Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Water-gas.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1891-Accepted 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of
Water-gas.
We, JOSEPH VON LANGER, Engineer, and LEONArd Cooper, Iron Merchant,
both of 32, Park Road, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a more economical production of water gas, in
cases where the generator gas obtained at the same time can not be separately
utilized; also to provide simple and efficient means for relieving the water gas of
undecomposed steam.
For this purpose, we employ a recuperator, in which the producer gases entering
from the generator are burnt and the products of combustion thus obtained are
employed for heating air, a portion of which is subsequently employed in the
generator, while another portion serves to entertain combustion in the recuperator.
We also employ a coke cylinder or stack, through which the water-gas passes
on its way to the scrubber, and which is intended to decompose any steam that
may have been carried over by the water-gas from the generator.
The water-gas plant may therefore comprise a generator provided with hot air
belts which communicate with the hot air chamber of the recuperator by means of
valves; and a recuperator, preferably an upright recuperator of the class described
in our application No. 6400 1890. If the producer gas escapes at the top of the
generator, it is led through a valve to the top of the recuperator, where they are
burned. The gases of combustion pass down between the earthenware heating
pipes into the chimney flue, while the cold air enters the base of the recuperator
at the side thereof and passes upward through the superposed blocks of horizontal
pipes of the same in a zig-zag line into the hot air chamber which supplies hot
air both to the air belts of the generator and to the combustion space of the
recuperator.
The hot water-gas passes from the generator through a valve to the coke
cylinder, entering the same underneath the grate, then ascending through the coke
(thereby heating the same) and escaping from the top of the coke cylinder into the
scrubber.
One recuperator may be adapted to serve for one or more generators, and one
coke cylinder may serve for one or more generators.
Dated this 16th day of May 1800
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of
Water-gas.
We, JOSEPH VON LANGER, Engineer, and LEONARD COOPER, Iron Merchant,
both of Park Row, Leeds, in the County of York, 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 for its object a more economical production of water-gas, in
cases where the producer gas obtained at the same time can not be separately
utilized; also to provide simple and efficient means for relieving the water-gas of
undecomposed steam.-

page_text: For this purpose, we employ a recuperator, in which the producer gases entering
from the generator are burnt and the products of combustion thus obtained are
employed for heating air, a portion of which may be subsequently employed
in the producer, while another portion serves to entertain combustion in the
recuperator.
We also employ a coke cylinder or stack, through which the water gas passes
on its way to the scrubber, and which is intended to decompose any steam that may
be carried over by the water gas from the generator.
In the accompanying drawings,
5
Fig. 1 is a vertical and Fig. 2 a horizontal section of water gas apparatus 10
embodying our invention.
Fig. 3 is a section of the recuperator along line I-II of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows the general arrangement of a duplex plant containing a pair of
producers connected with the same recuperator.
Figs. 5 to 15 illustrate details and modifications.
In Figs. 1 to 3 :
A, represents a scrubber.
B, a cylinder or stack filled with coke or coal.
C, a water gas generator.
D, a recuperator.
E, the flue leading to the chimney.
The generator is provided with a feeding appliance a, hot air inlets or
valves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a steam pipe c, a valve for generator gas, and a valve d for
water gas.
"
1
20
The hot air passes through said inlets or valves (1-5) into air belts, which 2
distribute the air uniformly over the circumference of the generator.
The recuperator is of the type described in our application for a Patent No. 6400
of 1890. It consists chiefly of earthenware tubes arranged in layers, piled one
upon the other, each tube being provided at its ends with flanges, so as to form two
continuous walls, between which the flames or gases of combustion travel from top 3
to bottom.
The tubes are arranged in groups or sections, for instance, three groups one over
the other, as shown by the drawings, or horizontally side by side, each section being
connected with the following by air passages extending across the ends of the tubes,
so that the air in passing through the tubes takes a zig-zag course.
In the drawing g is the gas inlet, h the inlet for the hot air which serves for the
combustion of the generater gas. D are the tubes placed vertically upon each
other, with their flanges joining, k is the inlet for cold air, m, n, 1, i, are air
passages, p is the collecting chamber for hot air.
n,
3
The generator gas, ignited at the top of the recuperator (by means of a gas 4
burner or otherwise), passes vertically downward between the earthenware pipes,
and the products of combustion escape through the flue E. The cold air entering
at k passes through the tubes at a right angle to the heating gas, from m to
then
from n to l, and from 1 to i, so as to form a zig-zag course forward and backward.
The collecting chamber p receives hot air from i and supplies a part of it through 4
the canal h for combustion in the recuperator, while another part enters through
the valves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, into the air belts of the generator.
P
The coke cylinder has a fill-opening, a grate, and an ash-pit provided with doors
for removing the ashes. The water gas from the generator enters below the grate,
ascends through the coke and escapes at the top of the cylinder at S into the 5
scrubber.
Before the coke cylinder can perform its proper function, the coke or coal
contained in it must be heated to the required temperature, and the gases which
are produced in it by the preliminary heating are conducted through a pipe z
to the combustion space of the recuperator, in order to heat the latter. The 5
said pipe contains a valve r which remains closed during. the manufacture of
water gas.

page_text: The apparatus works alternately as follows :—
The
1. During the first stage, in which producer gas is made, the valves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and are open, while the valves or pipes c and d and the opening e are closed.
Cold air is supplied at k by pressure or suction, it is heated in the recuperator
and then allowed to enter the producer through the valves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
producer gas passes through into the recuperator and is burned in the same by
means of the air entering at h. The flame passes through the recuperator, and the
products of combustion escape into the chimney flue.
2. In the second stage, during which water gas is made, the valves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
a and are closed, while the valves or pipes c and d are open.
Steam enters the generator at c and passes through the fuel. The water gas
escaping below the grate collects at e, subsequently it passes through the valve d
into the coke cylinder B, ascends through the same and escapes through the
conduit S into the scrubber.
The above system offers the following advantages. The producer gas, which
enters the recuperator at a high temperature, communicates to the brickwork of
the same not only the greatest part of its heat, but also that which is produced by
the combustion of the producer gas in the recuperator itself, and therefore
heats the cold air more efficiently than is the case by the usual method.
The water gas, which escapes from the generator at a high temperature, usually
carries over a small quantity of undecomposed steam. In passing through the coke
cylinder, the water gas is cooled, while heating the coke, and the latter absorbs or
decomposes the steam carried over.
We wish it to be understood, that our method of heating the air used in water
gas generators, namely by the combustion of the producer gas in the recuperator
itself or in a chamber communicating with the same, is not limited to the special
type or construction of generators and of recuperators described above and shown
by the drawings.
For instance, it is not absolutely necessary, to supply air to the generator along
its entire height, air may be blown through the generator either upward or down-
ward, (with corresponding changes of construction) the water gas valve d may be
placed in front or behind the coke cylinder, the coke-cylinder may be entirely
omitted or used for two generators; the recuperator may be arranged horizontally
or vertically, and the flame may pass through it either from the bottom to the top
or reversely.
One recuperator may be employed for one or several generators, as in the plant
represented by Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, in which C1, C2, represent the producers, D the
recuperator, A1, A2, the scrubbers, F1, F2, purifiers, G the gas holder, H the gas
main, I a boiler heated by the hot gases of combustion from the recuperator, J a
blower. A coke-cylinder may be arranged and connected with the two producers
in such a manner, that it serves alternately for C, and for C₂.
In the duplex plant, the recuperator is constantly traversed by flames or hot
products of combustion in one direction, and by atmospheric air in the opposite
direction, while water gas passes constantly through the coke-cylinder (when used).
The valves are operated and the work conducted in such a manner, that air and
steam are blown into both producers alternately and at equal intervals of time. In
order to obtain this effect, we prefer to reverse the different valves automatically.
and simultaneously at equal intervals of time.
The waste gases from the recuperator are. utilized for raising steam in one or
more boilers, before they escape into the chimney.
Figs. 6 to 10 represent a small water gas plant, in which the producer and the
recuperator are combined in one apparatus, Fig. 6 being a longitudinal vertical
section, Fig. 7 a horizontal section, and Fig. 8 a vertical transverse section at a
right angle to Fig. 6, while Figs. 9 and 10 show on a larger scale a quadruple
valve M, which may be employed in this apparatus. The reversal of the valves,
and therefore the change from one stage of the process to the other, may be effected

page_text: automatically by the gas holder, but this is not claimed as a feature of the present
invention.
We prefer, to employ superheated air and superheated steam.
The flue E. of this apparatus may be joined to a steam generator, and the latter
heated by the waste gases from the recuperator.
Figs. 11 to 14 represent another small water gas generator with recuperator,
Fig. 12 being a horizontal section along line I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-
of Fig. 11, and Fig. 14 a horizontal section along line I-II-III-IV-V-VI-
of Fig. 13. L is a slide valve lined with fire-proof material and serving to control
the communication between the top of the producer and the combustion space of
the recuperator, P is a specially constructed hot air valve, which controls the
passage of hot air to different belts of the producer. This valve is shown separately
by Fig. 15. It comprises two symmetrically arranged hollow slides P' hinged at
the top and suspended from a central spindle P². One of the said slides or
symmetrically inclined halves closes the outlet of hot air from the recuperator,
while the other closes the inlets to the hot air pipes I, II, III, IV, which supply
the different belts of the producer. If the valve is drawn up and the passages
therefore open, air is blown through the latter; if the valve is closed, steam is
admitted to the upper part of the valve casing through a small pipe a and passes
through an aperture 6 into the interior B of the slide valve, so as to press
both slides against their respective valve faces, after which the steam escapes
through a perforation of the valve into the hot air pipe I leading to the
producer.
In commencing the next stage of the process, that is, the heating of the
generator, the double slide valve is drawn up and thereby steam allowed to
enter the pipes II, III, IV, so as to drive into the generator the water gas con-
tained in these pipes. After that, no water gas can enter the recuperator; the
supply of steam to the pipe a is stopped and the production of generator gas
recommences.
The excessive heating of the valve is prevented by the admission of steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. The method of utilizing the producer gas contained as a bye-product in the
manufacture of water-gas, which consists in burning the said producer gas in the
recuperator and using the hot products of combustion for heating the air which
passes through the recuperator and is subsequently supplied to the generator,
substantially as described.
2. The combination of one or more water-gas generators, with a recuperator
adapted to burn the generator gas and provided with groups of flanged earthenware
tubes and air passages, arranged in such a manner, that the gases of combustion
pass between the flanges of the tubes to the chimney, while the air passes through
the tubes in a zig-zag course to a collecting chamber adapted to supply hot air
both to the generator and to the combustion space of the recuperator, substantially
as described.
3. The combination of one or more water-gas generators, with a coke cylinder,
through which the hot water gas passes on its way from the generator to the
scrubber, substantially as described.
4. The various forms or arrangements of water-gas apparatus or of combined
generator and recuperator, substantially as described and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of February 1831.
Dated this 16th day of February
J. V. LANGER.
L. COOPER.
By Fairfax & Wetter,
433, Strand, London.