IMPROVEMENTs in the ManufACTURE OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR".
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicolaus August Otto, of Muelheim on the Rhine, in the
German Empire, for an Invention of “IMPROVEMENTs in the ManufACTURE
OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicolaus August Otto at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1881.
NICOLAUS AUGUST OTTO, of Muelheim on the Rhine, in the German Empire.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to the production of combustible gases rich in combustible
matter in gas producers operating on the continuous system.
In the manufacture of combustible gas in gas producers two processes take
place, first, the combustion of the coal or carbonaceous matter with the incoming
air at or near the grate results in the production of carbonic acid gas together with
nitrogen under development of heat; and, secondly, the carbonic acid gas in
passing through the upper layer of incandescent fuel takes up a further quantity
of carbon and becomes converted into carbonic oxide. On the completion of these
processes a small excess of heat remains in the producer, by means of which steam
can be decomposed by the aid of fuel into pure carbonic oxide and hydrogen.
According to my present Invention I produce a gas that is richer in combustible
matter than the aforesaid ordinary producer gas by the following process:-
Instead of allowing the whole of the carbonic acid gas produced in the first
instance to be converted into carbonic oxide, I cause a portion thereof together
with the accompanying nitrogen to pass away out of the producer. Although by
this means a portion of the heat produced by the generation of "and retained by
the said gases is withdrawn from the producer, yet a very considerable portion of
such heat still remains, by means of which I am enabled to decompose either
undiluted carbonic acid gas, or steam or carburetted hydrogen, to take the place of
the carbonic acid gas diluted with nitrogen that has been withdrawn. (In the
following I shall only refer to the use of steam.) The more gaseous products of

page_text: combustion are removed from the producer, the less of such products will remain
in the same for furnishing producer gas, and in the same proportion therefore a
larger quantity of steam can be decomposed into pure carbonic oxide and hydrogen,
and consequently a richer combustible gas be produced. On the other hand tho
heat contained in the gaseous products of combustion that are withdrawn can be
utilised either for the production and superheating of the steam to be employed as
above described or for any other purpose.
The above method of operating may be conveniently carried on by means of
apparatus of the following arrangement.
A vertical or inclined shaft or producer chamber is supplied with carbonaceous
material through a hopper provided with a valve at the upper end, the carbonaceous
material being caused to descend gradually on to a grate at bottom beneath which
a regulated supply of air is admitted. Immediately above the grate (which is by
preference inclined), passages or flues lead into a separate chamber, into which
consequently a portion of the carbonic acid gas and ntirogen produced, above the
grate are made to pass through the said passages, and from which the said gases
escape by a pipe either into a chimney or elsewhere. The said pipe is provided
with a cock, valve, or slide, by means of which the quantity of such gases with-
drawn from the producer is regulated to the exact amount required. In the said
chamber are a series of pipes in which steam is either generated or superheated by
the heat of the said gases, and from which a regulated supply of steam is led into
the producer chamber above the grate, which steam in coming in contact with the
incandescent fuel therein is converted into carbonic oxide and hydrogen, these
gases being made to mix with those otherwise generated in the producer and to pass
off with them to wherever required for use.
If desired a second set of steam pipes may be provided in the said side chamber
to supply a steam jet for forcing the requisite quantity of air required for
combustion into the producer through an opening below the firegrate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Nicolaus August Otto in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th October 1881.
NICOLAUS AUGUST OTTO, of Muelheim on the Rhine, in the German Empire.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to the production of combustible gases, rich in combustible
natter, in gas producers operating on the continuous system.
In the manufacture of combustible gas in gas producers two processes take
place, first, the combustion of the coal or carbonaceous matter with the incoming
air at or near the grate results in the production of carbonic acid gas, together
with nitrogen under development of heat; and, secondly, the carbonic acid gas in
passing through the upper layer of incandescent fuel takes up a further quantity
of carbon and becomes converted into carbonic oxide. On the completion of these
processes a small excess of heat remains in the producer, by means of which
steam can be decomposed by the aid of the fuel into pure carbonic oxide and
hydrogen.
According to my present Invention I produce a gas that is richer in combustible
matter than the aforesaid ordinary producer gas by the following process:-
Instead of allowing the whole of the carbonic acid gas produced in the first
instance to be converted into carbonic oxide I cause a portion thereof, together
with the accompanying nitrogen, to pass away out of the producer. Although by
this means a portion of the heat produced by the generation of and retained by
the said gases is withdrawn from the producer, yet a very considerable portion of
such heat still remains, by means of which I am enabled to decompose either
undiluted carbonic acid gas or steam or carburetted hydrogen to take the place of
the carbonic acid gas diluted with nitrogen that has been withdrawn. (In the
following I shall only refer to the use of steam.) The more gaseous products of
combustion are removed from the producer the less of such products will remain
in the same for furnishing producer gas, and in the same proportion therefore a
larger quantity of steam can be decomposed into pure carbonic oxide and hydrogen,
and consequently a richer combustible gas be produced. On the other hand the
heat contained in the gaseous products of combustion that are withdrawn can be
utilised either for the production and superheating of the steam to be employed, as
above described, or for any other purpose.
The above described method of operating may be conveniently carried out by
means of the construction of gas producer shewn on the accompanying Drawings,
in which Fig. 1 shews a vertical section and Fig. 2 a sectional plan of the
producer. Those parts hereof which are similar to those of producers of known
construction need not be further referred to. The parts that are new are the
lateral chamber a and the passages b, b, b, by which this chamber communicates
with the interior of the producer, and by which a portion of the carbonic acid and
nitrogen are withdrawn from the producer, the said passages b being for this
purpose situated near to the fire grate c where no carbonic oxide gas has as yet
formed. The gases that are thus withdrawn escape through the pipe d after
having given up a portion of their heat in the chamber a to the pipes e and f, the
proportion of gases withdrawn being regulated by the cock g. Steam being thus
formed or superheated in the pipes e and f that from e is employed as a steam jet
below the grate for propelling the necessary air into the producer through the
opening . Assuming the producer to be charged with fuel in the usual manner
through a hopper / with the shut off valve m and ignited, the air introduced at i

page_text: will by the combustion above the grate, c be decomposed, forming carbonic acid
and nitrogen, of which a portion will be led away through the passages b, while
the remainder will be converted into producer gas on rising through the heated
fuel above. At the same time the steam produced in the pipe ƒ is led by a pipe h
at one or more points into the producer, where it is converted by the incandescent
fuel into carbonic oxide and hydrogen, which combine with the other producer
gases and pass away with them through the pipe k to wherever required
for use.
For producing a regulated supply of steam to the .pipes f water may be made to
flow in regulated quantity from a vessel n into the funnel mouth of a pipe o,
through which it flows into the lowest coil of the pipe f to be there converted into
steam.
The steam for the steam jet e may be supplied from a separate generator through
a pipe p.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed I claim,-
First. In the manufacture of producer gas by continuous action the method of
using only a portion of the air entering into combustion in the producer for
generating producer gas and withdrawing the other portion of the products of
combustion, while yet consisting of carbonic acid and nitrogen, the heat which
remains in the producer from the combustion generating such products being
employed for the decomposition of steam or hydrocarbons or pure carbonic acid into
combustible gas.
Second. In combination with a gas producer the passage b, b, leading into
chamber a, flue pipe d, with cock g, and steam pipes f, e, and h, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicolaus August Otto, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.