Improvements in and Apparatus for Washing and Purifying Coal Gas.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1887
Complete Left, 25th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th Apr., 1888
Improvements in and Apparatus for Washing and Purifying
Coal Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 7, 9 and 11 Emlyn Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to effect a better washing of gas resulting from
the distillation of coal than heretofore and relates more particularly to the purifying
or washing of illuminating coal gas.
According to my invention I effect the removal of certain impurities (such as Sul-
phuretted Hydrogen, Carbonic Acid and tarry matter) from coal gas by washing in such
a manner that the gas is washed or subjected to the action of water or ammoniacal
liquor in a finely divided state whereby each particle, or molecule of gas comes under
the action of the washing medium and the impurities removed. This is carried out
by washing the gas lightly and spreading it over a large area, that is to say, the gas
is caused to pass through only a small depth of the liquid and is distributed over a
large area or surface. A convenient mode of obtaining the above result, namely the
light washing, is by causing the gas to pass below a number of ledges or inverted
weirs the edges of which are immersed only to a small depth in the washing water
or liquor. The receptacles for holding the water or liquor are arranged horizontally
as trays and may be conveniently disposed one above the other. A number of ledges
of weirs are provided for each tray so that the gas is subjected to repeated washings
in each tray. I have found that the best distribution of the gas and consequent
best washing is effected by arranging the weirs in inverted loose trays whereby the
depth of immersion of the weirs or ledges is regulated by the pressure and volume
of the gas which is passed through them, thus constituting what may be termed a
floating washer. By this means an automatic compensation and regulation for
differences of volume and pressure are provided.
The gas is preferably introduced by vertical pipes which also serve for the overflow
of the water or liquor and tar. These pipes are provided with second pipes of greater

page_text: depth and diameter having apertures below the level of the liquor in the trays by
which the denser liquor and tar lying at the bottom of the trays is caused to pass over
the lip of the inner pipes to the overflow receptacle or well. The bottoms of the
trays are inclined so that the heavier liquid and tar gravitate towards the pipes which
are placed at or near the lowest portion of the trays."
When the trays are placed one above the other the gas enters the lowest first and
ascends through them seriatim. The water, may be supplied in large quantities or in
small quantities and is admitted to the upper tray first and flows downward through
the successive trays. In the first case the washing is effected by pure or nearly pure
water and in the latter case it is effected by ammoniacal liquor, being produced from
the washing of the gas.
In the first tray or washer the gas enters in a warm state and the tar is deposited
and through the warmth flows freely out and over the escape pipe or syphon, but the
impurities in the form of Carbonic Acid and Sulphuretted Hydrogen are only
removed in small quantities. These are however removed in the succeeding washers
or trays when they become cool.
The light washing in the manner above described causes the gas to pass or fritter
under the ledges or weirs and through the liquid in a finely divided state and also
breaks the liquid at these points into spray which intermingles with the gas and
facilitates or furthers a better and more effective washing of it.
After the gas leaves the washer herein described it may be led through any suitable
sieve purifiers containing layers of moss, lime and oxide of iron, or equivalent
material.

page_text: Improvements in and Apparatus for Washing and Purifying
Coal Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of 7, 9 and 11 Emlyn Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to effect a better washing of gas resulting from
the distillation of coal than heretofore and relates more particularly to the purifying,
or washing of illuminating coal gas.
According to my Invention I effect the removal of certain impurities (such as
ammonia and tarry matters) from coal gas by washing in such a manner that the gas
is washed, or subjected to the action of water, or ammoniacal liquor in a finely
divided state whereby each particle or molecule of gas comes under the action of
the washing medium and the impurities removed. This is carried out by washing
the gas lightly and spreading it over a large area; that is to say, the gas is caused to
pass through only a small depth of the liquid and is distributed over a large area, or
surface. I obtain the above result, namely the light washing by causing the gas to pass
below a number of ledges, or inverted weirs, the edges of which are immersed only
to a small depth in the washing water, or liquor. The receptacles for holding the
water, or liquor are arranged horizontally as trays and may be conveniently disposed
one above the other. A number of ledges or weirs are provided for each tray, so that
the gas is subjected to repeated washings in each tray. I have found that the best
distribution of the gas, and, consequent best washing, is effected by arranging the
weirs in inverted loose trays whereby the depth of immersion of the weirs, or ledges
is regulated by the pressure and volume of the gas which is passed through them,
thus constituting what may be termed a floating washer. By this means an
automatic compensation and regulation for differences of volume and pressure are
provided.
My invention will be hereafter fully described and its novel features defined in the
claiming clauses concluding this Specification.
In the drawings hereto annexed, which serve to illustrate apparatus for washing
gas according to my invention,
Figure 1 is an outside elevation of the washer in its preferred form.
Figure 2 is an end view of same.
Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of floating and stationary trays.
Figure 5 is a section through the inlet side of the trays, and Figure 6 is a section
through the outlet side of same.
With reference to the Drawings K designates the floating trays, and L the
stationary trays. They are placed one over the other in a case M which is of a
stepped form, as shown, the object of this construction being to provide an inde-
pendent support for each of the trays L. The ledges m provide this support as will

page_text: i
be seen by the drawings, the edges of the trays L being placed and rest upon them.
The bottom of the trays L are inclined towards one corner to cause the heavier
condensed vapours, or gases to flow towards the outlet from them. This outlet is
designated . The floating trays K are smaller than the trays L and when in position
fit inside the latter as shown. In this their normal position, the rimsk of the trays
touch, or nearly touch the bottom of the trays L. k¹ are the weirs of the tray K,
and is a diaphragm having at one end an aperture 4 through which the gas passes
from one side of the tray to the other. It leaves this latter side by the passage k
which is formed in the roof of the tray, and with the pipe k forms a luting to the
pipe of the trays L. It will be observed the weirs k¹ are shallower than the sides k
and the diaphragms k³ and they are so arranged that they are only immersed to a
small depth in the liquor. The lips of the weirs k¹ may be provided with pendant
flaps of any textile, or like pliable material. The level of the liquor-which is shown
by dotted lines and designated by L. L.-is controlled and maintained at a constant
level in each tray L by the pipe 1 (besides serving as the gas inlet) which is of such
a depth as to keep the liquor at the required level. The liquor which flows over the
lip of the pipe of each tray falls into the tray directly under it through the passage k¹
and finally it falls into the receptacle M' from whence it is led, or taken away, as
desired. To cause the heavier liquids, such as tar, resulting from the condensation of the
heavier vapours of the gas to flow towards the overflow outlet / the bottom of the trays L
are inclined towards it, and to cause these heavier liquids to flow over the lip of the
pipe 7, when they have gravitated near the outlet, there is provided an outer concentric
pipe which stands above the level of the liquor and the lip of the pipe l; and has
openings at its bottom as shown, through which the heavier liquids-as they gravitate
thence are carried by lighter liquor and are forced up between the two pipes and
and finally over the lip of the latter. They then flow down the sides of this pipe
either into the next tray, or into the receptacle M₁ as the case may be the gas flows
up through the centre of this pipe. In this way the tarry and heavy condensed
liquids are drained from the trays. The arrows in the Drawings show the direction,
or course of the gas into and through the washer and the liquor overflow.
:
The gas first enters the receptacle M' by a pipe M2, then enters the first tray L
from it by the pipe of such lower tray. It then finds its way along the space
between the surface of the liquor and the roof of the tray K, passing under the lips
of the weirs ¹ through the aperture k in the diaphragm and so on to the gas
outlet k. It then passes into the second tray L by its inlet pipe land on through
this and the following trays in the manner just described, and is then led away by
a pipe o to be treated by the ordinary sieve purifiers, containing layers of moss, lime
and oxide of iron, or their equivalents for removing the principal impurities there-
from in the form of carbonic acid and sulphuretted hydrogen. From the above it
will be observed the gas enters the lowest tray of the washer first, ascends and
passes through them seriatim and finally leaves the uppermost. The washing liquor
(water) which is either supplied in large quantities, or in small quantities on the
contrary is admitted to the uppermost tray first and flows downwards through the
successive trays, leaving the lowest last. When a large quantity of water is used,
the washing is effected by pure, or nearly pure water; but when a small quantity is
admitted to the apparatus the washing is effected by ammoniacal liquor which is
formed from the washing of the gas as is well understood.
The gas enters the first tray of the apparatus in a warm state and the tarry liquids
are deposited therein. The warmth of the deposited tar renders it sufficiently liquid
to allow it to flow freely towards the overflow pipe and rise over its lip, the impurity
however in the form of ammonia is only removed in this tray in small quantities the
greater portion of it being removed in the succeeding trays, when the gas has become
cool.
The light washing in the manner above described causes the gas to pass under the
weirs and through the liquid in a finely divided state and also breaks up the liquid
at these points into a spray which intermingles with the gas and so furthers a better
and more effective washing of it.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The construction of apparatus for washing and purifying gas by which the
gas is evenly and lightly washed, as or substantially as herein set forth.
Second. In apparatus for washing and purifying gas, the combination with a tray
in which the washing liquor is held, of a floating tray operating substantially in the
manner herein set forth.
Third. In apparatus for washing and purifying gas the combination with a
tray L, in which the washing liquor is held, of a floating tray K being provided with
weirs k, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The tray K having weirs k¹, diaphragm k², aperture and outlet k*, in
combination with the tray L, having the inlet 6, all substantially as set forth.
Fifth. An apparatus for washing gas, consisting of a casing M having a series
of trays L and K arranged one above another and of gradually increasing length and
breadth, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. An apparatus for washing and purifying gas consisting essentially of a
casing M and a series of tiers in which are provided inverted weirs, such as k¹ dipping
into the washing liquor and under which the gas has to pass, substantially as
described.
11
قييم
1
T
1000