IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES AND IN APPLIANCES THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Seddon Sutherland
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1883.
WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND, of Birmingham in the county of Warwick,
Engineer, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE
GASES AND IN APPLIANCES THEREFOR
My invention consists:—
First. In adding to the coal or fuel to be gasified or carbonized in any gas
producer or retort a substance or substances which being decomposed or acted
upon in the said producer or retort will give up or yield hydrogon to the (nascent)
nitrogen in the fuel and thus form ammonia whilst the ammonia thus produced is
fixed by a suitable acid produced or given out by the decomposition of the said
substance or by the action upon the same in the said producer
The substance that I prefer to use is a soluble hydrated chloride as the hydrated
chloride of calcium which may be poured on to the fuel before it is put into the
said producer or retort, in proper proportions in the form of a solution of suitable
strength say 5 per cent by weight. The said substance should if possible be in
excess. Instead of a soluble hydrated chlorido an insoluble hydrated salt may be
used as is evident. A hydrated sulphate as the sulphate of lime or gypsum, the
sulphate of alumina or a double sulphate as alum or the sulphate of manganese
may be used. The sulphite of soda or of lime may also be used and other
substances may occur which fulfil the requisite conditions.
In adding to the fuel, pyrites, the bisulphide of iron or other substance containing
sulphur which by its combustion along with the fuel or in the ash of the said

page_text: fuel forms sulphurous acid or sulphuric acid or both which acid fixes the ammonia
passing off from the coal. The hydrogen is obtained from the water in the fuel
or the fuel or substance or both may be moistened or in many cases steam may be
passed into the producer or retort to form water gas.
Second. Instead of a hydrated chloride or other salt a salt which is merely
capable of giving out an acid may be used and the hydrogen obtained from the
water in the fuel or from the steam or water used to form water gas.
The proportions of the substances to be added will vary with the fuel used and
will be easily found by analysis
Third. In order to take up any excess of acid which may remain in the gas after
it has passed through the scrubbers or other necessary means for separating the
ammoniacal salts, the said gas should be passed through lime or other purifiers or
in some cases the chlorido or sulphate of manganese or iron in solution may be
employed to wash the gas so that a double decomposition may ensue by which the
sulphurous acid is thrown down and the ammoniacal salt held in solution. Other
suitable solutions will occur
Fourth. In order to produce combustible gas by the mutual actions of superheated
steam and carbonaceous fuel I combine together two gas producers or a suitable
fire place and one gas producer with a continuous superheater and a steam supply
The combination is so formed that part of the fuel being burnt or consuined in one
of the producers or fire places the heated gases produced by the combustion of the
said fuel pass into the continuous.superheater in one direction and the steam from
the supply being passed into the continuous superheater in the opposite direction
the heat conducted through the heat conducting surfaces separating the hot gases
from the steam into the steam from the hot gases. By this means the said steam
is heated up to a sufficiently high temperature and is then conducted by suitable
passages into the other producer where it is passed through the other portion of the
fuel contained therein and heats it up to-such a-temperature that a mutual action
is produced between the carbon in the said fuel and the steam and carbonic oxide,
and hydrogen with hydrocarbons or the mixture of gases known as water gas is
produced which mixture when raw fuel is used is passed through suitable apparatus
for separating the tar and ammoniacal products and in any case is passed on
for uso
Fifth. If the portion of fuel used to heat up the steam. passing through the
superheater be burnt as completely as possible in its containing fire place and the
intensely hot gases be then passed at the required temperaturo into the continuous
superheater it will be found very difficult to keep in repair the parts of the
superheater into which the said gases first enter. In order to obviate this I make
both fuel chambers of sufficient depth and thus make the well known producer
gas from the first portion of fuel. This gas passes on into the proper passage in
the superheater in sufficiently thin streams side by side with air heated or not and
in such a manner that combustion takes place inside the said passages which are
surrounded by the superheated steam. By this menus the temperature can be
controlled by properly proportioning the steam to the gases and air, and the
impingement of intensely heated gases against the end walls or surfaces containing
the steam is prevented. As further means for preventing distruction of these end
surfaces or walls I make them hollow and to contain steam cold air or water.
water be used these walls should be made of a thin iron vessel coated with fire
bricks or other nonconducting refractory material and the water should circulate
through it.
If
Sixth. In order to keep the said continuous superheater steam tight I prefer to
make it of a number of tubes or passages of suitable heat conducting and
refractory material placed preferably parallel and at a suitable distance apart and
in one long length or jointed up in lengths with faucet and spigot joints or other
known meaus. The ends of the tubes or passages are held by walls of suitable
refractory material so as to keep them the right distance apart and walls or
containing surfaces of non-conducting material are extended between the end walls
'

page_text: holding the ends of the tubes or passages thus forming a chamber containing the
steam to be superheated which is passed into the superheater so as to move in the
opposite direction to that of the hot gases inside the tubes or passages.
Seventh. As further means for preventing leakage of steam and excessive wear
and tear at the joints I place over the end walls of the superheater plates
preferably of iron perforated to correspond with the tubes or passages for tho
gases and air. The plate through which the gases and air enter the superheater
which is of course next the hot end I make very strong but the one at the other
end I make very thin and pliable and I have another strong plate placed preferably
parallel at a suitable distance from this pliable plate and having screwed holes
opposite the end of each tube or passage so that a screwed pin having a ferule on
the end may be pressed against the part of the pliable plate surrounding the end
of the tube or passage. By this means each tube or passage is separately adjusted
and held steamtight between the strong face plate at one end and the pliable plato
at the other end. The ferule is of course made so as not to obstruct the course of
the gases and the plates are of course suitably jointed and braced together
preferably by extending an iron casing between the end plates which shall contain.
the longitudinal walls of the superheater and hold it together and to which casing
the face plates and the pliable plate are joined by angle irons. The space between
the pliable plate and the face plate holding the screws thus forms a chamber for the
waste gases which pass into a chimney or into an exhauster.
Eighth. As a convenient and suitable manner of constructing what I call the
first producer and its connection to the superheater I form a chamber over the fuel
in the said producer one side of which consists of a thick cast iron plate perforated
to correspond with the tubes or passages in the superheater. From these holes or
perforations thin tubes of refractory conducting material extend to conduct the
gases from the producer into the tubes or passages in the superheater the thin
tubes being made smaller than the tubes or passages in the superheater so as to
admit of air heated or not passing into the said tubes or passages around the said
gases. I admit the said gases preferably in the interior of all tubes and passages
and not around them because they can be thus moro easily cleaned out and freed
from dust and tar carried on with the said gases. The space round the thin tubes
being closed in forms a convenient air chamber into which the air heated or not
may be admitted by a suitable valve or valves. It is a convenient and good way
of working to use ordinary gas coke in the first producer to heat up the steam
whilst raw fuel may be used in the second. By this means no products are
wasted.
Ninth. As improved means of treating the fuel in gas producers I have a central
revolving stirrer preferably worked from the top and formed at the bottom with a.
strong preferably diamond shaped point to enter and break up the fuel and having
two or more blades or fangs on the side made like the blades of a Griffith's screw
propeller to screw their way into the fuel and complete the breaking up and at
the same time force the fuel against the side walls. The stirrer is worked by
capstan bars, levers, steam, hydraulic or other power and may be held by chains
and pullies
Tenth. The superbeater, producers, or any of the parts may be carried on bogios
or suitable means for moving them for repairs.
When steam jets are used to urge producers I fit such jets or the pipes with
which they connect with valves or taps to adjust and vary the proportions of
steam and air used so that either may be in excess.
Eleventh. For the purpose of fixing the ammonia in beating gases from producers
I employ a solution slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid in the washer or
scrubber

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Seddon Sutherland in the Patent Office on the 11th February
1884.
WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND of Birmingham in the County of Warwick.
Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE 5
GASES AND IN APPLIANCES THEREFOR
My invention consists:—
"
First. In adding to the coal or fuel to be gasified or carbonized in any gas
producer or retort a substance or substances which being decomposed or acted upon
in the said producer or retort will give up or yield Hydrogen to the (nascent) 1
nitrogen in the fuel and thus form ammonia whilst the ammonia thus produced is
fixed by a suitable acid produced or given out by the decomposition of the said
substance or by the action upon the same in the said producer. The substance
that I prefer to use is a soluble hydrated chloride as the hydrated chloride of
calcium which may be poured on to the fuel before it is put into the said producer
or retort in proper proportions in the form of a solution of suitable strength say
5 per cent by weight. The said substance should if possible be in excess
Instead of a (soluble) hydrated) chloride an insoluble hydrated salt inay be used
as is evident. A hydrated sulphate as the sulphate of lime or gypsum, the sulphate
of alumina or a double sulphate as alum, or the sulphate of manganese may be !
used. The sulphite of soda or of lime may also be used and other substances may
occur which fulfil the requisito conditions. In adding to the fuel Pyrites-the
Bisulphide of Iron or other substance containing sulphur by its combustion along
with the fuel or in the ash of the said fuel forms sulphurous acid or sulphuric acid
or both, which acid fixes the ammonia passing off from the coal. The hydrogen is
obtained from the water in the fuel or the fuel or substance or both may be
moistened or in many cases steam may be passed into the producer or retort to
form water gas.
Second. Instead of a hydrated chloride or other salt a salt which is merely
capable of giving out an acid may be used and the hydrogen obtained from the
water in the fuel or from the steam or water used to form water gas.
The proportions of the substances to be added will vary with the fuel used and
will be easily found by analysis.
Third. In order to take up any excess of acid which may remain in the gas after
it has passed through the scrubbers or other necessary means for separating the
ammoniacal salts the said gas should be passed through lime or other purifiers or
in some cases the chloride or sulphate of manganeso or iron in solution may be
employed to wash the gas so that a double decomposition may ensue by which the
sulphurous acid is thrown down and the ammoniacal salt held in solution Other
suitable solutions will occur.
Fourth In order to produce combustible gas by the mutual actions of super-
heated steain and carbonaceous fuel.
I combine two gas producers or a suitable fire place and one gas producer with
a continuous superheater and a steam supply. The combination is so formed that
part of the fuel being burned or consumed in one of the producers or fire places the
heated gases produced by the combustion of the said fuel pass into the continuous
superheater in one direction and the steam from the supply being passed into the
continuous superheater in the opposite direction the heat is conducted through the
heat conducting surfaces separating the hot gases from the steam into the steam
from the hot gases. By this means the said steam is heated up to a sufficiently

page_text: high temperature and is then conducted by suitable passages into the other
producer when it is passed through the other portion of the fuel contained therein
and beats it up to such a temperature that a mutual action is produced between
the carbon in the said fuel and the steam and carbonic oxide and hydrogen with
hydrocarbons or the mixture of gases known as water gas is produced which
mixture when raw fuel is used is passed through suitable apparatus for separating
the tar and ammonical products and in any case is passed on for use.
:
Fifth If the portion of fuel used to heat up the steam passing through the
superheater be burnt as completely as possible in its containing fuel chamber and
the intensely hot gases be then passed at the required temperature into the
continuous superheater it will be found very difficult to keep in repair the parts
of the superheater into which the said gases first enter. In order to obviate this
I make such fuel chamber of sufficient depth to make the well known producer
gas. This gas passes on into the proper passage in the superheater in sufficiently
thin streams side by side with air heated or not and in such a manner that
combustion takes place inside the said passages which are surrounded by the
superheated steam. By this means the temperature can be controlled by properly
proportioning the steam to the gases and air and the impingement of intensely
heated gases against the end walls or surfaces containing the steam is prevented.
As further means for preventing destruction of these end surfaces or walls I make
them hollow and to contain steam cold air or water. If water be used those wulls
should be made of a thin iron vessel coated with fire brick or other non-conducting
refractory material and the water should circulate through it.
Sixth. In order to keep the said continuous superheater steam tight I prefer to
make it of a number of tubes or passages of suitable heat conducting and
refractory material placed preferably parallel and at a suitable distance apart and
in one long length or jointed up in lengths with faucet and spigott joints or other
known means. The ends of the tubes or passages are held by walls of suitable
refractory material so as to keep them the right distance apart and walls or
containing surfaces of non conducting material are extended between the end
walls holding the ends of the tubes or passages thus forming a chamber containing
the steam to be superheated which is passed into the superheater so as to move in
the opposite direction to that of the hot gases inside the tubes or passages
Seventh. As further means for preventing leakage of steam and excessive wear
and tear at the joints I place over the end walls of the superheater plates preferably
of iron perforated to correspond with the tubes or passages for the gases and air.
The plate through which the gases and air enter the superheater which is of course
next the hot end I make very strong but the one at the other end I make very
thin and pliable, and I have another strong plate placed preferably parallel at a
suitable distance from this pliable plate and having screwed holes opposite the
end of each tube or passage so that a screwed pin having a ferrulo on the end may
be pressed against the part of the pliable plate surrounding the end of the tube or
passage. By this means each tube or passage is separately adjusted and held steam
tight between the strong brace plate at one end and the pliable plate at the other
end. The ferrule is of course made so as not to obstruct the course of the gases,
and the plates are of course suitably jointed and braced together preferably by
extending an iron casing between the end plates which shall contain the
longitudinal walls of the superlicater and hold it together and to which casing the
brace plates and the pliable plato are joined by angle irons. The space between
the pliable plate and the brace plate holding the screws thus forms a chamber for
the waste gases which pass into a chimney or into an exhauster.
Eighth. As a convenient and suitable manner of constructing what I call the
first producer and its connection to the superheater I form a chamber over the
fuel in the said producer one side of which consists of a thick cast iron plate
perforated to correspond with the tubes or passages in the superheater. From
these holes or perforations thin tubes of refractory conducting material extend
to conduct the gases from the producer into the tubes or passages in the

page_text: superheater the thin tubes being made smaller than the tubes or passages in the
superheater so as to admit of air heated or not passing into the said tubes or
passages around the said gases. I admit the said gases preferably in the interior
of all tubes and passages and not around them because they can be thus more
easily cleaned out and freed from dust and tar carried on with the said gases. The
space round the thin tubes being closed in forms a convenient air chamber into
which the air heated or not may be admitted by a suitable valve or valves. It is
à convenient and good way of working to use ordinary gas coke in the first
producer to heat up the steam whilst raw fuel may be used in the second. By
this means no products are wasted.
Ninth. As improved means of treating the fuel in gas producers I have a central
revolving stirrer preferably worked from the top and formed at the bottom with a
strong preferably diamond shaped point to enter and break up the fuel and having
two or more blades or fangs on the side made like the blados of a Griffiths's screw
propeller to screw their way into the fuel and complete the breaking up and at the
same time force the fuel against the side walls: The stirrer is worked by capstan
bars levers steam hydraulic or other power and may be held in position by chains
and pullies.
Teath. The superheater producers or any of the parts may be carried on bogics
or suitable means for moving them for repairing.
When steam jets are used to urge producers I fit such jets or the pipes with
which they connect with valves or taps.
Eleventh. For the purpose of fixing the ammonia in heating gases from
producers I employ a solution slightly acidulated with. sulphuric acid in the washer
or scrubber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In all the views the same figures denote like parts.
Fig 1 is a longitudinal section, figure 2 a transverse section at the line A A.
fig 3 a transverse section at the line B B. and fig 4 a view in plan and section of
appliances to be used in the production and purification of combustible gases under
my invention, and illustrative more particularly of the fourth fifth sixth and
seventh heads thereof.
Under the fourth head. 1 is the fire place or place where combustion takes
place. 2 gas producer, 3 continuous superheater, 4 the steam supply pipe under the
fourth part of my invention.
Under the fifth head. A fuel chamber 5 of sufficient depth to make carbonic
oxide or the well known producer gas from -fuel burned on the grate G, the said
gaseous fuel is then conducted to the fire place 1 above mentioned.
Under the sixth head. the superheater 3 is made of a number of fire clay tubes
or tubes of like material 7 connected together in lengths by faucett & spigot
joints 8. The said tubes are carried at their ends next the fire place 1 by a wall of
refractory material 9 and are so kept the right distances apart. 10 are walls
extending from the end wall. 9. to the end wall or plate 11 so as to form a
chamber through which the steam passes on its way from the generator to the
producer 2.
Under the seventh head. a strong metal plato 12 is placed against the end wall 9
and is perforated to correspond with position of the tubes 7. The end wall or
plate 11 is of thin pliable metal and is secured to the walls 10 in any suitable
manner. A strong plate 13 parallel to the said plate 11 and a suitable distance
beyond it is also secured to the said walls 10. The said plate 13 has screwed
holes 14 opposite the end of each tube 7 so that screwed pins 15 having ferrules 16
on their ends are pressed against the parts of the pliable plates surrounding the
ends of the tubes 7 so as to make tight joints. 17 iron casing extending between
and connected to the end plates 13 and 12. to hold the walls and parts in position―
The chamber formed between the plates 11 and 13 is provided with a chimney 18,

page_text: through which the waste gases from the fuel chamber 5 pass away after having
superheated the steam passing to the producer 2.
Under the eighth head. The fuel chambor or first producer 5 is extended
upwards to form a chamber one side of which is provided with a thick cast iron
perforated plate 19. The said plate 19 is fitted with pipes 20 of refractory
conducting material such as iron and are carried a certain distance into the tubes 7.
The said pipes 20 are smaller than the tubes 7 so that spaces are loft through
which air may be admitted from the chamber between the plates 12 and 19.
Valves are provided for regulating shutting off and admitting air.
The method of using under my invention the appliances above illustrated and
described is as follows:-fuel is placed in the chambers 2 and 5. The fuel in 5 is
lit and allowed to burn into carbonic oxide or so called producer gas the said gas
passes through the pipes 20 to the fire places 1 where it meets air from the
chamber between the plates 12 and 19. Combustion is here completed and the.
heated products flow through the tubes 7 into the chamber between the plates 11
and 13 and thence away through the chimney.18. Steam enters the chamber
around the tubes 7. through the supply pipe 4 and passes too through a passago 21
to the producer 2 beneath the fuel therein through the said fuel burning it into
so called water gas, and thence to purifiers or furnaces, as the case may be through
the way 22.
The fuel in 2 is stirred when necessary by means of apparatus hereinafter
described the position of which is indicated at 23.
Figs 5. 6. and 7 show appliances similar to those hereinbefore described with
the exception that gaseous fuel for the fire places 1 is obtained from the producer
in 2 or from any other suitable generator and led into a chamber 24 whence it
passes through the pipes 20 into the tubes 7.
Figs 8 and 9 illustrate a further modification of appliances in which the
chamber 24 is supplied with mixed gas and air through the pipe 25. Safety
valves 20 are fitted to the said chamber. The mixed gases pass from the
chamber 24 through the pipes 20 into the tubes 7. The pipes 20 are in this
cuse surrounded by a box 27 through which water is caused to circulate.
Fig 10 is a sectional view of appliances under my invention illustrative more
particularly of the fourth head thereof. Here the fuel chamber 5 and fire place 1
are combined so as to form a single chamber and the products of combustion pass
through the pipes 20 into the tubes 7. The end wall 9 which separates the
superheater from the fire place is hollow and water is caused to circulate in the
space 29 so formed around the pipes 20. The pipos 20 in this case are lined with
fire brick or like material.
Figs 11. and 12 show in detail the method of securing the tubes 7 at their
outer ends. The screws 15 act on springs 30 which in their turn press against the
ferrule spindle 16.
Fig 13 is a sectional view of one of the tubes 7 and pipes 20.
Fig 14 is an elevation of stirring appliances under the ninth head of my
invention 31 is a revolving spindle formed at the bottom with a strong diamond
shaped point or stirrer 32. The said stirrer and spindle are caused to rise and fall
and to revolve by means of manual power applied to the weighted arms 33. To
facilitate operating the stirrer a balance weight 34 is connected to the spindle 31
by the chain 35 passing over the guide pulleys 36. 37 is the fuel feed hopper
of a producer through which in this case the stirrer passes.
Instead of actuating
the stirrer by manual power bevel belt or other gearing operated by a suitablo
motor may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention in such manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements
into effect, I claim :-
First. The production and purification of combustible gases substantially as
herein setforth.

page_text: Second. Appliances for the production and purification of combustible gases
substantially as herein setforth.
Third. The production and purification of combustible gases and appliances
therefor substantially as setforth.
Fourth. Adding to coal or fuel to be gasified or carbonized in a producer or
retort a sort capable of evolving hydrogen and an acid acting substantially as
setforth under the first head..
Fifth. Adding to coal or fuel to be gasified or carbonized in a producer or retort
a sort capable of decomposition so as to give off an acid substantially as setforth
under the second head.
Sixth. Passing gas produced under the first or second heads through purifiers
substantially as setforth under the third head.
Seventh. Producing combustible gas by means of the passage of superheated
steam through carbonaceous fuel when the superheating of the steam is effected
by combustion acting on the steam alone substantially as setforth under the fourth
head.
Eighth. The combination of two gas producers with a continuous superheater
and a steam supply substantially as setforth under the fourth part.
Ninth. The combination of a fire place and gas producer and a continuous
superbeater and a steam supply substantially as set forth under the fourth part.
Tenth. Appliances for the production of combustiblo gases substantially as set-
forth under the fifth head,
Eleventh Constructing superheaters substantially as setforth under the sixth
and seventh heads
Twelfth. Constructing producers substantially as setforth under the eighth
head.
Thirteenth.-The-appliances for stirring, fuel. in producers, substantially as set-
forth under the ninth head.
Fourteenth Carrying the superheater producer or other parts on bogies
substantially as setforth under the tenth part.
Fifteenth. In employing with combustible gases obtained substantially as hercin
Betforth an acid solution in the scrubbers or purifiers for the purpose specified.
In Witness Whereof I the said William Seddon Sutherland have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eighth day of February in the year of Our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty threc. [sic]
WITT TAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND
(ra)
JAMES JOHNSON
Patent Office
4 Clayton Sqr
Lpool.
WITT TAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND
(10)
Witness