IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND OBTAINMENT OF AMMONIA OR AMMONIACAL COMPOUNDS FROM COAL SHALE IRONSTONE LIMESTONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Young, of the Town and County of Peebles,
North Britain, and George Thomas Beilby, of Midcalder, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION AND OBTAINMENT OF AMMONIA OR AMMONIACAL COMPOUNDS
FROM COAL SHALE IRONSTONE LIMESTONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Young and George
Thomas Beilby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
21st March 1882.
WILLIAM YOUNG, of the Town and County of Peebles, North Britain, and
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY, of Midcalder, in the County of Midlothian, North
Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND OBTAINMENT OF AMMONIA
OR AMMONIACAL COMPOUNDS FROM COAL, SHALE, IRONSTONE, LIMESTONE, AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES,"
This Invention which relates to Improvements in the production and obtainment
of Ammonia or Ammoniacal Compounds from Coal, Shale, Ironstone, Limestone,
and other substances, has especial reference to the obtainment thereof in conjunction
with the obtainment of oil, tar, or gases and other products such as calcined lime
or wasted Iron ore and it consists of certain new or improved arrangements whereby
the said products are obtained.
When coal is used in its raw state for fuel in blast furnaces the volatile matters.
are distilled out, and with open-top furnaces are lost, and when close-top furnaces
are used the tars form a source of trouble by closing up the tubes and passages.-
The same annoyance is experienced in gas generator furnaces when bitumenous
coal is converted into combustible gases to be used as fuel, and in the calciuing of
ironstone and limestone or other minerals; when coal is used the volatile matters,
together with those from the minerals, are at present lost, and are a source of
nuisance to the district in which such operations are conducted.
By our Invention we subject the coal and other materials to a preliminary
heating and destructive distillation in such a manner that during the process of

page_text: distillation, air, is excluded and the volatile constitutents recovered as tar, oil, gas
and ammoniacal liquors.-This preliminary destructive distillation we effect by
placing a retort or retorts, over or in the blast furnace, gas generator furnace, or
calcining kiln. This retort may be constructed of firebrick or iron, or of other
fire resisting material and closed at the top by means of a hopper and valve or
other suitable door, the lower end of the retort being open and communicating
with the iron furnace, generator, or calcining furnace. The retort or retorts are
surrounded with brickwork having a flue space for the application of heat to the
external surface of the retort. The retorts are provided with a pipe for conveying
the distilled volatile matters to suitable condensers, where the condensable matters
are removed in the form of tar, oil and ammoniacal liquor, the gas, or a part of it,
being returned back into the bottom of the retort to prevent the access of air.-
A pipe for the introduction of Steam is also fitted to each retort above the gas-
inlet pipe. This steam passes up through the hot material in the retort, and effects
the elimination of the ammonia.
The retorts are also provided with a valve or equivalent measuring arrangement
to regulate the quantity of volatile vapours drawn off from the distilled bitumenous.
coal or other mineral.
The heat necessary for effecting this preliminary destructive distillation is
obtained by the combustion of the fixed carbon of the coal as it finds its way from
the distilling retorts into the blast-furnace, gas generator, or calcining kiln, and
where this fixed carbon is in large excess as in blast furnaces, the resulting
carbonic oxide is carried off from the top of the oven in which the retorts are
placed, and may be used as fuel, either separately or mingled with the combustible
hydro-carbon gas from the destructive distillation of the coal or other bitumenous
matter effected in the retorts. When the carbon is not in such excess, and
carbonic acid is formed, the products of combustion pass' off to a chimney, or into
the air.
The coal and other mineral is fed into the top of the retorts, through which it
gradually drops into the blast furnace, generator or calcining kiln, either as it is
consumed, melted, or withdrawn. The volatile matters are distilled out in the
retorts, air being excluded by the gas, and the residuum or coke is subjected to an
atmosphere of steam in order to eliminate the nitrogen contained as ammonia and
is thereafter consumed in the production of carbonic oxide gas and used in fluxing
the iron and calcining the lime, ironstone, or other material.
The second part of the Invention has for its object the obtaining from coal, shale,
or other bitumenous minerals when used for the production of illuminating and
heating gases of a largely increased yield of ammonia, and this is effected by
subjecting the coke or residue of the coal and other substances after it has parted
with all or most of its hydro-carbon gases to the action of sufficient heat and of
steam, thereby obtaining a quantity of ammonia which has hitherto been wasted,
together with poor gases suitable for heating purposes.
This may be effected in the ordinary horizontal gas retort by providing each
retort with arrangements for passing a current of steam through the hot coke or
residue after it has parted with all, or most of its hydrocarbon gases.-Two
separate sets of exit pipes, valves, and mains are provided, one set for the removal
of the illuminating gas in the usual manner to the condensers and purifiers.-The
other set for the removal of the "waste gas," steam, and ammonia obtained by the
action of the current of steam upon the coke, or residue, the latter gases and
vapours being treated for the recovery of ammonia by condensation and water
washing, or by being passed while hot through a suitable acid scrubber, or in any
other convenient manner. This part of the Invention is very conveniently carried
out in a form of Retort similar to that described and shown in the Specification and
Drawings No. 2169 A.D. 1881 of Letters Patent granted to the said George
Thomas Beilby as at 18th May 1881, certain alterations being made in it so
to adapt it to gas making purposes. The following are two methods of doing
this.

page_text: First. The oil vapours from the exit pipe instead of passing directly to the mains
and condensers may be led through a secondary retort or tube which is kept at a
sufficiently high heat to convert them into permanent gas of great richness which
may be reduced to a suitable illuminating power by the mixture with it of the
whole or a part of the poorer gases produced in the lower retort, the mixed gases
being led through mains, condensers, and purifiers, as usual, means being provided
for removing any excess of these poor gases before they pass through the gas-
making retort, and recovering the ammonia from these gases as before described.
Second. By placing the exit pipe for the illuminating gas lower down on the
retort, and in the oven, if then the temperature of the upper oven, be raised to the
point most suitable for gas making, illuminating gas, tar vapours, and ammonia,
will come off by this exit pipe, the gases from the upper and lower retorts, being
handled substantially as described in the first case.
In carrying out this part of the Invention by means of the ordinary Horizontal
Retorts, the Retorts are heated and charged as usual; when all of the rich illumi-
nating gas has come off the current of steam is turned on, and the valves on the
exit pipes are turned so as to send the poor gases through the second set of mains.-
The steaming is carried on as long as the gases contain sufficient ammonia to repay
the cost of its recovery therefrom.
In carrying out this part of the Invention by means of the double vertical Retort
the coal, sbale, or other mineral is passed through the retort in a practically
continuous stream just as is the case when the retort is used for oil making.-The
heat of the upper gas making retort being regulated so as to produce the maximum
yield of rich gas, the quantity of gas passing up from the lower retort and through
the upper being regulated by the pressure at the two exit pipes.
When crude paraffin oils are ordinarily obtained from shale they contain con-
siderable quantities of carbonaceous matters which it has been found desirable to
remove before subjecting the oils to chemical treatment with acid and alkalis and
this has been hitherto accomplished by subjecting the oils to distillation in the
ordinary well known way.
Now, as the temperature at which the elements of the shale are decomposed into
oil vapours is considerably higher than that necessary for the simple volatilization
of the oils, the oil vapours, together with the watery vapour, leave the ordinary
retorts or distilling vessels at a temperature sufficiently high to volatilize a con-
siderable quantity of oil.-This state of matters holds still further when the retorts
or distilling-vessels are employed to carry out the process of distillation at two
temperatures, one a low red heat, for the production of oil, and the other a bright
red heat for the elimination of the ammonia by the action of steam at high tempera-
tures, as described in the Specifications filed in pursuance of Letters Patent
Nos. 1587 and 2169 A.D. 1881.-At present this surplus heat is not only lost, but
it entails the cost of large air or other refrigerating power to dissipate and allow
the oil to condense.
The third part of our Invention then has for its object the utilization of this
surplus temperature to effect the preliminary distillation of the oils, fitting them
for direct chemical treatment with acid and alkalis, and we accomplish this object
by placing on the top of the oil distilling retorts a chamber which acts alternately
as a condenser or precipitator and as a still for the re-distillation of the condensed
oils.
This condenser may be attached to each separate retort but we prefer one large
chamber to two or more retorts, as it is more economical, requiring less metal in
its construction and enabling fewer charge-doors to be employed.-The chamber
should be of a capacity equal at least to that of the oil-distilling retorts to which
it is attached.-When two or more retorts have one common chamber, it is preferred
that the outlet from the chamber be so arranged that the oils must pass over the
colder shale before leaving the condenser, the outlet for the oil vapours being as
close as possible to the top of the chamber.
To explain the action of this chamber let it be supposed that both the high

page_text: heated and the low heated retorts. are filled; the shale-coke having just been
dropped from the low heated retort into the high heated one, and the low heated
retort having received its charge from the chamber above, into which a fresh
charge of shale has just been introduced.-The superheated steam, gases, and
ammonia pass from the high heated retort up through the shale in the low heated
retort, assisting in the destructive distillation and the elimination of the oil in the
form of vapour. The whole of the combined oil, water-vapour, gas, and ammonia
pass up and through the cold shale in the chamber above, causing the condensation
of the oil vapours, and at the sametime heating the shale.--This condensation
continues so long as the temperature of the shale remains sufficiently low, and the
shale being covered with oil-vapours, entangles all mechanical impurities which
would be carried forward with the oil.-As the temperature of the shale in the
chamber gradually increases by the continuous flow of the heated gases and
vapours through it, the more volatile of the previously condensed oils revolatilize,
and as the temperature goes on increasing, the less and less volatile of those oils
are evaporated, until by the time the distillation of the shale in the low-heated
retort is completed, the last traces of the previously condensed oil are revolatilized,
and the shale heated to a temperature approaching the point of decomposition.-
The tranference of the contents of the different departments of the distilling
arrangement is now effected, the whole residue being drawn off from the bottom of
the arrangement and a fresh charge of shale being placed in the chamber and the
conditions just described repeated.
In cases where it is not advantageous to utilize the highly heated steam for the
distillation as well as the redistillation of the oil, we employ two entirely separate
retorts, one placed above the other, and so arranged that the residue from the upper
retort may be discharged into the lower retort. In this case we use separate exit
pipes for the volatile products from the two retorts, those products from the oil
distilling retorts being led to the ordinary mains and condensers, whilst those from
the more highly heated retort may be led to separate condensers or scrubbers.-Air
may be introduced for mixture with the steam in carefully regulated quantity into
the bottom of the more highly heated retort to assist in the removal of the fixed
carbon of the residue as carbonic oxide.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Young and George Thomas Beilby in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st September 1882.
WILLIAM YOUNG of the town and county of Peebles, North Britain, and
GEORGE THOMAS BEILBY of Midcalder in the County of Midlothian North
Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION AND OBTAINMENT OF AMMONIA OR
AMMONIACAL COMPOUNDS FROM COAL, SHALE, IRONSTONE, LIMESTONE, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES."
Our said Invention which relates to improvements in the production and
obtainment of ammonia or ammoniacal compounds from coal, shale, ironstone,
limestone, and other substances, has especial reference to the production thereof in
conjunction with the productions of oil, tar, or gases, and other products such as
calcined lime or roasted iron ore; it also consists of certain new or improved
arrangements of apparatus whereby the said improvements are carried into
practice.
When coal is used in its raw state for fuel in blast furnaces the volatile matters
are distilled out and with open-top furnaces are lost, and when close-top furnaces
are used the tars form a source of trouble by closing up the tubes and passages.-
And when the ammonia is extracted from those gases, the tars interfere greatly
with the operation by clogging or closing up the interstices in the material or
vessel in which the ammonia is absorbed. The same annoyance, namely, the
closing up of the tubes or passages is experienced in gas generator furnaces when
bituminous coal is converted into combustible gases to be used as fuel, and in the
calciuing of ironstone, and limestone, or other minerals.-When coal is used the
volatile matters together with those from the minerals are at present lost, and are
a source of nuisance to the district in which such operations are conducted.
By our invention we subject the coal and other materials to a preliminary
heating and destructive distillation in such a manner that during the process of
distillation air is excluded and the volatile constituents recovered as tar, oil, gas,
and ammoniacal liquors.-This preliminary destructive distillation we effect by
placing a retort or retorts over or in the blast furnace, gas generator furnace or
calcining kiln. Such retorts may be constructed of fire-brick, or iron, or of other
fire resisting material, and closed at the top by means of a hopper and valve or
other suitable door; the lower end of the retort being open and communicating
with the blast furnace, generator, or calcining furnace. The Retort, or Retorts,
are surrounded with brickwork having a flue-space for the application of heat to
the external surface of the retorts.-The retorts are provided with a pipe for
conveying the distilled volatile matters to suitable condensers: where the con-
densible matters are removed in the form of tar, oil, and ammoniacal liquor, the
gas, or a part of it being returned back into the bottom of the retort to prevent
the ingress of air. A pipe for the introduction of steam is also fitted to each retort
above the gas-inlet pipe.-This steam passes through the hot material in the
retort and effects the elimination of the ammonia in the manner hereinafter
described.
The retorts may also be provided with a valve or equivalent arrangement to
regulate the quantity of volatile vapours drawn off from the distilled bituminous
coal or other mineral.
The heat necessary for effecting this preliminary destructive distillation is
obtained by the combustion of the fixed carbon of the coal as it finds its way from
the distilling retorts into the blast furnace, gas generator, or calcining kiln, and
where this fixed carbon is in large excess, as in blast furnaces the resulting carbonic

page_text: oxide is carried off from the top of the oven in which the retorts are placed, and
may be used as fuel either separately or mingled with the combustible hydro-
carbonaceous gas from the destructive distillation of the coal or other bituminous
matter effected in the retorts.-When the carbon is not in such excess and carbonic
acid is formed, the products of combustion pass off to a chimney or into the air.-
Or where heat from the slow conversion of the coal into combustible gases is not
sufficient, part of the combustible gases themselves may be used to effect the
preliminary distillation in the retort over the distillation chamber.
The coal and other mineral is fed into the top of the retorts. through which it
gradually drops into the blast furnace, generator, or calcining kiln either as it is
consumed, melted, or withdrawn.-The volatile matters are distilled out in the
retorts, air being excluded by the gas, and the residuum, or coke, is subjected to an
atmosphere of steam in order to eliminate the nitrogen contained as ammonia and
is thereafter consumed in the production of carbonic oxide gas and used in fluxing.
the iron and calcining the lime, ironstone, or other material. When the coal is not
subjected to this preliminary distillation, but the volatile tars accompany the
gaseous products, they may be removed by a process of washing with water kept
heated to a temperature which will prevent the absorption of volatile ammoniacal
compounds, and the washed gases subjected to the action of a non-volatile acid
such as sulphuric acid to form salts of ammonia; or the gases containing the tars
may be subjected to a high temperature in the presence of steam, whereby they
will be decomposed and any nitrogen they contain eliminated as ammonia.
The second part of this invention has for its object the obtaining from coal shale,
or other bituminous minerals when used for the production of illuminating
and heating gases of a largely increased yield of ammonia, and this is, effected by
subjecting the coke or residue of the coal, and other substances after it has parted
with all or most of its bydro-carbonaceous gases to the action of sufficient heat
and of steam, thereby obtaining a quantity of ammonia which has hitherto been
wasted together with poor gases.suitable for heating purposes.
This may be effected in the ordinary horizontal gas retort by providing cach
retort with arrangements for passing a current of steam through the hot coke or
residue after it has parted with all or most of its hydro-carbonaceous gases.-Two
separate sets of exit-pipes, valves, and mains are provided, one set for the removal
of the illuminating gas in the usual manner to the condensers and purifiers, the
other set for the removal of the "poor gases," steam and ammonia obtained by the
action of the steam upon the coke or residue-the latter gases and vapours being
treated for the recovery of ammonia by condensation and water washing or by
being passed while hot through a suitable acid scrubber or in any other convenient
manner. This part of the invention is very conveniently carried out in a retort
constructed similar to that described and shewn in the Specification and Drawings
No. 2169, A.D. 1881, of Letters Patent granted to the said George Thomas Beilby
as at 18th May 1881, certain alterations being made in it so to adapt it to
gas making purposes.-The following are two methods by which this may be
effected.
First. The oil vapours from the exit pipe instead of passing directly to the mains
and condensers may be led through a secondary retort or tube which is kept at a
sufficiently high heat to convert them into permanent gas of great richness which
may be reduced to a suitable illuminating power by the mixture with it of the
whole or a part of the poorer gases produced in the lower retort, the mixed gases
being led through mains, condensers, and purifiers as usual, means being provided
for removing any excess of these poor gases before they pass through the gas-
making retort and recovering the ammonia from these gases as before described.
Second. By placing the exit pipe for the illuminating gas lower down on the
retort and in the oven.-If then the temperature of the upper oven be raised to
the.point most suitable for making illuminating gas, tar, vapours, and ammonia
will come off by this exit pipe the gases from the upper and lower retorts being
treated substantially as described in the first case.

page_text: In carrying out this part of the invention by means of the ordinary horizontal
retorts, the retorts are heated and charged as usual; when all of the rich
illuminating gas has come off, the steam is turned on and the valves on the exit
pipes are turned so as to send the poor gases through the second set of mains.―
The steaming is carried on as long as the gases contain sufficient ammonia to repay
the cost of its recovery therefrom.
In carrying out this part of the invention by means of the double vertical retort,
the coal, shale, or other mineral is passed through the retort in a practically
continuous stream just as is the case when the retort is used for oil-making. The
heat of the upper gas making retort being regulated so as to produce the maximum
yield of rich gas. The quantity of gas, passing up from the lower retort and
through the upper, being regulated by the pressure at the two exit pipes.
When crude paraffin oils are ordinarily obtained from shale, they contain
considerable quantities of carbonaceous matters which it has been found desirable
to remove before subjecting the oils to chemical treatment with acid and alkali
and this has been hitherto accomplished by subjecting the oils to distillation in the
ordinary well known manner.
Now as the temperature at which the elements of the shale are decomposed into
oil vapours is considerably higher than that necessary for the simple volatilization
of the oils, the oil vapours, together with the watery vapour leave the ordinary
retorts or distilling vessels at a temperature sufficiently high to volatilize a
considerable quantity of oil. This state of matters holds still further when the
retorts or distilling vessels are employed to carry out the process of distillation at
two temperatures, one a low-red heat, for the production of oil, and the other a
bright-red heat for the elimination of the ammonia by the action of steam at high
temperatures as described in the Specifications filed in pursuance of Letters Patent
Nos 1587, and 2169, A.D. 1881.-At present this surplus heat is not only lost, but
it entails the cost of large air or other refrigerating power to dissipate and allow
the oil to condense.
The third part of our invention then has for its object the utilization of this
surplus temperature to effect the preliminary distillation of the oils fitting them
for direct chemical treatment with acid and alkali and we accomplish this object
by placing on the top of the oil distilling retorts a chamber which acts alternately
as a condenser or precipitator and as a still for the re-distillation of the condensed
oils.
. This condenser may be attached to each separate retort but we prefer one large
chamber to two or more retorts, as it is more economical, requiring less metal in
its construction and enabling fewer charge-doors to be employed.-The chamber
should be of a capacity equal at least to that of the oil-distilling retorts to which
it is attached. When two or more retorts have one common chamber, it is
preferred that the outlet from the chamber be so arranged that the oils must pass
over the colder shale before leaving the condenser, the outlet for the oil vapours
being as close as possible to the top of the chamber.
To explain the action of this chamber let it be supposed that both the high-
beated and the low-heated retorts are filled, the shale,coke having just been
dropped from the low-heated retort into the high-heated one, and the low-heated
retort having received its charge from the chamber above, into which a fresh
charge of shale has just been introduced.-The superheated steam, gases, and
ammonia, pass from the high-heated retort up through the shale in the low-heated
retort, assisting in the destructive distillation and the elimination of the oil in the
form of vapour. The whole of the combined oil, water-vapour, gas, and ammonia,
pass up and through the cold shale in the chamber above, causing the condensation
of the oil-vapours, and at the same time heating the shale.-This condensation
continues so long as the temperature of the shale remains sufficiently low, and the
shale, being covered with oil-vapours, entangles the mechanical impurities which
would be carried forward with the oil.-As the temperature of the shale in the
chamber gradually increases by the continuous flow of the heated gases and

page_text: vapours through it, the more volatile of the previously condensed oils re-volatilize,
and as the temperature goes on increasing, the less and less volatile of those oils
are evaporated, until by the time the distillation of the shale in the low-heated
retort is completed, the last traces of the previously condensed oil are re-volatilized,
and the shale heated to a temperature approaching the point of decomposition.-
The transference of the contents of the different departments of the distilling
apparatus is now effected, the whole residue being drawn off from the bottom
thereof, a fresh charge of shale being then placed in the chamber and the conditions
hereinbefore described repeated.
In cases where it is not advantageous to utilize the highly heated steam for the
distillation as well as the re-distillation of the oil, we employ two entirely separate
retorts one placed above the other and so arranged that the residue from the upper
retort may be discharged into the lower retort.-In this case we use separate exit
pipes for the volatile products from the two retorts, those products from the oil
distilling retorts being led to the ordinary mains and condensers whilst those from
the more highly heated retorts may be led to separate condensers or scrubbers.-
Air may be introduced for mixture with the steam in carefully regulated "quantity
'into the bottom of the more highly heated retorts to assist in the removal of the
fixed carbon of the residue as carbonic oxide.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is, or may be, used or practically carried into effect, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and Figures marked
thereon that is to say :-
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, on Sheets 1, 2, 3, and 4, are respectively a plan partly
in section; a front elevation, also partly in section, a back elevation; and
transverse sections on the lines A-B, C-D, E—F, G—H, I-J, and K-L, on
the plan of one modification of apparatus for carrying out those parts of our
invention for the obtainment of ammonia and ammoniacal compounds and for
effecting the further objects of this Invention.
Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 3, are respectively enlarged elevation and sections of
discharge-door on the lower openings of the retorts for shale distillation.—Similar
letters refer to similar parts on all these figures.
The different sections of the retorts for the distillation of the shale or
other bituminous mineral and for the re-distillation of the resulting oil are
'marked a, a, a², a³-The parts a, a', being subjected to a dull-red heat are
preferably made of cast-iron; and the remaining portions a², having to resist a
very high temperature, of fire-clay-Eight of these retorts are shewn as being
placed in one oven, surrounded by the brick walls B, this oven being divided into
two parts by the horizontal partition-wall B', and having a central retort B²
built of fire-brick, for the treatment of the coal used as fuel, and provided at its,
lower end with a furnace or chamber B³, for the conversion of the coke into gas, to
effect by its combustion the distillation of both the coal and the shale.
The re-distillation chamber a, is shewn as common to four retorts, and is
provided with an outlet pipe a*, leading to a main a³, supported on cast-iron, or
other brackets.-Each coal retort B2, is similarly provided with an outlet B*,
leading to the main B5, similarly supported on brackets.-These mains are
connected to any convenient form of condenser and washing or scrubbing apparatus
for the recovery of the oil, tars, and ammonia.
•
In working these retorts the portions of the shale retorts marked a³, a², are filled
with shale, coke, coal, ashes, slag or other substance of a similar nature, the object
being to give support to the shale, when first charged into the portion of the retort
marked a; and re-distillation chamber a.-A fire of coal or other fuel is then
kindled in the combustion-chamber B³, the fuel being fed either from the hopper
and door above the retort B, or through the door B-So soon as the fire-clay
portions of the shale retorts a², and the coal retorts B2, are brought to a bright-red
heat by the passage of the fire-gases around then and the upper portions of the

page_text: shale retorts a¹, are of a very dull-red heat, the relative temperatures being obtained
by regulating the dampers D; the coal retort is charged full of the coal, which,
coming, as it does into contact with the red-hot walls of the retort, at once gives
out its volatile matter.-An exhaust is then produced in the main B³, by any of
the well-known types of exhausters, and the valve B8, on the connecting outlet B',
opened, so that all the distilled matter is caused to flow on to the condensers, where
the tar and the ammoniacal liquor are condensed and separated; but in order to
ensure that all the volatile matter of the coal shall pass to the condenser, it is
necessary to have an exhaust always in excess of that, necessary to draw off the
products of distillation, and if means were not taken to prevent it, the fire-gases
from the furnace or combustion-chamber would be drawn up into the retort B², and
through or amongst the coal undergoing distillation-To prevent this, the
non-condensible portion of the products of distillation, or the gas, is returned back
under the bottom of the retort by the main pipe c, and the branch pipe c¹.-Part
of this gas, is drawn up into the retort instead of the fire-gases, and the other
portion of the gas equivalent to the quantity being made or produced by the coal
undergoing distillation, passes through or amongst the coke and commingles with
the carbonic-oxide gas produced by the oxidation of the carbon from the coke of
the coal by the air passing through the grate-bars B,-The mixed combustible gases
pass, as shewn by the arrows, through the flues F, and the ports F', where they
are met by à current of air which has been heated by passing through the pipes Fª,
placed in the flue F³, carrying off waste products of combustion to the main flue F*,
placed under the retorts.-The combustion of the gases by this heated air keeps up
a steady and regular high temperature around the whole of the lower part a², of
the shale retort and B2, of the coal retort, and thence passes up by the flue F5,
containing the regulating damper D, first around the upper portion of the coal
retort B, and then through the ports Fe, into the upper oven, containing the iron
portion of the shale retorts and arrangement of pipes S, for superheating the
steam.
So soon as the coal in the lower portion of the coal retort has parted with its
volatile matters, steam is let into the superheating arrangement S, by opening the
valve S, on the pipe S2, leading from the main steam-pipe S3.-From the super-
heating arrangement the steam is led into the lower part of the coal retort B, by
the pipe S-This steam partly undergoing decomposition, supplies the hydrogen
necessary to combine with the fixed nitrogen in the coke of the coal undergoing
distillation and eliminates it as ammonia, which passes off together with the
undecomposed steam and the tars from the distillation of the coal in the upper
retort, to the condenser, and are there separated.
As the coke from the coal burns away in the atmosphere of steam in the lower
portion of the retort B³, and in the atmosphere of air in the converting chamber, B³,
fresh coal is added from above by means of the hopper and door B, and thus the
process goes on continuously, the coal undergoing destructive distillation in the
upper part of the retort, and the coke treated to an atmosphere of steam in the
lower portion of the retort, the residual coke being burned into carbonic oxide
which commingles with the hydro-carbonaceous gases from the condensers, and
passes up being consumed in heating the retorts.
A fourth supply of heat may be obtained by using the gas from the main- .gas
pipe c, into which may be led the combustible gases from the distillation of the
shale, by opening the stop-cocks c², on the pipe c³, leading to the flue Fo, having
ports F, leading to the oven.-A supply of air for the combustion of this gas may
be obtained through the flue Flast mentioned and the quantity of air so admitted
may be regulated by the sliding damper D2.
The shale or other bituminous mineral is charged into the retorts by the hoppers
and doors a, on the top of the re-distillation chamber a, until the retort a¹, and
chamber a, are full, and the door being replaced and luted and the valve a', an
outlet pipe a, leading to main a³, opened. The low-red heat distillation of the
shale or other bituminous substance at once begins in the retorts a¹, but as the

page_text: products of distillation from the shale in this part of the retorts have to pass up
through and amongst the cold shale in the re-distillation chamber a, the greater
part of the less volatile portions are condensed on the surface of the shale.-A
small quantity of steam is now let into the bottom section of the retorts a³, by
opening the valve So, on the pipe S5, leading from the superheater S, in the upper
portion of the oven into the passage S7, between the four retorts which it has to
supply, and escaping through the port holes S³, the steam passes up through the
red-hot shale, coke, ashes, or similar substance in the section of retorts a², becomes
highly heated and assists the distillation of the shale in the low-heat section of the
retort.
As the shale in the re-distillation chamber becomes heated by the constant
passage of the products of distillation, the most volatile of the previously condensed
oils are re-volatilized and the heavier or less volatile precipitated, until by the
time the charge of the shale in the retort is exhausted, the shale in the redistillation
chamber is sufficiently heated to allow of the whole previously condensed oil being
re-volatilized. The doors D³, on the lower openings of the retorts, are now opened,
and as much ash is then drawn from the lower section of the retorts or cooling-
chambers a³, as will admit of the coke of the shale in the section a¹, to fall into the
section a, and the warmed shale in the redistillation chamber a, to fall into the
section a¹.
The doors D³, on the lower opening are then closed, and the redistillation
chamber a, again charged full of shale.-More steam is now also admitted, this
steam being highly heated by passing through the hot shale, coke, or ashes which
has just been dropped from the section a, into the section a³, and in passing up
through the coke of the shale in the section 2, partially undergoes decomposition,
and supplies the hydrogen to combine with the fixed nitrogen in the coke which it
eliminates as ammonia.
The undecomposed steam, ammoniacal vapour, and water-gas pass up through
the shale undergoing distillation in the section a', of the retort, the oil being at
first condensed on the surface of the shale in the re-distillation chamber a, to be.
afterwards re-distilled by the heated steam and products of distillation heating up
the cold shale to the necessary temperature-So soon as the second charge of
shale in the section a¹, of the retorts is exhausted of its bituminous matter, the
lower door D³, is again opened, and the shale, coke, or ashes in the cooling-chamber,
or the lower section a³, of the retorts is discharged to allow the exhausted coke
from the shale in the section a², as well as that in the section a', together with the
shale in the re-distillation chamber a, to fall a stage. A fresh supply of shale is
then charged into the re-distillation-chamber a, and the previously described
sequence of processes is then repeated.
The whole of the retorts may be drawn at once or discharged in sequence as
may be found most convenient.
When bituminous ironstone is treated in this arrangement to recover the oil, tars,
and ammonia, the residue drawn from the retorts should be tipped into a heap of
such a depth as will ensure a certain amount of vitrifaction to inake it sufficiently
strong to stand the crushing weight of the burthen of the blast furnace.
Figure 3, Sheet 5, shews the application of our invention to a Siemens gas
Generator or producer.-The retorts a, are placed in the uptake flue F, from the
converter or gas generator G, and are surrounded with thick walls B, to conserve
the heat. a, is the retort which may be built altogether of brick, or, as shewn,
partly of iron. One or more of these retorts may be placed over one gas generator
or producer preference being given to a retort, flat, or oval, in cross sections, as a
thinner stratum of coal distils, much more quickly than one of greater thickness.
The gas generator or producer is started into operation by kindling a fire within
the chamber G, at first and until the whole interior of the apparatus is brought to
a bright-red heat, the combustion of the volatile matter of the fuel on the grate g¹,
is allowed to be completed in the gas-generator or producer air being admitted for this

page_text: purpose by the opening G2, in the roof, the products of combustion being allowed to
escape into the air through the valves F2, upon the off-take pipe Fi
So soon as the whole retorts a, a, and generator or producer G, are brought to
the proper temperature, by which time the generator G, and part of the retort a,
should be filled with coke, the retort a, is filled with coal, when the destructive
distillation of the coal inside the retort commences.
The products may be drawn off from the retort either at the top by the pipe a³,
or as shewn in dotted lines a³, a considerable way down, the retort. When taken
from the top the pipes are not so liable to choke up with sooty matters, but an
inferior tar is produced containing less benzole, and the useful distilling effect of
the hot steam is lost.
To ensure that the whole products of distillation may be drawn off by the outlet
pipe a², and that the combustion gases from the generator do not enter the retort,
the same method is pursued as already described where the invention is applied to
the retorts for distilling the coal used to heat the shale retorts, the return gases
entering by the pipe c, and the steam for effecting the elimination of the ammonia
by the pipe S.
The arrangement being now fairly started into operation, the opening G², is
closed, as also the valves F2, on the gas-pipe F¹, the distillation of the coal being
carried on by the hot carbonic oxide produced from the coke resulting from the
distillation of the coal, passing up and around the retort or retorts a, a', by the
ports P, and flue F.-This carbonic oxide together with the hydrocarbon gas and
water-gas passing from the bottom of the retorts makes an excellent heating gas.
In order that sufficient heat may be produced from the conversion of the carbon
of the coke into carbonic oxide to effect the distillation of the coal, the working of
the generator must be pushed faster than is usual; but this may be safely done, as
the depth of the layer of coke upon the grate surface ensures the conversion of the
whole of the oxygen of the admitted air into carbonic oxide.
Where it is necessary however, to retard the process of the conversion of the
coke into gas, the retort may be so arranged as to be heated by the combustion of
a part of the gas resulting from the distillation of the coal in the retort or a part
of the carbonic oxide gas from the converter.
Figure 2, Sheet 6, shews a somewhat similar application of the Invention to what
is known as Price's retort furnace. In this modification, the heat necessary to effect
the destructive distillation of the coal and the elimination of the nitrogen, or a part
of it, as ammonia, is supplied by the waste heat passing from the reverberating
furnace to the chimney.
Instead of allowing the distilled volatile matters from the coal to pass direct
from the bottom of the furnace a, as has hitherto been the case they are drawn off
by the pipe a¹, the necessary exhaust being caused by the steam-jet a², and passed
to the condensers c, where the condensible tars, undecomposed steam and ammonia
are separated and drawn off by the pipe c', the non-condensible gas being returned
by the pipe c², back into the lower end of the retort a, where it is allowed to escape
through the ports c³, passing thence partly up through and amongst the coal and
partly to the combustion chamber or furnace.
To eleminate the nitrogen from the shale-coke, steam is admitted by the pipe s,
through the ports s¹, around the lower end of the retort.-This steam acts in the
manner already described..
Figure 1, Sheet 6, is a sectional view of another modification for carrying out
our Invention, in such a manner that the products of the destructive distillation
of the shale, or other bituminous substance, are kept separate from the steam,
water, gas, and ammoniacal products.
Any convenient number of these retorts can be set in one oven the heat.
necessary to effect the distillation of the shale and the elimination of the ammonia
being obtained from coal or other fuel in an ordinary furnace, or by having a
retort arrangement for distilling the coal and recovering the tar and ainmonia, in
the manner described and as shewn at Sheets 1, 2 and 3, and Figure 3, Sheet 4,

page_text: or part of the heat may be obtained by admitting a quantity of air together with
the steam entering the retort for the elimination of the ammonia from the coke.
The oxygen of the air combining with a portion of the carbon of the coke,
heats the steam whilst also assisting in the supply of heat to enable the steam
to act upon the remaining portion of the coke, and eliminating its nitrogen as
ammonia.
Where this arrangement is employed to distill shale or other bituminous
substances for the production of paraffin oil, the upper retorts a', are preferably
made of iron and separated by the partition wall 61, having regulating Dampers D¹,
from the lower retorts c¹, which having to stand a high temperature are preferably
made of fire-clay; but where coal or other bituminous substance has to be distilled
for the production of gas, or with the object of producing tars containing benzole
and its homologues, both retorts are preferably made of fire-clay, and the
partition wall b, and regulating damper D¹, are not necessary, as the difference
in the temperature to which the two retorts are subjected does not require to be
so great.
the
The arrangement is worked by getting up the desired temperature upon
retorts, then charging the shale, coal or other. bituminous mineral by the hopper
and door d', the lower door e¹, and grating f', having been previously closed and
fixed in their position.-The products of the destructive distillation may be drawn
off from any convenient part of the retorts but is shewn as from the bottom by
the pipe g', leading to the main A'.-From this main A', the products are led to the
condenser and there treated in the usual well known manner.
So soon as the destructive distillation of the bituminous matter in the upper
retort is completed the cover h¹, on the upper opening of the lower retort c¹ is
removed the grates i¹, in the lower outlet or discharge opening thereof being
previously placed in position, and the lower door ¹, closed. The cover or door e¹,
on the bottom of the upper retort a', is then removed, and the grating f¹, therein
swung back, when the coke of the bituminous, mineral is dropped into the lower
retort c', after which the grating and door e¹, of the upper retort are again
closed, and it is again charged with bituminous mineral.-Steam is now let into
the bottom of the lower retort c', through the openings E¹, by opening the valve k¹,
on the pipe, leading from the steam main m¹.-This steam may be used alone
or made to act as a steam jet, and draw in with it a quantity of air regulated by
the slide n¹, placed over the inlet C¹, but in all cases the steam must be in excess,
so that a portion may pass away undecomposed through the coke contained in the
retort. The gaseous products, ammonia, and steam pass from the retort through
the openings o', and by the pipe p', leading to the main B', and are either treated
direct for the recovery of the ammonia by causing then to pass whilst hot through
an arrangement such as a Glover's tower, through which sulphuric acid is made
to pass and absorb the ammonia; or the whole products may be condensed, and
the ammonia absorbed by the condensed steam in suitable scrubbers from which
the ammonia is recovered in the usual manner.
So soon as the coke or residue of the bituminous mineral ceases to yield
ammonia by treatment with steam, the steam is shut off by closing the stop-
valve, opening the door, removing the grating , and discharging the coke or
residue. The grating and door are then replaced and a fresh charge of coke
discharged into the lower retorts c', from the upper retort a', as hereinbefore
described. The steam is again turned on into the lower retort c¹, and a fresh
charge of shale placed in the upper retort a¹, and the process as described is
repeated continuously.
This modification of practising our invention is workable only with non-coking
coal or minerals which do not run into a solid mass when heated.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 7; and Figure 4, Sheet 8, represent respectively
transverse section, longitudinal section, sectional plan, plan, and front elevation of
another modification for carrying out our invention with coking coals or other
similar bituminous minerals and this is designed more particularly with the object

page_text: of illustrating the application of our invention to apparatus suitable for making
illuminating and heating gases.
The retorts a for effecting the destructive distillation of the coal are of the usual.
horizontal type employed for the manufacture of gas and may be similarly connected
by stand pipes to a hydraulic main.-In such case, just such a temperature, and no
more, is employed to effect the distillation as shall produce tars as free as possible
from the paraffin series, but not sufficiently high to decompose the nitrogenous
compounds contained in the coal, and set the nitrogen free as a gas; but where
quantity of gas is desired, the arrangement, as shewn in these figures, will be found
most suitable, by which the products of the destructive distillation of the coal or
bituminous matter in the horizontal retorts is subjected to a second and higher
temperature in another series of retorts before passing to the hydraulic main; but
whichever system be adopted, the treatment of the coal or other bituminous
mineral, and of its coke for the recovery of the nitrogen it contains as ammonia is
the same.
The arrangement as shewn consists of five horizontal retorts a², with five
decomposing chambers b³, for the treatment of the volatile products from the
horizontal retorts and underneath these are the ten vertical retorts c³, for the
treatment of the coke for the elimination of the ammonia two of which retorts as
shewn, have furnaces or combustion-chambers 2, at the lower ends, where the
residual coke is consumed in supplying the necessary heat for carrying out the
process, the others are supplied with grate-bars, or a door at the lower end which
can be hermetically sealed."
The temperatures of the different parts of the arrangement may be slightly
modified to suit the different classes of the minerals to be treated, but in all cases
the lower retorts c² must be brought to a bright-red heat, the decomposing-
chamber b, slightly lower, and the horizontal retorts a³, still a little lower. The
necessary temperatures being brought up upon the various parts of the arrangement
by means of fires kindled in the combustion-chamber d², the coal or other
bituminous mineral to be distilled is charged into the retorts from both ends in
the usual manner, and the doors closed. The products of distillation pass by the
stand-pipes e, into the main f2, each stand-pipe being provided with a valve g², to
prevent any back-flow of the gas. The volatile products are thence carried by the
pipe h2, into the passage 22, communicating with the five decomposing-chambers b²,
through which they pass and are collected again in the passage j³, and are conveyed
by the pipe 3, to the hydraulic main ², to be passed to the condenser and treated
in the usual manner.
The decomposing-chambers 62, may be filled with lumps of coke, brick, or other
solid matter; but it is preferred to keep them empty, the radiant heat from the
walls being sufficient to effect the decomposition necessary.-The carbon deposited
in these chambers may be removed by the door m² placed on each end of the
chamber b², either by mechanical rakes or by passing a current of steam through
them.
So soon as the volatile matters are distilled out of the coal or other substances,
the coke is raked out of the horizontal retorts a², at both ends, and-transferred by
means of the shoot n, into the retorts c.-A fresh charge of coal or other substance
is immediately introducd into the horizontal retorts a², at the same time the
openings o², on the lower retorts are closed, and a current of steam turned on to the
retorts by opening the taps p², leading from main steam pipe, into the annular
space q², surrounding the outlet pipe leading from the retort c², to the hydraulic
main &². The steam passing into the retort by the annular space q², by the pipe t²,
through the openings 2, up through the incandescent coke contained in the retorts,
is partly decomposed, supplying hydrogen to the nitrogen in the coke, and effecting
its elimination in the form of ammonia. At the same time there is produced a
large volume of water-gas. The ammonia, water-gas and undecomposed steam pass
from the retorts by the ports v², thence by the pipe, to the hydraulic main 8²,
and being at a very high temperature, in their passage from the retorts by the

page_text: pipe, leading to the hydraulic main 8², impart their heat or a portion of it, to the
steam on its way to the retorts through the annular space 9; surrounding it. The
fire-gases from the combustion-chamber may be prevented from entering the open
bottoms of the two central retorts, by returning a portion of the water-gas after it
has been treated for the recovery of the ammonia, back as shewn by the pipe w²,
into the flue surrounding the lower end of the retorts. The water-gas, ammonia
compounds, and steam are drawn off from the hydraulic-main to the condensers and
scrubbers for the recovery of the ammonia.
As it is found necessary in order to obtain the nitrogen in the coke as ammonia,
that there should be always an excess of steam passing through the coke, the
water-gas always contains a large quantity of carbonic acid. Where the gas is to
be used for heating alone, this is not a very serious objection; but where it is
desired to carburet the gas and convert it into an illuminating gas, or to commingle
a portion of it with the hydrocarbon gases produced from the coal in the horizontal
retorts, we then pass the gas, after the ammonia and condensed steam have been
removed through a retort charged with highly heated carbon to convert the carbonic
acid into carbonic oxide. This carbon may be heated by blowing air through it
until it is incandescent, then shutting off the air and passing the gas through or by
the application of an exhaust to the retort containing the carbon. As the coke is
burned away or consumed in the retorts, in the atmosphere of steam, and on the
combustion-chambers d, by the air, the lower doors a², are opened, and the ashes
from time to time removed and fresh charges transferred into them from the
horizontal retorts, the process being carried on continuously.
Or the ammonia produced in this process may be employed (as explained in the
Specification filed in pursuance of Letters Patent granted to the said William
Young for "Improvements in the manufacture of mineral oil and ammonia" part of
the said Improvements being also applicable to the manufacture of coal gas,
No. 1587 A.D. 1881) to absorb and remove the carbonic acid gas, this process may
be profitably carried on in conjunction with the manufacture of carbonate of soda
from common salt, by the well known carbonate of ammonia process.
Figures 1, and 2, Sheet 5, shew in transverse section and elevation partly in
section, a bench of retorts similar to that described and shewn in the specifications
and Drawings filed in pursuance of certain provisos in Letters Patent Nos. 2169, and
4284, A.D. 1881, respectively granted to the said George Thomas Beilby as at the 18th
day of May, and the 3rd day of October A. D. 1881, certain alterations being made
in the retorts so as to adapt then for gas making purposes according to the present
improvements. Instead of being provided with one exit pipe placed in the multiple
hopper and serving for four Retorts, each retort is provided with two exit pipes
connected with two separate sets of mains.
In Figures 1, and 2, sheet 5, a, a, is the hopper supplying four retorts with
shale.
a', a', the upper portion of the retort made of iron...
a, a, the lower portion of the retort made of fire-clay or built of bricks..
a³, a³, the iron continuation of retort into water lute through trough p.
g, g, steam generator or superheater chamber.
8, main steam pipe from generators to retorts.
81, branch pipes from main steam pipe.
M, M, mains for illuminating gas.
e, e, exit pipes from upper retorts to mains M, M.
e, e, valves and stand-pipes on mains M, M.
e, e, exit pipes or channels on lower retorts moulded or built on the side of
Retort.
e', el, Iron exit pipes connecting retorts with
ee Stand pipes and valves on
M², M; Heating gas mains.
d, d, are ports connecting the upper and lower ovens..
d¹, d', are dampers.

page_text: In working these retorts the shale, coal, or like material is passed through
continuously or practically-Small quantities of the spent material being removed
through the water lute trough p, and its place supplied at the upper end of the retort
by an addition of fresh material through the hopper a. The upper retort a¹, a', iš
kept at a moderate-red heat just sufficient for the production of illuminating gas
and benzole tars, these products escape by the pipes e³, to the mains M, from which
they pass through the ordinary arrangement of condensers, scrubbers, exhausters
and purifiers.
The lower portion of the retort is kept at a bright-red heat sufficiently high to
enable the fixed carbon of the coke to decompose a portion of the steam which is
passed through the retort making carbonic acid and hydrogen. These gases together
with the ammonia from the coke, pass off by the exit e, to the mains M', M³, and
thence through condensers, exhauster, scrubbers, and purifiers.
Some care is requisite in the preliminary adjustment of the relative capacities of
the two sets of exhausters, which draw off the illuminating gas from the upper, and
the heating gas from the lower retort. But if the proportion which these two
qualities of gas will bear to each other when any particular class of coal, shale, or
other material, is being distilled at certain definite heats is once ascertained,
then the respective exhausters can be set so as each to draw and deliver definite
proportions of the two classes of gas.
Figure 1, Sheet 8, and Figure 1, Sheet 9, show sectional elevations at right
angles to each other of blast furnace. Figure 2, Sheet 9, and Figure 2, Sheet S
respectively shew general plan and horizontal section of the same illustrating the
carrying out of our invention.
The retorts ³, for effecting the preliminary destructive-distillation of the coal
or other bituminous substance are rectangular in form, supported on the top of the
furnace by the arches 63, thrown from side to side of the furnace and are surrounded
by the walls B, which form an oven or chamber in which they are made brightly-
red hot by the combustion of a portion of the blast furnace gases, either after they
have been treated for the recovery of the ammonia they contain, or taken direct
fron the furnace as is shewn by the ports c³, leading from the main gas off-take
flue d³, the combustion of the gas being completed by the admission of air regulated
by a sliding plate or damper at e³.
In describing the working of this arrangement, it is supposed that the furnace
has been got into full blast in the usual way, the coal or mineral having been
charged through the retorts a³, and that the body of the furnace f³, and the lower
part of the retort a³, filled with the coke of the coal, together with the ironstone or
other mineral, which has been charged through the hopper or valve g³, into the
retort and that the upper parts of the retorts are freshly charged with green coal
and mineral.
The blast furnace gases pass by the side openings and ports ³, into the gas-
flue d³, thence by the tube 23, into the descending tube 3, through the centre of the
wall in the chamber or boiler -These gases leaving the furnace from amongst
the highly-heated coke dropping from the retort a³, have necessarily a very high
temperature: This heat is imparted to the water in the steam boiler, and raising
steain to be used alone or assisted, if necessary, by steam from other sources (as
hereinafter described) in the elimination of the nitrogen from the coal and the other
mineral used in the furnace the steam being conveyed by the pipe ³, into the
bottom of the retorts a³, through the port holes m³, the quantities being regulated
by the valves n³. This steam is partially decomposed as it passes up through and
amongst the red-hot coke of the coal and other mineral supplying the hydrogen
necessary to combine with the nitrogen and form ainmonia The tar, gas, steam,
and ammonia are drawn off from the retorts by the pipes o³, leading to the main p³,
and conveyed to the condensers and scrubbers any convenient form of exhaustér
being employed for that purpose.
To ensure that no furnace gases shall pass up into the open end of the retorts a³,
the uncondensible gases after the condensed volatile tars and ammonia have been'

page_text: separated, are returned back by the pipe q³ into the lower end of the furnace by
the ports the quantities being regulated to the different retorts by the valves s³³;
a part of this gas equivalent to the excess of the exhaust, passes up through the
retorts and accompanies the steam, ammonia and other products a second time
through the condensers but a portion equal to the quantity being produced from
the coal in the retorts passes down into the furnaces pushing back and accompanying
the blast furnace gases.
With the great bulk of coals the retort arrangements now described will be
found sufficient to eliminate the greater part of the nitrogen which they contain
as ammonia; but with some coals which contain a large quantity of nitrogen or
which do not part with it freely by the action of steam or where no preliminary
retort, arrangement and the ordinary close-top furnace are employed, it may be
found profitable to admit steam into the body of the furnace as shewn by the
flue t, and ports u³. This steam no. doubt carries away in the form of carbonic
acid part of the carbon which would have been employed in reducing the ironstone
to metallic iron; but the quantity of ammonia evolved will more than repay the loss.
The blast Furnace gases pass by the tube j³, into the scrubbing arrangements C³,
consisting of a series of. tubular plates v³, having caps or covers w³, of thin sheet-
metal attached to a central wire or rod passing through the centre of the tube a³,
enlarged views of which are shewn in Figures 3, and 4, Sheet 9. These central
wires being loose in the tubular orifices ³, are kept moving about as the caps are
lifted up and down by the passing gas and the tubular orifices ³, are thus
prevented from closing by matter collecting in them.
Through this arrangement of apparatus, water kept at such a temperature as
will prevent the absorption of ammonia is showered. This hot water washing
frees the gases from suspended dust, or in the case of furnaces, in which the
preliminary distillation is not employed but the tars accompany the gases which
How away by the pipe y³, to suitable receptacles, this washing will remove all tars
and leave the gases fit to pass into arrangements of apparatus such as are known
as Glover's towers, where the ammonia which they contain can be removed by
sulphuric acid and the solution of sulphate of ammonia so formed, drawn off, and
converted into sulphate.
Or where the preliminary distillation of the coal is not effected in retorts placed
on the top of the furnace and when the tars accompany the gases they may be
removed by subjecting them to a process of decomposition in an atmosphere of
steam in the arrangement of apparatus shewn on Figures 1, and 2, Sheet 10.
This arrangement consists of an upright malleable-iron cylinder a, lined with walls
of brick b, and having an arch c¹, thrown over its lower end perforated with
openings d. On these openings are placed tubes e, made of fire-clay or other
fire-resisting material.-These tubes c', are formed in lengths, and at their
junctions f", rest against and support each other, at the same time leaving a
space g, for the passage of the fire-gases. Any convenient number of these tubes
may be placed over each other and terminating in a closed cover '.-These tubos
are heated to a bright-red heat by a portion of the gases, after the ammonia has
been removed, being forced back by the pipe 4, into the flue j', and there con-
sumed by meeting a current of hot air supplied by the pipe 4, to the flue -The
hot products of combustion from the combined air and gas pass around the tubes
and upwards from tier to tier and escape by the chimney. The gases containing
the tars enter by the pipe mt, from the furnace and are mixed with steam largely
in excess of what is necessary to decompose the tars. The mixed gas, tar, and
steam descend through the tiers of tubes and gradually become more and more
decomposed until by the time they reach the chamber o, at the bottom of the
arrangement, they are completely charged, the nitrogen which was present in the
tars or the greater part of it being converted into ammonia, and the carbon into
carbonic acid.
As the gases leaving this arrangement are at a high temperature, they may be
used, as shewn to raise the steam, or a part of it to effect the decomposition, the

page_text: gases passing through the tubes 2%, of the. boiler q', and the steam passing by the
pipe, to where the gases and tars enter the arrangement which is here shewn
as acting as a steam jet to urge the gases forwards.
As any great difference of pressure between the inside of the tubes, and the
chamber in which they are enclosed would lead to the leakage of the gases, the
device on the top of the apparatus may be used to keep both pressures as nearly as
possible alike, and prevent leakage. This device consists of a gas holder 8', actuated
by the gases passing from the top of the inlet for furnace gases-This gas-holder s*,
has the same superficial area as the valve t, on the top of the chimney u*, to
which it is attached by the rod vt, and lever wt-It is evident that any pressure
coming upon the gas-holder s2, will tend to close the valve t, on the top of the
chimney us, and vice versa, any relief of pressure on the holder would allow it to
fall and proportionally open the valve.
Instead of employing the tubular arrangement just described for the decomposition
of the tars, an arrangement may be used the same as is employed to heat the blast
for smelting purposes known as the Siemens, Cowper, or Whitwell. heater, the gases
containing the tar, together with the necessary steam, taking the place of the air
to be heated.
But by whichever process the tars present in the gases are decomposed, they are
afterwards washed with hot water as previously described; and the ammonia
absorbed with acid in a Glover's tower or other similar arrangement.-The tar
from other minerals may be similarly treated for the recovery of the nitrogen which
they contain, as ammonia.
This invention may be also applied to the elimination of the nitrogen or part of
it as ammonia from coal subjected to the process of coking in close or nearly
closed vessels, provided that the coking process is effected at a temperature
sufficiently low to prevent the decomposition of the nitrogen compounds and set
the nitrogen free as a gas provision being made to consume a portion of the coke
in an atmosphere of steam. A large yield of ammonia may thus be obtained.
Figure 3, Sheet shews the process as applied to what is known as the Appolt
coke oven, where, instead of allowing the products of distillation to escape into the
surrounding flue space a5, through the ports 65, as has hitherto been the case, there
is a pipe c, taken from the top of each chamber d³, to a main e5, which communi-
cates with suitable condensing and scrubbing arrangements for the separation of the
tar and ammonia, the non-condensible gas being returned and used as fuel to effect
the distillation, assisted by gas produced either in a separate converter from the
breeze or small coke, or by having a retort or furnace placed in the bench of
coking chamber as described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 7, and
Figure 4, Sheet 8, of the accompanying drawings. Steam for the elimination of
the nitrogen or a part of it being let into the retort from the main steam pipe f5,
through the ports 65, passing up through the coke and away to the condensers by
the pipe c³.
The calcining of ironstone and limestone and the recovery of the ammonia
therefrom together with the ammonia from the coal used to effect the calcination,
is effected by means of arrangements of retorts placed on the top of the calcining
kiln similar to those placed on the top of blast furnaces, as shewn and herein
described in reference to Figures 1 and 2, Sheets S, and 9, of the accompanying
drawings. Only instead of the lower portion being as in the blast furnace, it is
fired, as is usual in kilns for the calcining of limestone and ironstone, and all the.
products from the lower part of the furnace are taken up and around the retorts
to heat them.
It is to be understood that although we have described in the apparatus for
conducting our process of recovering ammonia the use of a steam pipe for admitting
steam from an external source to the retorts, yet, that when we treat a highly
hygrometric substance, such as peat, the steam may be generated by the heat of
the retort or by the beat of a supplementary vessel acting upon the water in the
said-substances, such steam passing downwards through the hot coke in the lower

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1
part of the retort-the outlet for the products of the distillation being situated
in that position.
The retort represented at Figure 4, Sheet 5, is constructed similar to ordinary.
double mouthed horizontal retorts and is provided with two independent hydraulic
mains a, b, which are respectively for the illuminating and heating gases. After
the ash or coke of the previous charge has been removed and the valve co, closed
and the valve do, opened, the retort e, is charged and closed in the usual manner,
the illuminating gases pass up through the pipe f, and valve do, into the hydraulic
main a, from which it may be taken to the condensers or any other required
apparatus. After all the illuminating gas has been liberated from the charge
within the retort e, the valve do, is closed, and the valve c, opened. The steam
valve g, in the pipe, connected with the steam-main 2, and inlet jo, is then
opened and the steam in passing through the coke in the retort is decomposed,
and the liberated hydrogen combines with the nitrogen of the coke which forms
the ammonia, and the oxygen of the steam combines with the carbon of the coke,
which forms carbonic acid. These gases by an excess of steam are then driven up
the pipe, and through the valve c, into the hydraulic-main 66, from which they
may be taken to the condensers or scrubbers or other apparatus for recovering the
ammonia. After these gases have been all eliminated, the valve c³, is closed and
the ash or coke from the retort e, is then removed and a fresh charge introduced
when the process is repeated.
It is to be understood than when air is used with steam for the purpose of
burning the carbon and eliminating the nitrogen, care must be taken that the air
admitted is not sufficient of itself to burn the whole of the carbon.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
invention and certain arrangements of apparatus whereby the same is or may be
used or carried into practical effect we wish in conclusion to state that we do not
limit ourselves to the exact details of the various forms of apparatus or the modes
of operating with them, which we have had occasion to describe or refer to, as for
instance instead of passing the steam or steam and air upwards through the coke
containing the nitrogen to be eliminated as ammonia, it (or they) may be passed
downwards or the steam, or steam and air, may be passed alternately either
upwards or downwards, or in any other direction, and a regenerating arrangement
of apparatus may be employed in such a manner as is well understood that the
heat carried away by the outflowing steam, gas, and ammoniacal compounds can
be restored to the steam or steam and air flowing into the retort, that is to say by
what is well known as a reversible regenerator; or the steam or steam and air to
be used in effecting the decomposition of the carbon may be heated to a temperature
a little below that which will decompose ammonia by passing it through any well
known form of super-heater such as that used to heat the hot blast for iron-
smelting furnaces. To a practical mind the foregoing and many other modifications
of working the several parts of our Invention, will suggest themselves; what we
have aimed at in this our said Specification being to give illustrations typical of
the various manufactures to which our invention can be applied.-We further wish
it to be understood that we do not claim the manufacture of water-gas from coal
or other carbonaceous matters, or the washing out of the products of distillation.
by the use of steam, as has been hitherto to some extent practised in the manu-
facture of mineral oils and in separating sulphur from coke, but what we have
discovered is that when fixed Carbon containing nitrogen such as that obtained
from the distillation of coal or similar carbonaceous minerals or from carbon in
the natural condition such as anthracite is decomposed or consumed by steam or
by a mixture of steam and air in the presence of excess of steam the nitrogen is
eliminated as ammonia, and therefore what we claim as novel and original is:-
First The production of ammonia from coal, shale, ironstone, and other
bituminous or carbonaceous minerals containing nitrogen by decomposing or
burning the carbon resulting from the distillation thereof or anthracite at such a
temperature and in the presence of such an excess of steam either alone or

page_text: commingled with air, or with the products of combustion of carbon and air as will
burn the carbon and will eliminate the nitrogen contained therein substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Second-The re-distillation of the oils resulting from the distillation of shale,
coal, or similar bituminous substances by the heat of the steam used to eliminate
the nitrogen in the coke as ammonia together with the heat from the products of
distillation from the retort all substantially as described and shewn on the
accompanying drawings.
Third The various arrangements of apparatus or any mere modification thereof
for the treatment of coal or other bituminous or carbonaceous minerals, and of the
resulting gases for the recovery and obtainment of the ammonia. which they
contain by being applied to blast and other furnaces, gas-producers and the other
apparatus shewn on the accompanying Sheets of Drawings and substantially as
hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof we the said William Young, and George Thomas Beilby
have hereunto set our hands and seals this Eighteenth day of September in
the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.