Improvements in the Methods of Taking Off the Volatile Products from Coal, Shale, and other Hydrocarbons during We
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in the Methods of Taking Off the Volatile
Products from Coal, Shale, and other Hydrocarbons during
We WILLIAM ASCROFT BYROM of Wigan in the County of Lancaster Gentleman
and JAMES ALFRED BERESFORD BENNETT of Kings Heath in the County of
Worcester, Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHODS OF TAKING OFF THE VOLATILE PRODUCTS
FROM COAL, SHALE AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS DURING THE PROCESS OF
DISTILLATION to be as follows:
This invention has for its objects the removal from retorts of the different
products obtained during the process of distillation of coal shale and other
bydrocarbons at which these products are formed and thus preventing to a large
extent these products from mixing and so by this means we avoid to a great extent
the subsequent expense of distilling the products in order to separate them. The
process by which these results are arrived at, varies with the different methods used
to distil the material but taking as the most preferable method, the Walker and
Bennett retort 3353 we place a number of apertures in the retort preferably in a
line along the highest part of the retort and arranged in such positions as to enable
us to withdraw the products immediately on their liberation so that as the material
is propelled through the retort and exposed to various temperatures we take off
at each point those products which are given off from the coal or other
bydrocarbons at the temperatures corresponding to that point.
This we effect in the following manner-Each exit pipe is supplied with a bend
or elbow of any suitable form so that the exit pipe may ultimately be either
inclined downwards or preferably point vertically downwards near the side of the
Retort the exit pipe being of sufficient length to secure the condensation of the
liquid portion of the distillate-This liquid portion running down the exit pipe
falls by gravity into a closed vessel attached to the lowest part of the exit pipe
whilst in order to allow the gas to be drawn off and also to maintain the necessary
equilibrium in the retort and exit pipes each exit pipe is furnished with a lateral
opening above the point where it enters the closed vessel.
These lateral openings are connected with a horizontal pipe so that whilst the
condensed portion of the distillate falls into the closed vessel above mentioned the
gas is drawn off by means of any ordinary exhaust.
Dated this 22nd dow of Wish 100

page_text: We WILLIAM ASCROFT BYROM of 90 Chancery Lane London Gentleman and
JAMES ALFRED BERESFORD BENNETT of Lyndale, Valentine Road Kings Heath
in the County of Worcester Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF TAKING OFF THE
VOLATILE PRODUCTS FROM COAL, SHALE OR OTHER HYDROCARBONS DURING THE
PROCESS OF DISTILLATION and in what manner the same is to be performed, to-be
•particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
It is well known that the Volatile matter contained in Coal and other similarly
constituted substances is made up of a mixture, of hydrocarbons having varying
boiling points so that by regulating the temperatures to which they are subjected
in the process of distillation a separation of these products may be effected. A
continued low heat sufficing to drive off the more volatile portions without vola-
tizing the denser ones which require higher temperatures The object of our
invention is to effect this separation of the products of distillation more or less
completely by availing ourselves of the graduated temperature of successive
portions of the length of such retorts as are furnished with means for mechanically
propelling their contents through the length of their bores thus supplying a con-
tinuous stream of materials-The cold materials to be distilled being received at
the one end and conveyed from thence through the heated parts of the bore of the
retort pass successively from a normal temperature to the highest communicated by
the fire to the retort-Therefore the most volatile portion of the distillate is
evaporated in the first instance while the less volatile are not given off until the
charge of material arrives at that portion of the length of the retort where the
heat becomes sufficiently intense to volatilère them-In place therefore of collecting
the whole of the distillates at a single opening we use a series of openings provided
with ascension pipes and arranged along the roof or upper part of the retort, so
that those portions of the distillate which are evaporated at any given part of the
length of the retort may rise directly and pass for collection and condensation
through those ascension pipes which are most immediately over the part where the
evaporation takes place-Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shews an elevation
of a retort part in section and Figure 2. a cross section of the same.
The material to be distilled is passed through the length of the Retort A by
any suitable mechanical contrivance say from right to left as indicated by an arrow
Figure 1.
The cold material entering at the right hand end of the retort is gradually heated
during its passage and gives off a series of products in the order of the degree
of heat at which they become volatilized.
b. b. b. Figure 1. shew a series of four openings and ascension pipes connected
with collecting vessels c When these become partially filled with the liquified
distillate cooled in its passage through the pipes, d, The inlets are thereby sealed
so as to hinder any escape of uncondensed vapour or gas as shewn at e.
Each ascension pipe has a communication with a tube f. at a point above the
surface of the fluid in the collecting vessels c. to receive and convey to a suitable
reservoir any permanently elastic gas that may be given off in the retort-The
ascension pipes will thus receive and carry to their respective collecting vessels
different portions of the distillate in the order in which they are volatilized-The
pipe b. being immediately over the least highly heated part of the course of the
material will receive the portions most readily volatilized, B. 1-A portion less

page_text: volatile and so on in succession until at the last of the series of pipes chiefly if not
entirely such portions will be collected as partake more or less of the character of
permanently elastic gas.
After all the volatile matter desired has been removed the remainder of the
material passes through a suitably arranged opening at the left hand end of the
retort for removal as in Walker and Bennetts automatic retort-The flues for
heating the retort a may be arranged so as to give the greatest intensity of heat at
the end farthest from that at which the material is supplied. Or the successive
stages of heat may be self regulated solely by the time required for the material
to acquire heat during its course from the cold supply source to the delivery or
discharge end of the retort. The collecting vessels OO are furnished with taps or
valves g of suitable construction for drawing off the condensed fluids as may be
required when necessary we surround the pipes d with refrigerating appliances to
ensure condensation of the vapours passing through them.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
First, the general arrangement of collecting apparatus for products of distillation
effected in heated retorts substantially as described.
Second The method of separately collecting substances evolved by the application
of heat to materials in retorts provided with mechanical contrivances for propelling
a continuous stream of material through their length by means of a series of
openings and tubes arranged as described and illustrated to receive and carry off
the volatilized substances as they are developed in succession in the order of the
degrees of heat required to volatilize them, at the same time providing means for
the escape and collection of what permanent Gas may be given off along with
condensible vapour.