IMPROVED PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF HYDRO- GENIZED MATTERS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: <
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVED PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF HYDRO-
GENIZED MATTERS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Henry Despecher, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 25th April 1879, and dated the 15th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR
THE DISTILLATION OF HYDROGENIZED MATTERS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
[A communication from abroad by Henry Despecher, of Paris, France.]
The processes to which this Invention relates have for their object to decompose
all organic matters by heat within a closed vessel, then by the simple introduction
of gases which are only found in insufficient quantities in these matters to effect by
affinity the formation of new compound gases free from carbon and capable of being
casily absorbed by water.
The expression "organic matters" has been changed in the following description
of the said process or processes into that of "hydrogenized matters" because it
is also possible, under particular circumstances, to utilize the hydrogen of the
water.
It is known that when sulphuric acid is poured drop by drop into a phial con-
taining zinc in small pieces and water, a copious liberation of hydrogen gas is
produced, and that if at this moment azotic acid instead of sulphuric acid is poured

page_text: in, the zinc still continues to dissolve, but it will be seen that the liberation of the
gas entirely ceases, all the hydrogen combining with the azote of the azotic acid to
form ammonia, which is dissolved in the water in the phial.
The said process is based upon the chemical fact above stated; it has for its object
to transform, under the influence of heat and by means of the azote of the air, the
hydrogen gas which is produced in the distillation of hydrogenized matters, and to
collect, combined with water, the ammonia resulting from the operation. In the
distillation of coal, which is the principal object of the said process, the impoverish-
ment of the coke is avoided, and which results from the loss of a considerable
quantity of pure carbon combined with hydrogen, ammoniacal products are created
which are easy to store; and lastly, the coal tar and the ammoniacal waters which
heretofore have been lost in the atmosphere in the operation of calcining the coal
will be preserved.
Some explanations are necessary here to explain what takes place in the distillation
of coal, for the sole purpose of explaining the theory and the working of the
apparatus constructed according to this Invention.
One hundred kilogrammes of coal decompose by analysis in the following manner,
that is to say.—
Under the influence of heat exceeding 300 degrees the oxygen and hydrogen
unite in the proportion of one volume of the former of these gases with two volumes
of the second in order to form two volumes of steam; the 3m³.920 litres or
5625 grammes of oxygen therefore combine with 73 840 litres or 704 grammes
of hydrogen in order to form 7m³ 840 litres or 6k 329 grammes of steam. Under
the influence of the same heat, and after all the oxygen has disappeared, the hydro-
gen becoming liberated in a nascent state, and the azote unite in the proportion of
three volumes of the first of these gases with one volume of the second in order to
form two volumes of ammoniacal gas; 1m³ 911 litres or 171 grammes of hydrogen
therefore combine with the 637 litres or 800 grammes of azote to form 1m³ 274 litres
or 971 grammes of ammoniacal gas which is caused by the steam, to form, after
condensation, 7-300 grammes of ammoniacal liquor.

page_text: In this manner I arrive at the first result of the distillation which may be stated
as follows, that is to say,-
Sulphur
-
1-700)
as follows, that is to say,-
Solid matters
Sulphur
Carbon
Ashes
-
1-700)
81 475
88*-725
5 .500
43m3-834 hydrogen
3 .925
Total
92-650
Which total, with the loss
The ammoniacal liquor
Makes up -
0.050
-
7.300
100.000
As there exists in the matters which compose the ashes a certain proportion of
iron, a portion of the sulphur combines with it in order to form sulphuret of iron,
it has been possible to calculate that the quantity of sulphur which remains in the
coke is about one per cent. of its weight, or 700 grammes for the quantity of coke
which results from the distillation in closed vessel of 100 kilogrammes of coal.
The surplus of the sulphur is liberated in the state of vapour which combines, by
reason of particular conditions in which it is found, with the hydrogen in
the proportion of 1/3 of vapor with two volumes of gas to form two volumes
of hydrosulphuric acid; 891 litres or one kilogramme of sulphur vapour thus
combine with 5m³ 340 litres or 479 grammes of hydrogen to form 5m³ 346 litres or
1k 479 grammes of hydro-sulphuric acid. By causing this gas to pass through
hydrate of lime; sulphuret of calcium is formed, and the hydrogen, if the purification
has been well performed, becomes almost entirely free again.
The second result of the operation of distillation is shewu in the following manner,
that is to say :-
Out of the 38³ 488 litres or 3·466 grammes of hydrogen gas which yet
remain in the closed vessel, 123 020 litres or 1076 gramines are liberated in the
state of free hydrogen, and there now only remains 26m³ 468 litres or 2* 370 grammes
of hydrogen in combination. Under the influence of heat this hydrogen, and a
certain quantity of carbon in the state of vapour, combine in the proportion of two
volumes of gas with half a volume of vapour to form one volume of proto carbonated
hydrogen; it requires therefore G³ 617 litres, or 7 kilogrammes 093 grammes of
carbon vapour, to form with the 203-468 litres or 2370 grammes of hydrogen,
13-234 litres or 9 463 grammes of proto-carbonated hydrogen gas. The free
hydrogen and the proto-carbonated hydrogen form together, according to the well
known "Bunsen" analyses, the 80.54 per cent. of illuminating gas, and there will

page_text: be obtained by calculation for the composition of the gas which proceeds from
100 kilogrammes of coal, the following results, that is to say :-
45.58 per cent. or 17m³.256
13 234
Free hydrogen
Proto-carbonated hydrogen
-
34.96
"

page_text: which is equal to that obtained in practice. If the 23 646 litres of oxygen, and
the 909 litres of azote which were found in illuminating gas by the well known
"Bunsen" analyses, and which ought not to exist there, are deducted, 100 kilo-
grammes of coal should produce 34m³ 302 litres of illuminating gas, very nearly pure,
which is the quantity that a good manufacture ought to produce.
It will thus be seen,-First. That in the distillation of coal, hydrogen gas is in
volume in excess of the other gases. Secondly. That after the complete liberation
of the oxygen and azote gases the hydrogen gas remains alone in the presence of
the carbon, and that it eombines forcibly thus with this metalloid. And, Thirdly.
That the quantity of pure carbon which thus disappears in the form of vapour
amounts to about 10495 grammes for each 100k of coal. This chemical fact has
heretofore prevented railway companies and iron manufacturers from using the
process of distillation in manufacturing their coke, because they do not obtain by
this means products of the best quality, which they require. They have always
preferred, and still prefer, calcination with introduction of air, notwithstanding the
loss of 34 302 litres of combustible gases which they might have advantageously
utilized, and the evaporation into the atmosphere of 6. 750 grammes of coal tar,
and of 7 300 grammes of ammoniacal liquors which they would have been able to
sell in order to diminish the cost of production of their coke.
The process and the furnace which I now proceed to describe are new for the manu-
facture of metallurgical coke, as well as for the distillation of hydrogenized matters.
The process is not properly speaking a distillation; it is rather a calcination in a
closed vessel and under pressure with the introduction of cold azote gas, or better
still, raised to a high temperature.
It is known that under the influence of heat hydrogen gas in the nascent state
combines readily with the azote to form ammoniacal gas and that one volume of
water at 0 degree absorbs about 1049 volumes of this gas.
The process consists then in causing to combine in the nascent state and under
the influence of heat all the hydrogen in excess contained in the coal or the hydro-
genized matters with the oxygen and the azote of the atmospheric air, cold or hot.
The hydrogen gas will produce steam with the 20.93 per cent. of oxygen of the
air, whilst with the 7907 per cent. of azote it will produce ammoniacal gas.
ammoniacal gas may be after its recooling entirely absorbed by means of an addition
of cold water in the condensing apparatus.
The
The hydrogen which is found in excess in 100 kilogrammes of coal is, as has been
seen, 43m834 litres or 3* 925 grammes. The quantity of atmospheric air necessary
to produce with this hydrogen steam and ammoniacal gas should be 13m³.707 litres
or 20 302 grammes. The 3m³.287 litres or 4700 grammes of oxygen of the air
will combine with 6m³ 574 litres or 588 grammes of hydrogen to form 6m³ 574 litres
or 5 288 grammes of steam, and the 12m³ 420 litres or 15 602 grammes of azote of
the air will combine with 37m³ 260 litres or 3* 337 grammes of hydrogen to form
24m3 840 litres or 18* 939 grammes of ammoniacal gas.
The following are the results which are obtained from the operation made by this
process, and which in consequence of the addition of the 20 302 grammes of
atmospheric air to the 100 kilogrammes of coal will weigh 120 kilogrammes
302 grammes :-
Sulpbur
0-7001

page_text: If the operation is properly carried out it will produce three certain advantages,
that is to say-First, there will be left in the residue which will remain in the
furnace the whole of the carbon which existed in the coal, which will increase the
yield of coke by more than fourteen per cent.; secondly, the collection of the coal
tar and the ammoniacal liquors which have a substantial value is permitted;
thirdly, the economical transformation by means of the atmospheric air of all the
hydrogen in excess in the coal into ammoniacal gas; then in a small volume to
store up this gas in water to transform it later on into ammoniacal compounds, and
particularly into sulphate of ammonia, which is the richest manure known.
The quantity of sulphate of ammonia which can be obtained from 100 kilo-
grammes of coal by employing this new process is calculated in the following
manner that is to say.

page_text: Sulphate of ammonia.
That is to say, that by causing to combine one equivalent of azote and one of
sulphur with the quantities of oxygen and hydrogen necessary to form four equi-
valents of water there will be produced sulphate of ammonia. It is to be observed
that the proportion between the oxygen and the hydrogen ought to be exactly the
proportions which constitute the water. If instead of sulphate of ammonia it
was desired to produce ammoniacal salts, chlorine would be substituted for the
sulphur.
It would be difficult at the present time to predict the results which will happen

page_text: in practice, but it may be affirmed that the advantages of the said process will
promptly manifest themselves for those companies and manufacturers consuming
the coke from calcination, because the cost of production will be decreased by the
value of the sulphate of ammonia, the sale of which for the purposes of agriculture
appears to be unlimited.
The following is the description of the special furnace designed to apply the
process, the theory of which has been above explained, to the distillation
of coal.
process, the theory of which has been above explained, to the distillation
of coal.
The said furnace is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a front view of the furnace.
Figure 2 shows a back view.
Figure 3 shows a plan of the same.
Figure 4 shows a section of the same on the line X, Z, Figure 3.
Figure 5 shews a section of the same on the line A, B, Figures 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, and 15.
Figure 6 shews a section of the same on the line C, D, Figures 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, and 15.
Figure 7 shews a section on the line E, F, Figures 5, 6, 13, 14, and 15.
Figure 8 shews a section on the line G, H, Figures 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15.
Figure 9 shews a section on the line I, J, Figures 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
Figure 10 shews a section on the line M, M, M", M, Figures 5, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 11 shews a section on the line N, N', N, NIII, Figures 5, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 12 shews a section on the line 0, 0, 01-01, Figures 5, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 13 shews a section on the line P, Q, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 14 shews a section on the line R. S, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and
Figure 15 shews a section on the line T, U, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
In all these Figures the same letters indicate the same parts.
A is a furnace constructed of fire bricks, and which is closed at each of its extre-
mities by housing frames or doors, which may be luted with clay mixed with lime
in such a manner as to make of the furnace a close vessel. In order to equalize the
charging of the furnace, openings O, O, closed by plugs are made in the housing
frames or doors. The furnace is widened in order that the cake of coke may easily
come out when it is pushed by a pusher placed at the back of the furnace. The
furnace which is shewn here of considerable capacity might be replaced by a
smaller one, or even by a retort when it is sought to distil organic substances or to
manufacture ainmoniacal products rather than metallurgical coke. Several retorts
may be set up in one furnace.
An ascending pipe C for the gases and volatilized matters is in the middle of the
furnace. This pipe terminates in a small barrel B, and by reason of a plunger-pipe
the gases cannot retum into the furnace.
There are two hoppers D, D, in the arch of the furnace for the introduction of
the charge of coal.
The atmospheric air is carried under pressure by the pipes G, G, into the air
warming apparatus H and H', in which it circulates successively, in consequence of
partitions which divide them in two parts in order to pass into the conduits I, I,
which distribute it in the furnace at the spring of the arches and above the charge
of coal. There are two series of apparatus, one on each side of the furnace, in
order to obtain a good dispersion of the hot air in the midst of the gases which are
liberated from the coal. This last combination allows of the substitution in place
of the atmospheric air in one or even in both of the hot air apparatuses of oxygen,
hydrogen, or azote, or even of sulphur or chlorine vapours.
The furnace is heated by a special fire box F with regulated combustion, and
fixed completely under the furnace. An arched passage passing to each fire box
extends from one extremity to the other of the set of furnaces.
The hot products of combustion pass by the conduits E, E¹, E", E, to the
smoke conduit K, and afterwards to the chimney M; a register L allows the drawing

page_text: of the fire box F to be regulated. The products of combustion from the fire box,
still very hot, passing into the conduits E" and E communicate to the hot air
apparatus the heat necessary to raise the atmospheric air to a high temperature.
The accompanying Drawings will explain any parts which may not be fully
understood from the description. It will be observed that all the parts of the furnace
and of the hot air apparatus are easily accessible from without to allow of a
complete cleaning out of the places which become choked up.
The working of the apparatus is of the simplest character. During the calci-
nation of the substances there is introduced mechanically and mathematically under.
pressure the quantity of air necessary to transform into steam and ammoniacal gas
all or part of the hydrogen which is liberated in the furnace. The pressure of the
air may be obtained either by means of a blowing engine, a ventilator, or an
injector when the introduction of steam is necessary, or by means of exhausting
machines.
This special furnace may moreover, by the suppression of the hot air apparatus,
serve simply for the distillation of the coal in order to obtain simultaneously illumi-
nating gas and metallurgical coke. It may likewise serve to carburet the gas in the
water, but in that case by employing the hot air apparatus for the heating of
this gas.
On emerging from the barrel the ammoniacal gas descends by the refrigerator R,
and is absorbed by an excess of water entering by the funnel S. At the bottom of
the refrigerator are two pipes, one of which, T, conducts the ammoniacal waters
into reservoirs, while the pipe U draws off the combustible gases which still remain
into the fire boxes F, F, where they are utilized in the heating of the furnaces.
Nearly all existing furnaces, provided they can be transformed into close vessels
and that means can be found to fix inside and outside of them the pipes necessary
for the entry and exit of the different gases, may be modified to utilize the process
herein described.
The retorts or illuminating gas furnaces may serve for the production of sulphates
and hydrochlorates of ammonia when it is sought to obtain these products by a
single operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
May 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR
THE DISTILLATION OF HYDROGENIZED MATTERS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Henry Despecher, of Paris, France
The processes to which this Invention relates have for their object to decompose all
organic matters by heat within a closed vessel, then by the simple introduction of
gases, which are only found in insufficient quantities in these matters, to effect by
affinity the formation of new compound gases free from carbon and capable of being
easily absorbed by water.
"
The expression" organic matters" has been changed in the following description
of the said process or processes into that of hydrogenized matters," because
it is also possible under particular circumstances to utilise the hydrogen of the
water.
It is known that when sulphuric acid is poured drop by drop into a phial con-
taining zinc in small pieces and water a copious liberation of hydrogen gas is
produced, and that if at this moment azotic acid instead of sulphuric acid is poured
in the zinc still continues to dissolve, but it will be seen that the liberation of the
gas entirely ceases, all the hydrogen combining with the azote of the azotic acid to
form ammonia, which is dissolved in the water in the phial.
The said process is based upon the chemical fact above stated; it has for its
object to transform under the influence of heat, and by means of the azote of the
air, the hydrogen gas which is produced in the distillation of hydrogenized matters,
and to collect, combined with water, the ammonia resulting from the operation.
In the distillation of coal, which is the principal object of the said process, the
impoverishment of the coke is avoided, and which results from the loss of a con-
siderable quantity of pure carbon combined with hydrogen, ammoniacal products are
created which are easy to store; and, lastly, the coal-tar and the ammoniacal waters
which heretofore have been lost in the atinosphere in the operation of calcining the
coal will be preserved.
Some explanations are necessary here to explain what takes place in the distil-
lation of coal, for the sole purpose of explaining the theory and the working of
the apparatus constructed according to this Invention.
One hundred kilogrammes of coal decompose by analysis in the following manner,
that is to say :-

page_text: The weight per litre of each of the three simple gases which are found in coal has
been a long time established, and is as follows:-
As there exists in the matters which compose the ashes a certain proportion of
iron, a portion of the sulphur combines with it in order to form sulphuret of iron;
it has been possible to calculate that the quantity of sulphur which remains in the
coke is about one per cent. of its weight, or 700 grammes for the quantity of coko
which results from the distillation in a closed vessel of 100 kilogrammes of coal.
The surplus of the sulphur is liberated in the state of vapour, which combines,
by reason of particular conditions in which it is found, with the hydrogen in the
proportion of one third of vapour with two volumes of gas to form two volumes of
hydrosulphuric acid. 891 litres or one kilogramme of sulphur vapour thus
combine with 5m³.346 litres or 479 grammes of hydrogen to form 5346 litres or
1470 grammes of hydrosulphuric acid. By causing this gas to pass through hydrate
of lime sulphuret of calcium is formed, and the hydrogen, if the purification has
been well performed, becomes almost entirely free again.

page_text: Out of the 38m³ 488 litres or 3-466 grammes of hydrogen gas which yet remain
in the closed vessel 12.020 litres or 1076 grammes are liberated in the state of
free hydrogen, and there now only remains 26m³ 468 litres or 2k370 grammes of
hydrogen in combination. Under the influence of heat this hydrogen and a certain
quantity of carbon in the state of vapour combine, in the proportion of two volumes
of gas with half a volume of vapour to form one volume of proto-carbonated
hydrogen; it requires therefore 63.617 litres or 7 kilogrammes 093 grammes of
carbon-vapour to form with the 26-468 litres or 2 370 grammes of hydrogen
133.234 litres or 9-463 grammes of proto-carbonated hydrogen-gas. The free
hydrogen and the proto-carbonated hydrogen form together, according to the well
known "Bunsen" analyses, the 80-54 per cent. of illuminating gas, and there will
be obtained by calculation for the composition of the gas which proceeds from 100
kilogrammes of coal the following results, that is to say:-
Free hydrogen
45.58 per cent. or 17m³.256
94.06
13 -234

page_text: which enters into the composition of 37857 litres of illuminating gas produced
by the distillation of 100* of coal.
At the present time it is known that light oils, heavy oils, heavier oils, and the
tar which are condensed after the distillation of 100 kilogrammes of coal give a
mixture known by the name of coal-tar, which weighs about 6750 grammes.
The distillation of the 100 kilogramines of coal being completed I arrive. at the
final result which is as follows
of the analyses.
If to 70-480 grammes of coke is added the water which this combustible has
retained after its extinction a total weight is reached exceeding 72 kilogrammes,
which is equal to that obtained in practice.
If the 23-646 litres of oxygen and the 909 litres of azote which were found in
illuminating gas by the well known "Bunsen" analyses, and which ought not to
exist there, are deducted, 100 kilogrammes of coal should produce 34-302 litres
of illuminating gas very nearly pure, which is the quantity that a good manufacture
ought to produce.
It will thus be seen, first, that in the distillation of coal, hydrogen-gas is in
volume in excess of the other gases; secondly, that after the complete liberation of
the oxygen and azote gases, the hydrogen gas remains alone in the presence of the
carbon, and that it thus combines forcibly with this metalloid; and, thirdly, that
the quantity of pure carbon which thus disappears in the form of vapour, amounts
to about 10495 grammes for each 100* of coal. This chemical fact has heretofore
prevented railway companies and iron manufacturers from using the process of dis-
tillation in manufacturing their coke, because they do not obtain by this means
products of the best quality which they require. They have always preferred and
still prefer calcination with introduction of air, notwithstanding the loss of 34m³.302
litres of combustible gases, which they might have advantageously utilized, and the
evaporation into the atmosphere of G750 grammes of coal tar and of 7-300 grammnes
of ammoniacal liquor, which they would have been able to sell in order to diminish
the cost of production of their coke.
The process and the furnace which I now proceed to describe are new for the
manufacture of metallurgical coke as well as for the distillation of hydrogenized
matters.
The process is not, properly speaking, a distillation, it is rather a calcination in a

page_text: That is to say, that by means of 46-865 grainmes of anhydrous sulphuric acid or
of 57275 grammes of monohydrated sulphuric acid will be obtained, 77*.331
grammes of sulphate of ammonia. By this process with,-
1st. 1000.000 of coal
That is to say, that by means of 46-865 grammes of anhydrous sulphuric acid or
of 57-275 grammes of monohydrated sulphuric acid will be obtained, 77.331
grammes of sulphate of ammonia. By this process with,-
1st. 1000.000 of coal
2nd. 203020 of atmospheric air
3rd.
572 750 of sulphuric acid

page_text: Az+S+ 4 HO AZ H HU SUº.
sulphate of ammonia.
That is to say, by causing to combine one equivalent of azote and one of sulphur
with the quantities of oxygen and hydrogen necessary to form four equivalents of
water there will be produced sulphate of ammonia. It is to be observed that the
relation between the oxygen and the hydrogen ought to be exactly in the pro-
portions which constitute water. If instead of sulphate of ammonia it is desired
to produce ammoniacal salts chlorine should be substituted for the sulphur.
It would be difficult at the present time to predict the results which will happen
in practice, but it may be affirmed that the advantages of the said process will
promptly manifest themselves for those companies and manufacturers consuming
the coke from calcination, because the cost of production will be decreased by the
value of the sulphate of ainmonia, the sale of which for the purposes of agriculture
appears to be unlimited.
The following is the description of the special furnace designed to apply the
process, the theory of which has been above explained, to the distillation of
coal:-
The said furnace is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows a front view of the furnace.
Figure 2 is a back view.
Figure 3 shews a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a section of the same on the line X, Z, Figure 3.

page_text: Figure 9 shews a section on the line I, J, Figures 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
Figure 10 shews a section on the line M, M', M", M, Figures 5, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 11 shews a section on the line N, N', N, N1, Figures, 5, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 12 shews a section on the line 0, 0, 0, 0, Figures 5, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 13 shews a section on the line P, Q, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Figure 14 shews a section on the line R, S, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and
Figure 15 shews a section on the line T, U, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
A is a furnace constructed of fire-bricks, and which is closed at each of its
extremities by frames or doors, which may be luted with clay mixed with lime in
such a manner as to make of the furnace a close vessel; in order to equalise the
charging of the furnace, openings O, O, closed by plugs are made in the frames or
doors. The furnace is widened in order that the cake of coke may easily come
out when it is pushed by a pusher placed at the back of the furnace. The furnace,
which is shewn here of considerable capacity, might be replaced by a smaller one,
or even by a retort, when it is desired to distil organic substances or to manu-
facture aminoniacal products rather than metallurgical coke. Several retorts may
be set up in one furnace.
An ascending pipe C for the gases and volatilized matters is arranged in the
middle of the furnace; this pipe terminates in a vessel B, and is provided with a
water seal, so that the gases cannot return into the furnace.
There are two hoppers D, D, in the arch of the furnace for the introduction of
the charge of coal.
The atmospheric air is carried under pressure by the pipes G, G, into the air-
warming apparatus H and H', in which it circulates successively (in consequence of
partitions which divide the said apparatus into two parts) to pass into the conduits
I, I, which distribute the air in the furnace at the spring of the arches and above
the charge of coal. There are two series of apparatus, one on each side of the
furnace, in order to obtain a good dispersion of the hot air in the midst of the gases
which are liberated from the coal. This last combination allows of the substitution
in place of the atmospheric air in one or even in both of the hot air apparatuses of
oxygen, hydrogen, or azote, or even of sulphur or chlorine vapours.
The furnace is heated by a.special fire place or box F with regulated combustion
and arranged completely under the furnace; an arched passage communicating
with each fire place extends from one extremity to the other of the set of
furnaces.
The hot products of combustion pass by the conduits E, E, E", E, to the smoke
conduit K, and afterwards to the chimney M; a damper or register L allows the
draught of the fire-box F to be regulated. The products of combustion from the
fire-box, still very hot, passing into the conduits E" and E communicate to the
hot air apparatus the heat necessary to raise the atmospheric air to a high
temperature.
The accompanying Drawings will explain any parts, which may not be fully
understood from the description. It will be observed that all the parts of the
furnace and of the hot air apparatuses are easily accessible from without to allow of
a complete cleaning out of the places which become choked up.
The working of the apparatus is of the simplest character, during the calcination
of the substances there is introduced mechanically and mathematically under
pressure the quantity of air necessary to transform into steam and ammoniacal gas
all or part of the bydrogen which is liberated in the furnace. The pressure of the
air may be obtained either by means of a blowing engine, a ventilator, or an
injector, when the introduction of steam is necessary; or by means of suction or
exhausting apparatus.
This special furnace may moreover by the suppression of the hot air apparatuses
serve simply for the distillation of the coal in order to obtain simultaneously illu-
minating gas and methallurgical coke. It may likewise serve to carburet the gas
n the water, but in that case by employing the hot air apparatuses for the heating
of this gas.

page_text: On emerging from the vessel B the ammoniacal gas descends by the refrigerator R
and is absorbed by an excess of water entering by the funnel S. At the bottom of
the refrigerator are two pipes, one of which, T, conducts the ammoniacal waters into
reservoirs, while the pipe U carries the combustible gases which still remain to the
fire-places F, F, where they are utilized in the heating of the furnaces.
Nearly all existing furnaces, provided they can be transformed into close
vessels, and that means can be found to fix inside and outside of them the pipes
necessary for the entry and exit of the different gases may be modified to utilise
the process herein described.
The retort furnaces or illuminating gas furnaces may serve for the production of
sulphates and hydrochlorates of ammonia when it is sought to obtain these pro-
ducts by a single operation.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim in the above described process the following novel features, that is to
say
First. The liquefaction of the hydrogen-gas by means of azote-gas.
Second. The production of metallurgical coke.
Third. The distillation of the hydrogenised matters with a production of gases
and various ammoniacal compounds, all as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
I also claim the novel features relating to the furnaces and comprising,―
First. The arrangement of the fireboxes and of the heating apparatus under the
set of furnaces.
Second. The special construction of the combustion regulating firebox.
Third. The arrangement of the furnace and of the flues constructed of fire-bricks
of the usual dimensions.
Fourth. The application of the hot air apparatus and the accessory pipes, serving
for the introduction into the furnace of atmospheric air, steam, and sulphur, and
chlorine vapours.
Fifth. The arrangement in combination with the air heating apparatus of the
pipes for liberating the gases and volatile matters. All as above set forth and for
the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.