IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Archibald Brooman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
June 1865. A communication from abroad by Felix Alexandre Testud
de Beauregard, of Paris, France.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES," to be as follows:-
The objects of this Invention are, 1st, to transform the fuel into inflammable
gases; 2nd, to furnish these gases with the quantity of oxygen necessary
for their complete combustion; 3rd, to divide the flame into rings or sheets to
afford a great heating surface in a small space; 4th, to surround this flame
with hot air travelling at the same speed as the flame, so that the speed of
the burning gas may be identical with that of the combustible gas; 5th, to
utilize the radiation of the combustible body in ignition, producing gas for
the heating of air; 6th, to produce the combustion of steam; and 7th, to
be able in a certain manner to commence, increase, diminish, and stop
combustion instantaneously, and obtain any required degree from the lowest
to the highest.
The apparatus consists of a grating which receives external air in a
quantity which can be varied by a damper. The upper part of the grating is
in communication by a pipe with a chamber in which the gases are produced.

page_text: For apparatus the bottom of which should receive the greatest effect of the
caloric, such as a vertical cylindrical boiler, the air is supplied by a pipe which
acts as a jacket or envelope to the pipe which conducts the gases. In this
case the damper is replaced by a crown by which the supply of air to the
jacket may be shut off and opened as required.
Working of the apparatus.-Into a furnace of any form I introduce the
fuel through an opening in the upper part of the furnace. In the side and
near the bottom of the furnace I form an opening for lighting it, and calculated
so as to permit the entrance of air in proportion to the section of the pipe
before mentioned for leading the gases above the grating; these openings are
completely closed except to a pipe for admitting air brought in by the jet of
superheated steam. The gases produced issue by the pipe before mentioned
to the grating and take from the air all the oxygen capable of producing
complete combustion. This air is distributed in the gases in sheets passing
between the bars and becoming mixed with the gases by the draught produced
by the chimney. The products of combustion, azote, steam, and carbonic
acid are drawn in the ordinary manner by a chimney, which causing a drawing
of air supports the combustion or rather the ignition of the combustibles and
allows the gaseous products to become disengaged, without being consumed,
the oxygen of the air having been transformed into oxide of carbon by its
passage through the inflamed fuel in the furnace. The gas travelling at a
speed proportioned to its expansion and to the draught is compelled to escape
into the flues after having received the quantity of air necessary for ignition.
If instead of the drawing of the air caused by the chimney the air be forced
at the required pressure by a blowing machine or otherwise a strong and
rapid formation of combustible gas is obtained. The decomposition of the
steam at a high temperature furnishes its contingent of the production of
hydrogen, and forms an additional blowing machine, the pressure of which
may be regulated as required. A like effect may be produced by a jet of
steam at high or low temperature introduced in the centre of the chimney,
which augments the amount of air admitted into the furnace. Or hydrogen
may be produced without steam by injecting a thin film of steam at the centre
of ignition.