IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING OR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR A
Year: 1885

page_text: THE
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I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MANUFACTURE OF GAS FOR ILLUMINATING OR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR A communication from John Hanlon, of New York United
States of America, Gas Engineer 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 the manufacture of gas for illuminating, heating and
motive power purposes by the distillation of bituminous fatty or oleaginous sub-
stances decomposing steam in contact with metallic and carbonaceous material,
carburating the resulting gases the combining the gases and vapors and converting
them into a homogeneous fixed gas of any desired candle power by subjecting
them to contact with heated refractory material in a fixing chamber.
The object of the invention is to improve the process so as to secure better
decomposition of steam in contact with metallic material, and thereby increase the
proportion of hydrogen produced; also to better distill bituminous fatty and
oleaginous substances and thereby increase the proportion of rich carburetted
hydrogen gas produced.
Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the apparatus
so as to greatly increase its capacity and at the same time maintain economy and
efficiency in operation.
The process of making gas will be set forth in the description of the operation
of the apparatus, and the particular process as well as the parts and combinations
of parts of the apparatus constituting this invention herein will be pointed out in
the claims.
I will now particularly describe my invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus on line y y in
figure 6.
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C

page_text: Figure 8 represents a front elevation.
Figure 9 represents a rear elevation.
Figure 10 represents a horizontal section of the coal hopper and valves.
Figure 10a represents a front view of the pinion wheels and lever for operating
the valves and hopper.
Figure 10b represents an elevation of the valve casing forming a section of the
hopper.
Figure 11 represents a horizontal section of one of the superheating and decom-
posing chambers showing the damper.
Figure 12 represents a vertical section of a portion of one of the gas outlet pipes
and its controlling valve.
Figure 12 represents an elevation of the same pipe.
Figure 13 represents a vertical section of a steam superheater showing a
modification.
In the following description like letters of reference designate the same parts in
all the figures of drawing.
Three generating chambers A. B. D. are provided for containing the fuel or
other material from which gas is generated they are united by a common base C
and connected at the base above the grate bars by passages C. C¹.
The middle chamber D is made the largest as gases from each of the side
chambers are passed into and through it. D is the distilling chamber for
bituminous coal, resinous wood, bones etc while A and B are the decomposing
chambers and should contain hard coal, coke or charcoal. These chambers as well
as the other chambers of the apparatus are built of fire brick covered by tight
jackets of plate iron. Each chamber A. B. D. has a separate grate and ash pit and
each ash pit has a separate cleaning, opening, closed externally by a tight fitting
door, Air blast pipes I. I¹ having valves i. i connect with the ash pits of
chambers A, and B.
Tight fitting removable caps a b d are screwed over the openings at the tops of
chambers A. B. D. and each chain ber is provided with openings having tight fitting
caps for the insertion of clinkering bars.
A fuel charger L connects with each chamber. Sliding oil supply pipes t connect
with the tops of the chambers. A steam superheating and decomposing chamber E
connects by pipe K with chamber A and a similar chamber F connects by pipe K
with chamber B as shown in figure 1.
Both of the chambers E and F are constructed alike and perform the same
function. The Gas conducting and steam superheating chamber H connects by
pipe K with distilling chamber D as shown in figure 2. Chambers E, F and H.
connect by pipes N. N₁, Nu leading from the base of each with the base O of the
fixing chambers G. G' G₁. The steam superheating and decomposing chambers
E. F are provided with perforated arches of refractory material e four of which are
shown, though a greater or less number may be used A fireclay tube or flue f
passes up through the arches and is provided at the top with a damper f' of
refractory material fitted to slide between guide-ways & as shown on enlarged scale
in figure 11.
The damper has an operating rod k passing through a stuffing box in the shell
of the chamber. The flue and damper serve to control the supply of hot gas to the
brick work above the upper arch. "Iron or other suitable metal scrap is placed on
the two lower arches and may be placed on the third arch if desired. Refractory

page_text: brick is loosely laid upon one or more arches above the iron scrap for superheating
steam.
Openings Chaving tight fitting caps lead into the apartments between the
arches for inserting and removing the scrap metal.
Air blast pipes I11 1111 connect by branches having valves with the different
apartments of the steam superheating and decomposing chambers as shown in
figures 4 and 6. The gas conducting and steam superheating chamber H is pre-
ferably provided with a deflecting wall or partition H' of fireclay raising from a
shelf just below the inlet of gas pipe K" to cause inflowing gas to pass through the
entire length of the chamber. Two sets of steam coil or gangs of vertical pipe h
with return bends are located in chamber H. and connect respectively by branches
hh having valves with the tops of chambers E and F as shown in figure 4. The
steam superheating pipes h may be made of iron copper or other suitable metal.
Chambers E. F. H are provided with short stacks having tight fitting caps V.
having operating rods and cranks as shown in figure 4. Air blast pipe P having a
valve connects with the base of chamber H though air is seldom admitted to this
chamber as illuminating gas only is passed through it on its way to the fixing
chambers.
An air blast should also connect with the Ash pit of chamber D.
Chambers E. F. H are connected by pipes N. N¹ Nu leading from their bases
with the base O of fixing chambers and such pipes are provided with water cooled
valves n. n n¹¹
Valves n. n control the flow of gaseous products from chambers A. B. and E. F.
for heating up the fixing chambers and valve n¹ controls the flow of illuminating
gas and vapor from chambers D and H to the fixing chamber to be fixed. The
three fixing chambers G. G¹ G¹¹ are built upon a common base O and each is pro-
vided with two perforated arches g. g' supporting loosely laid refractory brick.
Arches O in the base support the walls of the chambers and provide passages in the
base from one chamber to another. Gas eduction pipes T. T" connecting at
different heights in the fixing chambers lead to the bydraulic Seal box M and
pipe R conducts gas from such box to the Scrubber or purifiers. An air blast
pipe S having valve p. connects with each end of base O for supplying air to
support combustion of gaseous products in the fixing chambers.
Three fixing chambers divided into apartments and having gas eduction pipes at
different heights are provided so that different chambers may be beated to different
degrees of temperature and so that the illuminating gas made during a run may be
passed through different portions of licated brick-work always at the proper
temperature for combining and fixing the gas without reducing the hydrocarbons
to lamp black or solid carbon. The chamber heated to the highest temperature is
used last during a run so that it will be at the proper temperature when gas is
passed through it. The fixing chambers have short stacks to their tops provided
with tight fitting caps W. W₁ W" for the escape of products of combustion when
heating up the chambers. The Gas eduction pipes T. T have enlarged heads U
provided with a recess for the valve u and its rod or hinge bolt m as shown on
large scale in figure 12 and 12ª. A rim or lip u having a ground face projects up
into head U, as a valve seat for valve u which also has a ground face. The hinge
bolt m to which the valve is rigidly secured passes through and turns in a stuffing
box in the side of head U. and to its outer end is secured an operating lever.
Tight fitting caps u' are secured to tops of heads U to give access to the valves and
for cleaning the pipes.
The fuel chamber L has a water cooled valve at the bottom and is provided by
a double hinged valve into a charge chamber al below and a storage chamber x
above and has a tight fitting cap v¹ at the top.
The double hinged valve and its operating mechanism are shown in detail on a
large scale in figures 10. 10° and 10b The valve casing y is provided internally with
bosses al for supporting rods of the valve which latter is preferably divided into

page_text: fingers as shown. The outwardly projecting ends of the valve rods have keyed to
them the pinion wheels all arranged to mesh with each other and to one of the
rods is secured a lever bu
Having described my apparatus I will now describe its operation as follows:-
Fires are kindled on the grates of chambers A. B. D coal is gradually fed in and
the air blasts admitted till highly heated beds of fuel several feet thick are formed.
As soon as combustible carbonic oxide is formed during the blasting operation it
is passed up through the iron scrap and burned by admission of air in the brick
work above in chambers E and F the products of combustion escaping through
the stacks the caps of which are open. In order to more highly heat the brick
work after the iron scrap is heated the dampers flare drawn out and the hot
gaseous products passed up through tubes fare burned by air admitted through
the upper valve i" in a branch of air blast I Hot gaseous products from
chambers A, B. are also passed through flues in the lower parts of chambers E. F
and through pipes N. N₁ the valves of which are open into base O. of the fixing
chambers where they are burned by the admission of air through pipes S. the
valves p of which are open The caps of the stacks are also opened for the escape
of the products of combustion.
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Carbonic oxide may also be passed from chamber D through chamber H and
pipe N¹ into base O and burned or such gas may be burned in chamber H and the
products passed out of its stack. Chamber G being properly heated to fix the gas
during the first period of the run (five to ten minutes) the cap W thereof is closed
chamber G is heated to a higher temperature as it is to be used for fixing gas
during the second period (five to ten minutes) of the run and then its cap W¹ is
closed and chamber G" is most highly heated as it is to be used for fixing gas
during the last period (five to ten minutes) of the run and then its cap W₁ is
closed. During the operation of heating up steam is admitted into the coils or
gangs of pipe in chamber H.
The brick work in chambers E and F should be most highly heated and the iron
scrap should be raised to or above a cherry red. The fuel in chamber A B should
be raised to incandescence while that in chamber D should only be heated to a
moderate temperature suitable for distilling bituminous coal wood etc. The
apparatus being properly heated the air blasts are shut off, the caps of the stacks
are all closed dampers f¹ are closed valves n n¹¹ are closed ash pit doors are closed
one or both valves u in one or both eduction pipes T. T¹ of fixing chamber G are
opened a charge of soft coal is dropped into chamber D and superheated steam is
passed from pipe h by opening valves (figure 4) into steam superheating and
decomposing chambers E and F passing first into the highly heated brick work
where it is intensely heated and thence into the iron scrap where it is partially or
wholly decomposed forming hydrogen and oxide of iron.
The hydrogen and any steam remaining undecomposed are passed down through
the beds of fuel in chamber A and B where decomposition of steam is completed
and the resulting gas mostly hydrogen is passed up into and through the distilling
soft coal in chamber D and carry off the rich carburetted gases and vapors evolved
from such coal. Should it be desired to still further enrich the gas hydrocarbon oil
is admitted by pipes t into the top of chamber D which oil falling into the stream
of hot gas is vaporized and mingled with the gas.
The carburetted gas passes through pipe K chamber H and pipe N¹ into and
through fixing chamber G where it is combined and converted into a fixed
homogeneous gas.
After the first period (five to ten minutes) of the run the valves in eduction
pipes leading from chamber G are closed and those in eduction pipes leading from
chamber Gare opened and at the last period of the run the last mentioned valves
are closed and those in the pipes of chamber G are opened so that the gas during
the full time of the run is presented to brick work of nearly uniform or slightly
increasing temperature and is thus uniformly combined and fixed,

page_text: Hot illuminating gas passing through chamber H superheats steam in the pipes
and such steam longer maintains the heat and decomposing action of the iron scrap.
The manufacture of gas is continued as described till the apparatus is reduced
too low in temperature to decompose steam and fix the gas when the steam and oil
are shut off and the apparatus is reheated as before described except that the air
blast is not admitted to chamber D In reheating the apparatus the hot carbonic
oxide is passed through the oxidized iron serap without air thereby reducing it to
the metallic state and changing the carbonic oxide to carbonic acid.
The iron thus revivified and reheated is in condition to again de ompose steam.
Before again resuming the manufacture of illuminating gas a charge of soft coal
or of equivalent material is dropped into chamber D. Chambers A and B are
periodically charged with hard coal or coke as required.
By the arrangement of the fuel chambers as shown and conducting the operation
as described chamber D, is made a perfect distilling chamber for converting
bituminous coal or resinous wood into gas without the formation of lamp black or
hard carbon. D is also the carburetting chamber. By placing the iron scrap
below the heated brick work in the steam superheating and decomposing
chambers E. F. it acts longer and more effectually to decompose steam and thus
increase the volume of pure hydrogen produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The process of uniformly combining and fixing the mixed gas and vapor
produced during an ordinary run in a gas generating furnace which consists in
heating a comparatively large body or several bodies of refractory material in a
fixing chamber or chambers to the proper temperature then passing the mixed gas
and vapor produced during the first period (five to ten minutes) of the run through
a portion of such heated refractory material to the main then passing the succeeding
volumes of mixed gas and vapor produced during the succeeding period (five to ten
minutes) of the run through another portion of heated refractory material and to
the main and thus on to the end of the run whereby destructive decomposition of
the hydrocarbons is prevented and a uniform quality of gas as to candle power is
produced.
2. In the manufacture of illuminating gas the process of uniformly combining
and fixing the mixed gas and vapor produced in an ordinary run in a gas generating
furnace which consists in heating two or more bodies of refractory material to
successively higher temperature from the first upward then passing mixed gas and
vapor produced during the first period (five to ten minutes) of the run through the
refractory material at the lowest temperature or least highly heated refractory
material to the main then passing the succeeding volume of mixed gas and vapour
produced during the succeeding period (five to ten minutes) of the run through the
next higher heated body of refractory material to the main and thus on to the end
of the run for the purpose described.
3. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in bighly superheating
steam, in contact with heated metallic scrap producing bydrogen then passing the
hydrogen together with any undecomposed steam through one or more bodies of
heated carbonaceous material for fully converting all watery vapor into fixed gas.
4. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in highly superheating
steam and then passing it down through heated iron scrap thereby producing
hydrogen then passing such hydrogen together with any undecomposed steam
through a body of heated carbonaceous material for completing the decomposition
of the steam then carburetting the resulting gas with hydrocarbon vapors from
liquid or solid material in a heated chamber.
5. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in superheating steam
decomposing it in contact with heated iron scrap, passing the resulting hydro-
gen gas together with any remaining undecomposed steam through one or more

page_text: bodies of heated carbonaceous material for completing decomposition of the steam
into fixed gas; then carburetting the gas and fixing it by passing volumes of it
made in successive periods through successive bodies of heated refractory material
to the end of the run whereby destructive decomposition of hydrocarbons is
prevented and a uniform quality of gas is produced.
6. The process of generating hydrogen gas which consists in first highly super-
heating steam then passing it through one or more beds of heated iron scrap
or other similar metal thereby oxidizing said scrap and partially decomposing the
steam, then further superheating and decomposing any remaining portion of the
steam by passing it through heated refractory material and one or more beds of
heated metallic scrap and thus passing the steam in company with the hydrogen
formed through alternate bodies of heated refractory material and heated metallic
scrap until a complete decomposition of the steam is obtained.
7. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in first highly superheating
steam then decomposing. said steam by passing it through heated iron scrap or
similar metal and then through one or more bodies of incandescent fuel substantially
as described.
8. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in first highly superheating
steam then decomposing said steam by passing it through heated iron scrap or
similar metal, thereby oxidizing said scrap and then through one or more bodies of
incandescent fuel and of alternately reducing the oxidized scrap to a metallic
condition by subjecting it to the action of nascent carbonic oxide, thereby enabling
the continued use of said scrap without removal from the apparatus, substantially
as described.
9. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in first highly superheating
steam then decomposing said steam by passing it through heated iron scrap or
similar metal; then through heated refractory material and then through one or
more bodies of incandescent fuel substantially as described.
10. The process of manufacturing illuminating gas which consists in first highly
superheating steam then decomposing said steam by passing it through heated iron
scrap or similar metal, then through one or more bodies of incandescent or highly
heated fuel and of then enriching said gas, by mingling with it the vapor of a
hydrocarbon and of finally fixing the gas by passing it, in conjunction with said
hydrocarbon vapor through a heated fixing chamber, substantially as described.
11. The process of manufacturing illuminating gas which consists in first highly
superheating steam then decomposing said steam by passing it through heated iron
scrap or similar metal, then through one or more bodies of incandescent or highly
heated fuel then enriching the gas so produced by adding to it the products of
distillation of soft coal, of finally adding to said mixture the vapor of a hydro-
carbon, and of then fixing said gas and vapor by passing them through a heated
fixing chamber substantially as described.
12. The three fuel.chambers connected by a common base and consisting of two
side decomposing chambers each having an inlet for steam or other gaseous fluid
near its top, and the central distilling chamber having a gas outlet near the top
for the purpose described.
13. In combination with a fuel chamber of a gas apparatus a steam superheating
and decomposing chamber having one or more bodies of iron scrap on its lower
supports and having a body of refractory brickwork above the iron scrap as and
for the purpose described.
A
14. In a gas generating apparatus a steam superheating and decomposing 5
chamber having two or more perforated arches with iron scrap on the lower arch
and loosely laid brick work on the upper arch and having a steam inlet pipe at the
top and an outlet pipe below the lower arch for the purpose described.
15. In a gas generating apparatus a steam superheating and decomposing
chamber having perforated supporting arches, a tube passing through such arches, 5
means for closing the tube, a steam inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connected as
described.

page_text: 16. In combination with a gas generator two or more fixing chambers united to
a common base as shown and each chamber having a valved outlet pipe for the
purpose described.
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17. In combination with the fuel chamber of a gas apparatus a fuel charger
having a charge chamber and a storage chamber and a double tilting gate having
shafts or arbors provided with intermeshing pinion wheels and an operating lever
for the purpose described.
18. In a gas apparatus the gas eduction pipe having an enlarged head containing
a valve recess a pivotted or hinged valve therein having a ground face and fitting
upon a ground seat for the purpose described.
19. The combination of the vertical stand pipe having a lip or rim u¹¹ forming
a valve seat, valve u hinged or pivotted in the pipe and means for operating the
valve for the purpose described.
20. In combination with the distilling chamber, the gas chamber H and the
contained coils of steam superheating pipes connecting with the steam super-
heating and decomposing chambers for the purpose described.