Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas from Coal and Analogous Material.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th July, 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of
Illuminating Gas from Coal and Analogous Material.
I, JOHN HENRY FERGUSSON, of 12, Hackins Hey, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Managing Director, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to those kinds of processes of manufacturing illuminating
gas from coal and analogous material-but chiefly coal,-in which the gas, subsequently
to its production in externally heated closed retorts, is subjected to a further process
of heating, effected by causing it to pass through a duct or chamber heated to the
requisite temperature.
,,
or
According to my invention I arrange or dispose the reheating duct or chamber
above or in the upper part of a bench of distillatory retorts, but separated therefromn
by a wall or partition, in which, however, apertures are provided to admit the heating
gases to pass to the space or chamber in which the duct is placed; and the gases
which I prefer to use (at any rate for the most part) are the gases which have been
used to heat the distillatory retorts, and which, therefore, may be termed "waste
residuary gases; and further, the aperture or apertures above mentioned, through
which the gases from the bench proper, pass to the duct's heating space or chamber,
may be adapted to be controlled, by the employment of dampers or valves, of any
known suitable kind, by which the regulation of the temperature at which it is desired
to work the duct may be readily effected.
One convenient arrangement and disposition of duct according to this invention,
when applied to existing benches of retorts, is to dispose it above or outside the
existing arch of the bench, and to form a suitable space around it, through which the
heating gases pass on their way to the flue, the apertures in the arch through which
the heating gases pass being provided with damper valves to control the heat of
the duct.
The duct may be of single form having an inlet at one end, the gas being passed
directly into it, through a valve or valve controlled conduit or chamber; or the duct
may be of twin or double form through which the gas passes backwards and forwards;
and it may be provided with an artificially cooled pipe or passage on it, so that
the gases under treatment are heated, cooled, and then reheated. In any case an
artificially cooled pipe is provided on the duct outlet. In cases in which the
interposed cooling pipe is used, tar may be introduced into the duct at that
point; or it may be introduced at any suitable point of the duct whatever its
form.
In the case wherein the gases are led direct from the retorts to the duct, so that
the heavy or tarry non-permanent vapours do not condense before they are subjected
to the influence of the duct, I use a long duct, and subject them to heat for a
considerable time in order to render permanent the greater portion of the tarry or
heavy vapours; but the temperature of the duct should not be more than about
170° Faht., otherwise injury may be done to the other and lighter hydrocarbon gases,
this duct may be termed a fixing chamber; also at the point near where the cooling
pipes are employed it should be shielded from the heat to prevent the pipes connected
with it becoming blocked.
One form of duct beyond those mentioned may consist of a single retort shaped
conduit, within which a tube is placed, through which the gases pass to its outlet at
the back end of the duct, and then forward to the front end, and out by the artificially
cooled pipe.
A bench may be provided with a by-pass passage to the flue, so that instead of

page_text: all the heating gases having to pass by way of the duct chamber, some may pass to
the flue direct, the by-pass passage being provided with a valve or damper to control
it; or, when desired, all the heating gases may be by-passed and the duct's heating
chamber cut off from the inside of the bench.
Dated this 9th day of October 1889.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of
Illuminating Gas from Coal and Analogous Material.
I, JOHN HENRY FERGUSSON, of 12, Hackins Hey, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Managing Director, 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:-
This invention has reference to those kinds of processes of manufacturing illuminating
gas from coal and analogous material-but chiefly coal,-in which the gas, subsequently
to its production in externally heated closed retorts, is subjected to a further process
of heating, effected by causing it to pass through a duct, chamber or fixing retort
heated to the requisite temperature.
According to my invention I arrange or dispose the reheating duct, chamber, or
fixing retort above or in the upper part of a bench of distilling retorts, but separated
therefrom by a wall or partition, in which wall, however, apertures are provided to
admit the heating gases to pass to the space or chamber in which the fixing retort is
placed; and the gases which I prefer to use (at any rate for the most part) are those
which have been used to heat the distillatory retorts, and which, therefore, may be
termed waste or residuary gases; and further, the aperture or apertures above
mentioned, through which the gases from the bench proper, pass to the ducts' or
fixing retort heating space or chamber, may be adapted to be controlled by the
employment of dampers or valves, of any known suitable kind, by which the regulation
of the temperature at which it is desired to work the duct or fixing retort may be
readily effected.
66
دو
One convenient arrangement of duct or fixing retort according to this invention,
when applied to existing benches of retorts, is to dispose it above or outside the
existing arch of the bench, and to form a suitable space around it, through which the
heating gases pass on their way to the flue, the aperture in the arch through which
the heating gases pass being provided with damper valves to control the heat of
the duct.
The duct or fixing retort may be of single form having an inlet at one end, the
gas being passed directly into it, through a valve or valve-controlled conduit or
chamber; or it may be of twin or double form through which the gas passes backwards
and forwards; and it may be provided with an artificially cooled pipe or passage on it, so
that the gases under treatment are heated, cooled, and then reheated. In any case
an artificially cooled pipe is provided on its outlet. In cases in which the interposed
cooling pipe is used, tar may be introduced into the duct at that point; or it may
be introduced at any suitable point of the duct whatever its form.
In the case in which the gases are led directly from the retorts to the duct or fixing
retort, so that the heavy or tarry non-permanent vapours do not condense before they
are subjected to the influence of the duct, I use a long duct or retort, and subject the
vapours to heat for a considerable time in order to render permanent the greater
portion of the tarry or heavy matters therein; but the temperature of the duct should
not be more than about 1,000° to 1,200° Faht., otherwise injury may be done to the
other lighter hydrocarbon gases; also at the point near where the cooling pipes are
employed, it should be shielded from the heat to prevent the pipes connected with it
becoming blocked.

page_text: One form of duct or fixing retort beyond those mentioned may consist of a single retort-
shaped conduit within which a tube is placed through which the gases pass to its
outlet at the back end thereof and then forward to the front end, and out by the
artificially cooled pipe.
A bench may be provided with a by-pass passage to the flue so that instead of all
the heating gases having to pass by way of the duct chamber, some may pass to the
flue direct, the by-pass passage being provided with a valve or damper to control it;
or, when desired, all the heating gases may be by-passed and the duct or fixing retort
heating chamber cut off from the inside of the bench.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate this invention,
Figure 1 is an outside end view shewing a bench of gas making apparatus according
to the invention, partly in outside view and partly in section ;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of same;
Figure 3 shews a modification of the apparatus, and
Figure 4 shows another modification of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1
and 2.
Referring generally to the drawings, A designates ordinary gas making retorts, set
in a bench B and heated by a fire in the usual way; C is a chamber into which the
gases from the retorts A pass; and D is the fixing retort into and through which the
gases pass from the retorts on their way to the gas main. a¹ are pipes which carry
the gas from the retorts A to the chamber C.
The gas passes from the retorts A¹ to the chamber C by the pipes a', their inlets
into such chamber being controlled by the valves c¹ worked from outside by the
handles. The entrance from the chamber C to the fixing retort D is controlled by
a valve d¹.
The heat used to raise the fixing retort to the requisite temperature is derived from
the "waste gases
"from the bench B, or a portion thereof. after they have been used
therein to heat the retorts A, and for convenience the retort D is situated between the
two benches B and outside the arches B¹ thereof; but it may be arranged in any
suitable place. This invention as above generally specified consists also in so arranging
the apparatus that the heat of the fixing chamber D may be regulated as desired.
This is effected by providing passages of regulated area, or provided with valves for
regulating such area, whereby the gases (whether they be waste or live gases) are
caused to pass from that part of the bench in which the retorts A are disposed, to the
space in which the fixing retort D is placed, or partly to it, and partly away to the
outlet flue G. These passages are as follows:-B2 is a passage to which the heated
gases pass after having heated the retorts A, and is formed by the brick walls or
partitions 62. From this the gases pass either to the chamber D', in which the fixing
retort D is placed, by the passage 63, or direct to the flue G by the passage 64. The
flow to the space D₁ and (or) flue G is controlled by the damper G', which is provided
in connection with the passage 64, and by the damper D2 which is provided in
connection with the outlet passage d² of the space D¹ (see Figure 2); that is to say,
if the damper G¹ covers the passage 6, and the damper D2 is removed from the outlet
of the passage d², the waste gases from the bench B all pass by way of the passage B²,
and passage 6, into the chamber D², and heat the fixing retort D and accordingly as
the heat of this retort is greater or less than that required, the passages 6 and d² are
more or less covered or uncovered by their respective dampers, this of course causing
more or less of the gases to pass by way of the space D¹ to the flue G. The
temperature at which the retort D should be heated is from about 1,000° to 1,300°
Fahrenheit.
The fixing retort D, it will be seen, is of a return type, that is, the gas entering
it passes from the front to the back, and then back again to the front. This is caused
by the web inner pipe d³.
After the gas leaves the fixing retort D it is cooled by passing it through the cooled
pipe E, which is kept cool by causing a current of water or other cooling fluid to pass
round it through a jacket space e¹, in any known way. After leaving the pipe E the
gas passes to an ordinary hydraulic main H.

page_text: When the fixing retort D is open (or when otherwise desired), the valve d' should
be closed, and the gas from the chamber C passes to the hydraulic main H direct, by
the pipes and to prevent the gas passing thereto and under ordinary working.
conditions, the dip pipes thereof dip deeper into the liquid therein, than does the
pipe e leading from the pipe E.
The process, and effects thereof, according to this invention are as follows:-The
coal is distilled in the retorts A in the usual way; the gases then pass by way of
the chamber C into the fixing retort D, and then from here they flow through
the cooling pipe E, finally arriving in the hydraulic main H; that is to say, after
distillation the gases are first heated and then artificially cooled as they leave the
heating retort D. The cooling of the gas after and upon leaving the fixing retort D
by the cooling pipe E is essential, as it prevents pitch forming in the outlet and other
pipes, and their becoming blocked up. It will be seen the gas passes direct from the
retorts A into the fixing retort D by way of the pipes a¹ and chamber C; by this
means the condensible matters in the gas do not condense before they enter the fixing
retort D. However, the vapours are not wholly rendered permanent by the process,
and in order to utilize the tar condensed from the gases by the ordinary condensers,
this tar in a liquid form, or part of it, may be redelivered into the fixing retort D by
way of the pipe I, or as hereinafter described with reference to Figure 3; or in any
other suitable way.
The modification shewn in Figure 3 consists in providing a second cooling device K,
on the fixing retort D, whereby the gas from the retorts A is first heated, then cooled,
then again heated, and finally cooled in E. The cooling device K is cooled by allowing
water or other cooling fluid to pass through the space k¹ surrounding it, and the gas
is caused to pass up and down through it by the division plate 2. The liquid tar may
be introduced into the retort D in this case, by the syphon tube k³, to which it is
supplied from a pipe or other means in any suitable known way. The liquids
condensed in the cooling device K fall from the lips k directly onto the retort D
without touching the vertical passages dª thereof, thereby preventing the formation of
solids on their sides.
In the modification shewn in Figure 4 the cooling outlet pipe E is disposed midway,
about, on the fixing retort D. By this arrangement the matters condensed in the
cooling pipe E fall back into the fixing retort D and are gasified by the heat thereof,
a tray e being provided in such retort to catch the drippings from the pipe E. This
tray it will be seen has a downward inclination towards the back end of the retort. D
so as to cause the liquid matters to flow towards such end, and be distributed over a
considerable amount of heated surface. This arrangement also provides a means of
introducing liquid tar into the fixing retort, as and for the purposes previously
described, that is to say, tar may be introduced into the retort D by way of the pipe E
and a syphon feed tube such as k³.
A modified arrangement of the retort D consists in placing it under the arch B₁ of
the bench and enclosing it by partitions, such as 12, and regulating the flow of heating
gases to it, by dampers, in an equivalent way to that above described.
In the arrangement shewn in Figures 5 and 6 1 shew in diagram, a modification, in
sectional end view and plan, respectively, of the apparatus according to this invention.
It consists in providing a fixing retort of duplex form, the two parts being connected
together by flanges at d. Between the two portions a division wall d is provided so
that the beating gases which enter the chamber D' through the passage 63 (shewn in
dotted lines) have to pass round the end of this wall, and then round the other half of
the chamber D', at the end of which they leave by the aperture do, and the passage d'.
At the end of the chamber D' nearest the flue G an aperture g² is provided and has a
controlling damper g³, and a damper D2 is provided in the passage d' and controls its
opening d² into the flue G.
In operation according to this arrangement, by opening the passage, and closing
the other apertures of the chamber D¹, more or less of the gases from the bench may
be used to heat the fixing retort D. Then again if it is desired to have the tempera-
ture of the second half of the duct D at a lower temperature than the first half so as

page_text: to avoid overheating of the gas under treatment, by opening g² and closing d³ this can
be effected. And so it will be seen by this arrangement not only can the quantity of
gases introduced from the bench to the chamber D' be controlled, but the temperature
of the different parts of the fixing retort D graduated, and the graduation regulated
at will.
By the herein described method of heating the retorts A and the fixing retort D,
and operating upon the coal and the gas produced therefrom, that is to say, by heating
the retorts A in the usual way by coal or gas firing, and then employing a portion
only of such heat to act upon the fixing retort, the coal is subjected to a high tempera-
ture, namely from about 1,800° to 2,000° Fahrenheit, whilst the gases when being
reheated are subjected to a medium temperature only, of about 1,000° to 1,300°
Fahrenbeit, the result being that the gases in the reheating treatment are not damaged
by overheat. And also, by disposing the fixing retort in a separate heating chamber,
and providing valved conduits communicating between such chamber and the distilling
retort chamber, or conduits of regulated area, by which more or less of the heating
gases from the retort chamber are caused to flow through the fixing retort heating
chamber, the temperature of the fixing retort can be regulated and maintained, and
the production of gas, both as to quality and volume, rendered uniform and regular.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In the manufacture of gas, the herein described method of heating the gas making
apparatus, consisting in employing a portion only of the gases used to heat the
retorts and distil the coal to heat the gases produced in such distillation, the remaining
portion of heating gases being prevented from acting upon the chamber or fixing
retort in which said gases are heated.
2. The herein described method of manufacturing gas from coal, consisting in
subjecting coal to and distilling it at a high temperature of about 1,800° to 2,000°
Fahrenheit by coal or gas heat, and subsequently reheating the gases so produced by
a portion of said gases used to distil the coal, and subjecting them to a temperature of
from 1,000° to 1,300° Fahrenheit; the remaining portion of said heating gases being
prevented from acting upon said gas.
3. A set or bench of gas making apparatus comprising a plurality of retorts in
which coal is distilled, set in a bench or chamber, and one or more fixing chambers,
retorts, or ducts (through which said gases made in the distilling retorts are passed)
disposed in a chamber separate from, or separated from, said distilling retort chamber,
and to which chamber any desired portion of the gases used to distil the coal may be
caused to pass by conduits or channels or apertures, adapted to be regulated, or of
regulated capacity: for the purposes set forth.
4. A bench of coal distilling apparatus comprising a plurality of distilling retorts
set in a chamber and adapted to receive the coal to be distilled and be externally
heated; and a fixing retort or retorts disposed within a separate chamber, and com-
municating with said distilling retort chamber by conduits of regultated capacity, through
which conduits any portion of the heating gases used to heat the distilling retorts are
subsequently caused to pass to the fixing retort chamber and employed to heat said fixing
retort; substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. A hench of coal distilling apparatus comprising a plurality of distilling retorts set
in a chamber and adapted to receive the coal to be distilled and be externally heated; a
fixing retort or retorts adapted to receive and heat the gases made in the distilling
retorts and disposed within a separate heating chamber; a gas outlet flue adapted for
carrying away the used heating gases; a conduit forming communication between
said distilling retort heating chamber and said fixing retort heating chamber; a
conduit forming communication between said distilling retort beating chamber and
said heating gas outlet flue; and a conduit forming communication between said fixing
heating retort chamber and said gas outlet flue; said communicating conduits having
a regulated area, or being adapted to be regulated, so that a portion of the heating

page_text: gases used to beat the distilling retorts to the required temperature, is caused to pass
by way of the said fixing retort heating chamber; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
6. In a bench of coal distilling apparatus the combination of a plurality of coal
distilling retorts A set in a heating chamber within an arch B'; a fixing retort D,
adapted to receive and heat the gas made in the retorts A, set in a separate chamber D¹
disposed in the brickwork of the bench, without the arch B¹; conduits b³, and b*
forming communication between said distilling retort chamber and said chamber D¹,
and a gas oulet flue G, respectively; and a conduit & forming communication between
.said fixing retort heating chamber and said outlet flue G ; substantially as set forth.
7. In a bench of gas making apparatus the arrangement substantially as described,
by which the temperature of the fixing retort D thereof is graduated, and regulated ;
for the purposes set forth.
8. In a bench of gas making apparatus a fixing retort, D, set in a chamber having
gas inlet and outlet passages controlled by dampers, whereby the heating gases may
be caused to act upon one portion of such retort and not the others, or more upon one
portion than the other, and the temperature of the retort graduated, at will; sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings also the
particular construction of fixing retort D, and disposition of gas inlet and outlet
passages, and dampers, as set forth with reference to said figures.
9. The arrangement and disposition of fixing retorts D, chamber D¹, and the gas
inlet and outlet passages, and controlling dampers or valves, substantially as set forth
with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
10. The arrangement and disposition of fixing retort D and cooling pipe E; sub-
stantially as set forth with reference to Figure 4.
11. The combination and arrangement of fixing retort D, chamber D' and inter-
mediate cooling passage K; substantially as and for the purposes set forth with
reference to Figure 3.
Dated this 9th day of Tulu 1800
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.