IMPROVED, RETORT FOR THE PRODUCTION AND REVIVIFICATION OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL FROM BONES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
GEORGE VALENTINE F.C.S. MSCI etc Analytical Chemist & Mechanical
Engineer 11 Latham Street Liverpool do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVED, RETORT FOR THE PRODUCTION AND REVIVIFICATION OF ANIMAL
CHARCOAL FROM BONES to be as follows:-
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My Improvements in the production & revivification of animal charcoal from
bones consists of a system of any number of these my improved. vertical cast iron
retort, half of which number is placed on one side, & the other half is placed on the:
other or opposite side of a fire brick furnace or. Gas producer marked A on the
drawing Fig 1 & 2-This arrangement is clearly shown by a transverse section
Fig 1, through furnace A on line A, B, and a transverse section Fig 2, through the
cast iron retorts on line C, D, and a longitudinal section. Fig 3, through the. Furnace.
& Retorts on line E, F,-In starting to work a setting or oven of any number of these
retorts, the hopper E is filled with small coal, Valve K & G & door H are closed
& worm pipe P. is sealed by..the water in tank P¹, & dampers I M & L are partly
opened now door D is removed & a slow coal fire is lighted on the fire bars C in
furnace A by dropping a few shovelfuls of red hot coals through, door D on too top
of firebars, door D can be left partly open so that the heat from the slow fire can
circulate & dry the upper part of furnace or gas producer A, coal can be added
though door D to the fire as may be required from time to time, until the settings
& retorts are at a red heat or hot enough for charging with a mixture of spent
animal charcoal & bones-or either of them separately-the door D must be closed
& the worms F, F¹, or & P are set in motion for charging the retorts Y with spent
animal charcoal or bones & the Furnace A or gas producer with coal, all the
hoppers being filled as required for starting and carrying on of the distillations
continuously.
When the Retorts Y are working properly the distillation or carbonization of
the bones or the revivification of the spent animal charcoal, will take place in that
part of the retort lettered Y, which part of retort will be continuously at a red heat
-the spent bone gases from the pipe f pass through the perforated box f¹ entering
the bottom of the retort Y passes upwards through the mass of red hot animal
charcoal in Y, these gases being rich in carbon & hydrogen, they deposit this
carbon in the animal charcoal, the hydrogen combines with the nitrogen of the

page_text: animal charcoal producing ammonia, which is expelled with the other gases &
volatile products which pass upwards into the drying chamber g here they are
absorbed by the bones or spent animal charcoal, which on descending into Y are
again redistilled, by so doing a further quantity of carbon is deposited in the
animal charcoal, the ammonia & nonabsorbed gases pass off through pipe h to any
ordinary condenser-The red hot animal charcoal from Y is constantly descending
into the cooling, extinguishing or quenching chamber P, were it meets an
atmosphere of steam produced by water coming into contact with the hot charcoal
from pipe e-or steam may be used from pipe e-this immediately extinguishes etc
the red hot animal charcoal in so doing the remaining ammonia is liberated which
pass off with the other gases & steam into the vacant chamber q' (& some through
the perforated plate W₁ into this chamber) in top of P and through the pipe q. to
any ordinary condenser-The hot air supply to bottom of Furnace or Gas pro-
ducer A is regulated by dampers L & M, the cold air passing in at the valve L
passes along the ports O round & round the cast iron cooling chamber P & from the
top chamber of ports O the heated air passes down. port W leading under the
furnace or gas producer A by way of the fire bars the, hot air & steam from
pipe X pass through the fire bars & incandescent coke, here the steam is decomposed
into oxygen & hydrogen, the oxygen of the air & steam combines with the carbon
forming a combustable & heating gas carbonic oxide, this with the combustable gas
hydrogen of the steam, pass up through the ports S were they meet the hot air
from the port R, this supply of hot air through port R is regulated by dampers
I, I & L, at the junction of the ports R & S the hot air & combustable gases meet,
combustion or combination take place, intense heat & voluminous flames are
produced which fill the combustion chambers T round the walls of furnace A &
round the retorts Y, which can be seen by opening the spy holes b-the products
of combustion from T pass through ports V leading to the main flue K¹ & to
chimney-Valves K & G can be opened to relieve the Gas producer or furnace A
of any excess of gas, when the retorts are too hot, or when more Gas is required
these Valves are shut & steam admitted by pipes o¹ & n', which pass downward &
through the ports S to be consumed for heating the retorts Y-This process as is
clearly shown by Fig 1-2 & 3 is entirely continuous, as the endless worms revolve
so the charge is received in at the top & delivered out at the bottom as is shown
on drawing-My improved continuous vertical retort as described above consists
of several component parts, which are entirely original or new & scientifically
arranged but neither of these component parts can be separated from each other,
therefore the several parts form one combined whole.

page_text: GEORGE VALENTINE F.C.S.-M.S.C.I. etc Analytical Chemist & Mechanical
Engineer 23 Latham Street Liverpool I do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVED RETORT FOR THE PRODUCTION AND REVIVIFICATION OF
ANIMAL CHARCOAL FROM BONES and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention consists of a System of Cast Iron Vertical Retorts (marked A on
accompanying Drawings) of improved form and construction, arranged, in any
requisite number and of any suitable size, and set into a brick structure on either
side of a brick Furnace (marked B on Drawings) and Gas Producer (marked C) of
suitable dimensions, an equal number on each side and directly opposite one
another; with flues, gas and Air Chambers and Apparatus as hereinafter mentioned
and explained, all as shewn on the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Figure 1 is a half longitudinal vertical section through a system of 8 Retorts A
a Furnace B and Gas Producer C.
Figure 2 is a transverse Section through Retorts A.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through Furnace marked B, Gas Producer C, and
Recuperator D.
Figure 4 is a part sectional plan through 8 Retorts A, Furnace marked B, and
Recuperator D, and part plan of the top of 8 Retorts A, Gas Producer C, and
Recuperator D.
With the assistance of the accompanying Drawings, on which is shewn, for
example, a set of 8 Retorts arranged and set as before described, I will now explain
the mode of working this System of Vertical Retorts.
First System of heating the Retorts :-
Light a fire in furnace marked B by dropping a few shovelfuls of red hot coal
through doors marked E and E¹ of gas producer C, on to the top of fire bars N at
the bottom of furnace B. The doors marked E and E¹ of gas producer C and that
marked I of furnace B can be left partly open so that the heat from the slow fire
can circulate and so dry the brick work of the upper part of the gas producer C.
Now the hopper marked F with worm pipe G at the top of the gas producer C is
filled with small coal dross or slack.
When the fire in furnace B requires coal worm H is made to revolve which
delivers the coal from hopper F by way of pipe G into the gas producer C and
furnace B. When in full working order there will be a constant depth of coal or
dross covering the ports M in bottom of gas producer C up to the level of the
pipe M², underneath being a mass of incandescent Coke.
When the brickwork of furnace B and gas producer C is dry the doors E and E'
at top of gas producer C are closed as well as the door marked I at the bottom of
furnace B, after which the slide J at top of recuperator D is partly opened for
admission of air to the furnace B by way of pipes X in the recuperator D.
Next dampers K K in flue L L are opened which causes heat and gases for
Combustion to pass through the ports M in bottom of gas producer C, which are at
such a height from the fire bars N that all the steam and air which pass through
the incandescent coke to them, are completely converted into combustible gases.
The volatile products thrown off from the coal during the process of combustion
above the ports M, over which as before stated a constant depth of coal or
dross is kept, all pass downwards through the mass of red hot coke & coking coal

page_text: underneath, by which means they are totally decomposed and so deposit all
the superfluous carbon (which is commonly known as smoke). In depositing this
carbon a colourless and heating gas is produced. This gas and the gases produced
by the air and steam passing upwards through the coke in furnace B, all, with the
exception of a small portion utilized as will be hereafter described for the saturation
of the red hot charcoal, make their exit through the ports M into the gas chamber N¹,
which is an endless chamber running completely round the gas producer C and
furnace B and round the bottom of both the Chambers or ovens marked A¹ in
which the retorts are heated to redness. Directly below this endless gas chamber N¹
is an air chamber R¹ which commences at the slide P. This slide is used to regulate
the air supply into the Air Chamber R¹. The air on passing the slide P passes
backwards and forwards along the Char cooler passages R, formed in the casting in
which the red hot animal charcoal is descending. In this way the air absorbs the
heat given off by the hot charcoal, and then passes into the air chamber R¹. This
air chamber or, as it may be more properly termed, air and gasmixing Chamber, R¹
is perforated with numerous small slots p, through which the gas is admitted from
the gas chamber N¹ and mixes with the heated air. The mixture of gas and air
passes through the port holes S around retort oven and striking against the shield
tiles T it passes upwards, bursting into one continuous sheet of flame, which again
is arrested and dispersed by projecting baffle tiles T¹, set around the retort oven.
This system of working gas chamber N, air and gas mixing Chamber R¹ with
portholes S and baffle tiles T & T¹, all of these being on every side of the retort
oven A¹ does effectually distribute the heat, there being one circular sheet of flame
throughout the inner lining of brickwork.
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The products of combustion pass down portholes V which are in the middle of
the bottom of the Retort oven A¹, and up passages V₁ and thence into the char
drying chamber a, thence they pass into the recuperator chamber D leading down
into the main flue W and thence to the chimney. The heat which is not absorbed
from the products of combustion, by the wet charcoal in the retorts A, as they pass
through the drying chamber a, is absorbed by the cold air which entering at the
slide J is passing down the iron pipes X. hung in the recuperator D, on its way to
the furnace B.
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Second System of Charging and working the Retorts.
Having described my system of heating the Retorts, I will now proceed to describe
my system of charging and working same, (1st) in the revivification of used Animal
Charcoal, and (2nd) in the production of Animal Charcoal from bones, which two
processes can be carried on simultaneously, if desired, in the same setting of
Retorts, in which case half the number of retorts is used for each purpose.
(1st) Revivification of Animal Charcoal:-The Retorts A after having been
brought to a red heat are gradually filled with dry Charcoal and, in 3 or 4 hours
time, the worms H and H¹ are set in motion, so that there will be a continuous
discharge of charcoal at pipe h and also a continuous supply of coal will be
delivered into the gas producer C. Now as the retorts A are in a general working
order, ordinary wet Sugar House Animal Charcoal is charged into the top of the
Retorts as may be required for continuous working.
As the Animal Charcoal progresses downwards or sinks from the top of the retort
it gets heated by coming into contact with the hot sides of the retort. First,
in the drying chamber d, the charcoal is completely freed of its moisture by
being repeatedly turned over by rolling down the retorts A in its descent, and
so coming repeatedly into contact with the hot sides of the retort. From the
drying chamber d the dried animal charcoal passes downwards into the red hot
retorts A and is there heated to redness and all the foreign matter, including the
organic matter, is charred, which charring is greatly facilitated by the rolling
action given to the charcoal by the continuous revolving worm H¹.
From the retorts A the. red hot animal charcoal gradually descends into the
cooling chamber m.

page_text: The gases evolved in the drying and charring of the animal charcoal and the
foreign matters which it contains, pass upwards & through the animal charcoal.in
the Retort A until they arrive at the pipes g & h¹. They may now either be
allowed entirely to pass through the pipe g which leads into the atmosphere, and is
regulated by the slide j, or a part only may be so allowed to escape and the
remaining part may be passed through the pipe which is regulated by the slide k,
and leads into the iron pipes X hung in the recuperator D. In these iron pipes X
the waste steam and gases mix with the air going to the furnace B where the
waste steam and gases are thus utilized for heating the retorts A.
During the process of charring and in its red hot state in the cooler m the carbon
in the animal charcoal is preserved, or in other words the animal charcoal is pre-
vented being bleached or its carbon being consumed, by the presence of carburetted
or hydro-carbon gas which enters the cooler m in a continuous current, from the top
of the adjacent gas producer C, through the pipe m¹ in top of cooling chamber m,
and which passing freely through the red hot charcoal ascends into and passes. up
through the retorts A and through the charcoal in the retorts, escaping with the
other gases by pipes g & h¹ in the manner described. In this way the heating of
the charcoal to red heat is effected in an atmosphere of carboretted or hydro-carbon
gas, thereby ensuring the preservation of the carbon as stated.
The red hot animal charcoal having entered the cooling chamber m passes
downwards and between the castings N in which is circulating a constant stream
of cold water, which with the cold air admitted at slide P and circulating in
passages R as before described, quickly cool the red hot charcoal, which when it has
passed through, is quite cold to the touch and having arrived at the bottom of the
cooling chamber m is gradually delivered out by sealed worm pipe by means of
the constantly revolving worm H. At the outlet it falls into a receiving hopper
or on to a conveyor belt for delivery as may be required. :
(2nd) Manufacture of Animal Charcoal from bones.
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In describing this process I will assume that it is carried on in the same setting
of Retorts as the revivifying process, half the setting being taken for the purpose,
the entire setting being at the commencement of manufacturing process in full
working order engaged in the process of revivification. All the retorts A being
filled with charcoal in process of revivification, those retorts, forming half the
setting (for example 4 as shown on accompanying drawings) in which it is
intended to manufacture charcoal, are now charged with ground bones, instead of
wet charcoal. Valvej is now open "and valve k is closed. As the ground bones
descend into the retort A they are gradually heated and dried by coming into
contact with the hot sides of the retorts, the mass is repeatedly turned over by the
constantly revolving worm H' and during the heating in this way the steam and
volatile vapours are readily evolved. As the bones descend from the drying
Chamber d and pass down the Retorts A they are quickly charred by coming into
contact with the red hot sides of the retorts and by being repeatedly turned in
passing downward by the constantly revolving worm H the carbon being preserved
in the animal charcoal during this process by the presence of the carburetted or
hydro-carbon gas ascending from cooler chamber as already described. During
the charring of the bones all the volatile constituents are driven off in the gaseous
state and they pass upwards & through the charring bones until they arrive in the
drying chamber d. There the gases are distributed throughout the drying bones
consequently all the gases & oily volatile constituents which have been evolved
from the charring bones in the red hot retorts A have to pass through the bones in
the drying chamber d. In the drying chamber d most of the oily volatile
constituents are condensed and absorbed by the bones. The volatile vapours and
steam, also, which are evolved during the heating & drying of the bones in drying
chamber d, pass upwards through, and are partly condensed and absorbed by, the
colder bones above. Those gases which are not condensed nor absorbed by the
bones in drying chamber d, together with the carburetted or hydro-carbon gas
before mentioned, pass off through the pipe g in the top of the drying chamber d

page_text: and through the valve ; to suitable vitriol condensers for absorbing the ammonia
which is converted into sulphate ammonia. The gases which are not condensed
or absorbed in condensers pass away in pipes w to the gas chamber N around the
retort oven A¹ where they are utilized for heating the retorts A. When the bones
which have condensed and absorbed the volatile bone oil and gases, arrive in the
red hot retort A, these oily constituents are charred into a porous cake which is rich
in nitrogen and carbon.
These two constituents increase the decolourizing power of the animal charcoal
produced. When all the volatile constituents have been driven out of the bones,
we have remaining what is called animal charcoal. This has now arrived at the
bottom of the retorts A and passes in a red hot state into the cooling chamber m
through which the current of carburetted or hydro-carbon gas as already described
is passing. The animal charcoal passes through the cooling chamber m and is
'cooled in the manner already described, being perfectly cold to the touch when it
arrives in the path of the worm H¹ and is delivered through the worm pipe h.
The cold water which is used in cooling the animal charcoal, passes into cooler n
at pipe and circulates through cooler, absorbing the heat from the animal
charcoal and passes out at pipe u into a circulating tank placed at any part of the
building.
The large quantity of hot water near boiling point thus produced can be used
for various purposes..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention for the joint purpose of manufacture of animal charcoal from bones and
the revivification of the same, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I hereby declare that what I claim is :-
1st I claim certain improvements, as embodied below, in the adaptability of
ordinary Iron Vertical Retorts or Pipes whether circular, corrugated or any other
shape, which are used for the carbonization of bones, that is for the manufacture of
Animal Charcoal from the bones, as well as for the revivification or reburning of
Animal Charcoal.
I do not claim the shape of retort as being novel, per se, nor the application of
the furnace and gas producer to retorts, but what I do claim is-The method of
distributing the heating of the retorts or pipes by a system of gas and air mixing
Chambers all around the bottom of combustion chamber or retort oven, as shewn
on plan, gas being forced in under pressure from the adjoining gas producer and
furnace.
2nd In apparatus for the Manufacture of animal charcoal producing a heating gas
in a furnace, as shewn, by passing all the volatile products of combustion direct
under pressure, through a red hot mass of coke, in bottom of furnace, from which
gas has been previously eliminated, in passing through which, the carbon from
the too rich hydro-carbon gases (which produces the so-called smoke from
ordinary furnaces) is deposited; which said carbon is again gasified for heating the
retorts.
3rd In animal charcoal retorts the utilization of the waste gases and steam
produced in the drying and reburning of the charcoal by collecting and passing
them from top of retorts or pipes as shewn into the regulated air supply flue to
furnace through which they pass on their way for burning in the combustion
chamber for heating the retorts.
4th In furnaces for producing animal charcoal the construction as shewn of a
waste gas flue to chimney in which pipes are suspended from one end, and through
which pipes, so placed, the cold air, regulated by a slide, passes and is heated by
the waste flue gases, on its way to the furnace for combustion of the coke for
carrying on the distillation of the coal above it.
5th In animal charcoal retorts a compound form of an air and water, charcoal
cooler as shewn and the utilization of the heated air, so produced, for combustion
of the gases from furnace as shewn.

page_text: 6th The method of providing a continuous discharge of charcoal from retorts by
means of a worm and sealed delivery pipe, substantially as described.
7th The employment of a sealed pipe, worm and hopper for the delivery of coal
into the gas producer or furnace under gas pressure.
8th I claim as being entirely novel the reburning as well as the manufacture of
animal charcoal in an atmosphere of carboretted or hydro-carbon gas. This is
particularly necessary for the sole purpose of preventing the loss of carbon in the
process of burning and cooling the said Animal Charcoal.
Dated this 17th day of October 1884.
GEORGE VALENTINE.