbestos and the interior of the casing B. Both the top and bottom of
the chamber A are closed as shewn, the top being removable for access to the
interior. For convenience of construction, a smaller chamber C is fixed upon
the top of the chamber A and is in communication therewith through the top of the
chamber A. An outlet c from the chamber C communicates with the gas
In the bottom of the
holder which receives the gas from the chamber A.
In the
chamber A is laid a bent tube D closed at one end but open at the end d.
upper portion of the chamber A is a placed a boiler E, from which steam issues
through a pipe e. into one end of a coil F placed within the lower portion of the
chamber A, and after traversing the whole length of the coil the steam passes into
the bent pipe D at the point f. The gas which is used for burning with the
steam is brought into the chamber through a pipe g and into one end of a coil G
placed within the chamber A between the coil F and the boiler E, and this gas,
after traversing the whole length of the coil G, passes into the bent tube D at the
point h. The steam and gas mingle within the tube D, and burn together
at the mouth d of the tube. The heat thus engendered bighly heats the
interior of the chamber A, and consequently the coils F and G, and causes the
ebullition of the water within the boiler E. The gas and steam are thus highly
The combustion of the gas and
heated, the steam being of course superheated.
steam causes the decomposition of the steam and the evolution of hydrogen
gas which passes off through the outlet c to the gas holder, where it is collected
for use.
The gas employed for combustion with the steam may be derived from
the store of gas within the gas holder, or it may, if desired, and preferably would
be in starting an apparatus when no supply of such collected gas was at hand, the
ordinary illuminating gas from the street mains.
If it is desired to produce carburetted hydrogen or other hydrogen compound,
the vapour of hydro-carbon or other substance as may be required to cause the
desired combination with hydrogen, is carried with the steam through the coil F
and into the tube D, and it will be found convenient to cause the vapourization
by introducing the substance into the boiler E, such as by pumping petroleum
thereinto when carburetted hydrogen is to be produced. The water is pumped
into the boiler E through the pipe i, and any substance which it is desired to
vapourise for the purpose aforesaid may be. pumped in a liquid form through
such pipe also. The boiler is provided with a suitable pipe k for connection with
a safety valve and with a pressure gauge m, and is provided also with a suitable
water gauge n.
When the apparatus has once been started to work, it may of course be kept on
continuously, except when it is required to be off for cleaning the boiler or repairs.
The chamber may be initially. heated in any convenient manner, such as by
introducing a jet or jets of gas in combination with air into the space below the
coil F, but the openings through which gas and air are brought for such purpose
must, of course, be closed when the apparatus is at work. A suitable outlet o
controlled by a tap, is provided in the top of the chamber C to allow of the escape
of air and products of combustion while the chamber is being initially heated;
and during such process the communication between the gas holder and the
chamber E is, of course, closed. The outlet o must be closed, as will be obvious,
before the communication is opened between the chamber A and the gas holder.
The space below the coil F not occupied by the pipe D is supplied with iron
turnings, or filings, or the like.
The above described process may be varied by bringing in the gas for com-
bustion with the steam through a Bunsen burner, such as H which is indicated by

page_text: broken lines Figure 4, passed through the side of the chamber A in position so
that the flame of the burner impinges upon the steam, issuing from the bent
pipe D. In such case, the coil G is dispensed with, or may be utilized in heating
hydro carbon or other substance which may be used to effect any desired com
bination with the hydrogen obtained from the steam. In this modification of the
process, the nitrogen which passes through the Bunsen burner is carried off with
the hydrogen from the steam, forming therewith azotised hydrogen.
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 method or process for use in obtaining hydrogen gas from
water, which consists in burning steam with hydrogen gas or with carburetted
hydrogen or other hydrogen compound, or carbon monoxide, within a suitable
chamber, substantially as described.
2. The improved method or process of obtaining carburetted hydrogen or other
combination of hydrogen, which consists in burning together, within a suitable
chamber, steam and hydrogen or carburetted hydrogen or other hydrogen compound,
or carbon monoxide, with a supply of carbon (in the form of hydro carbon) or
other substance which will cause the desired combination with the hydrogen
produced from the steam, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for use in obtaining hydrogen gas from steam, or in obtaining
carburetted hydrogen or other combination of hydrogen from steam and carbon
(in the form of hydro-carbon) or other substance which will form the desired
combination with the hydrogen produced from the steam, which consists of a
chamber within which the steam and gas are burnt, of heating coils or
tubing in
other form through which the steam and gas pass from the boiler and supply pipe,
respectively, of a mixing tube within which the steam and gas mingle and at one
end of which they are burnt, and of a communication between such chamber and
the collecting gas holder, substantially as described.
4. Apparatus for use in obtaining hydrogen gas from steam, or in obtaining
carburetted hydrogen or other combination of hydrogen from steam and carbon
(in the form of hydro-carbon) or other substance which will form the desired
combination with the hydrogen produced from the steam, which consists of a chamber
within which the steam and gas are burnt, of a heating coil or tubing in other
form through which the steam passes from the boiler to the outlet at which it is
burnt, of a Bunsen burner in position for the flame thereof to impinge upon the
steam as it issues from the outlet opening therefor into the chamber, and of a
communication between such chamber and the collecting gas holder, substantially
as described.
5. Apparatus for use in obtaining hydrogen gas from steam, or in obtaining
carburetted hydrogen or other combination of hydrogen from steam and carbon
(in the form of hydro-carbon) or other substance which will form the desired
combination with the hydrogen produced from the steam, substantially as described
and shewn, according to different modifications, by the drawings. herewith.
Dated this 11th day of May 1896
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.