IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for
"
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN communicated to him from abroad by
Erazm J. Jerzmanowski of New York in the United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1883.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN communicated
to me from abroad by Erazm J Jerzmanowski of New York in the United States
of America
"
This invention relates to an improved process for the production of a gas con-
taining a large percentage of hydrogen by the action of hot lime and by it I am
enabled to produce what I shall call hydrogen gas but which is in fact hydrogen
gas carrying certain impurities with it which may be subsequently converted
into illuminating gas by carburation, and to apparatus for carrying the same into
effect.
I will first describe the apparatus which can be readily understood from the
accompanying Drawings and subsequently the method of its use and the
be carried out thereby.
process to
Figure 1 represents a plan view of one arrangement of the apparatus showing
the principal parts; and Figure 2 a vertical view of the same partly in section
upon the line X. X. through Figure 1. A represents a gasogene or generator for
producing beating gas preferably of one of the well known forms for producing
carbonic oxide or other heating gas.
I do not limit myself to any specific form of this apparatus. The gas produced
in this apparatus is carried off through the pipes G. G¹. to be used as will be
subsequently described. B represents a vertical chamber designed to hold hot
quick lime which I designate a lime furnace. C represents a cooler for reducing
the temperature of the gas produced in the lime furnace B and condensing the
D

page_text: excess of steam which may be carried by it. D represents a governing bolder into
which the gas passes from the cooler C and which governing holder is designed to
maintain a constant pressure upon the gas and to cause a constant flow through
the subsequent portions of the apparatus thus counteracting the evil results which
might occur from an irregular production of gas.
E. E. E'. E¹. represents chambers containing lime designed to absorb the carbonic
acid which exists in the gas as it flows from the holder D. F. F¹. represent
carburreting and fixing apparatuses whereby the hydrogen gas may be converted
into an illuminating gas if desired, but this process of producing hydrogen is
effective without the use of the carburreting contrivances. P and O represent
washers or hydraulic mains. The motion of the gas in its production is generally
onward from the lime furnace B to the gas pipe N.
I will now detail more specifically the apparatus and its method of operation.
Supposing the chambers D. E. E. E' E'. to be filled with quick lime and the
chambers F. F. with brick or other refractory material I proceed as follows:-I
produce heating gas in the generator in any suitable manner. This I cause to
enter the top of the lime furnace B by the branch pipe K. Air under pressure is
caused to flow through the pipe J to cause the combustion of the burning gas in
the lime furnace B. Of course suitable contrivances, should be provided for lighting
the gas there as elsewhere in the process where the heating gas is to be consumed.
The beating gas and other products of combustion then pass to the lime furnace B
and escape through the purge valve T which may be opened to allow the escape.
The combustion of the gas makes the lime very hot. The lime furnace B being
now filled with hot lime, the purge valve is closed and a suitable valve opened
communicating with the cooler C. Then steam and naptha, petroleum or any
other suitable hydrocarbon are injected together by the injector Hor'they may be
brought together by any other means in the lime furnace B. The steam is
preferably superheated and the heating gas produced in the chamber A may be
used for heating the boiler to produce the steam used in the process as well as for
heating the various converting chambers. The result of the reaction of the hot
lime upon. the hot steam and naptha will be the production of hydrogen and
carbonic acid with a very small amount of carbonic oxide marsh gas and additional
impurities.
The gas produced in this chamber is however remarkably free from impurity
and consists essentially of hydrogen, marsh gas and carbonic acid. From the lime
furnace B.by the pipe d. the gas passes onward through the cooler 'C, which may
be constructed in the ordinary way of such contrivances, the gas preferably not
coming in contact with the cooling water but passing through tubes cooled. by such
water. Thence the gas passes by the pipe M to the governing holder D which
holder is adapted to receive the excess of gas which may be at times produced and
to maintain a constant and sufficient pressure to insure the operation of the process
in the subsequent steps. E. E. and E E¹ represent duplicate lime chambers
through which 'gas may be passed from the holder D for the purpose of absorbing
the carbonic acid. Supposing the chambers E E to be filled with quick lime either
cold or slightly heated, the gas will pass through pipe N to the first lime chamber E
and from that chamber by pipe W to the second chamber and thence to the
washer P. The effect of these chambers will be to thoroughly purify the gas
flowing through them of the carbonic acid which it may contain. It is important
to effect a thorough absorption of the carbonic acid that is its combination with
the quick lime in the chambers E. E.-that the gas be brought in contact with the
lime together with a certain amount of water. A steam supply c is provided by
which an addition of steam may be made if it is necessary or if there should be
too much moisture in the gas it may be condensed in a condenser in the well
known way before it is admitted to the absorption lime chambers. The result
upon the lime will of course be its conversion into carbonate of lime and it will
presently cease to act efficiently in absorbing the carbonic acid, and it then
becomes necessary to revivify or reconvert the lime into quick lime so that it'may

page_text: be subsequently used. In order to accomplish this, the gas is caused to flow
through the other chambers E'. E'. by suitable valves, and burning gas, air and
steam are brought into contact with the carbonate of lime. The burning gas
enters the absorption lime chambers the air by the pipes. G. R. R. and the air may
be caused to enter from the pipe S, the pipe c will add a certain amount of steam
if it be necessary and the apparatus a will serve to ignite the gas. Whether an
additional amount of steam is to be added or not will depend upon the amount of
hydrogen contained in heating gas. The products of this combustion escape by
the purge valves T in the well known way. By the combustion of the heating
gas with a certain amount of hydrogen the carbonate of lime is again converted
into quick lime and the operation may be repeated through the other lime
chambers. I have shown here two sets of lime chambers of two each; but it is
obvious that as many may be employed as is necessary, and more than two may
be employed in the series when desired, also that the chambers might be so
arranged in connection with a valve that the gas would flow through all
of them except one, and that one might be heated by the heating gas
and reconverted into quick lime and then once more thrown into the series,
while some other furnace was being purified. Such a contrivance is frequently
used in gas houses and is generally known as a centre sealing valve. It is
used in connection with purifying boxes there. I have not made full reference
to the different valves to be employed as they will be readily understood by a
competent gas engineer. From the washer P the hydrogen passes to the carburreter
and fixing apparatus F. This apparatus is also shewn in duplicate and the
refractory material within it should be heated by combustion of the heating gas
with air in the same manner as the lime chambers E. E. but no steam need be
added. When one of these chambers has been sufficiently heated the hydrogen is
caused to flow through it and at the same time carburreting material, as for instance
naphtha petroleum or its equivalent is caused to pass through the pipe b. The
naptha will thus be vaporized in the presence of the hydrogen, and subsequently
converted into a fixed gas by the hot portions of the refractory material beneath,
and it thence passes through the hydraulic main O and gas pipe V to the
distributing holder. Instead of the apparatus F. F'. the well known carbureters
and fixing retorts used in the water gas process might be employed. The lime
furnace B and the lime chambers E. E. E'. E. should be constructed of material
as free as possible from silex as for instance, magnesium, brick or some equivalent
material. It is very important that no glaze should occur upon the surface of the
lime, as this would prevent its proper action upon the gases. I have shewn here
one form of lime chamber B. E E. E' E', but I do not limit myself to this
construction as the gas might enter below instead of above, or be arranged in other
ways. It is preferred however that it should enter above as shown. By this
construction and arrangement the absorption chambers are entirely separated from
the lime furnace and interposed between them is a governing holder D in which
the temperature of the hot gases produced in the lime furnace may be greatly
reduced before it is brought in contact with the cool lime in the absorption
chambers. It is very important for the proper operation of these chambers that
the flow of gas through them be constantly regulated, and that the gas be not
so hot as to prevent their proper operation. If the gas be very hot, the lime
in them soon ceases to properly perform its function and the process is at
an end.
•
The invention above described is distinguished from modes of manufacturing
gas heretofore pursued by the maintaining (by a governing holder) of an even
pressure upon the gas. When the gas is stored in an ordinary tank reservoir the
pressure varies according to the supply, but when a holder is used which can be
filled with gas or substantially emptied, an even pressure is maintained, the
amount of carbonic acid which may exist in the gas is rendered uniform
throughout the whole body, and the gas is reduced in temperature so as to
produce the proper effect when it is passed to the absorption lime chambers.

page_text: Illuminating gas has been made by first producing an impure hydrogen and
storing it in a reservoir; and such gas has been purified by lime at a red heat and
then carburetted and the mixture fixed in hot retorts, the present invention is
distinguished from this by the successive treatment with hot and cooler bodies of
lime as set forth.
In the apparatus just described an independent gas generator is used for heating
the lime but by using the apparatus shown in Figure 3 this independent generator
may be dispensed with.
By this improvement said independent gas generator for heating the lime in the
generator may be dispensed with the same pipes and connections for heating
the generator and for supplying the material to be converted into gas may be
utilized. :
The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying Drawings
Figure 3 in which A represents the generator filled with lime as before described,
previously marked B:
B represents the pipe through which the hydrogen gas produced is to be
delivered.
Can escape pipe or chimney..
D. E and F represent pipes for supplying steam air, and naptha respectively.
Assuming the lime to be heated the valves in pipes D and C will be open
thereby injecting steam and any liquid hydrocarbon such as petroleum, naptha &
which will pass through pipe B to be treated in subsequent operations. After the
lime has been cooled below the point at which conversion occurs, the valve in
pipe B is closed and a valve in chimney C opened; then air being admitted through
pipe E, a combustion will occur of the steam, air and naptha or other hydrocarbon
making an intense beat and again raising the limit to the point of conversion. Of
course, if the lime were not sufficiently hot to light the injected steam, air and
hydrocarbon a suitable apparatus should be provided for initiating their
combustion which would be the case when the lime was cold. By this process the
previous method is greatly simplified and the use of coal in the process is avoided
and also additional gas generators is got rid of.
The effect also upon the lime of this combustion is much superior to the effect
produced by water gas because no sulphuric impurities are driven upon it and
therefore the gas resulting from the subsequent injection of steam and naptha is
purer.
It is obvious that some other arrangement besides that of the pipes D., E and F
might be employed and also that steam need not necessarily be injected in heating
the lime although it is preferred to do so.
What I claim as the invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
First. The process of producing hydrogen herein described which consists in
bringing naptha vapour and steam into contact with a highly heated body of lime,
thereby decomposing the hydrogen compounds contained in the naptha vapour and
steam, of cooling said product, and of then causing a regulated constant stream
under uniform pressure to flow through a chamber or chambers containing lime in
a cooler condition than the body of lime first used, for the purpose of absorbing
the free carbonic acid which may exist in the gas, substantially as described.
Second. The process of manufacturing illuminating gas which consists in
bringing naptha vapour and steam into contact with a highly heated body of lime,.
thereby decomposing the hydrogen compounds contained in the naptha vapour and
steam and then passing the gaseous products through a body of lime at a lower
temperature than that first used whereby carbonic acid is absorbed, and of then
carburetting the produced gas and fixing the same by heat, the whole constituting
a continuous series of operations, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the lime furnace B the cooler C, the regulating
holder D and one or more absorption lime chambers E, substantially as
described.
Fourth. The combination of the lime furnace B governing holder D, one or

page_text: more lime chambers E and a carburetter and fixing apparatus F, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The combination of the heating gas generator A lime furnace B one or
more absorption lime chambers E and the carburetter and fixing apparatus F and
the connections shown, whereby the heating gas may be used to heat the lime
furnace the absorption lime chamber, and a carburetter at will, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The process of producing hydrogen gas which consists in subjecting
steam and hydrocarbon to a heated body of lime until said lime has become cool,
and in them heating said lime by the combustion of stream, [sic] hydrocarbon and
air substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination of the lime chamber with steam, air and naptha
pipes, whereby said lime may be heated and gas may be produced alternately by
manipulating the valves in said pipes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.