Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1891:
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept... 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM HENRY HARRIS, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Gas Engineer.]
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
One object of my invention is to generate gas from bituminous coal and steam
and air supplied thereto to promote combustion, the products of which are suitably
mixed and form a fuel gas or low illuminating gas. Another object of my
invention is to enrich said gas to any desired degree suitable for illuminating
purposes by adding to the fuel gas hydro-carbon, which is also converted into gas
in the process. A third object of my invention is to provide improved means for
carrying on the said process.
The coal is preferably fed in at the top of a generating chamber which may be
kept gas tight in the following manner, a bell is suspended upon a chain over a
drum which can be operated by means of a hand wheel to lower the bell sufficiently
to allow coal to be fed in the ordinary manner. I sometimes use a water chilled
collar on the crown scat, and I prefer not to use grate bars but to remove ashes
through a shute, which is closed by the ordinary sealed door. The air for
promoting combustion is supplied through a series of tuyeres by means of a pump
or fan.
In order to prevent the bridging of the mass of fuel and the formation of
clinkers I sometimes mingle with this air a small quantity of steam which is
supplied by means of a series of steam pipes having a connection with each of
said tuyeres, the supply of steam and air may be regulated by means of separate
valves and an air blow off valve is also provided. The generator is kept supplied
with a sufficient body of coal and a requisite quantity of air to maintain incan-
descence of the bottom portion of the charge and the upper portion is maintained
at a glowing heat. The charge of coal preferably reaches to a small distance
below the steam pipe, preferably from three to four inches. By reason of this
large body of coal and a small body of incandescence, the incandescent gases
generated are caused to pass through the heated body of coal above so as to be
enriched by the carbon in the body of the charge and by the hydrogen of the
steam which is introduced at the base with air to form the blast. Only a sufficient.
quantity of steam should be introduced through the tuyeres to prevent clinkering
and not enough to deaden or slacken the combustion.
I use another steam pipe for supplying additional quantities of hydrogen and
oxygen; this steam may be super-heated by passing through a coil of pipe which
surrounds the upper end of the generating chamber, or in any other convenient
manner, the quantity of super-heated steam admitted above the charge of coal is
regulated by means of a valve. The steam thus admitted strikes the bricks but
does not strike the coal or coke at the top of the charge, and does not slacken the
combustion or generation of gases to nearly so great a degree as when it strikes
the glowing coal or coke, because the charge of coal is not incrusted and the bricks
retain a greater amount of heat than the same area of coke, and because the
glowing mass continues to give off its heat to the super-heated steam introduced
above the mass and to the walls of the generator. These gases are carried off by
an up-take flue.
In order to thoroughly mix these gases and convert them into a fixed form it
is necessary to keep them at a high temperature for a considerable length of time,

page_text: and subject them to frictional resistance which, will cause a thorough mingling of
the currents while in a heated condition, commonly called regenerating. For this
purpose I provide a continuous regenerating chamber, preferably of the serpentine
form filled with a series of balls, which are composed of refractory material capable
of resisting a long continuous high heat; such as silicate of alumina, or material
from which fire brick is made. I have found by experience that when the
regenerative agents are formed of brick or other plain faced 'objects, tliere is a
much greater tendency for the deposition of carbon than when the substances are
made round so as to not form pockets, but curvilinear flies or passages'; in order
to present as much heating surface as possible these balls are made approximately
spherical. The gas and products of combustion are caused to pass through the
series of. serpentine chambers and 'to discharge through the flue into a condensers.
for cooling, whence the gases are taken and washed and purified in the usual
manner.
If it is desired to form an illuminating gas it is necessary to enrich the gas
generated in the generating chamber, and this is accomplished preferably by
introducing crude oil or other hydro-carbon through a pipe, into the regenerating
chamber, so that any desired degree of richness of illuminating gas may be
obtained. I may use a graduated oil feed, with a valve for regulating the flow
into the regenerating chamber, a supply pipe connects the oil feed with the tank
or pump, and a pipe conveys steam from the super heating, coil which heats. the
hydro-carbon and assists in forcing it into the regenerating chamber.
A blow-off pipe may be connected with the water chamber of the water chilled.
collar and a water supply pipe, and a water escape is provided for the said water.
collar.
+
It is necessary in the starting up of this apparatus to raise the regenerative
chamber and the regenerative balls to a high degree of heat before the gas cau
be saved for consumption; at the initial starting there is a deposition of carbon,
in the regenerating chamber which must be removed; I'accomplish this by
supplying air and converting said carbon into a gas by combustion; this
accomplish by means of air supply pipes provided with valves for opening and
closing said pipes, these air supply pipes may be connected with chambers or
passages in which I arrange blow-off pipes provided with regulating valves, so.
that when the aforesaid valves are open the air enters through the pipes, passes,
through the regenerating chamber, ignites the carbon and the products of com.
bustion escape through the blow-off pipes. I continue the operation of igniting
and blowing off the carbon until the regenerative chambers and balls are raised
to a sufficient heat to prevent the accumulation of carbon deposits; so that the
entire product of gas generated in the generator is also subject to contact with
the mass of balls in the regenerative chambers which causes a thorough reunion
of these. gases
and a formation of fixed oxy-hydro-carbon gases.
1 have found that by maintaining a large mass of fuel in the generating
chamber kept at a glowing heat through which the gases produced by the
incandescence are caused to pass and mingle with the gases generated from the
mass of coal above the point of incandescence and by the admission of steam
above the glowing mass without addition of hydro-carbon, a good fuel gas cau
be formed. And by admitting hydro-carbon in the regenerating chamber which
is united with the gases generated from the coal and steam a good illuminating
gás is produced.
21
The mode of operation is as follows:-Kindling is placed upon the hearth of
the generator and ignited; the bell is lowered and a small amount of coal fed in
until there is a sufficient body, when more coal is added and the blast started:
the bell is then raised to form a seal and the air and blow-off pipes are opened
occasionally to force combustion in the regenerative chamber which is continued.
at intervals until the said regenerative chamber is raised approximately to a
white heat, when the plant is in condition for the generation of gas for
storage.

page_text: An important part of my invention consists in conveying hydro-carbon into
the regenerative chamber, the supply pipe then does not become unduly heated
and consequently the hydro-carbon is introduced in a liquid form. If said pipe
should be placed so as to become unduly heated before tapping the regenerative
chamber the hydro-carbon, would be decomposed and carbon deposited in the end
of the pipe which would clog up the same, but, by introducing the hydro-carbon
in the manner herein shown no appreciable deposits of carbon are obtained in
the pipe.
It will be observed that the regenerating chamber has a pitch or lean forward
from the point where the hydro-carbon is admitted, so that in case it is not all
immediately volatilized it will pass down the regenerative chamber and be mixed
with the other gases as it is volatilized.
An important result is accomplished by the process herein described; all the
heat produced by the incandescence of the fuel is utilized not only in the generation
of gases but is also imparted to said gases which in turn impart the same to the
regenerating chamber and its agents; so that a continuous process of generating
gas from coal and super-heated steam and regenerating the same is carried on and
all the volatile products of combustion are utilized by being converted into gas.
The ordinarily non-volatile parts of the coal are rendered volatile by being raised
to a point of incandescence in the charge and as a major portion of the steam
enters to enrich the gas impinged against the heated wall in the generator above
the body of the coal the fire is not slackened, and consequently a much higher
degree of heat is maintained within the generator than in other forms of generators
hitherto employed, and the gases are passed into the generating chamber at a
high degree of heat. The steam introduced above the charge being superheated
enters with great velocity and assists the draught without deadening or slackening
the heat in the generator; consequently the regenerating chamber, can be used
continuously for fixing gas without the necessity of employing two regenerating
chambers and using them alternately.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction
of apparatus above described as 1 may modify the same in various ways without
departing from the nature of my invention.
Dated this 24th day of November 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant
DEPUTATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas and to Apparatus
therefor.
I. HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
One object of my invention is to generate gas from bituminous coal and steam
and air supplied thereto to promote combustion, the products of which are suitably
mixed and form a fuel gas or low illuminating gas. Another object of my inven-
tion is to enrich said gas to any desired degree suitable for illuminating purposes
by adding to the fuel gas hydro-carbon, which is also converted into gas in the
process. A third object of my invention is to provide improved means for carrying
on the said process.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved generator.

page_text: "
construction.
Figure 3 is a section on line a a Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section on line 7, Figure 2.
A represents the base of the generator. B represents the structure forming the
regenerating chamber. C represents the generator hearth which is made of fire
brick, or other similar refractory substance.
1 represents the generating chamber. The coal is preferably fed in at the top
of this chamber which may be kept gas tight in the following manner.
2 represents a bell suspended from a chain 3 over a drum 4, which is operated
by means of a hand wheel 5 see Figure 1, to lower the bell, sufficiently to allow
coal to be fed in the ordinary manner. 6 represents a water chilled collar on the
crown seat 7. I prefer not to use grate bars but to remove ashes through a
shute 8 which is closed by the ordinary sealed door. The air for promoting com-
bustion is supplied through a series of tuyeres D by means of a pump or fan.
In
order to prevent the bridging of the mass of fuel and the formation of clinkers I
mingle with this air a small quantity of steam which is supplied by means of a
series of steam pipes E having a connection F, with each of said tuyeres. The
supply of steam may be regulated by means of valves G. H represents valves
for regulating the supply of air. H' represents. an air blow off valve. The
generator is kept supplied with a sufficient body of coal and a requisite quantity of
air to maintain incandescence of the bottom portion of the charge and the upper
-portion is maintained at a glowing heat. The charge of coal preferably reaches
to about the point 10 but a small distance below the steam pipe 11, preferably
from three to four inches. By reason of this large body of coal and a small body
of incandescence, the incandescent gases generated are caused to pass through the
heated body of coal above so as to be enriched by the carbon in the body of the
charge and by the hydrogen of the steam which is introduced at the base with
air to form the blast. Only a sufficient quantity of steam should be introduced
through the tuyeres to prevent clinkering and not enough to deaden or slacken the
combustion.
11 represents a steam pipe for supplying additional quantities of hydrogen and
oxygen this steam may be superheated by passing through a coil of pipe 12
which surrounds the upper end of the generating chamber. 13 represents a valve
for regulating the quantity of superheated steam admitted above the charge of
coal. The steam thus admitted strikes the bricks but does not strike the coal or
coke at the top of the charge, and does not slacken the combustion or generation
of gases to nearly so great a degree as when it strikes the glowing coal or coke,
because the charge of coal is not incrusted and the bricks retain a greater amount
of heat than the same area of coke, and because the glowing mass continues to
give off its heat to the superheated steam introduced above the mass and to the walls
of the generator. These gases are carried off by an uptake flue 14.
In order to thoroughly mix these gases and convert them into a fixed form it is
necessary to keep thein at a high temperature for a considerable length of time,
and subject them to frictional resistance which will cause a thorough mingling of
the currents while in a heated condition, commonly called regenerating. For this
purpose provide a continuous regenerating chamber J, preferably of the
serpentine form as shown in Figure 2, filled with a series of balls I which are
composed of refractory material capable of resisting a long continuous high heat;
such as silicate of alumina, or material from which fire brick is made. I have
found by experience that when the regenerative agents are formed of brick or
other plain faced objects, there is a much greater tendency for the deposition of
carbon than when the substances are made round so as to not form pockets, but
curvilinear flues or passages; in order to present as much heating surface as
possible these balls I are made round and of different sizes as shown, but they may
all be of the same size. The gas and products of combustion are caused to pass
through the series of serpentine chambers and to discharge through the flue L into

page_text: condenser for cooling, whence the gases are taken and washed and purified in the
usual manner.
If it is desired to form an illuminating gas it is necessary to enrich the gas
generated in the generating chamber 1, and this is accomplished preferably by
introducing crude oil or other hydrocarbon through a pipe N into the regenerating
chamber,, so that any desired degree of richness of illuminating gas may be
obtained. I may use a graduated oil feed M with a valve for regulating the
flow into the regenerating chamber, a supply pipe connects the oil feed with the
tank or pump, and a piper conveys steam from the superheating coil 12 which
heats the hydrocarbon and assists in forcing it into the regenerating chamber.
Qrepresents a blow off pipe which connects with the water chamber a of the
water chilled collar 6.
represents a water supply pipe, and e
a water escape
for supplying said water collar.
It is necessary in the starting up of this apparatus to raise the regenerative
chamber and the regenerative balls to a high degree of heat before the gas can be
saved for consumption; at the initial starting there is a deposition of carbon in
the regenerating chamber which must be removed: 1 accomplish this by supplying
air and converting said carbon into a gas by combustion; this I accomplish by
means of air supply pipes d shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. e represents valves for
opening and closing said pipes In Figure 4 I have shown two of these air supply
pipes, one tapping into the chamber of the passage and the other into the
chamber or passage g
In the alternate chambers I provide blow-off pipes h
which are shown in dotted lines Figure 4, provided with regulating valves ; so
that when the aforesaid valves e and i are open the air enters through the pipes,
passes through the regenerating chamber, ignites the carbon and the products of
combustion escape through the blow off pipes h. This operation of igniting and
blowing off the carbon must be continued until the regenerative chambers and balls
are raised to a sufficient heat to prevent the accumulation of carbon deposits, so
that the entire product of gas generated in the generator is also subject to contact
with the mass of balls in the regenerative chambers which causes a thorough
reunion of these gases and a formation of fixed oxy-hydrocarbon gases.
I have found that by maintaining a large mass of fuel in the generating chamber
kept at a glowing heat through which the gases produced by the incandescence
are caused to pass and mingle with the gases generated from the mass of coal
above the point of incandescence and by the admission of steam above the glowing
mass without addition of hydrocarbon a good fuel gas can be formed. And by
admitting hydrocarbon in the regenerating chamber which is united with the gases
generated from the coal and steam a good illuminating gas is produced.
The mode of operation is as follows. Kindling is placed upon the hearth of the
generator and ignited, the bell is lowered and a small amount of coal fed in until
there is a sufficient body, when more coal is added and the blast started the bell is
then raised to form a seal and the air and blow-off pipes d and h, are opened
occasionally to force combustion in the regenerative chamber, which is continued at
intervals until the said regenerative chamber is raised approximately to a white
heat, when the plant is in condition for the generation of
for storage.
gas
An important part of my invention consists in conveying hydro-carbon into the
regenerative chamber through a pipe N the supply pipe then does not become
unduly heated and consequently the hydro-carbon is introduced in a liquid form.
If said pipe should be placed so as to become unduly heated before tapping the
regenerative chamber the hydro-carbon would be decomposed and carbon deposited
in the end of the pipe which would clog up the same, but by introducing the hydro-
carbon in the manner herein shown no appreciable deposits of carbon are obtained
in the pipe.
It will be observed that the regenerating chamber has a pitch or lean forward
from the point where the hydro-carbon is admitted, so that in case it is not all
immediately volatilized it will pass down the regenerative chamber and be mixed
with the other gases as it is volatilized.

page_text: +
The
An important result is accomplished by the process herein described, all the heat
produced by the incandescence of the fuel is utilized not only in the generation of
gases but is also imparted to said gases which in turn impart the same to the
regenerating chamber and its agents, so that a continuous process of generating gas
from coal and superheated steam. and regenerating the same is carried on and all
the volatile products of combustion are utilized by being converted into gas.
ordinarily non-volatile parts of the coal are rendered volatile by being raised to a
point of incandescence in the charge and as a major portion of the steam enters to
cnrich the gas impinged against the heated wall in the generator above the body
of the coal the fire is not slackened, and consequently a, much higher degree of
heat is maintained within the generator than in other forms of generators hitherto
employed, and the gases are passed into the regenerating chamber at a high
degree of heat. The steam introduced above the charge being superheated enters
with great velocity and assists the draft without deadening or slackening the heat
in the generator: consequently the regenerating chamber can be used continuously
for fixing gas without the necessity of employing two regenerating chambers and
using them alternately.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction
of apparatus above described as I may modify the same in various ways without
departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent 1 declare that what I claim is
1. The combination of a gas generator, a series of tuyeres and steam and air
supply pipes tapping the generator and discharging thereinto, beneath the charge
of coal, a coiled superheating steam pipe surrounding the upper part of said
generator and discharging therein above the body of coal, a regenerator having a
serpentine passage forming a series of chambers connected by curved ends or
passages, air supply pipes and blow off pipes connected with the alternate chambers
or passages of said regenerator, and a valved pipe for introducing hydrocarbon
into the regenerator near the passage through which it communicates with the
gas generator, substantially as described.
2. A gas generator consisting of a generating chamber having a solid hearth,
a series of air and steam supply pipes tapping the generator near the base of the
charge, a steam pipe coiled round the top of the generator and piercing the same
above the body of coal, in the generator whereby the steam is impinged against
the walls of the generator above the coal, and the flue 14 for conducting the
products of combustion to a regenerating chamber, substantially as specified.
3. A gas generator composed substantially of the generating chamber having
the solid hearth, the series of air and steam supply pipes piercing the chamber at
its base, a coil of superheating steam pipes surrounding the top of the generating
chamber and piercing the same above the charge, the take-up flue 14, a continuous
regenerating chamber and an oil supply pipe piercing the walls of the regenerating
chamber, substantially as specified.
4. The process of generating gas in a single generator and fixing chamber, which
consists in subjecting a body of coal to a combined blast of air and steam and
burning the same, raising the body of coal to a point of incandescence, continuing
the blast of air and steam and intermittently introducing coal and at the same time
and continuously introducing other steam just above the charge of coal thereby
thoroughly intermingling the gases and steam in the generator, then fixing the
combined, gases by passing them through a fixing chamber maintained in a highly
heated condition by these said heated products of combustion, which are converted
into a fixed gas, whereby the products of combustion are continually passing in a
single direction from the generator through the fixing chamber in a continuous
process,,substantially as described.
5. In combination with a generator having air supply pipes piercing its base

page_text: portion for supporting combustion of soft coal, a steam supply pipe injecting steam
into the generator above the body of burning coal a continuous regenerating
chamber filled with refractory material packed within the same, forming a series
of gas passages, and one or more air supply pipes D and blow-off pipes H tapping
the regenerating chamber, substantially as specified.
Dated this 29th day of July 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.