IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL SO AS TO OBTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Cooper of Westminster Chambers
.
Westminster in the County of Middlesex Analytical Chemist for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL SO AS TO
OBTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Cooper at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1882.
WILLIAM JOHN COOPER of Westminster Chamber[s] Westminster in the County
of Middlesex Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL
SO AS TO OBTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to improvements in the distillation of Coal and consists
in admixing with coal previous to its distillation either line or quick lime or
Carbonate of Lime or Chalk or spent Lime or mixtures of the same
In carrying out my Invention coal either in conjunction with one or with more
of the above mentioned substances or products or with mixtures of the same is
submitted to distillation so as to obtain an increased production of Ammonia or of
Ammoniacal compounds or of Tars or of gas.
What I wish to be understood as spent Lime is what is known in Gas Works
as "Spent Lime" which is the substance existing in the Lime purifiers after it has
been exposed to the action of the impure gas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William John Cooper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th May 1883.
WILLIAM JOHN COOPER of Westminster Chambers Westminster in the County
of Middlesex Analytical Chemist 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF COAL
SO AS TO OBTAIN PRODUCTS THEREFROM"
This Invention relates to Improvements in the distillation of Coal and it consists
in admixing with coal previous to its distillation lime in the form of quick lime
or carbonate of lime (or chalk) or spent lime.
In carrying out my Invention Coal, either in conjunction with one, or with more,
of the above named forms of lime, is submitted to distillation, the said forms of
lime being in such a proportion as shall when the inixture is subjected to dis-
tillation produce a greater quantity of Ammonia and of Ammoniacal products, or of
tars, or of gas, than is now obtained.
To the coal either in a lumpy condition (such as that in which coal is used in
gas making) or by preference in a state of fine division I add lime in one or more
of the forms hereinbefore named and I cause the mixture to be well incorporated.
The mixture thus prepared can then be employed either in gas retorts, coke
ovens, or furnaces.
When I employ the mixture in gas retorts in gas works I find it convenient to
employ about half a hundred weight of quick lime to every ton of coal and to
grind or crush the lime and coal together using for that purpose a "disintegrator "
or other suitable machinery.
The small coal or slack which has comparatively little commercial value as coal
is especially available for the purposes of my Invention.
When I employ carbonate of lime (chalk), or spent lime, I find it convenient to
use at least one hundred weight to the ton of coal.
Some of the advantages afforded by my Invention when it is applied in Gas
works are: An increased yield of Ammonia and Ammoniacal products.
An increased yield of those compounds which impart illuminating power to gas
and consequently an increased yield of illuminating gas or of tar.
A diminution of the impurities in crude gas i.e. in gas as it issues from the
retort and consequently a diminution of the cost of gas purification.
The resulting coke is for certain purposes improved.
I may remark with regard to the increased yield of ammonia that, owing to the
strength of the ammoniacal liquor, it will be advantageous to run water (in as cool
a condition as possible) into the condensers to dilute the liquor to a strength at
which it will not readily part with its ammonia; about ten gallons of water to
every ton of coal carbonized is a suitable proportion
What I wish to be understood as spent lime is what is known in gas works as
"spent lime" which is the substance existing in the lime purifiers after it has
been exposed to the action of the impure gas.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent, is :-
The improvements in the distillation of Coal in, and for, the manufacture and

page_text: production of coal gas, or of illuminating gas, consisting in the admixture and use
of lime in the form of quicklime, or of carbonate of lime (or chalk) or of spent
lime, or of mixtures of any two or more of them with coal substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before mentioned.
In witness whereof I the said William John Cooper have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of May One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
W. J. COOPER (L.S.)