Improvements in the Method and Apparatus for Carbureting Water Gas.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method and Apparatus for Carbureting
Water Gas.
I, ARTHUR GRAHAM GLASGOw, of Westminster Chambers, 9 Victoria Street,
in the City of Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the carbureting of water gas, and has for its object to
secure a better and more economical enrichment of the gas by means of hydrocarbon
oils, than has heretofore been possible.
It has been heretofore recognized that at the temperature which is usually
employed in carbureting and fixing chambers and which is recommended by gas
engineers, the oil does not produce a gas of the highest illuminating power, which
it is capable of producing, some of the oil being converted into lamp-black and gases
of low illuminating power.
;
The customary high temperature has however been continued in use because it
was on the whole considered most economical, the alternative being assumed to be
a loss of oil through but partial fixing and probable trouble in conduits etc. owing
to condensation of oil therein.
The object of my invention is to obtain from the oil a gas of the highest possible
illuminating power without causing any deterioration in the other qualities of the
gas or any waste of oil which I completely utilize.
My new method, generally speaking, consists in passing water gas and oil vapors
through carbureters maintained at a heat not substantially higher than that
necessary to produce a gas of the highest illuminating value from the oil employed
then carrying the resultant gases and vapors, for this temperature will draw off
much unfixed vapor, through one or more surface condensers or devaporizing
chambers, whereby the unfixed oil vapor is condensed, collecting this oil vapor and
then reusing it to carburet fresh water gas.
As the oil collected in this way is heavier than that originally employed I prefer
to reuse it in the generator, where the gases are the hottest, and where if any
portion of the oil is not vaporized, it remains as oil-cake, and makes a valuable
addition to the fuel charge in the generator.
It sometimes happens that undecomposed steam will pass off from the generator
with the water gas, this steam will be condensed in the condensers or devaporizing
chambers, and its equivalent in water will be collected with the oil condensed from
the gas. To get rid of this water, and it is very desirable to have no water, or as
little as possible condensed with the heavy oil, I prefer to introduce in my process
the step of passing the water gas from the generator into a suitable receiver before
I pass it into the carbureter and fixing chambers; this serves to remove all the
water from it, and there is nothing separated from the water gas except the unfixed
oil vapor.
The treatment of the water gas in surface condensers or devaporizing chambers
is especially advantageous where internally heated carbureters are employed, that
is to say, carbureters filled with checker work and heated by the passage through
them of the blast gases produced alternately with the runs of water gas in the
ordinary operations of a water gas generator when using complex crude oils or more
volatile distillates.
The condensation just referred to as being carried out in one or more surface

page_text: condensers will not when it consists of simple cooling separate the unfixed oil vapor
from the gas as quickly as if the gas when cooled in the condensers or devaporizing
chambers is also subjected to the action of crude oil which "scrubs" the and
gas
very quickly absorbs and separates-from it the last traces of unfixed oil vapor.
The combined cooling and scrubbing with oil accomplishes what neither the
cooling nor scrubbing can so readily effect separately, since to make the oil efficient
as a scrubbing agent, the temperature of the gas must be reduced to an extent which
depends somewhat on the character of the oil employed.
When the cooling and scrubbing action takes place in the same receptacle, the
temperature can easily be regulated to suit all conditions.
The oil saved in the condenser can be introduced into the apparatus, either into
the carbureting chamber or chambers, or, as is preferable, into the top of the
generator when water gas is being made since as has been said, the condensed oil
vapor is heavier than the oil originally employed.
The intensely hot gas rising from the incandescent bed of fuel and the heat of.
the chamber will vaporize and carry into the carbúreter the volatile parts of the oil
residue, and the residue will form as has been stated a valuable addition to the fuel
charge in the generator.
1
Thus by my method it will be seen that the oil is fixed at a temperature at
which the highest illuminating value is obtained, and at the same time there is no
loss of oil.
The oil which is introduced to scrub the gas is collected with the unfixed oil
vapors which it has removed from the gas, and can be again introduced into the
apparatus at any suitable point.
This scrubbing oil may be collected with the oil, condensed in the first condenser,
but it is best to collect it independently.
The details of my method and the apparatus which I have devised to carry it
out, will be best understood as explained in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a water gas plant of familiar construction,
so modified that it will be capable of carrying out my method.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of an apparatus of the constantly carbureting type, such for
instance as that shown in the United States Patent to C. R. Collins, of April 12th,
1892, and numbered 472,785.
Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line T-T of Fig. 2, of the
constantly carbureting apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and illustrating how this
apparatus can be modified so as to carry out my method.
Fig: 4 is a cross section on the line - of Fig. 2.
Referring first to the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, A is a water gas generator of
usual construction; A' indicates the steam pipe leading to its base, and A2 the blast
pipe; A3 indicates the outlet conduit leading from the generator to the carburetér;
a'a indicate oil outlets.
B and B2 indicate carbureting and fixing chambers connected by conduit B¹ and
filled with checker work B. The blast gases from the generator are as usual
passed through these chambers B, B2, preferably ignited therein and then" allowed
io escape through a valve B³ into a stack B. The water gas however is conducted
off through a conduit D leading from the chamber B2.
C indicates an oil distributer, through which oil is thrown into the carbureter 13
when the water gas is passing through it.
E is a surface condenser which forms part of or a continuation of the conduit D
the gases passing in the particular construction of condenser shown through a series
of pipes which pass through a water chamber E'.
Fis a liquid seal formed by the tank or liquid seal chamber F, and a conduit
section E3 which receives, the gases after they have passed from the condenser
extends down into the tank F, below the level of the fluid preferably oil contained
therein, so as to prevent the gases from drawing back if the action of tlie
generator is fluctuating.

page_text: The tank F' forms part of the gas conduit which is continued by the pipe I, which
preferably leads into another surface condenser as J' or into a devaporizing chamber
of any suitable form. As shown, a series of pipes J2 connect water chambers J¹
and J passing through heads J J between which lies the chamber 'J' through.
which the gases pass to conduit continuation L which may lead to further
condensers or cleaners or to a gas holder.
Je is a pipe through which scrubbing oil can be introduced into the top of the
condenser or devaporizing chamber J, this oil when introduced as shown flows down
around the pipes. J2 absorbing the uncondensed vapors present in the gas..
K is a pipe which serves to conduct away the oil introduced at J with whatever
vapors it may have absorbed; this pipe may lead to any convenient receptacle; in
the drawings it is shown leading into the tank F¹.
I will here remark that if oil fresh from the storage tank is used in the condensers
as scrubbing oil that it is better to collect this separately, and not turn it into the
tank F¹.
To cool the oil in the tank F1, I surround it by suitable cooling means, as the
water jacket H, f indicates a pipe through which the oil flows from the tank Fi
into a receptacle as G from which it may be taken at intervals and reintroduced
into the apparatus, either through inlets a or distributer C as has been explained.
In operating this apparatus, after the fuel is properly ignited and the carbureting
and fixing chambers heated to a temperature not greatly exceeding that at which
the best illuminating gases are produced from the oil, the generator is operated in
the well known way to produce water gas, and oil in proper quantities introduced
into the carbureter as by the distributer C.
At the temperature employed, a considerable percentage of the oil, as has been
explained, is not converted into a fixed gas, but passes in vaporous form with the
gas into the surface condenser E where it is wholly or in part condensed, and from
which it is collected, as in the tank F¹.
This oil so saved is, as has been stated, reused for carbureting fresh gas and as it
is heavier than the oil originally employed, I prefer to introduce it into the
generator A as by inlets a a.
The oil condensed in the condenser E is very conveniently employed to form a
liquid seal in the tank F, and it is prevented from revolatilizing by means of the
cooling water jacket which surrounds it.
After the gas has passed the liquid seal, I prefer to pass it through a second
surface condenser or devaporizing chamber as J, and the oil which is collected in
this chamber may or may not, as has been described, flow into the seal chamber FI
through pipe K.
The scrubbing oil which enters through the pipe J5, if this be used, flows down
through the chamber J' and carries with it the condensed oil vapor which it has
separated from the gas.
If the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and heretofore described were so operated as
to permit undecomposed steam to escape from the fuel bed, together with the
water gas, and if this excess of steam be not decomposed in its further passage
through the fixing chambers, its equivalent in water will be collected as in tank F1
or G, wherein it will separate from the oil and from which it must be withdrawn at
proper intervals.
To obviate any danger of undecomposed steam being carried along with the gas,
such an apparatus as is described in C. R. Collins, U.S. Patent previously referred
to, may be employed, such an apparatus with certain changes being capable of
carrying out my method.
"
This apparatus properly modified is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. ...
Referring to these figures it will be noted that a receiver P is provided, which is
connected with the generator by pipe N, N2 which passes through seal N'.. In
operation the blast gases are passed through flues A³ to a box M, from this box
valves M and M² direct them through passages M³ or M' to carbureter B, or b
from the chamber B, the gases pass through conduit B6 to a fixing chamber B? and

page_text: from the chamber through a similar conduit to a corresponding chamber 6.
From the fixing chambers B2, 62, the gases escape through openings B³ into a
conduit D or d which leads to the condenser E as shown in Fig. 3.
The water gas from the generator escapes through passage N seal N', and pipe N'
to conduit O which leads to a receiver P in which the water carried from the
generator condenses and dry gas issues from the receiver through pipe Q thence
to a two way connection, Q having two branches, one governed by the valve Q
and the other by the valve Q3, the one connecting with a fluer leading to the
carbureter and the other with a fluer leading to the carbureter B.
Oil is introduced into the carbureters as by the distributers C, and the carbureted
water gas escapes through the flue D-or the flue d, accordingly as the carbureter B
or is used to the condensers E and J, where the subsequent operation is the same
as has been before described.
It will be understood that these carbureting chambers, b, B, are used alternately,
water gas passing through one set of chambers as 6, 62 while the other is being
heated up by the fuel gas from the generator, but by the interposition of the
receiver the carbureting of water gas is practically continuous, care being taken to
shift the valves so that the water gas will not be conducted into the chambers in
direct communication with the generator. The only important feature of this
apparatus from the standpoint of my invention is, however, the interposition of a
receiver between the generator and the carbureter, which, as already stated, effects
a drying of the gas, and prevents the admixture of water with the oil vapor
collected in the surface condenser.
It will be seen that by my method the oil is entirely utilized, for the production
of a gas having the highest attainable illuminating power that can profitably be
derived from the use of the oil employed there being no loss of oil and no unfixed
vapor in the gas.
I may here remark that the oil used to enrich the gas can be introduced in any
way, or if desired at any convenient point in the apparatus preceding the
carbureting and fixing chambers. It is sometimes the practice to introduce oil to
the top of the generator or in the conduit between it and the carbureter, and when
I refer in the claims to the introduction of oil to the carbureter, I do not mean to
exclude constructions in which the oil is first fed in at a point in advance of the
generator chamber proper.
As to the proper temperature for the carbureting and fixing chambers; this
will of course vary with the kind of oil employed, but the temperature at which
the best fixed illuminating gas will be produced from the oil used can in all cases
be readily ascertained and the temperature regulated accordingly.
In the case of naptha of ordinary commercial character I have found it advisable
to decrease the temperature of the fixing chambers at least 400° F. and preferably
considerably more, as compared with the present approved practice in gas making,
and with all oils I recommend a decrease of temperature of from 400° to 600° F.
while a decrease of 1000° F. has been found decidedly advantageous in many
instances. The rule must be to govern the temperature essentially by the quality
of the gas produced and disregard the amount of oil which is simply vaporized
and not reduced to a fixed gas, the economy of my treatment being the result of
reusing the condensed oil at a temperature appropriate to its character. Such
reuse at the proper temperature resulting in the complete utilization of the oil to
produce gas of the highest value.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The method of carbureting water gas so as to produce a gas of the highest
illuminating power with the least waste of oil, which consists in passing the water
gas formed in the generator through a carbureting and fixing chamber, or chambers,
maintained at a temperature not substantially exceeding that adapted to produce

page_text: gases from the oil having the maximum illuminating power, feeding oil into said
chamber or chambers so as to partially gasify it and enrich the water gas, then
passing the enriched gas through a surface condenser or condensers to separate and
save the residue of oil not converted into a fixed gas, and finally reusing the
collected oil in the generator or carbureting chamber.
2. The method of carbureting water gas so as to produce a gas of the highest.
illuminating power with the least waste of oil, which consists in passing the water
gas from the generator to a receiver so as to condense, water vapor and dry the
gas, then conducting the dried gas freed from water through a carbureting and
fixing chamber or chambers maintained at a temperature not substantially exceeding
that adapted to produce gases from the oil having the maximum illuminating
power, feeding oil into said chamber or chambers so as to partially gasify it and
enrich the water gas, then passing the enriched gas through a surface condenser
or condensers to separate and save the residue of oil not converted into a fixed gas.
and finally reusing the collected oil in the generator or carbureting chamber.
3. The method of carbureting water gas so as to produce a gas of the highest
illuminating power with the least waste of oil, which consists in passing the water
gas formed in the generator through a carbureting and fixing chamber or chambers
maintained at a temperature not substantially exceeding that adapted to produce
gases from the oil having the maximum illuminating effect, feeding oil into said
chamber or chambers so as to partially gasify it and enrich the water gas, then
passing the enriched gas through a surface condenser or condensers to separate
and save the residue of oil not converted into a fixed gas and finally feeding this
collected oil into the generator chamber so that any part of the oil not there
volatilized will form part of the fuel charge in the generator.
4. The method of carbureting water gas so as to produce a gas of the highest
illuminating power with the least waste of gas, which consists in passing the water
gas formed in the generator through a carbureting and fixing chamber or chambers
maintained at a temperature not substantially exceeding that adapted to produce
gases from the oil having the maximum illuminating effect, feeding oil into said
chamber or chambers, so as to partially gasify and enrich the water gas, then
passing the enriched gas through a surface condenser or condensers, to separate
the oil not converted into a fixed gas, then subjecting the cooled gas to the action
of oil to absorb any unfixed oil not separated by the cooling operation, collecting,
the oil separated from the gas and finally reusing this collected oil in the generator
or carbureter chambers.
5. An apparatus for carrying out the method set forth in Claim 1, which
consists of a gas generator A connected in the usual way with a carbureting and
fixing chamber or chambers, as B, B', a gas conduit D leading therefrom, a surface
condenser E forming part of or a continuation of the conduit D, a liquid seal Fl
adapted to receive the hydrocarbons condensed in the condenser, and means as
pipe for drawing off the collected oil.
6. An apparatus for carbureting water gas which consists of a gas generator A,
a gas receiver P connected thereto by suitable pipe connections, in which receiver
the water vapor carried by the gas is adapted to be condensed, a conduit leading
from the gas receiver to a carbureting and fixing chamber or chambers, as B B2,
or bb, an oil distributer for introducing oil into said carbureting chamber or
chambers, a gas conduit leading therefrom, a surface condenser or condensers
forming a continuation of the gas conduit, a liquid seal F1 adapted to receive
the hydrocarbons condensed in the condensers and means as the pipe ƒ for drawing
off the collected oil.
7. An apparatus for carrying out the method set forth in Claim 2, which consists
of a gas generator A connected in the usual way with a carbureting and fixing
chamber or chambers as B, B2, a gas conduit D leading therefrom, a surface
condenser E forming part of or a continuation of the conduit D, a liquid seal F¹
adapted to receive the hydrocarbons coudensed in the condenser, a second

page_text: condenser J, a pipe I leading from the seal chamber thereto, an inlet pipe J* for
scrubbing oil, and a pipe f for drawing off the collected oil.
Dated this 10th day of December 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.