Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture and Treatment of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture and Treatment of
Acetylene Gas.
A communication from abroad by the ALLGEMEINE CARBID-UND ACETYLEN-GESELLSCHAFT
(mit beschrankter Haftung) of Berlin, in the German Empire.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :--
This invention relates to an apparatus for generating, utilizing and economically
burning acetylene gas and for its further treatment which may include mixing the
same with fat-gas or other gases.
The apparatus comprises the generator, the devices effecting the further treatment,
purification and drying consisting of the condenser, washing, purifying and drying
apparatus; and finally if desired mixing devices. When the gas is used in the
original form which results from a simple decomposition of the carbide of calcium, it
contains various impurities, for instance wet steam, ammonia, sulphuretted hydrogen
and phosphuretted hydrogen, which considerably reduce the illuminating power and
which also in other respects are objectionable and it is therefore desirable to purify
and otherwise treat same.
The generator employed consists of a water reservoir divided in two parts by a
grate and provided with a feed opening on the side. The carbide is thrown into the
generator through a suitable door preferably situated in a tube connected to same
and it descends an incline on to the grate. The gas generated at this place, rises
vertically and is prevented from escaping through the carbide feed opening by means
of a suitable valve or water seal.
Above the feed opening or tube is an escape pipe through which any slight traces
of acetflene that may have formed during the first moment when the carbide is acted
upon, are enabled to escape.
The lime-mud formed by the decomposition of the carbide, descends through the
grate and settles at the bottom of the generator. As sometimes large fragments of
coal and other insoluble substances are contained in the residue and which are too
large to pass through the openings of the grate, the latter is arranged to tilt or tip
to admit of the whole residual matter being periodically discharged to the bottom of
the compartment. A cock for discharging the liquid mud, and a hole enabling a
hand to pass through for removing the larger fragments and for obtaining a thorough
cleaning are provided. The upper part of the water reservoir is further provided with
a feed conduit and an overflow at the height of the water level, so that the water may
be renewed.
The gas leaving the generator enters a condenser. The latter consists of a cylinder,
which may be fitted with a range of wire gauzes or coiled pipes or other water
cooling devices, in order to provide a large cooling surface. The gas expands in this
and cools down to such an extent, that the wet steam is completely condensed. The
dry gas, still containing however, all its other impurities, then enters a washing

page_text: apparatus and traverses a suitable liquid, which absorbs the soluble constituents
thereof. If, for instance water be used, the whole of the ammonia and a portion of
the sulphuretted hydrogen is separated, whereas the greater part of the phosphuretted
hydrogen remains unattacked. The effect of the washing operation may be further
increased or modified by adding to the water certain appropriate substances, for
instance acids, which produce a chemical action.
On leaving the washing apparatus the acetylene still contains phosphuretted
hydrogen and a small amount of sulphuretted hydrogen. In order to remove these
substances without the acetylene itself being attacked, certain oxydising agents may
be advantageously employed, by which said substances are changed into phosphoric
acid, and sulphuric acid respectively, for instance by means of chloride of lime. The
acids thus generated combine with the lime and remain in the form of neutral salts.
The purifying agent may be arranged in several superposed layers on trays and the gas
is compelled to come in contact therewith by causing the same to traverse as long a
path as possible. By suitably arranging or mixing the one with the other, the
purifying process can be so regulated that a slight trace of the impurities, no longer
able to produce any noxious effect but sufficient to impart to the gas a clearly
perceptible odour is retained.
After all impurities have thus been removed, the gas is finally passed into a drying
apparatus and compelled to travel over suitable substances, serving to absorb the last
traces of moisture which are still present and which may have been produced during
the purifying operation, and serving further to remove any traces of chlorine that may
have been absorbed by the gas during the purification with chloride of lime. Further,
such-substances may be added, as impart to the gas a distinct and characteristic
odour. Lime in combination or not, with calcium carbide or carbylamine or
amylacetate may, for example, be used for this purpose. From the drying apparatus
the pure gas is then taken to a gas holder provided with a safety valve which operates,
as soon as the bell portion has reached its highest position, and opens a pipe which
passes into the escape pipe of the generator.
If the gas is to be consumed separately, the manufacturing process is considered as
finished and the gas directly conveyed to the respective feed pipes. If, however, the
gas is to be mixed with fat-gas or other gases and to be compressed for instance for
railway lighting, a mixing apparatus is added to the plant. This mixing apparatus
is formed by a suitable connection of the acetylene gas holder with a holder for the
fat gas or the like; the acetylene passes into a gas meter or receiver while the fat-gas
passes into a similar meter or receiver. Each meter or receiver has a discharge pipe
which unites in a third pipe from which the mixture is drawn by a pump, a gas
regulator being employed for the purpose of protecting the gas meters or receivers from
the concussions caused by the pump. In order to obtain a constant ratio in mixing
the two gases the two gas meters or receivers are so connected with one another as to
be inter-dependent such as by placing same side by side and prolonging their drum
shafts to enable them to carry gear wheels or pulleys for carrying chains or bands
whereby the two are connected. The sizes of the gear wheels or pulleys are in such
a relation to each other, that the drums of the gas meters or receivers are
compelled to revolve in such a ratio as corresponds to the proportion, in which
the two gases are to be mixed. If, owing to uneven pressure or uneven suction of
the pump one of the gas meters is rotated at a higher or lower rate of speed,
then the other gas meter, owing to the transmission of movement, is compelled to
alter its movement in the same ratio, so that the same proportional quantity of gas
passes through the meters.
Dated the 22nd day of Februa77 1900

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture and Treatment of
Acetylene Gas.
A communication from abroad by the ALLGEMEINE CARBID-UND ACETYLEN-GESELL
SCHAFT (mit beschrankter Haftung), of Berlin, in the German Empire.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
This invention relates to an apparatus for generating, utilizing, and economically
burning acetylene gas and for its further treatment which may include mixing the
same with oil gas or other gases.
The apparatus comprises the generator, the devices effecting the further treatment,
purification and drying consisting of the condenser, washing, purifying and drying
apparatus, and finally if desired mixing devices. When the gas is used in the
original form which results from a simple decomposition of the carbide of calcium, it
contains various impurities, for instance wet steam, ammonia, sulphuretted hydrogen,
and phosphuretted hydrogen, which considerably reduce the illuminating power and
which also in other respects are objectionable and it is therefore desirable to purify
and otherwise treat saune.
In the accompanying drawings are illustrated two forms of apparatus constructed
according to the invention, and in these
Fig. is a diagrammatic representation of a plant for a comparatively large
installation.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a small or domestic plant.
Referring first to Fig. 1 the generator employed consists of a closed water reservoir a
having a feed conduit a¹ into which the calcium carbide is inserted so that it falls
upon the sloping face u² and develops its gas in the main body of water in the
chamber a, a water seal being formed by the partition a³ separating the conduit on
that side from the chamber.
The carbide falls upon a sloping grate (which for the purpose of cleaning may
have a tilting motion) the slope of such grate causing it to slide or fall toward the
wall opposite to the conduit a¹ so that it collects against the wall and is prevented
from accumulating near the feed opening. Above the feed conduit is an escape
pipe a through which any slight traces of acetylene that may have formed when the
water in that part of the apparatus acted on the carbide, may escape.
In the feed conduit a¹ there is arranged an overflow a5 and the chamber a is
provided with a suitable feed water pipe c connected to a tank c¹. A pipe ct leads
to the escape pipe or chimney and a pipe c5 provided with a suitable cock leads
direct to the gas holder.
The generator is first closed against the gas holder and the overflow a³ is opened.
Water is then introduced through pipe c until the chamber a is filled to the level as
and the gas forced out through the chimney, the gas in chamber a escaping by way
of c. To remove the water the cock ensuring direct communication with the gas
holder is opened, gas then enters the generator and forces so much water out of the
overflow pipe until the gas pressure becomes equal to the pressure of the water
column. Thus the space above the water becomes filled with pure gas. If now the
carbide is introduced the increasing pressure first displaces another small quantity of
water until a water level is reached at which the apparatus works under normal
conditions, the overflow cock being then closed, a gas free from air is thus generated.
A cock c³ is provided to remove the mud and lime water.

page_text: In the drawing the generator is duplicated the gas generated in both passing to
a suitable condenser the object of which is to cool the gas and to remove some of the
impurities therefrom.
As shown this apparatus consists of a chamber & having a series of wire gauze trays
or sieves d¹. The gas entering this chamber expands and is cooled, any steam being
condensed and the solid and liquid particles retained. The meshes of the sieves or
the like are preferably smaller in the upper tiers and the gas inlet is at the lower
part of the chamber the outlet being at the upper part.
After leaving the condenser the gas passes to a washing apparatus as it still contains
impurities. In the washing apparatus usually employed air is contained therein or
enters during the operation of refilling and mixes with the gas. To avoid this the
apparatus employed consists of a chamber e containing an acid and alkali proof
vessel e¹ for holding the washing liquid. The gas enters at e² and passes under the
liquid and travels up through the liquid from an inverted perforated hell e³. Upon
the cover of the apparatus is a feed hopper for liquid or solid additions to the
contents of the vessel, and a centrifugal pump e communicates with a water supply
and by means of a three way cock e with pipes e es one of which reaches to the
water level and the other to the bottom of the vessel. The chamber is first filled up
with the washing liquid or water by means of pipe es and the water is then drawn off to
the proper level by means of pipe e after which that pipe is closed and the space
above this liquid is left free from air and ready for the gas.
When the apparatus is to be cleaned the liquid is drawn off through pipe es.
After washing the acetylene may still contain phosphuretted hydrogen and a
small amount of sulphuretted hydrogen, ammonia, and other impurities.
In order to remove these without the gas itself being attacked certain oxidizing
agents may be advantageously employed by which said substances are changed
into phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid respectively, for instance by means of
chloride of lime alone or mixed with substances which unite the free chlorine
without weakening the oxidizing power, such as chromates or bichromates, for
instance chromate of lead or peroxide of sodium and the like the gas being
brought into a thorough and intimate contact therewith. The purifying apparatus
consists of a chamber f having a bell cover fl dipping into a water seal so that it
may rise somewhat under the gas pressure and perforated trays f2 on which the
purifying substance may be placed, the gas passing through this if desired into a
similar apparatus g in the trays of which may be placed a substance to impart to the
gas a characteristic odour such as carbide amylacetate or carbylamine.
After this the gas passes to a drying apparatus which may be of a similar
construction and on the trays of which may be placed a suitable drying substance
such as lime or chloride of calcium. From this the gas passes to the holder i. If
the gas is to be consumed separately the manufacturing process is here finished but if
it is to be used with oil gas or other gases as for instance for railway lighting purposes
a nixing apparatus is added to the plant.
This is suitably connected to the gas holder by a pipe ¹ and consists of a gas
meter j for the acetylene and a gas meter (having a supply pipe ¹) for the oil gas.
Both have outlet pipes connected to a common pipe and all the pipes are provided
with suitable cocks. The chambers each contain a drum. The shafts m mi of the
drums are suitably connected as by sprocket wheels and chains. In order to obtain
a constant ratio the drums of the meters or the sprocket wheels are so proportioned
that the drums are compelled to rotate in a ratio corresponding to the proportion in
which the two gases are to be mixed. If owing to the uneven pressure or uneven
suction of the pump one of the drums is rotated at a higher or lower rate of speed,
than the other one owing to the transmission of movement is compelled to alter its
movement in the same ratio so that the same proportional quantity of gas passes
through the meters.
For smaller domestic plants the device represented in Fig. 2 is employed.
The washing apparatus in this case is combined with the purifying apparatus, no
intermédiate condenser being used in this arrangement. The combined washer and

page_text: purifying apparatus consists of a vessel n into which the gas enters around the inverted
bell n and passes up though the water or washing liquid and through a short bent
pipe n² which connects the space above the water with a space under a grating or
sieve o¹ of the purifying vessel o which is filled with the purifying material which
may be in bulk as shown or contained on several trays. The gas traverses this
material and passes out either direct to the gas holder or to a drying apparatus or an
apparatus in which it may be mixed with other substances as previously described.
The cover of vessel o is preferably an inverted water bell as shown seated in a water
seal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention 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 :-
1. The improved apparatus for the manufacture and treatment of acetylene gas,
substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
2. The improved apparatus for the manufacture and treatment of acetylene gas
substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
3. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas the employment of a
condensing apparatus constructed substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. Apparatus for purifying acetylene gas in which the gas is acted on by an
oxidizing agent such as chloride of lime either alone or in connection with chromates
or bichromates such as chromate of lead substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas the employment of a
washing apparatus wherein the gas passes through a washing liquid substantially as
described.
Dated thin nand dan
1000