Improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of Gas from Coal.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 188
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Feb., 1889
PRETADIONAL DIVIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of Gas
from Coal.
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of Emlyn Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be
as follows:-
The manufacture of gas to which this invention relates, has for its object to
decompose all the volatile constituents of coal, by heat, within closed vessels, then by
afterwards subjecting them to heat by passing them through heated ducts to render
all the said volatile gases, heavy and light, permanent. The illuminating properties
of a gas so produced contain beyond the lighter volatile gases those produced from
the heavier and tarry vapours given off from the coal in distillation, and in this way,
in respect of its illuminating properties and volume produced, considerably exceeds
in quality that distilled in the usual manner and which is supplied to consumers.
Now the object of this invention is the production of a gas, which shall contain the
gas produced from the heavier, or tarry vapours as described, as well as those of
lighter nature, but in which the excess of illuminating power of the gas stated shall
be diminished and replaced by an increase in volume.
27 "
To this end, and according to my Invention, I distil coal in retorts of any known
suitable kind and afterwards pass the gas made through a heated duct, or ducts.
By this means I am enabled to produce a larger volume of gas of a higher illuminating
power than is ordinarily supplied to consumers from Gas Works. In a separate
apparatus 1 manufacture hydrogen,
water gas," producer gas," or like, or
equivalent gas and I convey the gas, or gases to and mix them with the distilled coal
gas. This is done prior to the passing of the coal gas, or while it is passing through
the heated duct, or ducts. Or I may add and mix it with the said gas after its
passage through such heated duct. I however prefer to add and mix it with the gas
either prior to its passage through the heated duct, or within such duct, as by this
means a homogeneous mixture and a better general result is obtained. The hydrogen,
water gas, producer gas, or their equivalent constitutes a diluent and is employed to
effect the object hereinafter explained.

page_text: The process and apparatus in connection with which the production of the gas
herein specified may be very conveniently carried on, or effected, are those set
forth in the Specifications of Applications for Letters Patent No. 771487–1585287
and 209688
In gases manufactured according to the inventions set forth in the above Speci-
fications, about ten to thirteen thousand cubic feet of permanent or fixed gas can be
produced from ordinary Yorkshire or equivalent coal, giving an illuminating power
equivalent to from 20 to 25 candles. With this gas I mix as described such a
quantity of the diluent as to reduce the illuminating power to say from 15 to
20 candles, by which its volume will be increased to from fifteen to eighteen thousand
cubic feet, more or less.
When using other kinds of gas making coal than those above stated it will be
evident that the volumes and illuminating powers of the gas produced by the above
specified kind of processes and apparatus will vary, and therefore it may be necessary
to add the diluent gas to the volume in different quantities or proportions in all
cases however it is desired and preferred to introduce into the volatile
such a
gas
quantity of the diluent as will give the bulk an illuminating power equal to form
about 15 to 20 candles, these powers being those of the gas supplied from the
majority of illuminating gas works, and are required by the producers of gas.
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both
Thus the gas according to this Invention is composed of two main portions, one,
the larger portion being distilled from coal, which contains besides the lighter
volatile gas those resulting from the distillation of the heavy, or tarry vapours given
off from the coal (such gas being made by passing the gas through a heated duct or
ducts after distillation in the main retorts); and the other, the losser portion, being
the diluent gas such as hydrogen, {:
water gas, producer gas" or the like
portions being thoroughly intermixed and blended and rendered homogeneous.
If hydrogen is the gas which it is desired to use as the illuminative diluent of the
gas, it may be made by passing steam over highly heated iron chippings, turnings,
filings or pieces of similar sizes in closed heated vessels, such as a pipe, or retort, or
their equivalent. The vessels containing the iron may be arranged in the bench of
retorts and heated by the ordinary retort furnace gases, or they may be placed in a
special furnace and constitute a distinct appliance.
When water gas is used as tho illuminative diluent of the gas, I make such gas
by passing steam through incandescent coko in a closed vessel, or vessels. These
vessels may be some of the retorts of a bench, or they may form distinct appliances,
or apparatus. The same remarks refer to producer gas when it is used as the diluent;
only air, or air and steam is, or are used in lieu of the steam.
When making water, or producer gas, I prefer to allow a portion of the gas to
escape directly after charging the apparatus in order that sulphur may be driven off
from the coke, before any of the gas made is conveyed to and intermixed with the
distilled coal gas.
In lieu of making the water gas from coke as above specified it may be made by
admitting steam to the retorts in which the coal is distilled after the volatile gases
are mostly driven off and passing it through the remaining coke.
Suitable cocks, valves, or seals are provided on the different pipos used in the
plant, or apparatus by which the various fluids may be controlled.
The diluent gas may consist of any one, or a mixture of two, or more of the gases
of the type hereinbefore specified and they may be made in any suitable way and kind
of apparatus or appliance.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of Gas
from Coal.
I, JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of Emlyn Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The processes of manufacturing gas to which this Invention rolates, have for their
object to decompose all the volatilo constituents of coal, by heat, within closed vessels,
then by afterwards subjecting them to heat by passing them through heated ducts to
render all the said volatile gases, heavy and light, permanent. The illuminating
properties of a gas so produced contain beyond the lighter volatile gases those
produced from the heavier and tarry vapours given off from the coal in distillation.
and in this way, in respect of its illuminating properties and volume produced, it
considerably exceeds that distilled in the usual manner and which is supplied to
consumers.
Now the object of this Invention is the production of a gas, which shall contain the
gas produced from the heavier, or tarry vapours as described, as well as those of a
fighter nature, but in which the excess of illuminating power of the gas stated shall be
diminished and replaced by an increase in volume.
To this end and according to my Invention, I distil coal in retorts of any known
suitable kind, and afterwards pass the gas made through a heated duct, or ducts, and
I introduce tar into the duct or ducts. By this means I am enabled to produce a
larger volume of gas of a higher illuminating power than is ordinarily supplied to
consumers from Gas Works. In a separate apparatus I also manufacture hydrogen,
"water gas," "producer gas," or like, or equivalent gas, and I couvey the gas, or
gases to and mix them with the distilled coal gas. This is done, preferably, prior
to the passing of the coal gas, or while it is passing through the heated duct or ducts.
The reason for this preference of adding and mixing it with the gas either prior to its
passage through the heated duct, or within such duct, is that by this means a
homogeneous mixture and a better general result is obtained. The hydrogen, water
gas, producer gas, or their equivalent constitutes to a great extent a diluent and is
employed to effect the object heroinafter explained.
The process and apparatus in connection with which the production of the gas
herein specified may be very conveniently carried on, or effected, are these set forth in
the specifications of Letters Patent No. 7714 of 1887 and 15852 of 1887 and in the
specification of application for Letters Patent No. 2096 of 1888.
In gases manufactured according to the Inventions set forth in the above
specifications, about ten to thirteen thousand cubic feet of permanent or fixed gas
can be produced from ordinary Yorkshire or equivalent coal, giving an illuminating
power equivalent to from 20 to 25 candles. With the gas I mix as described such a
quantity of the diluent as to reduce the illuminating power to say from 15 to 20
candles, by which its volume will be increased to from fifteen to eighteen thousand
cubic feet more or less.

page_text: When using other kinds of gas making coal than those above stated, it will be
evident that the volumes and illuminating powers of the gas produced by the above
specified kind of process and apparatus will vary, and therefore it may be necessary to
add the diluent gas to the volume in different quantities or proportions; in all cases,
however, it is desired and preferred to introduce into the volatile gas such a quantity
of the diluent as will give the bulk an illuminating power equal to from about 15 to 20
candles, these powers being those of the gas supplied from the majority of illuminating
gas works, and are required by the producers of gas.
Thus the gas according to this Invention is composed of two main portions, one, the
larger portion, being distilled from coal, which contains besides the lighter volatile
gases those resulting from the distillation of the heavy, or tarry vapours given off
from the coal (such as gas being made by passing the gas through a heated duct ór
ducts after distillation in the main retorts), and the other, the lesser portion, being the
diluent gas, such as hydrogen, "water gas," 'producer gas," or the like;-both
portions being thoroughly intermixed, blended and rendered homogeneous.
33 [
If hydrogen is the gas which it is desired to use as the illuminative diluent of the
gas, it may be made by passing steam over highly heated iron chippings, turnings,
fillings or pieces of similar sizes in closed heated vessels, such as a pipe, or retort, or
their equivalent. The vessels containing the iron may be arranged in the bench of
retorts and heated by the ordinary retort furnace gases, or they may be placed in a
special furnace and constitute a distinct appliance.
When water gas is used as the illuminative diluent of the gas, 1 make such gas
by passing steain through incandescent coke in a closed vessel, or vessels. These
vessels may be some of the retorts of the benches, or they may form distinct
appliances, or apparatus. The same remarks refer to producer gas when it is used
as the diluent; only air, or air and steam is or are used in lieu of the steam.
When making water or producer gas, I prefer to allow a portion of the gas to
escapo directly after charging the apparatus in order that sulphur may be driven off
from the coke, before any of the gas made is conveyed to and intermixed with the
distilled coal gas.
Suitable cocks, valves, or seals are provided on the different pipes used in the plant
or apparatus by which the various fluids may be controlled.
The diluent gas may consist of any one, or a mixture of two or more of the gases of
the type hereinbefore specified and they may be made in any suitable way and kind of
apparatus or appliance."
The annexed drawings and the following description, illustrate and set forth an
example of apparatus in which the manufacture of gas according to this Invention
may be carried on. Figure 1 shows the apparatus in sectional elevation and Figure 2
shows it in ond view.
The details of the apparatus are fully and particularly described in the Complete
Specification of my application for Letters Patent No. 2096 of 1888, and I therefore
in this specification describe such details in a general way; but the following together
with the foregoing description, at the same time, will be sufficient to enable others
skilled in gas making to carry out the process herein described and claimed in the
claiming clauses concluding this specification.
In the Drawings, like letters and figures are used to denote like or corresponding
parts of the apparatus.
With reference to the drawings, A designates the existing retorts of a bench; Ba
heated duct provided with vortical passages band 6 and a door 63; 1 is an inclined
shoot or gutter; O a seal trough; and D, E, cooled passages. a are the retort
mouths, and a', a³, are the ascension and dip pipes respectively, communicating
between the retorts A and the seal trough C. In the retort A' water gas or hydrogen
is made; a³ is a pipe within it, and a' a steam jet nozzle.
The tar and ammoniacal liquor of the trough C is maintained in it at a constant
level by the pipe d' and pipe c¹. The cooling passage D is composed of walls d³, d³,
leaving an annular space between them, in which space the cooling fluid, preferably
water, is circulated; i are the circulating pipes. This cooling space is extended

page_text: under the bottom of the trough C, and the cooling fluid keeps the tar in the trough C
in a freely liquid state, and the passage D cool enough to prevent deposition of pitch
or carbon therein. The cooled passage E, at the exit of the duct B, consists of outer
and inner walls e, e, having between them the annular space . F is the outlet pipe
on the end of this passage.
The operation and effects of manufacturing gas in the apparatus are as follows:-
The coal is distilled in the retorts A in the ordinary way, the gas made in the
apparatus passing in o the common seal trough C. Here it deposits a part of its tar
and ammoniacal vapours. It then passes through the cooled passage D, wherein inore
tar and other vapours are arrested. The gas then passes through the hot duct B, and
the wholo of it is subjected to the heat thereof, whereby the greater part of the non-
permanent portion of it is fixed or rendered permanent. The gas is then passed
through, and subjected to the cooling influence of the cooled passage E, and a portion
of the tarry or non-permanent vapours, still existing in the gas, are condensed and
arrested. The tar condensed in the passages E aud D, and the trough C, and the
returned tar as hereinafter described, fall into the duct B, and in the presence of
freshly distilled gas from the retort A, are converted into gas; the ammoniacal liquors
condensed in the trough Care, however, drained away by a pipe c', which is placed
at such a height in the trough as to drain them off, but so as to leave the heavier
liquid, namely tar. When the tar in the trough C risos up between the pipes d,
and d', to slightly above the level of the lip of the pipe , it falls directly onto the
highly heated surface of the bottom of the duct B, or on to the red hot surface of any
media placed therein. The matters condensed in the passage D fall directly from the
contracted part on the bottom of the duct B. The retort and duct are preferably
heated and worked at a temperature denoted by à clear cherry red colour, known in
gas making as a medium temperature.
The tar condensed from the gas after leaving the apparatus, I bring back to the
apparatus, by gravity or otherwise, and introduce it into the seal trough C by the
pipe c², from whence it falls into the hot duct B, as described and is gasified ;
or, it may be introduced into the duct by the pipe c² shown in dotted lines in
Figure 1.
The gas resulting from the process of manufacture thus far definitely described
would, if made from ordinary bituminous gas-making coal, such as that known as
Lancashire or Yorkshire coal-not cannel,-possess an illuminating power equal
to about 24 candles, and the volume of permanent or fixed gas produced per
ton of coal, would be from about 12,000 to 13,000 cubic feet, this quality of gas is
higher than is desired by most gas manufacturers, now from the excess of the
illuminative properties, above that required, 1 turn to that which is more a desideratum
to most gas makers, namely, an increase of volume per unit of coal. This I do as
already stated by admixing hydrogen, water gas, or other diluent gas with the coal
gas, to such an extent as to reduce its illuminative qualities to that required. If the
quality of gas required be equal to, say 17 candles, the volume will be increased to
about 17,000 cubic feet. Thus the quantity of water gas added would bo 4,000
cubic feet.
In the apparatus herein illustrated I use one of the retorts, A', to produce the water
gas or hydrogen. The operation is as follows:-The retort is filled with coke, and
steam is admitted to the steam nozzle a through the pipe a. It then passes through
the pipe a to the end of the retort, thereby becoming superheated, and then travels
back through the incandescent coke to the mouth of the retort, and so on up to the
ascension pipe a², dip pipes a², into the trough C. Here the water gas produced joins
with the coal gas coming from the retorts A, and in passing together through the
passages and the duct B, they become intimately and homogenously mixed, fixed and
blended. In passing through the coke, the oxygen of the steam combines with the
carbon of the coke, becoming carbonic oxide, the hydrogen being thereby liberated.
If desired the pipe a may be filled with iron filings or cuttings for producing
hydrogen, or refractory material for superheating the steam when the hydrogen is
not required.

page_text: If the diluent gas be produced by an apparatus of any known kind separate from
the bench of retorts, or otherwise than in the retorts themselves, it may be conducted
to the gas making apparatus and introduced at such a point or points, as to mix with
the gas coming from the retorts, and prior to its entry to, or during its passage through
the heated duct or ducts thereof. The supply of such diluent will of course be a
regulated one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declaro that what I
claim is :-
1. The Improvement in the manufacture of illuminating gas herein described, which
consist in distilling coal in closed retorts of ordinary or equivalent type of construc-
tion; then passing such gas into a heated chamber or duct, and introducing into such
chamber or duct tar condensed or recovered from the gas made in the retorts, the said
tar being thereby gasified in the presence of freshly distilled coal gas; and also intro-
ducing into the apparatus a diluent gas, the tar gas so produced, diluent and coal gas,
being thereby passed together through and subjected to the heat of the said chamber
or duct, wherein they become mixed, blended and rendered permanent.
2. The Improvement in the manufacture of illuminating gas from coal herein
described, which consists in distilling gas in closed retorts; passing such gas into a
heated duct or chamber; mixing water gas or equivalent diluent with said coal gas;
and passing said gases after or before, or before and after mixing, through an artificially
cooled passage or chamber.
3. The process substantially described of making illuminating gas and utilizing
the tar deposited from the gases produced from coal, consisting in heating and fixing
the gas produced; mixing water gas or equivalent diluent with said coal gas; cooling
said gases after or before, or before and after heating and fixing; collecting the tar
condensed from the gas and liquified; and rovapourizing the tar in the presence of the
said gases while they are being fixed by bringing it into contact with a highly heated
material or surface.
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