Method oI and Apparatus for Froducing tas anu bу-prouts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 14th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug.. 1900-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1900
Method oI and Apparatus for Froducing tas anu bу-prouts.
I, PAUL NAEF, Ph.D., of Woody Crescent Avenue, near 165th Street, New York
City, United States of America, Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to the manufacture of gas for illuminating or heating
purposes, and by-products, from fuel.
The chief objects of my invention are to produce water gas by a continuous
operation, and to obtain a larger quantity of gas per ton of fuel than heretofore ;
to enable bituminous fuel to be used in the manufacture of such-gas; to recover
a large proportion of the nitrogen of the fuel, in the form of ammonia during the
process; to manufacture a water-gas containing illuminating hydro-carbons pro-
duced from the volatile matter of the fuel; and to provide an improved system
of heating the fuel before it is treated for the production of water-gas, and of
supplying heat during the process.
The process is an application of the method of supplying heat for carrying out
chemical reactions described in the specification accompanying my application for
Patent No. 17852 filed 19th August 1898.
The application of this method consists in this case in supplying part or all
the heat required by the reaction
C + H₂
==
CO + Họ,
and if desired also for the distillation of the volatile matter of the fuel, by heat-
ing the steam to a high temperature in a heater, acting with this steam on the
carbon of the fuel until the temperature is so reduced that the re-
action ceases, re-heating the mixture of water-gas and steam thus produced in a
heater, and acting with the same again on the carbon, and repeating the re-heat-
ing of the gaseous products and the re-action of the same on the carbon as often
as required. After each re-heating an additional amount of steam is decomposed
and it is thus possible to produce water-gas continuously and with a small excess
of steam. At the same time a large amount of the nitrogen contained in the fuel
is converted into ammonia, which can be recovered by passing the gases through
a suitable washing plant.
The process can be carried out in an apparatus similar to that shown in the
drawing accompanying the above mentioned prior application for patent.

page_text: This apparatus consists of two revolving furnaces arranged one above the other.
The fuel is continuously fed into the upper furnace; and after having passed
through the same, is discharged into the lower furnace. Steam or
a mixture of steam and water-gas enters the lower furnace, after having passed
through a heater in which it has been raised to high temperature. During its pass-
age though the lower furnace, it is brought into intimate contact with the fuel
which has already been heated in the upper furnace, and a part of the steam is
decomposed, water-gas being formed. The gaseous products leaving the lower
furnace pass through a heater in which their temperature is again raised, and go
through the upper revolving furnace, where further decomposition of steam takes
place.
In most cases it will be desirable to use more than two furnaces or to arrange
the plant so that the products of the reaction can be heated repeatedly. If bitu-
minous fuel is used it will in most cases be advantageous to use the furnace on the
higher level for the distillation of the volatile matter of the coal. It is of
advantage to discharge a mixture of unburnt coal and cinders from
the lowest furnace, which mixture can be led into a gas producer on a lower
level, where it is used for the production of producer-gas for heating the gas
heating stoves. This manner of working prevents clinkering of the cinders and
ensures the presence in the revolving furnaces of only such material as contains
sufficient carbon for the decomposition of the steam.
My improved process can also be carried out in a number of gas generators.
which are advantageously placed one above the other. The fuel
passes successively through the generators downwards. The gaseous products
pass also successively through one generator after the other and are heated before
they enter each generator.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows the arrangement of such a plant
of superposed generators.
Figure 2 shows one high or long generator, from which gas is withdrawn, heated
in heaters and re-injected into the generator several times.
Referring to Figure 1, 1, 2 and 3 are the generators, which are encased by
iron mantles and supported by columns 4. The generators have conical bottoms 5,
fitted with sliding doors 6, the latter being supported by horizontal beams 7. In
the conical part there is preferably arranged a suitable mechanical arrangement
for continuously discharging the material from one generator to the next.
Toothed revolving rollers G are shown for this purpose. The generators are lined
interiorly with firebrick.
Some distance above the cone each generator has radial ducts 9 connecting the
interior with an annular channel 11. Near the top each generator is provided
with a gas outlet pipe 12.
13, 14, 15 are the gas heaters which are here only shown in outline. They may
be of any suitable construction and may be continuous or discontinuous, such as
the heaters usually used at iron blast furnaces. Each heater is shown with an
outlet for the hot gas 16, which is connected with the annular channels of the
generators; and an inlet 17 which, with the exception of the lowest heater, is
connected with the outlet on the top of the generators. The generator 1 has a
suitable fuel-feed consisting of a hopper 18 and conveyor 19.
Before describing the operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, I will
give a description of Figure 2. Instead of separate generators there is here
shown one generator of considerable height. It is supported on columns 20, is
encased by an iron mantel, and is lined with fire-bricks 21. On the top it is
closed and has a suitable fuel-feed such for example as the hopper 22 and the
conveyor 23 for feeding fuel from said hopper into the generator.
At the bottom of the generator is shown a cone 24 which is closed by sliding
doors 25 resting on a horizontal beam 26. The generator is fitted with a mecha-
nical discharging arrangement 25ª and has a number of series of ducts 27, which
are in connection with annular channels 28. 29, 30 and 31 represent the gas

page_text: heaters. Each heater has an outlet 32, for the heated gas, which is connected to
one of the annular channels.
The lowest lieater has an inlet 33 for steam or for a mixture of steam and
gas. If a mixture is used a pipe 33 is connected with a suitable gas pump. The
upper heaters have each a gas inlet 34 which is in connection with some of the
annular channels 28. For the purpose of withdrawing gas from the generator
and circulating it through the heaters there are arranged fans 35 or other suit-
able means for creating a draught. If fans are used suitable arrangements have
to be made for cooling the working parts. The heaters are only shown in outline
and may be of any suitable construction.
On the top the generator has an outlet pipe 36 for conducting the gas to a
suitable washing plant (not shown).
The operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 is as follows:--Fuel is fed
from the hopper 18 by means of the conveyor 19 into the generator. For the
purpose of starting the plant the fuel in the generators is heated to a high tem-
perature, which can be most conveniently done by injecting air into the annular
channel of the lowest generators. By keeping the sliding doors open, the hot gas
will rise through the upper generators and escape from the generator 1 by way of
the pipe 12. When the fuel is sufficiently hot the continuous production of
water-gas can be commenced. Steam is injected into the lowest heater and
enters the generator through the ducts in a highly heated state. As the gas and
steam passes through the fuel, steam is decomposed and a mixture of the gaseous
products with steam leaves the generator and enters the second heater 14. It is
here again heated to as high a temperature as possible, and it then enters the
generator 2. In passing through this generator a further amount of steam is
decomposed and the gas is at the same time cooled. It then leaves the gene-
rator and enters the heater 13, where it is again raised to as high a temperature
as possible. From this heater it passes through generator 1 where a further
amount of steam is used. If bituminous fuel is employed the volatile matter
is gasified in this generator.
The sliding doors 6 can be opened at intervals for transferring the fuel from
one generator to the other. If mechanical means are used for continuous dis-
charge, the doors are kept only partly open so as to force all the gas through
the heaters. For the purpose of assisting the discharge suitable poke holes are
provided.
The water-gas, which leaves the apparatus through the pipe 12, is conducted
through suitable washing apparatus (not shown) for the recovery of ammonia.
It contains practically no nitrogen.
The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 is very much the same
as that of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Fuel is continuously fed from the
hopper 22 by means of the conveyor 23 into the generator, and the cinders are
withdrawn through the conical bottom 24 and the doors 25. Steam is passed
into the heater 31 through the pipe 33 and enters the generator through the
pipe 32 in a highly heated state. During its passage through the fuel, part of
the steam is decomposed. The gas and steam is withdrawn from the generator
through the ducts 27 and passed through the heater 30 where it is again highly
heated. It re-enters the generator through the pipe 32 and ducts 27 and in pass-
ing through the fuel a further amount of steam is decomposed. The gas and
remaining steam is again withdrawn through pipe 34, passes through the heater 29
and re-enters the generator through the pipe 32. There is a further amount of
steam decomposed, and, if bituminous fuel is charged into the apparatus, the
volatile matter is gasified. The gas, which leaves the apparatus at 36, is con-
ducted through suitable washing plants for the recovery of ammonia.
The process is entirely automatic and continuous, fuel and steam being sup-
plied and water gas being delivered continuously.
In most cases it will be of advantage to only partially consume the combustible
matters in the water-gas apparatus. The material withdrawn from the apparatus

page_text: can be gasified in a gas producer preferably below the water-gas generator. The
producer gas is used for heating the gas heaters. In this way there is always
a material present in the water-gas generators containing a large amount of
combustible matter.
To avoid risk of destruction of the ammonia during the heating of the gas,
the gas can be treated for the recovery of ammonia after each passage through
the fuel. In this case the generators are arranged side by side and the gas from
each generator is cooled and treated for the recovery of ammonia. If bituminous
fuel is used in each generator the temperature of the gas leaving it will not be
very high. For the purpose of preventing loss of heat, the gas can, before it
enters the ammonia plant, be conducted through a chamber in which are arranged
a number of iron pipes, through which is conducted the air used for burning
the producer gas in the heaters.
The same construction of cooler can also be used if the gas is only treated for
recovery of ammonia after it has passed the last time through the fuel.
The process can be considerably expedited by passing so much steam through
the apparatus that the gas which leaves after the last heating and passage
through the fuel, contains a considerable excess of steam.
By means of a pipe and a suitable blower (not shown in the drawings) part of
the gas is returned to the lowest heater, after adding steam to it, and only the
surplus is withdrawn. This mode of working possesses the advantage that, as
the specific heat of steam is much higher than that of the combustible gas, more
heat is taken up by the gaseous mixture during its passage through the heater
and more water-gas is formed. It is generally applicable to the manufacture of
water-gas and is further treated in another application for patent of even date,
No. 20659 of 1899.
For the purpose of further hastening the formation of water-gas, I heat the
fuel before the mixture of steam and gas is passed through it. This can be con-
veniently done by injecting air for a period into the fuel as is done in the present
water-gas process. The fuel-gas thus obtained is with advantage often used for
the purpose of heating the heaters. Compared with the ordinary water-gas pro-
cess a great economy can be effected by using several generators, heating them
periodically by blowing air through them, afterwards conducting steam through
one of the generators and conducting the gaseous products successively through
the other generators, without heating the gas as it passes from one generator to
the other. As in this case a heated mixture of steam and gas enters the second
and later generators a great economy of fuel is obtained and the generators will
do much more work than they would if working singly. Much longer water-gas
runs will then be possible and more water-gas be produced per ton of fuel.
The economy and efficiency will still further be increased by using the heaters
for heating the gaseous product as it passes from one generator to the other and
for heating the steam entering the first generator. By blowing through the last
generator oftener with air a large excess of steam can be maintained in the first
generators, whereby the reaction is hastened and at the same time a comparatively
dry gas will be obtained from the last generator.
The same arrangement is of advantage if used in connection with the apparatus
shown in the drawing. By passing the gas from the large apparatus there shown
through a generator, which is alternately heated by blowing air through it, a
dry gas will be obtained although a gas containing a considerable amount of steam
is circulating in the large apparatus.
Instead of mixing the gas and steam before heating, the gas and steam can be
heated separately. The mode of heating is not limited to the use of the heaters,
as any suitable method of heating gaseous fluid can be adopted. The gas can for
instance be heated by conducting it through fuel which has previously been heated
with air. The process can with advantage be used in combination with my
coking system referred to in the Specifications of Patents No. 7951 of 1898,
No. 7952 of 1898 and No. 7953 of 1898, the coke being used in the water-gas pro-

page_text: cess.
If by-products are only recovered during the coking a much smaller by-
product plant will be required than if all the water-gas is treated for by-products.
The apparatus may be made of any section and varied to effect the best results
under certain conditions without departing from the spirit of the invention.
1 L i
ALL 1000
Method of and Apparatus for Producing Gas and By-products.
I, PAUL NAEF, Ph.D., of Woody Crescent Avenue, near 165th Street, New York
City, United States of America, 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 the manufacture of gas for illuminating or heating
purposes, and by-products, from fuel.
The chief objects of my invention are to produce water gas by a continuous
operation, and to obtain a larger quantity of gas per ton of fuel than heretofore.;
to enable bituminous fuel to be used in the manufacture of such gas; to recover
a large proportion of the nitrogen of the fuel, in the form of ammonia during the
process; to manufacture a water-gas containing illuminating hydro-carbons pro-
duced from the volatile matter of the fuel; and to provide an improved system
of heating the fuel before it is treated for the production of water-gas, and of
supplying heat during the process.
The process is an application of the method of supplying heat for carrying out
chemical reactions described in the specification accompanying my application for
Patent No. 17852 filed 19th August 1898.
The application of this method consists in this case in supplying part or all
of the heat required by the reaction
C + H, O = CO + Hg,
and if desired also for the distillation of the volatile matter of the fuel, by heat-
ing the steam to a high temperature in a heater, acting with this steam on the
carbon of the fuel until the temperature of the steam is so reduced that the re-
action ceases, re-heating the mixture of water-gas and steam thus produced in a
heater, and acting with the same again on the carbon, and repeating the re-heat-
ing of the gaseous products and the reaction of the same on the carbon as often
as required. After each re-heating an additional amount of steam is decomposed
and it is thus possible to produce water gas continuously with a small excess
of steam. At the same time a large amount of the nitrogen contained in the fuel
is converted into ammonia, which can be recovered by passing the gases through
a suitable washing plant.
or
The process can be carried out in an apparatus similar to that shown in the
drawing accompanying the above mentioned prior application for patent.
This apparatus consists of two revolving furnaces arranged one above the other.
The fuel is continuously fed into the upper furnace; and after having passed
through the
is discharged into the
Steam
lower furnace.
a mixture of steam and water-gas enters the lower furnace after having passed
through a heater in which it has been raised to high temperature. During its pass-
age though the lower furnace, it is brought into intimate contact with the fuel
which has already been heated in the upper furnace, and a part of the steam is
same,

page_text: decomposed, water-gas being formed. The gaseous products leaving the lower
furnace pass through a heater in which their temperature is again raised, and
then pass through the upper revolving furnace, where the further decomposition
of steam takes place.
In most cases it will be desirable to use more than two furnaces or to arrange
the plant so that the products of the reaction can be heated repeatedly. If bitu-
minous fuel is used it will in most cases be advantageous to use the furnace on the
higher level for the distillation of the volatile matter of the fuel or coal. It is of
advantage to discharge a mixture of unburnt or partially burnt coal and cinders
from the lowest furnace, which mixture can be led into a gas producer on a lower
level, where it is used for the production of producer-gas for heating the gas
heating stoves. This manner of working prevents clinkering of the cinders and
ensures the presence in the revolving furnace of only such material as contains
sufficient carbon for the decomposition of the steam.
My improved process can also be carried out in a number of gas generators,
which are advantageously placed one above the other. The fuel passes succes-
sively through the generators in a downward direction. The gaseous products
pass also successively through one generator after the other and are heated before
they enter each generator.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully in connection with the draw-
ings accompanying my Provisional Specification in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an arrangement of superposed
generators, and heaters.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the arrangement of a single gene-
rator, and a number of superposed heaters.
Referring to Figure 1, 1, 2, and 3 are the generators, which are encased by
iron mantles and supported by columns 4. The generators have conical bottoms 5,
fitted with sliding doors 6, the latter being supported by horizontal beams 7. In
each of the conical bottoms there is preferably arranged a, suitable mechanical
arrangement for continuously discharging the fuel or solid material from one.
generator to the next. Toothed revolving rollers 6" are shown for this purpose.
The generators are lined interiorly with firebrick.
Some distance above its conical bottom each generator is provided with radial
ducts 9 connecting the interior of the generator with an annular channel 11.
Near the top each generator is provided with a gas outlet pipe 12.
13, 14, 15 are the gas heaters which are here only shown in outline. They may
be of any suitable construction and may be continuous or discontinuous, such as
the heaters usually used at iron blast furnaces. Each heater is shown with an
outlet 16 for the hot gas, which is connected with one of the annular channels of
the generators; and an inlet 17. The inlets 17 are, excepting in the case of the
lowest heater, connected with the outlets 12 on the tops of the generators.
suitable fuel-feed consisting of a hopper. 18 and conveyor 19, is provided at the
top of the generator 1.
A
Referring to Figure 2. Instead of separate generators there is here shown one
generator of considerable height. It is supported on columns 20, is encased by
an iron mantel, and is lined with firebricks 21. On the top it is closed and has
a suitable fuel-feed, such for example as the hopper 22 and the conveyor 23 for
feeding fuel from said hopper into the generator.
At the bottom of the generator is shewn a cone 24 which is closed by sliding
doors 25 resting on a horizontal beam 26. The generator is fitted with a mecha-
nical discharging arrangement 25" and has a number of series of ducts 27, 27 which
are in connection with annular channels 28, 28. 29, 30 and 31 represent the gas
heaters. Each heater has an outlet 32, for the heated gas, which is connected to
one of the annular channels 28.
The lowest heater has an inlet 33 for steam or for a mixture of steam and gas.
If a mixture of steam and gas is used the pipe 33 is connected with a suitable

page_text: gas punip. All the heaters excepting the lowest one have each a gas inlet 34
which is in connection with one of the annular channels 28. For the purpose of
withdrawing gas from the generator and circulating it through the heaters there.
are arranged fans 35 or other suitable means for creating a draught.
used suitable arrangements have to be made for cooling the working parts. The
heaters are only shown in outline and may be .cf any suitable construction.
If fans are
On the top the generator has an outlet pipe 36 for conducting the gas to a
suitable washing plant (not shown).
The operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 is as follows:-Fuel is fed
from the hopper 18 by means of the conveyor 19 into the generator. For the
purpose of starting the plant the fuel in the generators is heated to a high tem-
perature, which can be most conveniently done by igniting the fuel and injecting
air into the annular channel of the lowest generators. By keeping the sliding.
doors open, the hot gas will rise through the upper generators and escape from
the generator 1 by way of the pipe 12. When the fuel is sufficiently hot the con-
tinuous production of water-gas can be commenced. Steam is injected into the
lowest heater and after passing through the said heater, enters the generator 3:
through the ducts 9 in a highly heated state. Steam is decomposed and a mix-
ture of the gaseous products of the fuel with steam leaves the generator 3 by the
pipe 12 cooled below the temperature of reaction and enters the second heater 14.
The steam with the gas is here reheated to as high a temperature as possible, and
it then enters the generator 2. In passing through this generator a further
amount of steam is decomposed and the gas is at the same time cooled. It then
Jeaves the generator 2 and enters the heater 13 where it is again raised to as
high a temperature as possible. From this heater it passes through generator 1
where a further amount of steam is decomposed. If bituminous fuel is employed
the volatile matter is gasified in generator 1.
The sliding doors 6 can be opened at intervals for transferring the fuel from
one generator to the other. If mechanical means are used for continuous dis-
charge the doors are kept only partly open so as to force all the gas through
the heaters. For the purpose of assisting the discharge, suitable poke holes are:
provided.
The water-gas, .which leaves the apparatus through the pipe 12 leading from
the generator is conducted through suitable washing apparatus (not shown) for
the recovery of ammonia. This water gas contains practically no nitrogen.
The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 is very similar to
that of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Fuel is continuously fed from the
hopper 22 by means of the conveyor 23 into the generator, and the cinders are
withdrawn through the conical bottom 24 and the doors 25. Steam is passed
into the heater 31 through the pipe 33 and enters the. generator through the
pipe 32 and the lowest series of ducts 27, in a highly heated state. During its
passage through the fuel, part of the steam is decomposed. The gas and steam
is withdrawn from the generator through the next series of ducts 27 by the
lowermost fan 35 and passed through the heater 30 where it is again highly
heated. The gas and steam then re-enters the generator from the top of the
heater 30 through the third series of ducts 27 from the bottom of the generator.!
The gas and the remaining steam is again withdrawn by the uppermost fan 35
through the next uppermost series of ducts 27, passes through the heater 29 and
re-enters the generator from the top of the heater 29 through the next series of
ducts 27; a further amount of steam being thus decomposed, and, if bituminous
fuel is charged into the apparatus, the volatile matter thereof being gasified.
The gas, which leaves the apparatus by the pipe 36. is conducted through suit-
It will thus be seen that each
able washing plants for the recovery of ammonia.
time the gas and steam is passed through the generator a further quantity of the
steam is decomposed.
The process is entirely automatic and continuous. fuel and steam being sup-.
plied, and water gas being delivered continuously.

page_text: In most cases it will be of advantage to only partially consume the combustible
matters of the fuel in the water-gas apparatus. The material withdrawn from
the apparatus can be gasified in a gas producer preferably situated below the
water-gas generator. The producer gas is used for heating the gas heaters. In
this way there is always a material present in the water-gas generators containing
a large amount of combustible matter.
To avoid risk of destruction of the ammonia during the heating of the gas,
the gas can be treated for the recovery of ammonia after each passage through
the fuel. In this case the generators would be preferably arranged side by side,
the gas from each generator being cooled and treated for the recovery of ammonia.
If bituminous fuel is used in each generator the temperature of the gas leaving
it will not be very high. For the purpose of preventing loss of heat, the gas
can, before it enters the ammonia plant, be conducted through a chamber in
which are arranged a number of iron pipes, through which is conducted the air
used for burning the producer gas in the heaters.
The same construction of cooler can also be used if the gas is only treated for
recovery of ammonia after it has passed the last time through the fuel.
The process can be considerably expedited by passing so much steam through
the apparatus that the gas which leaves after the last heating and passage
through the fuel, contains a considerable excess of steam.
By means of a pipe and a suitable blower (not shown in the drawings) part of
the gas leaving the generator is returned to the lowest heater, after steam has
been added to said gas, and only the surplus gas produced is withdrawn. This
mode of working possesses the advantage that, as the specific heat of steam is
much higher than that of the combustible gas, more heat is taken up by the
gaseous mixture during its passage through the heater and more water-gas is
formed during the process. It is generally applicable to the manufacture of
water-gas and is further treated in another application for patent of even date
No. 20059 of 1899.
For the purpose of further hastening the formation of water-gas, I heat the
fuel before the mixture of steam and gas is passed through it. This can be con-
veniently done by injecting air for a period into the fuel as is done in the present
water-gas process. The fuel-gas thus obtained is with advantage often used for
the purpose of heating the heaters. Compared with the ordinary water-gas pro-
cess a great economy can be effected by using several generators, heating them
periodically by blowing air through them, afterwards conducting steam through
one of the generators and conducting the gaseous products successively through
the other generators, without heating the gas as it passes from one generator to
the other. As in this case a heated mixture of steam and gas enters the second
and later generators a great economy of fuel is obtained and the generators will
do much more work than they would if working singly. Much longer water-gas
runs will then be possible and more water-gas be produced per ton of fuel.
The economy and efficiency will still further be increased by using the heaters
for heating the gaseous product as it passes from one generator to the other and
for heating the steam entering the first generator. By blowing through the last
generator oftener with air a large excess of steam can be maintained in the first
generators, whereby the reaction is hastened and at the same time a comparatively
dry gas will be obtained from the last generator.
The same arrangement is of advantage if used in connection with the apparatus
shown in the drawing. By passing the gas from the large apparatus there shown
through a generator, which is alternately heated by blowing air through it, a
dry gas will be obtained although a gas containing a considerable amount of steam
is circulating in the large apparatus.
Instead of mixing the gas and steam before heating, the gas and steam can be
heated separately. The mode of heating is not limited to the use of the heaters.
as any suitable method of heating gaseous fluid can be adopted. The gas can for
instance be heated by conducting it through fuel which has previously. been heated

page_text: with air. The process can with advantage be used in combination with my
coking system referred to in the Specification of Patents No. 7951 of 1898,
No. 7952 of 1898 and No. 7953 of 1898 the coke being used in the water-gas pro-
cess. if by-products are only recovered during the coking a much smaller by-
product plant will be required than if all the water-gas is treated for by-products.
The apparatus may be made of any section and varied to effect the best results
under certain conditions without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The method of producing water-gas and by-products from fuel, which con-
sists in conducting heated steam through fuel, withdrawing the reaction products
after their temperature is reduced below the temperature of reaction, reheating
them and again conducting them through the fuel, and repeating the reheating
and conducting through the fuel as often as required, substantially as described.
2. The method of continuously producing gas and by-products which consists
in passing heated steam through the fuel. withdrawing the products of reaction
with any remaining steam after they are cooled below the temperature of reaction;
reheating the said products and steam, and passing the re-heated mixture through
the fuel, and repeating this withdrawing, re-heating and re-passing of the
products of reaction and steam through the fuel as often as required, while pass-
ing the said fuel through a generator or furnace or through a series of generators
or furnaces, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. The method of continuously producing gas and by-products which consists
in passing heated steam through a moving body of fuel, withdrawing the products
of reaction with any remaining steam after they are cooled below the tempera-
ture of reaction, reheating the said products and steam and passing the re-heated
mixture through the fuel, repeating this withdrawal, re-heating and re-passing
of the products of reaction and steam through the fuel as often as required,
recovering by-products from the said products of reaction either after every
passage through the fuel or only after their final passage through the fuel, sub-
stantially as described, for the purpose specified.
4. The method of producing water gas and by-products which consists in con-
ducting a heated mixture of gas and steam through a body of fuel, several times
withdrawing and re-heating the gaseous products of reaction, passing the said
products of reaction through the fuel after each heating, then withdrawing the
products of reaction from the apparatus adding steam to them and again passing
them through the apparatus so as to repeat the cycle, substantially as described.
5. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in first pass-
ing the heated steam through fuel so as to produce a mixture of gas containing
steam and then conducting the said mixture through a body of heated fuel, sub-
stantially as described.
6. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in first pass-
ing heated steam through fuel so as to produce a mixture of gas containing
steam, and then heating the said mixture and conducting it through a body of
heated fuel, substantially as described.
7. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in conducting
gas produced by the action of steam on fuel in a generator or in a series of
generators, through heated fuel in another generator, substantially as described.
8. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in producing
gas by the action of steam on fuel in a generator or in a series of generators,
recovering by-products from the said gas and then conducting it through heated
fuel in another generator, substantially as described.
9. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in successively
passing steam or a gaseous mixture containing steam several times through fuel,
reheating the gaseous products after every passage through the fuel, and so

page_text: regulating the amount of the steam employed that a gaseous mixture containing an
excess of steam' leaves the apparatus, substantially as described.
10. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in passing
fuel into several generators, alternately heating the said fuel with air in the
generators and passing steam or a gaseous mixture containing steam successively
turough the said fuel in the generators, substantially as described.
11. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in passing
fuel into several generators, alternately heating the said fuel with air in the
generators and passing steam or a gaseous mixture containing steam successively
through the said fuel, in the generators, and heating the. gaseous products as they
pass from one generator to another, substantially as described.
12. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in heating
steam in a gas heater, conducting a suitable gaseous fluid through heated fuel
for the purpose of heating the same, mixing the heated steam "and the gaseous
fluid, and conducting them through the fuel, substantially as described.
13. The method of producing gas and by-products which consists in conducting
heated steam successively through several generators containing fuel which has
been 'previously heated by the action of air substantially as described for the
purpose specified.
14. Apparatus for the production of gas and by-products, comprising a gene-
rator which is provided with inlets and outlets for gas at various heights, a
number of gas heaters and means for maintaining a circulation of
the generator and heaters, substantially as described.
gases between
15. Apparatus for the production of gas and by-products comprising a number
of generators, an inlet for heated steam into one of the said generators, gas con-
nections between adjacent generators, and a gas heater in each of the said con-
néctions, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
16. Apparatus for the production of water-gas consisting of a number of revol-
ving furnaces, means for conducting steam into one furnace and for conducting
the gaseous reaction products successively through the other furnaces, and means
for heating the gas during its passage from one furnace to the other, substan-
tially as described.
17. In apparatus for the production of gas and by-products the combination
of one or more generators, one or more secondary generators, means for alter-
nately heating fuel in the secondary generators and for conducting gaseous fluid
from the first generators through the secondary generators, substantially. as
described.
18. in apparatus for the production of gas and by-products the combination
of one or more generators, one or more secondary generators, means for, conduct-
ing gaseous fluid from the first generators through the secondary generators and
means for heating the gas as it passes from the first to the secondary generators,
substantially as described.
19. In apparatus for the production of gas and by-products the combination
of one or more generators, a by-product recovery plant. means for conducting
gaseous fluid from the generator through the recovery plant and means for
bringing the washed gas into contact with heated fuel, substantially as described.
20. Apparatus for the production of gas and by-products, constructed arranged
and operating substantially as described with reference to one or other of the
figures of the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 13th day of August 1900.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.