Improvements in or Connected with Steam Generator or other Furnaces Heated by Gas.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1887
Complete Left, 14th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 16th Mar., 1888
Improvements in or Connected with Steam Generator or other
Furnaces Heated by Gas.
I, JOHN BIRCHALL, of Oaklands, Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to the generation of steam by the use of gas, more
particularly of the gases known as producer gas, or water gas, or gases of a like
nature and has for its object to obtain a more perfect combustion and a better calorific
value, or efficiency from the fuel used than heretofore.
According to this Invention, for example, as applied to the furnace of a Cornish, or
Lancashire boiler, the gas and the air necessary for supporting the combustion of it
are introduced in such a manner that they become to a great extent intimately mixed
at, or near the point of ignition. This may be effected according to this Invention
by bringing the gas and air through a burner, placed at the mouth of the furnace,
and consisting essentially of a vessel having tubes arranged longitudinally in it. The
air may enter and pass through the tubes and is controlled by a suitable valve, such
as a grid, or perforated valve, whilst the gas may be supplied through the interior of
the vessel and leaving such vessel by holes, or nipples in the end of the burner, whero
the jets of air and gas mix and burn. Or the converse arrangement of the above
burner may be used in which the air is brought through the interior of the burner and
the gas through the aforesaid tubes. The tubes and nipples are preferably arranged
to terminate, or end in advance of one another so as to obtain a more effective
admixture of air and gas. The burner may be made of any suitablo metal, or
refractory material according to the particular nature and purposes of its
application.
This Invention further consists in providing a combustion chamber, or chambers of
non conducting material, and media such as bridges, tubes, or pipes of fire brick, or
like material in the furnaces, or flues against, or over which the flames and gases are
caused to impinge, or pass and by which a mixing effect is obtained and complete
combustion is facilitated,

page_text: The combustion chamber may consist of a hollow cylindrical vessel and may rest
upon the surface of the furnace, or flue, or may be placed within the furnace so as to
leave an annular, or other space, or spaces between its outer surface and the inside
surface of the flue. The chamber is placed near the burner.
The pipes, tubes, bridges, or like baffling media, above specified are preferably of
non conducting material and may be of any suitable form, or construction and may
be arranged in any convenient manner. They may consist of coned, or tapered
pipes, or tubes and vertical bridges.
This Invention is applicable to other purposes analogous to the heating of steam
generator furnaces by gas, namely it may be used for example in connection with
metal and chemical heating and manufacturing furnaces of various kinds, kilns,
retort furnaces, stoves, ovens and for like purposes where gas and air, are used as the
heating fuel.

page_text: Furnaces Heated by Gas..
I, JOHN BIRCHALL, of Oaklands, Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster, Gentieman
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention 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 generation of steam by the use of gas, more particu-
larly of the gases known as Producer gas, or water gas, or gases of a like nature, and
has for its object to obtain a more perfect combustion and a better calorific value or
officiency from the fuel used than heretofore. According to this invention, for
example as applied to a Cornish, or Lancashire boiler, the gas and the air necessary
for supporting the combustion of it are introduced in such a manner that they become
to a great extent intimately mixed at or near the point of ignition. This is effected
according to this invention by bringing the gas and air through a burner placed at
the mouth of the furnace and consisting essentially of a vessel having tubes arranged
longitudinally, or in other convenient manner in it. The air may enter and pass
through the tubes and is controlled by a suitable valve such as a grid or perforated
valve and in cases where it is desired to use hot air for combustion of the gases this
grid or valve may form a part of a hollow chamber to receive it, having apertures in
its interior disc corresponding and in line with the tubes in the burner; whilst the
gas may be supplied through the interior of the vessel and leaving such vessel by
holes or nipples in the end thereof, where the jets of air and gas mix and burn: or
the converse arrangement of the above burner may be used, in which the air is
brought through the interior of the burner and the gas through the aforesaid tubes.
The tubes and nipples are preferably arranged to terminate or end in advance of one
another so as to obtain a more effective admixture of air and gas. The burner may
be made of any suitable metal or refractory material according to the particular
nature and purposes of its application. This invention further consists in providing
a combustion chamber or chambers of non conducting material and in providing
media such as bridges, tubes, or pipes of firebrick, or like material in the furnaces
or flues of steam generators, against, or over, or under which the flames and gases are
caused to impinge or pass and by which a mixing effect is obtained and complete
combustion is facilitated.
The combustion chamber may consist of a hollow vessel or combination of tubes
and may be so placed as to leave an annular or other space or spaces between its outer
surface and the inside surface of the flue; or it may be composed of brickwork. The.
combustion chamber is placed near the burner and at or near the end of the chamber.

page_text: Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section the example of burner, combustion chamber,
and bridge according to this invention applied to the furnace of an ordinary
Lancashire, Cornish, or similarly constructed steam generator.
Figure 2 is a front end view of the burner.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the burner, shown to a larger scale.
Figure 4 is a back end view of the burner.
Figure 5 shows in sectional elevation the burner adapted to use hot air.
Figure 6 is a front end view of same.
With reference in the first instance to the first four figures of the drawings,
a designates the side of the burner, a¹ its front end, at its back end, the air tubos,
c the gas outlet nipples, and d the air controlling valve; f is the gas inlet connected
to the cylindrical casing a, and d is the air controlling valve having apertures d¹ and
provided with a turning handle e, pivot e¹ and securing handle e². ♥ represents the
furnace metal and wo the front of the generator. A denotes the combustion chamber
consisting of a cylinder or tube of fire brick and having a space between its
exterior surface and the inner surface of the furnace metal »; and i is a bridge, also
of fire brick, having an aperture at its lower portion for the passage of the gases of
combustion.
It will be observed upon reference to the above figures that the tubes 6 are grouped
in two circular sets, one within the other, and that between every two air tubes a gas
nipple c is placed, the ends of the air tubes 6 being disposed in advance of the end
of the gas nipples c. By this construction of burner I am enabled to secure an
effectual distribution and mixing of the air and gas, and to consequently obtain perfect
combustion of the gas. The air tubes shown in the example illustrated are provided
with nipples screwed on to the tube ends. This construction though not essential, is
preferable, inasmuch as it affords a ready means of renewal of the tube ends when
worn or burnt away. In the same way the gas nipples c can be removed and renewed
readily when so desired and they may be either screwed or expanded into the apertures
in the end plate a².
The combustion chamber is placed in the furnace having its front edge in advance
of the burner nipples and its rear edge a certain distance from the bridge i. By so
disposing it the gases of combustion are enabled to circulate in the space . The
construction of bridge i having an aperture at its lower portion as shown causes the
flames and gases to descend before leaving the combustion chamber and to form eddies
therein. The effect so produced causes a further intermixing of the gases and so any
particles of gas still existing in the body of gases unconsumed, is afforded an
opportunity of combining with the free air in them and may so be burnt.

page_text: Bridges such as i or chambers such as h of cylindrical or tapered form, or both,
may be provided in the rim of the furnace flues vat certain points. The effect of
such disposition of fire brick media is to cause the gases of combustion to circulate
and mix and so aid them in transferring their heat to the flue plate v and so to the
water surrounding it.
The air passes through the tubes and can be regulated by the valve d, by cutting
it off and admitting it to the tubes as required, by turning the handle e. The
handle works on the screwed end of the pivot e¹ and is provided to fix the valve d
in whatever position it is set.
The gas is admitted by the supply pipe f to the interior of the burner vessel a and
consequently surrounds the air pipes b. To some extent, by this arrangement of
supplying the air and gas, the temperature of the two fluids will be equalized and
thereby combustion is facilitated.
With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the burner therein shown is constructed for
cases where hot, in lieu of cold air is to be used. The only differences of construction
are, the provision of the chest and the hot air inlet d³, d' being the hot air pipe.
In this construction the face d of the chest serves as the controlling valve and is
provided with the apertures d' as set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 4, and the
handles e and e² and pivot el operated in the manner already described. It will be
evident that in working the valve d, the whole chest d² is moved, it being part of the
valve. To provide against cutting off the hot air supply to the chest when the
valve d is operated, the inlet pipe d³ is provided with a flange and the air pipe d¹ is
extended in such a manner (see Figure 6) that whether the ends of the pipes bare
covered or uncovered by the valve d the air passage d³ shall be open to the pipe .
To shut off or control the supply of air to the chest d² a valve k is provided in the
pipe d'
As already explained the converse mode of introducing the air and gas could be
employed according to this invention, namely the air could be supplied to the interior
of the burner a and delivered through the nipples c, whilst the gas would then be
supplied through the pipes b; but I prefer to employ the mode above described with
reference to the drawings.
In the foregoing specification I have described what I consider the best form of
construction of burner and the parts connected therewith involving my invention. I
wish it to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the precise form of
construction described, since any mere and colourable change may be made without
departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.
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
First. In connection with steam generator or other furnaces in which gaseous fuel
is employed as the heating agent the construction of burner by which the air and gas
used are distributed, mixed and burnt, as, or substantially as set forth.
Second. The herein described burner consisting essentially of a vessel containing
tubes through which air or gas passes and apertures or nipples at the outlet end of the
burner through which air or gas passes, substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a steam generator or other equivalent furnace, of a
burner such as described and a combustion chamber, such as h, of fire brick or like
material, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a steam generator or other equivalent furnace, of a
burner such as described, a combustion chamber such as ', and a bridge, such as i,
such combustion chamber and bridge being of fire brick or like material,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a steam generator furnace in which gaseous fuel is employed as the
heating agent, the construction of combustion chamber and arrangement by which a
space is provided between the wall of the chamber and the furnace plate,
substantially as set forth,

page_text: Sixth. The burner, consisting of the casing a, ends a¹ and a², air tubos , nipples,
gas inlet and air valve d, constructed and operating as set forth with reference to
Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.
Seventh. The burner, consisting of the casing a, ends a¹ and a², air tubes b, gas
nipples c, gas inlet f, hot air inlet d³ and chest d², constructed and operating as set
forth with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.
Dated this 13th day of Fobru 1000