Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM HENRY HARRIS, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America; Gas Engineer.]
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to generate gas from bituminous coal, or other
similar substances, continuously, converting all the carbon into gas and rendering
the same fixed by the addition of hydrogen from decomposed steam, and enriching
the same, if desired, by the use of light or heavy hydrocarbons.
The apparatus for carrying out the invention comprises a generator having a
combustion chamber and provided with tuyeres for supplying air thereto. The
generator is also provided with a gas mixing chamber and a gas uptake through
which the gas is conducted to the fixing chamber. Any form of fixing chamber
may be used. An annular chamber is arranged near the top of the mixing chamber
and a bell-shaped valve closes the feed shaft the said feed shaft being provided
with a removable cover placed over the same. Vertical pipes leading from the
annular chamber down to the air chambers are also provided.
The tuyeres pass through these air chambers and are notched or slitted so as to
take in air from the air chambers. The outer ends of these tuyeres are closed with
a cap in the usual manner. The air for supporting combustion is supplied by a
blower or any other means, and introduced directly into the air chamber at the top
by means of a pipe. A steam coil is situated between the mixing chamber and the
air flue, it is continued from the coil outside the cupola by a pipe and enters the
mixing chamber. A supplementary steam pipe piercing the tuyeres is provided so
that superheated steam may be injected into the tuyeres and the blast furnace by
that means instead of by an air forcing apparatus; or, both means of creating a
blast may be used, if desired.
The process is as follows: Fire is started in the combustion chamber, coal is
supplied and it is blasted up until the apparatus is thoroughly heated; by this time
the steam in the coil is superheated and introduced into the chamber at an angle to
the ascending products of combustion passing from the combustion chamber into the
mixing chamber. This produces a cyclonic action, or a rapid whirling action of
the particles. The steam is rapidly decomposed by the attrition of the atoms of
the two gases upon each other and the hydrogen and oxygen are separated and
re-combined with the products of combustion and form a new gas.
In carrying out this invention the gas may be enriched by the addition of hydro-
carbon with the coal, such as cannel coal, pitch, bi-products of petroleum, may be
employed for this purpose, and introduced into the generating chamber; or a
lighter hydrocarbon may be added to the gas as it enters the fixing chamber.
is
If illuminating gas is desired this latter addition is desirable as it is easy to
supply the proper proportion of benzol or benzoic vapours to obtain the illuminating
properties. In carrying out this process, therefore, in the preferred form, heated
air is used to support combustion, and this is very economic as much less oxygen
required to support the combustion when taken in the heated than when in the
cold state, and the gas is therefore much richer. When superheated steam is used
as a supplementary blasting agent, only a small quantity should be used, not enough
to chill or check the draft as it is necessary to keep the charge in the combustion
chamber in a highly heated condition; in order that the heat may be employed,

page_text: first, to decompose the steam, and second, to keep the fixing chamber heated and
keep the gases in a heated condition for fixation, which is an essential feature.
Dated this 5th day of July 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
•
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Gas.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 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 :―
My invention relates to a process for making gas with a modified form of the
apparatus shown in U.S. application filed by me April 30th 1891 Serial No. 391,111
for which Letters Patent No. 463,965 were granted to me November 24, 1891.
The object of my invention is to generate gas from bituminus coal mixed with
cannel coal or with other hydrocarbon, steam and air being supplied thereto, by
which the various gases are generated at different points and mixed together by a
continuous process in one direction and in an apparatus employing a single generator,
and regenerating chamber.
Another object of my invention is to utilize the waste heat in the generating-
chamber.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of my improvement.
Figure 2 is a section on line x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section on line y y Figure 1.
- 1 represents the base of the cupola-furnace, 2 the hearth, and 3 tuyeres for
supplying air to support combustion. 4 represents the primary combustion-
chamber. 5 represents an enlarged generating and gas-mixing chamber above the
primary combustion-chamber. 6 represents an uptake or flue communicating
directly with the regenerating or gas-fixing chamber.
material in said chamber, which is shown composed of five passages of serpentine
7 represents regenerative
form filled with balls made of silicate of alumina or other substance capable of
absorbing a large amount of heat without deterioration. 8 represents an exit-flue
for the emission of the gas fixed in the chamber; 10, steam-pipe tapping the
generating-chamber 5. This pipe 10 is shown as the termination of the super-
heating coil 11, and this is the preferred form of construction; but I have found
from experience that superheated steam is not essential in my process, as the heat
of the generating-chamber is sufficient to decompose dry steam, though it is more
economical to superheat the steam. 12 represents a bell closing the feeding-shaft 13.
14 represents a water jacket collar for keeping the same cool. These parts are
fully described in my said previous Patent.
15 represents a cover for closing the feeding-shaft.
In order to more thoroughly utilize the heat, I make an annular chamber A at
or near the bell into which the air is forced for supporting combustion.
B represents a series of hollow tubes connecting said chamber A with the series
of chambers C, through which the tuyere-pipes Ď pass. They are provided with
openings a for the entrance of air to the interior of the tuyeres.
E represents an air-supply pipe which leads to the fan or blowing engine, by
means of which the air is forced into the annular chamber A, passes down the
vertical tubes B into the segmental chamber C, and thence into the tuyere-pipes
for supplying air to the base of the charge within the primary combustion-chamber.
In my process a high and continuous heat is required in order to keep up
continuously a high heat in the fixing or regenerating chamber, and I have found
1

page_text: that a small amount of steam supplied to the tuyeres and mixed with the air
provides a blast that promotes combustion and raises the heat higher in the
generating-chamber. The mixing of steam with the air supplied to the tuyeres is,
however, not essential and the steam may be omitted, if preferred.
F represents a series of steam-pipes tapping the tuyere pipes D. H represents
valves for controlling the amount of steam admitted thereto. This steam may be
taken from the superheating-coil or from a boiler, as preferred.
The mode of operation is as follows; Soft or bituminous coal is introduced into
the primary combustion-chamber 4 through the feeding-shaft. The bell is lowered
to admit the charge and immediately raised to seal the feed-shaft. The coal to be
burned lies in the primary combustion-chamber and when ignited rapidly becomes'
incandescent. The heat and volatile products of combustion pass directly through
the uptake 6, and thence through the regenerating chamber. Steam is admitted by
the pipes F as soon as the charge in the generator is of sufficient heat to break.
up the steam; but no more steam should be admitted than the combustion will
take up, actively maintaining a high degree of heat. As soon as the balls at the
terminal of the regenerating-chamber are raised to 1000° or 1200° of heat,
Fahrenheit scale, the apparatus is hot enough to commence making fixed gas'
continuously. Steam is then admitted into the gas-generating chamber 5.
In practice I have found that a generator three feet in diameter will take all the
steam which can be supplied by the inch pipe and convert it into a combustible gas
by the decomposition of the steam. This chamber 5 is highly heated, there being
a considerable draft furnished thereto by the ascending current of the heated
products of generation, and the steam cutting the same at right angles produces a
cyclonic effect, so that there is a rapid whirling of the gas, thereby bringing it into
condition for forming a fixed gas in the regenerator chamber. The gases thus
generated pass rapidly out of the flue 6 into the regenerating chamber and, being
at a higher heat, do not cool down the regenerating-chamber and material but
impart heat thereto if driven to their fullest capacity.
I have found from experience the best Youghiogheny coal, when burned under
the conditions herein stated, with the full amount of steam which the same will
take, is scarcely high enough for a good fuel-gas. I enrich the gas for illuminating
purposes, however by adding hydrocarbon product, and this may be done in various
ways. Oil, benzine, or similar hydrocarbon liquids may be introduced through a
pipe into the upper part of the gas-generator. In lieu of this, however, cannel
coal may be mixed with the bituminous coal or other hydrocarbons, such as pitch,
rosin, by-products of petroleum and introduced with it into the charge. If an
illuminating gas is desired, the hydrocarbon added should be sufficient to furnish
from one to three per cent. of benzol vapour, and this will make rich illuminating-
gas. For this purpose 1 prefer to employ about one half by weight, of benzine to
the coal fed to the regenerator.
A material advantage is obtained in heating the air by introducing the same at
the top of the generator-shaft and passing the same down through the tubes
enclosed within the brick-work; which take up the waste heat; and thereby the air
is admitted into the furnace hot. This promotes rapid combustion and assists in
keeping the regenerating-chamber hot as well as quickly bringing the gases to a
uniform degree of heat, so that they will mix easily and form the fixed gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion 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. The herein described continuous process of making gas in a single generator
and regenerator, which consists in introducing at an angle into the heated and
ascending currents of the volatile products of combustion from an incandescent body
of carbonaceous fuel a continuous current of steam that is decomposed and
thoroughly mingled with the volatile products of combustion within a highly heated
generating-chamber between the body of fuel and the gas-uptake and passing the

page_text: "
resulting gas directly and continuously into a regenerator, substantially as
described.
Second. A continuous process of making gas in a single generator and
regenerator, which consists in burning coal at the base of a generator-chamber,
maintaining the combustion at a degree of heat high enough to decompose steam,
the combustion being supported by air, introducing steam into the mixing-chamber
between the body of fuel and the gas-uptake at an angle to the ascending currents
of the volatile products of combustion, whereby the steam is decomposed and
thoroughly mixed with the products of combustion in said mixing-chamber, within
the generator-shaft, and passing this product directly into the regenerator or fixing-
chamber substantially as described.
Third. A continuous procesa of making gas in a single generator and regenerator,
which consists in burning coal at the base of the generating-chamber, maintaining
the combustion at a degree of heat high enough to decompose steam, the combustion
being maintained by hot air currents introduced into the primary combustion-
chamber, introducing steam into the mixing-chamber between the body of fuel
and the gas-uptake at an angle to the ascending currents of the volatile products of
combustion, whereby the steam is decomposed and thoroughly intermixed with the
products of combustion in said inixing-chamber within the generator-shaft and
passing this product directly into the regenerator or fixing chamber, substantially
as specified.
Fourth. The continuous process of making gas in a single generator and
regenerator or fixing chamber, through which generator and regenerator the
volatile products of combustion pass continuously in one direction, which consists in
burning coal at the base of the generator, the combustion being supported by air
forced into the same, admitting steam at an angle to the ascending currents of the
products of combustion in a highly heated generating and mixing chamber between
the body of fuel and the gas-uptake, introducing a hydrocarbon liquid into the
upper part of the generator, and passing the mingled gases through the regenerator
to form a fixed gas, substantially as described.
Fifth. The continuous process of making gas in a single generator and
regenerator or fixing chamber, which consists in burning soft coal at the base of the
generator-chamber, injecting steam and heated air into said fuel to support com-
bustion, introducing steam above the fuel at an angle to the ascending currents of
the volatile products of combustion between the body of fuel and the gas-uptake,
thoroughly mingling the steam and heated products of combustion within the
generator-shaft, and passing the gas directly and continuously into a regenerator or
fixing chamber, substantially as described.
D: 20th day of March 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.