Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by ALEXANDER CROMBIE HUMPHREYS, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to those methods of making gas in which, in addition to the
water gas generator the injector for hydro-carbon oil, and the fixing chamber used
in what is generally known as the "Lowe" process, a retort chamber is used con-
taining open ended retorts filled with bituminous coal which is distilled by the heat
of the gases from the generator, the coal gas being mixed with the water gas and the
coke finally used in the generator.
In apparatus of this kind heretofore used, the retort chamber is arranged so that
the gases from the generator and from the retorts pass into and through it on their
way to the fixing chamber and therefore no combustion is permissible in the retort
chamber when gas is being stored and the retorts therefore begin to loose heat as soon
as the manufacture of gas is begun and give off less coal gas than when the apparatus
is being heated up, an undue proportion of this valuable coal gas is therefore burned
up in preparing the apparatus for the manufacture of gas.
In blowing up such apparatus, the gases are burned in the retort chamber and in
the fixing chamber, air being introduced at various points to meet the gases, and as
the completeness of the combustion depends on the volume of air thrown into the
gases, it requires a very nice adjustment of the air controlling valves to insure a
proper proportionate combustion in the different chambers.
The object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties and to provide a
method of making gas which will, give better and more economical results than any
heretofore designed.
The invention consists in combining with a generator and fixing chamber, a retort
chamber and a system of passages for the gas, one or more leading into the retort

page_text: chamber and one or more directly into the fixing chamber whereby the supply of gas
for each chamber is independent of the other.
In providing such a retort chamber with an independent stack or escape for the
gases whereby a portion of the gases may be passed through this chamber and burned
there while the remaining gases are being stored.
In arranging the stack or gas escape of the retort chamber so that it will cause a
positive suction through the retort chamber and so prevent, first, any tendency of
the gases from the retort chamber to flow backward and mingle with the gases
passing to the fixing chamber, and second, this positive suction tends to draw the
gases from the retorts and generator and prevent the tendency which they would
otherwise have to flow out of the retort or generator doors when opened.
In providing the gas passage leading into the retort chamber with a valve by
which the proportionate quantity of gas admitted into the chamber may be regulated
at will.
In arranging the springs of the gas passages leading to the fixing chamber above
the opening leading to the retort chamber whereby the rich coal gases pass directly
into the fixing chamber and the generator gas supplies the retort chamber.
And finally, in the details of construction and arrangement hereinafter more fully
described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a sectional side elevation of the improved apparatus on line 2, 2,
Figure 6.
Figure 2, is a front elevation of the gas passages and valve on the line x, x
Figure 4.
Figure 3, is a similar view of one of. the gas passages showing the valve open.
Figure 4, is a plan of the retort chamber partially cut away so as to show the
passage leading into the chamber and its controlling valve.
and
Figure 5, is a similar view showing the valve open.
Figure 6, is a horizontal section on line y, y, Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an improved arrangement of gas passages;
Figure 8 is a section on line x, x, Figure 4.
A is a generator of usual construction. B is the retort chamber. C the fixing chamber,
D Dare retorts having doors d' at their charging ends and their inner ends, d, open. E is
a wall dividing the retort chamber in two portions, one containing the body of the
retorts and the other J, into which the ends of the retorts open. F and G are
baffler walls which cause the gases in the retort to pass up, down, and again up,
around the retorts on their way to the stack H. H' is a device by which a jet of steam
may be thrown up the stack to increase the draught. K K K², and K³ are air pipes
through which a blast is forced when desired. L is the entrance of an air passage
leading from the generator and chamber J to the retort chamber; as shown it enters
horizontally, passing downward at L' and then upward into the retort chamber at L.
M is a valve by which the flow of gas into the retort chamber is regulated. M' is
the handle of the said valve. N N N' are gas passages leading from the generator
and chamber J to the passage O leading to the fixing chamber. These flues N are
situated above the passage L. P is the inlet for the hydro-carbon oil, and I is the
opening through which the gas leaves the fixing chamber.
In using this apparatus a fire is made in the generator of hard coal or coke and the
retorts D are charged with bituminous coal; an air blast is turned into the generator
through the pipe K and the valve M is so placed that the raising gases shall pass in
proper proportion through the passage Land the passages N into the retort chamber and
fixer. The gases in the retort chamber are ignited by air blasts coming through
pipes K¹ and K² arranged in any convenient positions and the products of combustion
finally pass out of the stack H. The gases going to the fixer are also ignited by a
blast through the pipe K³. As soon as the retorts become heated, they give off coal
gas at their open ends d and these gases mingle with the gases from the generator
and pass also through the flues L and N.

page_text: When all parts of the apparatus have become sufficiently heated, the air pipes K
and K are closed, steam is turned into the generator at a' and oil is introduced at P
in the head of the fixer. As the water gas is richer than the gas produced in blowing
up, the valve M is pushed in to contract the opening of the flues L and the air
blasts K' K' are continued in the retort chamber, the burned gases escaping through
the stack H.
The heat of the retort chamber may thus be maintained at the point of greatest
efficiency and as the gas flues N are above the passage the rich coal gases pass
directly into the fixer and are saved.
When it is desired to open the generator or the retort doors d', the valve M should
be opened to its fullest extent so that the draught of the stack H aided, if necessary,
by the steam jet H', shall tend to create a vacuum in the generator and chamber J,
the doors may then be opened without danger of the gases blowing outward.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In combination with a generator and fixing chamber, a retort chamber con-
taining retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal and a system of gas passages one
or more leading into the retort chamber and one or more direct to the fixing chamber,
whereby the supply of gases for each chamber is independent of the other.
Second. In combination with a generator and fixing chamber, a retort chamber
containing retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal and having an independent
stack or gas escape and a system of gas passages one or more leading into the retort
chamber and one or more direct to the fixing chamber whereby the supply of gases
for each chamber is independent of the other and combustion may be continued in the
retort chamber while gas is being stored.
Third. In combination with a generator and a fixing chamber, a retort chamber
containing retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal and provided with gas supply
passages independent of the passages leading to the fixing chamber, and having an
independent gas escape provided with means for creating a strong draught through
the chamber.
Fourth. In combination with a generator and a fixing chamber, a retort chamber
containing retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal and having a gas supply
passage independent of the passages leading to the fixing chamber and an adjustable
valve whereby the quantity of gas admitted to said retort chamber may be regulated
at will.
Fifth. In combination with a generator and fixing chamber, a retort chamber con-
taining retorts for the distillation of bituminous coal and having open ended retorts
opening into a chamber or passage J, a gas passage leading to the combustion chamber
of the retort chamber and gas passages leading to the fixing chamber situated between
the open ends of the retorts, and the gas passage leading to said combustion chamber
whereby the coal gases are substantially all conveyed to the said fixing chamber.
Sixth. In combination with a generator A and fixing chamber C, the retort
chamber B, having a passage or chamber J¹ situated over the generator and divided
from the combustion chamber by a wall E through which the open ended retorts D
project, the passage L L, L' leading into the retort chamber and having valve M;
the independent stack H and air pipes K', K', and the gas passages N leading to the
fixing chamber.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.