IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF COAL GAS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Clement Walker, of Lilleshall, in the County
of Salop, and William Thomas Walker, of Highgate, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE
PURIFICATION OF COAL GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Clement Walker and
William Thomas Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
19th August 1881.
CHARLES CLEMENT WALKER, of Lilleshall, in the County of Salop, and WILLIAM
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THOMAS WALKER, of Highgate, in the County of Middlesex.
APPARATUS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF COAL GAS."
Our Invention has reference to the apparatus described in the Specification to
former Letters Patent granted to William Mann and William Thomas Walker, dated
the Tenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty, Number 1478,
for improvements in apparatus for the purification of coal gas. In this apparatus
a series of scrubbing devices of bars or rods are used in a series of superposed tanks,
which scrubbing devices form elongated passages through which after their being
wetted the gas to be purified is caused to pass in order to be acted upon by the
fluid used for purification.
Now our present Invention has for its object the maintaining of the elongated
passages described open and clean for the free passage of the gas to be purified, and
the prevention of the elongated passages from becoming choked and stopped up by
the deposit of heavy, viscid, tarry, and carbonaceous matter; and also the prevention
of the surfaces of the bars or rods from becoming coated and clogged with viscid tar
and carbonaceous matter, by which their purifying action becomes impaired. For
this purpose we use a washing apparatus of novel construction, as hereinafter
described, placed in the lowermost tank of the machine, and in some cases in the
two or more lowermost tanks.
This apparatus consists of series of chambers, each formed by bending a thin
sheet of wrought iron or steel into an inverted trough shape, and making a series

page_text: of tapering slots or perforations in the lower parts of the sides thereof, the extreme
or outer end of the trough being closed, whilst the other end is attached to the
sides of a chamber in which the gas to be purified is received. The inverted
troughs so constructed are arranged in any required number at suitable distances
apart in the tank, so that their lowermost portion in which the slots or perforations
are formed shall be immersed in the water, ammoniacal liquor, or other purifying
fluid contained in the said tank. The gas is thus caused to pass into the whole of
these inverted troughs in both directions, and escapes into the upper part of the
tank through the slots or perforations of the submerged portions of the troughs,
whereby the tarry and carbonaceous matters are completely eliminated before the
gas is conducted into the scrubbing devices above. By reason moreover of the gas
being finely divided by its passage through the strong ammoniacal liquor obtained,
it is also to a great extent freed from the carbonic acid originally contained
therein.
This apparatus may also be applied to other scrubbers, such for example, as that
known as the Mann and Walker scrubber, in order to prevent all liability of their
becoming choked with tarry and carbonaceous matter, and of their purifying power
being thereby impaired.
The Invention also relates to improvements in the scrubbing devices referred to
in the last mentioned Specification, as next hereinafter described.
We render more accurate and efficient and cheapen the cost of construction of
the devices of wood rods or bars by placing them between two plates of wood.
These top and bottom plates are placed in a machine, aud rapidly grooved out of
the required width of groove to receive the rods. The ridges between the grooves
keeping the rods or bars the proper distance apart, and correctly forming and
maintaining the elongated passages referred to for the passage of the gas to be
purified.
In order that the entire surface all round the rods shall be exposed and make
efficient wetted surface, we keep them the slight distance apart required by passing
a string between of the right thickness or diameter, by which mode the distance
apart transversely is cheaply and correctly obtained.
It has been found in practice that the water or other fluid is much agitated by
the immersion and emersion, or the dipping in and out of the scrubbing devices,
and that there is the danger of the gas passing underneath the devices unpurified,
and not through them.
In order to remedy this defect we construct a frame of angle, tee, or sheet iron
round the lower part of the devices, which always remains sealed in the fluid, and
enables the rods to be elevated to their fullest extent, and the whole height of
their wetted surfaces exposed to the gas.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the, said Charles Clement Walkef and William Thomas Walker in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 18th February 1882.
CHARLES CLEMENT WALKER; of Lilleshall, in the County of Salop, and WILLIAM
THOMAS WALKER, of Highgate, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF COAL GAS."
Our Invention has reference to the apparatus described in the Specification to
former Letters Patent granted to William Mann and William Thomas Walker,
dated the tenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty, No. 1478,
for improvements in apparatus for the purification of coal gas. In this apparatus
a series of scrubbing devices of bars or rods are used in a series of superposed
tanks, which scrubbing devices form elongated passages through which after their
being wetted the gas to be purified is caused to pass in order to be acted upon by
the fluid used for purification.
Now our present Invention has for its object the maintaining of the elongated
passages described open and clean for the free passage of the gas to be purified,
and preventing the elongated passages from becoming choked and stopped up by
the deposit of heavy, viscid, tarry, and. carbonaceous matter, and also preventing
the surfaces of the bars or rods from becoming coated and clogged with viscid, tarry,
and carbonaceous matter, by which their purifying action becomes impaired.
For this purpose we use a washing apparatus of novel construction, as herein-
after described, placed in the lowermost tank of the machine, and in some cases in
the two or more lowermost tanks.
This apparatus consists of series of chambers each formed by bending a thin.
sheet of wrought iron or steel into an inverted trough shape; and making a series
of slots or perforations in the lower parts of the sides thereof, the extreme or outer
end of the trough being closed, whilst the other end is attached to the side of a
chamber in which the gas to be purified is received.
The inverted troughs so constructed are arranged in any required number at
suitable distances apart in the tank, so that their lowermost portion in which the
slots or perforations are formed shall be immersed in the water; ammoniacal liquor,
or other purifying fluid contained in the said tank; the gas is thus caused to pass
into these inverted troughs in both directions, and escapes into the upper part of
the tank through the slots or perforations of the submerged portions of the troughs,
whereby the tarrý and carbonaceous matters are completly eliminated before the
gas is conducted into the scrubbing devices above. By reason moreover of the gas
being finely divided by its passage through the strong ammoniacal liquor obtained,
it is also to a great extent freed from the carbonic acid originally contained
therein.
This apparatus may also be applied to other scrubbers, such for example as that
known as the Mann and Walker scrubber, in order to prevent all liability of their
becoming choked with tarry and carbonaceous matter, and of their purifying power
being thereby impaired, and it may also be applied as a washer separate from the
scrubber.
The invention also relates to improvements in the scrubbing devices referred to

page_text: :
s
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a vertical section of a portion
of a scrubbing apparatus constructed according to the said former Specification,
with our Invention applied to the lowermost tank of the said apparatus; and
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section drawn to a larger scale of one of the inverted
troughs hereinbefore referred to, and more fully hereinafter described; and Figure 4
is a longitudinal section of a portion of the said trough with its connection to the
side of the chamber in which the gas is received.; Figures 5 and 6 are respectively
a vertical and a horizontal section illustrating the application of the Invention to
what is known as the "Mann and Walker Scrubber;" Figures 7 and 8 are similar
views to Figures 5 and 6, shewing the same apparatus adapted for use as a washer
separate from a scrubber; Figures 9 and 10 represent two vertical sections taken
respectively at right angles to each other of a portion of the scrubbing device
described in the said former Specification with our improvements applied thereto;
and Figure 11 is a horizontal section of the same corresponding to Figure 9.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, A. (Figures 1 and 2) is the lowermost tank
of the apparatus described in the said former Specification, and A', A² (Figure 1),
are two of the superposed tanks above containing the scrubbing devices B¹, B³,
described in the said former Specification. According to our present Invention we
substitute for the said scrubbing devices in the lowermost tank A. (or in the two or
more lowermost tanks if desired) a washing apparatus of the construction next
'hereinafter described.
The apparatus consists of a series of chambers or troughs O each formed by
bending a thin sheet preferably of wrought iron or steel into an inverted trough
shape, as shown clearly in Figure 3, and making a series of slots or perforations a
(by preference tapering) in the lower part of the sides thereof (see Figures 3 and 4),
the extreme or outer end 6 (Figure 2) of the trough being closed, whilst the other
end is attached (as shewn most clearly in Figure 4) to the side of a chamber D in
which the gas to be purified is received. The inverted troughs C so constructed
are arranged in any required number at suitable distances apart in the tank A
(Figures 1 and 2), so that their lowermost portion in which the slots or perforations
are formed shall be immersed in the water, ammoniacal liquor, or other purifying
fluid contained in the said tank. The gas admitted by the pipe d into the
chamber D is thus caused to pass through apertures e into the inverted troughs C
at opposite sides of the chamber D, and escapes from the troughs into the upper
part D¹ of the tank through the slots or perforations a of the submerged portion of
the said troughs in both directions, whereby the tarry and carbonaceous matters
are completely eliminated before the gas is conducted into the scrubbing devices
B', B, above. By reason moreover of the gas being finely divided by its passage
'through the strong ammoniacal liquor obtained, it is also to a great extent freed
from the carbonic acid originally contained therein. This arrangement also
possesses the further advantage that the area of free opening of the slots or
perforations a is regulated automatically according to the production or quantity
of the gas itself, since any increase of quantity and consequently of pressure has
the effect of forcing a portion of the liquid out of the troughs C, whilst as and when
the pressure is reduced the normal level of the liquid is restored.
By reason also of the sides of the perforated surfaces being vertical they are self
cleaning in their action, whereas horizontal surfaces are liable to become coated and
clogged with deposit.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the application of the Invention to scrubbers of the
type known as the. Mann and Walker scrubber. The apparatus is constructed and
arranged in a similar manner to the apparatus hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, being placed at the lower part of the scrubber, but in

page_text: lieu of the gas passing through the devices formed of rods or bars, before referred
to, it is conducted from the upper part D¹ of the tank A through the coke or other
similar acting substance situate at f, and finally escapes downwards through the
central pipe g. A pipe and cock slide valve h are provided in all the arrangements
herein described for regulating the height of the liquid, and also for drawing off
the liquid when required. A connecting tube (having a cock for closing for
cleaning) forms a communication between the interior of the wash vessel above the
level of the liquid to the upper part of the liquor outlet h to maintain the level of
the liquid inside and outside.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the use of our improved apparatus as a washer separate
from a scrubber. In this case the gas escapes from the upper part D¹ of the tank A
by the pipe g', whence it may be conducted into a separate scrubbing apparatus if
desired.
In order to by-pass the gas so that it may be conducted away by the pipe gl
direct without passing through the liquid an external pipe h' is provided leading
from the pipe & to the pipe g¹, the last mentioned pipe being fitted with a cock i
so that the gas may be turned in either direction, as desired.
The inverted troughs where acids are used to purify the gas may be of lead or
other material not affected by acid.
Our Invention also relates to improvements in the scrubbing devices referred to
in the last mentioned Specification, as next hereinafter described with reference to
Figures 9, 10, and 11 of our Drawings.
We render more accurate and efficient and cheapen the cost of construction of
the said devices by placing the rods or bars between two plates of wood, one only
of which, videlicet, the lower one, is shewn at E in our Drawings. These top and
bottom plates are placed in a machine and are rapidly grooved out to the required
width to receive the rods or bars, the ridges k between the grooves keeping the
rods or bars the proper distance apart in one direction, and correctly forming and
maintaining the elongated passages referred to for the gas to be purified.
In order that the entire surface all round the rods or bars shall be exposed and
make an efficient wetted surface, we keep them apart in the direction at right
angles to the ridges k by passing a string between the rods, as shewn at l'in
Figure 11, the thickness or diameter of the string corresponding with the distance
required between the rods.
It has been found in practice that the water or other fluid is much agitated
by the immersion and emersion or the dipping in and out of the scrubbing
devices, and that there is danger of the gas passing underneath the devices
unpurified.
In order to remedy this defect we construct a frame of angle iron, as shewn
at F, or of T or sheet iron round the lower part of the devices, which always
remains sealed in the fluid and enables the rods or bars to be elevated to their
fullest extent and expose the whole height of their wetted surfaces to the gas.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The employment in or for the purification of coal gas of washing apparatus
constructed with inverted troughs having slotted or perforated sides partially
submerged in purifying liquid, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Second. The combination of a washing apparatus of the construction herein set
forth with a scrubbing apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Third. The improvements in the scrubbing devices described in the said former

page_text: Specification, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Walker, on behalf of myself
and the said Charles Clement Walker, have to this our Specification set my
hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty two.
WILLIAM THOMAS WALKER, (L.S.)