Improvements in the Manufacture of Fuel from Coal Slack and similar Substances, and in Obtaining Tar Products.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fuel from Coal Slack and
similar Substances, and in Obtaining Tar Products.
I, JOHN BOWING, of 259, Gresham House, Old Broad Street, in the City of
London, Consulting Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL FROM COAL SLACK AND
SIMILAR SUBSTANCES AND IN OBTAINING TAR PRODUCTS to be as follows :-
In the Specification filed in pursuance of my Application for Letters Patent
dated 12th July 1888 No. 10137 I described a novel process for incorporating tar
and pitch and similar materials with small coal coke &c. by means of water. My
present invention relates to further improvements on that invention.
According to my former invention the small coal &c. tar and water had in the
first place to be thoroughly mixed together by some mechanical means was allowed
to drain and was then squeezed in a press the briquettes were then dried by
artificial heat so as to drive off the remaining water and any volatile matter.
These operations of mixing the tar with the coal and water and of subsequently
drying necessitate the use of suitable machinery and ovens. The object of my
present invention is to dispense with the necessity of mechanical mixing and with
the use of ovens for drying, and to effect the mixing and drying at one operation
without the use of expensive apparatus.
The process according to my present invention is as follows:-
Having first introduced small coal or other material together with a suitable
amount of water into a suitable steam tight vessel capable of withstanding sufficient
steam pressure and of a convenient form I then place on the top of the small coal
as much tar or other material having regard to the weight of coal in the vessel as
is necessary for the purpose of forming briquettes. I then allow steam from a
boiler to pass into the top of the vessel and gradually to force its way downwards
towards an opening in the bottom which opening is controlled by a cock. The
effect of this operation is that the tar is heated and becomes very fluid and together
with the steam is driven into the body of the mixture coating on its passage the
whole of the fuel particles and a large proportion of the water in the mixture
passes out through the bottom orifice carrying with it the free earthy matter; after
the lapse of some time the water flowing out through the bottom orifice will be
found to be carrying with it a considerable quantity of various tar products which may
be collected and used. Eventually it will be found that practically speaking the
whole of these products which it is desirable to get rid of and collect have passed
out and in the inside of the vessel there will remain a mixture which is substantially
free from water, of small coal and the residue of the tar these two constituents
being uniformly mixed throughout. The time during which the steam pressure is
allowed to continue will depend in a great degree upon the pressure of the steam
and more or less on the amount of materials operated upon.
This hot substantially dry mixture may now be withdrawn from the vessel and
either be immediately compressed into briquettes or if preferred after cooling the
more or less coherent mass may be used as fuel in its uncompressed state.
The tar products which escape from the bottom may be collected and separated
from one another and treated in any convenient manner.
Dated the Thirteenth day of June 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fuel from Coal Slack and
similar Substances, and in Obtaining Tar Products.
I, JOHN BOWING, of Tilbury, in the County of Essex, Consulting Chemist, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF FUEL FROM COAL SLACK AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES AND
OBTAINING TAR PRODUCTS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
IN
In the Specification filed in pursuance of my Application for Letters Patent
12 July 1888 No. 10137 I described a novel process for incorporating tar and pitch
shale oils and similar materials with small coal coke &c. by means of water and
also a novel process for obtaining a variety of tar products. My present invention
relates to further improvements on that invention.
According to my former invention the small coal &c. tar and water had in the
first place to be thoroughly mixed together by some mechanical means the mixture
was then allowed to drain and was then squeezed in a press the briquettes were
then dried by artificial heat so as to drive off the remaining water and any volatile
tar products. These operations of mixing the tar with the coal and water and of
subsequently drying necessitate the use of suitable machinery and ovens. The
object of my present invention is to dispense with the necessity for mechanical
mixing and the use of ovens for drying and to effect the mixing drying and the
extraction of the tar products at one operation without the use of expensive
apparatus.
The process according to my present invention is as follows:-
Having first introduced small coal coke lignite or other similar material together
with a suitable amount of water into a suitable steam tight vessel capable of with-
standing sufficient steam pressure, I place on the top of the small coal or other
material as much tar shale oil or other similar material having regard to the
weight of coal in the vessel as is necessary for the purpose of forming briquettes or
for the extraction of the tar products.
I have found in practice that good results are obtained by using the following
proportions of coal tar or shale oil namely to each ton of coal ten per cent. of tar or
shale oil or about 250 pounds of tar or shale oil to each ton of coal.
I then close the steam tight vessel and allow steam from a boiler to pass into the
top of the vessel and gradually to force its way downwards towards an opening in
the bottom which opening may be controlled by a valve or cock.
The effect of this operation is that the tar is heated and together with the steam
and a variety of tar products is driven into the body of the mixture coating on its
passage the whole of the fuel particles and a large proportion of the water in the
mixture together with steam pass out through the bottom orifice the water
carrying with it free earthy matter. Shortly afterwards the water and steam
flowing out through the bottom orifice will be found to be carrying with them a
considerable quantity of various tar products which may be collected and used.
Eventually it will be found that practically speaking the whole of these products
which it is desirable to collect have passed out of the vessel and in the inside there
will remain a mixture of small coal and the residue of the tar or other material
uniformly mixed throughout this mixture being substantially free from water.
The time during which the steam pressure is allowed to continue will depend in
some degree upon the pressure of the steam and in some degree on the amount and
character of the materials operated upon but the operation should be continued till
sufficient of the tar products have come over.
This hot substantially dry mixture may now be withdrawn from the vessel and
either be immediately compressed into briquettes or if preferred may be used as
fuel in its uncompressed state.

page_text: The tar products which escape from the bottom may be collected and separated
from one another and treated in any convenient manner.
If it is desirable the tar or other material may be thrown into the vessel together
with the coal in their proper proportions instead of being placed entirely on the
top and I find that this is very desirable with certain classes of tars especially those
which tend to become less fluid on heating.
Having now described the nature of my invention, and the way in which it is
to be perfonned, I claim :-
First. Effecting the mixture of coal or coke or lignite or other similar substances
and tar shale oils or other similar substances by treating the coal or other similar
substances when wet and in the presence of tar or other similar substance to the
action of steam substantially as described.
Second. The recovery of the products from tar shale oils and similar substances.
by passing steam through a wet mixture of coal coke or, lignite or other similar
substance and tar shale oil or other similar substance substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of January 18911
JNO. BOWING.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.