Process for the Manufacture of Combustible Gas.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by LA SOCIETÉ ANONYME DES MOTEURS
THERMIQUE GARDIE, of 4, Avenue Allard, Nantes (Loire Inferieure),
France.]
Process for the Manufacture of Combustible Gas.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of combustible gas under
a minimum pressure of 3 kilogrammes (6.6 lbs.).
For this purpose a hermetically closed gas producer of any suitable form,
constructed so as to resist high pressures, and in which there is maintained a
constant volume of materials rich in carbon, has forced into it atmospheric air
under a pressure of 3 kilos. and above, previously heated, as also a comparatively
small quantity of steam at a pressure which is regulated according to that of the
compressed air, such steam being intended for enriching the combustible gas by its
decomposition in the producer. The combustible gas issues from the producer at
the, pressure at which the compressed air was introduced.
This process, which is new, inasmuch as the combustible gas is ordinarily
manufactured under atmospheric pressure in the ordinary apparatus, or at least,
only under very insignificant pressure, produces phenomena which have hitherto
been unknown.
The effect of the high-pressure and of the-high-temperature produced thereby
in the gas producer is to prevent the formation of carburets of hydrogen with high
equivalents, and to facilitate the formation of hydrocarbons with low equivalents;
the combustible gases produced are in effect deprived of condensible carburets, tar,
pitch, light or heavy oils; they contain only the hydrocarbons C2H, in large
quantities, and very little hydrocarbons of the composition C*H*. There is also
in these gases no trace of ammoniacal products, ammonia or cyanide bodies, as the
above mentioned high pressure and temperature favour the combination of the
carbon and not of the nitrogen.
This gas burns in the open air with an illuminating flame without trace of
smoke.
Its calorific power at 0° C. and 760 mm. pressure is more than 1600 calorics
per cubic meter, as shewn by experiments made by Mr. A. Witz, Professor of
Lille University, by means of his calorimetric shell.
The mean volumetric composition shewn by more than 100 analyses of
Mr. Maisonneuve, Engineer of the Arts and Manufactures, is as follows:-

page_text: produced being permanent, entirely deprived of condensible hydrocarbons, and
leaving no deposit in the conduit pipes.
2. Suppression of the use of gasholders, in consequence of an instantaneous
production according to the requirements, and very considerable reduction of the
dimensions of the gas producing apparatus; these important results are the
consequence of the pressure of 3 kilos. employed and, in addition, to the high
temperature, which render the producing power of the apparatus independent of
its dimensions and permits an instantaneous production in consequence of the
increase of weight of the elements in the producer and the increase of the speed
of circulation of these elements.
The pressure of 3 kilos. has been taken as the minimum, because it is only at this
pressure that the production of a gas commences that is free from all condensable
carbon; up to that pressure the phenomenon is only incompletely produced, the
improvement becoming greater the higher the pressure rises and becoming complete
at 3 kilos.
The following table gives a comparison between two analyses made, the one, of
gas produced by the gas producer under pressure, the other of gas produced by the
"Dowson" process, which is the process for the manufacture of combustible gas at
atmospheric pressure which most nearly approaches that produced by this
invention. This gas was taken from the Dowson gas holder after having been
purified and freed from condensible carburets, pitch, tar &c., and the ammoniacal
products with which it is always charged, while the improved gas has been taken
directly from the gas producer.
This comparison will demonstrate the difference in the richness of the two gases,
which is entirely to the advantage of the gas produced by the present invention,
as this gas has a calorific capacity of 1600 calories while the Dowson gas attains
with difficulty 1400 calories per cubic metre.
In conclusion, the combustible gas can pass without any intermediate stage
directly from the producer to the place of consumption, motor engines or other
apparatus, which affords the great advantage of allowing numerous applications of
gas motor engines which are at present impossible, in particular to locomotion on
land or at sea.

page_text: As above stated, any combustible matter rich in carbon can be employed for the
above described process of manufacturing combustible gas under pressure in
particular petroleum, which can be introduced in various ways, such as by means
of a steam jet injected into the apparatus.
Dated this 28th day of February 1894.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.
Process for the Manufacture of Combustible Gas.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 relates to a process for the manufacture of combustible gas under
a minimum pressure of 3 kilogrammes per square centimeter, or about 40 lbs. per
square inch.
For this purpose in a hermetically closed gas producer of any suitable form
constructed so as to resist high pressures and lined with refractory material, there
Into this producer is
is maintained a constant volume of materials rich in carbon.
forced heated compressed air under a pressure of 3 kilos. or more, as also a
comparatively small quantity of steam preferably superheated at a pressure which
is regulated according to that of the compressed air. This steam is intended for
enriching the combustible gas by its decomposition in the producer.
The combustible gas issues from the producer at the pressure at which the
compressed air was introduced.
This process, which is new, inasmuch as the combustible gas is usually
manufactured under atmospheric pressure or only a little above it in the ordinary
apparatus, produces phenomena which have hitherto been unknown.
The effect of the high pressure and of the high temperature produced thereby
in the gas producer is to prevent the formation of carburets of hydrogen with high
equivalents and to promote the formation of hydrocarbons with low equivalents;
the combustible gases produced are in fact deprived of condensible carburets, tar,
pitch, light or heavy oils; they contain the hydrocarbons C'H' in large quantities,
and very little of the hydrocarbons having the composition C*H*.
There is also in these gases no trace of ammoniacal products, ammonia or cyanides
as the high pressure and temperature favour the combination of the carbon and
not of the nitrogen.
The gas thus produced burns in the open air with an illuminating flame without
trace of smoke. Its calorific power at 0° C. and 760 mm. pressure is more than
1600 calories per cubic metre as shewn by experiments made by Mr. A. Witz
Engineer, Doctor of Science and Professor of Lille University, by means of his
calorimetric shell.
The mean volumetric composition determined by more than 100 analyses of
| Mr. Maisonneuve, Engineer, is as follows:-

page_text: All these experiments were made on the gas- taken directly from the gas
producer...
The consequences of these various properties are of the greatest importance
involving as they do
1. Suppression of all scrubbers, washers, condensers &c., the gas produced being
permanent, entirely free from condensible hydrocarbons, and leaving no deposit in
the pipes.
2. Suppression of gas bolders, in consequence of the instantaneous production
according to the requirements, and very considerable reduction of the dimensions
of the gas producing apparatus; these important results are the consequence of the
pressure of 3 or more kilos. employed and of the high temperature, which render
the producing power of the apparatus independent of its dimensions and permit an
instantaneous production in consequence of the increased weight of the elements in
the producer and the increase of the speed of circulation of these elements.
The pressure of 3 kilos. has been taken as the minimum, because it is only at this
pressure that the production of a gas commences that is free from all condensible
carbons; up to that pressure the phenomenon is only incompletely produced, the
improvement becoming greater the higher the pressure and becoming complete at
3 kilos. and upwards.
The improvement is also greater the higher the temperature; the producer is
therefore lined with refractory material, and the steam is superheated. The high
pressure also aids in producing the indispensable condition of high temperature.
The following table gives a comparison of two analyses made, the one, of gas
produced by the gas producer under pressure, the other, of gas produced by the
"Dowson process, which is the process for the manufacture of combustible gas at
atmospheric pressure that most pearly approaches the process according to this
invention. This gas was taken from the Dowson gas holder after having been
purified and freed from condensible carburets, pitch, tar &c., and the ammoniacal
products, with which it is always charged whereas the improved gas was taken
directly from the gas producer.

page_text: This comparison demonstrates the difference in richness of the two gases, which
is entirely to the advantage of the gas produced by the present invention, as this
gas has a calorific capacity of 1600 calories whereas the Dowson gas scarcely
reaches 1400 calories per cubic metre.
As above stated, any combustible matter rich in carbon can be employed for the
above described process of manufacturing combustible gas under pressure in
particular petroleum, which can be introduced in various ways, such as by means
of the steam injected into the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed,. I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described process for manufacture of combustible gas under pressure
in a closed producer lined with refractory material with injection of superheated
steam, the gas produced being directly applicable for combustion.
Dated this 8th day of October 1894
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.