Improvements in or connected with Gas Fired Steam Generators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1889
Convicta Cuccifontinn Loft 07th Lan
4000 tarantad 2nd le
4000
Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1900 Accepted, 22nd Mar
4000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gas Fired Steam Generators.
I JOHN JACKSON, of Chapel- Chambers North, Chapel Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to those kinds of gas fired steam generators in which
the fuel employed is first converted into its constituent gases in a gas-producer,,'
and subsequently, in its gaseous state, supplied or mixed with atmospheric air and
burned; and it relates more particularly to that type of the above kind, of steami
generators wherein the furnace or producer for converting the solid fuel to a gaseous
form is self contained i... forms part of the generator..
"
,,
"
According to this invention the furnace--commonly called the Producer -is
located in the shell or body of the generator, and the gases produced therein are
upon leaving it caused to travel through a tube or tubes surrounded with the water
of the generator, thereby giving out some of their sensible heat to the water sur-
rounding them, and then said gases are supplied with atmospheric air and burned,
the resulting products of combustion being passed through the tubes of the generator
and their heat thereby being transmitted to the water in the usual way.
In one a vertical-arrangement of a steam generator, according to my invention,
the furnace or producer is disposed in or near the centre of the body and at the
bottom, and the shell is disposed annularly round it. This furnace may consist of
an iron or steel shell lined from bottom to top, or nearly thereto, with refractory
fire-brick and is made of a comparatively great height so as to hold a considerable
depth of fuel and also provide a space above same. The fuel may be supported on
fire-bars having an asn-pit below, communicating by a suitable passage with the
exterior of the generator, and it may be fed to the Producer by a suitable tube and
hopper arrangement, located near the top thereof.
The roof or crown of the "Producer" constitutes a tube plate from which springs
one or a plurality of tubes, the other ends of which are secured in the upper tube
plate of the generator. The gases from the producer pass through this tube or
tubes and enter above the generator top tube plate a chamber, from whence they are
led by a pipe or pipes or passages, placed either within or without the shell, to the
lower portion of the generator. In the case where the outside arrangement of down-
take tubes is employed they would be lined_internally with fire-brick; and the
chamber above specified may also be so lined. In the other case the down take tubes
pass through the water and the gases become further cooled, or they may also in
this case be lined with fire brick.
At the bottom of the generator the combustion chamber is provided, and the
gases, brought down as above described, are supplied with atmospheric air and
burned, a continuous ignition being assured by lining the combustion chamber with.
or forming it of fire-brick. The combustion chamber is annularly arranged and is.
kept as far as possible, consistent with other considerations, low down, the roof,

page_text: being considerably below that of the Producer and is independent of it; and an
annular water space between the two may be provided if desired.
The base of the generator, namely at the combustion chamber may be rectangular,
and the air may be supplied to the annular chamber forming the combustion
chamber proper, at one or more of the corners or other points thereof through suit-
able regulating doors or valves and passages and it is thereby heated to some extent
prior to its introduction into the combustion chamber; by these means ignition and
complete combustion is aided.
Between the roof of the combustion chamber and the top tube plate of the
generator are placed the tubes through which the products of combustion of the gas
and air pass; and they escape by a suitable uptake and chimney or other outlet
above. These tubes will thus be also arranged in the form of an annular nest and
they will, owing to the relative arrangement and construction of the Producer
and combustion chamber, be long for any given height or length of generator; and
consequently a prolonged time for contact of gases with the steam producing surface
will be provided.
The generator may be provided with a closed ash-pit and a suitable device for
forcing the air necessary to convert the coal or other fuel into the gaseous form into
it.
A suitable device is the ordinary steam-jet blower, wherein the steam serves as
the air motor and also, when broken up into hydrogen and carbonic oxide in passing
through the generator, as an enricher to the Producer-gas." Or, in lieu of using
"forced draught," natural draught may be employed; or an artificial exhauster such
as a steam jet apparatus or device may be placed in the funnel or waste gas outlet.
Although I have described generally the nature of my invention as applied to a
"vertical steam generator, it must be understood that it is also applicable to the
varying types of generators having horizontally arranged bodies.
22
Dated this 25th day of March 1889.
.CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gas Fired Steam Generators.
I, JOHN JACKSON, of Chapel Chambers North, Chapel Street, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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 has reference to those kinds of gas fired steam generators in which
the fuel employed is first converted into its constituent gases in a gas-producer,"
and subsequently in its gaseous state, supplied or mixed with atmospheric air and
burned and it relates more particularly to that type of the above kind of steam
generators wherein the furnace or producer for converting the solid fuel to a gaseous
form is self contained; that is, forms part of the generator.
According to this Invention the furnace-commonly called the "Producer "--is
located within the shell or body of the generator, and the gases produced therein are
upon leaving it caused to travel through a tube or tubes surrounded with the water
of the generator, thereby giving out some of their sensible heat to the water sur-
rounding them, and then said gases are supplied with atmospheric air and burned,
the resulting products of combustion being passed through the tubes of the generator
and their heat thereby being transmitted to the water in the usual way.
In one a vertical-arrangement of a steam generator according to my Invention,
the furnace or producer is disposed in the centre of the body and at the bottom, and
the shell is disposed annularly round it. This furnace may consist of an iron or
steel shell lined from bottom to top, or nearly thereto, with refractory fire brick and
is made of a comparatively great height so as to hold a considerable depth of fuel

page_text: and also to provide a space above same. The fuel may be supported on fire bars
having an ash pit below, communicating by a suitable passage with the exterior of
the generator, and it may be fed to the producer by a suitable tube and hopper
arrangement, located near the top thereof.
The roof or crown of the "Producer constitutes a tube plate from which springs
one or a plurality of tubes the other ends of which are secured to the upper tube
plate of the generator. The gases from the producer pass through this tube or tubes
and enter a chamber above the generator top tube plate from whence they are led by
a pipe
or pipes or passages, placed either within or without the shell, to the lower
portion of the generator. In the case where the outside arrangement of down-take
tubes is employed they would be lined internally with fire-brick; and the chamber
above specified may also be so lined. In the other case the down-take tubes pass
through the water, and the gases become further cooled.
At the bottom of the generator the combustion chamber is provided, and the gases,
brought down as above described, are supplied with atmospheric air and burned, a
continuous ignition being assured by lining the combustion chamber with or form-
ing it of fire-brick. The combustion chamber is annularly arranged and is kept as
far as possible, consistent with other considerations, low down, the roof being con-
siderably below that of the producer, and is independent of it; and an annular
water space between the two may be provided if desired.
The base of the generator, namely at the combustion chamber may be rectangular,
and the air may be supplied to the annular chamber forming the combustion
chamber proper, at one or more of the corners or other points thereof, through suit-
able regulating doors or valves and passages, and it is thereby heated to some extent
prior to its introduction into the combustion chamber, that is to say, it is heated to
such an extent as to cause it to assimilate in the desired manner with the hot
combustible gases; by these means ignition and complete combustion is added.
Between the roof of the combustion chamber and the top tube plate of the
generator are placed the tubes through which the products of combustion of the gas
and air pass; and they escape by a suitable uptake and chimney or other outlet,
above. These tubes will thus be also arranged in the form of an annular nest and
they will, owing to the relative arrangement and construction of the Producer and
combustion chamber, be long for any given height or length of generator; and con-
sequently a prolonged time for contact of gases with the steam producing surface
will be provided.
The generator may be provided with a closed ash pit and a suitable device for
forcing the air necessary to convert the coal or other fuel into the gaseous form into
it. A suitable device is the ordinary steam-jet blower, wherein the steam serves as
the air motor and also, when broken up into hydrogen and carbonic oxide is passing
Or, in lieu of using
through the generator, as an enricher of the Producer gas."
**forced draught," natural draught may be employed; or an artificial exhauster sucli
as a steam jet apparatus or device may be placed in the funnel or waste gas outlet.
Although I have described generally the nature of my invention as applied to a
"vertical" steam generator, it must be understood that it is also applicable to
generators having horizontally arranged bodies or tube vessels.
Having us specified generally the nature, object or objects, and purposes of the
invention, its description will first be proceeded with with reference to the annexed
drawings for the purpose of explaining more fully and clearly the construction of
apparatus and the operation according to the invention and the effects thereof. The
drawings illustrate examples of self-contained " gas fired steam generators
specially designed to carry out the improvements the nature of which has been
above generally explained; while the points of novelty in my invention which I
desire to cover by these Letters Patent will be specially pointed out in the claims
concluding the specification.
In sheet 1 of the Drawings,
Figure 1 represents in sectional elevation one example of steam generator accord-
ing id my invention.

page_text: Figure 2 is an elevation showing the generator in sectional view at 90 degrees
from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 shows the generator in plan in section,-the section being taken at the
line V Figure 2.
and
Figure 4 represents another sectional plan taken at the line W W;
Figures 5 and 6 are sectional elevations at the lines X Z, and Y Z, respectively.
in Figure 3, illustrating the mode or arrangement by which the air used to support
combustion of the gases generated in the gas producer is heated prior to its
introduction into the combustion chamber.
In sheet two of the drawings,
Figure 7 represents in sectional elevation another example of steam generator
according to my invention.
Figure 8 is an elevation showing the generator in section viewed at 45 degrees
from the position in which it is shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an outside view looking on the generator at 90 degrees from the
position in which it is shown in Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a plan showing the generator in section half at a point between the
gas producer crown and the upper tube plate, and half through the combustion
chamber at the level of the air inlet apertures.
Figure 11 is a plan viewed from the top of the generator, and in the position,
radially, shown in Figure 8; and
Figure 12 is a plan of the generator in the position radially shown in Figure 7,
and illustrating it half in section through the waste gas outlet chamber, and half in
outside view.
With reference to the Drawings generally, A designates the gas producer: B are
the tubes by which the gases produced in the producer are conveyed upwards
through the water and steam space; C is the upper gas chamber; D are the tubes
or conduits by which the gases are conveyed downwards from the upper gas
chamber C to the combustion chamber; E is the combustion chamber: Fre
nests of tubes through which the gases of combustion pass from the combustion
chamber E through the water and steam space, and by which the heat due to com-
bustion of the combustible gases delivered into the combustion chamber, and air, is
transmitted to the water in the generator, and also at the upper part thereof to the
steam generated, whereby it is dried; and G is the waste gas chamber into which
the gases pass from the tubes F. H designates the passage through which the air
used to support the combustion of the gases generated in the gas producer is passed
into the combustion chamber, and by which it is heated.
The above constitute the main portions of the generator, but in addition to these,
there are of course necessary accompanying details, and these are designated as
follows is the feeding hopper and shoot, provided with two trap doors (a well
known device) by which the fuel is supplied or fed to the gas producer; J is the
grate by which the burden of the fuel is borne, and consists of an ordinary arrange-
ment of bars; K is the ashpit; L is a passage communicating between the ashpit
and the exterior of the generator, and by which access is had to such ashpit (i.c.
below the grate bars), and also to the lower portions of the fuel on the grate bars J;
M and designate respectively a metallic mouth piece and an ordinary door of
close fitting type, adapted to close the passage L; N designates an ordinary steam
jet under-grate blower, by which the air used to reduce the fuel on the grate
to a gaseous form is introduced into the ashpit; and O represents a lining of fire
brick to the gas producer whereby the escape of heat from the fuel in the producer
under the process of conversion to the gaseous form is prevented, and by means of
which an essential condition in the production of gas in an internally gas fired
steam generator is provided for.
Regarding the mode and arrangement for heating the air used to support com-
bustion of the gas made in the producer, each air inlet aperture h is provided with
an ordinary grid or like valve h¹, by which the supply of air may be controlled;
and the outlet (at 2) for the heated air into the combustion chamber E is so

page_text: lisposed with relation to the gas outlet into such combustion chamber, that the air
nd gas enter it in proximity to each other, and in such a manner that they combine
reely and readily ignite.
"
The chief difference in the construction of the generators shown respectively in
Figures 1 to 6, 7 to 12, consists mainly in the arrangements and dispositions of
the gas
down take tubes or conduits D. In the first arrangement they are
disposed within the shell of the water vessel P', whereas in the other arrangement
they are disposed outside it.
With reference now to the construction of parts and particular features of the
generator illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, it is to be observed, that a water space, Q, of
about from 4 to 8 inches broad is provided between the lower part of the gas
producer A and the combustion chamber E, the inner wall enclosing this space
being a continuation of the plates (a) of which the shell of the combustion chamber
is formed, and the outer wall being an annular plate (el) forming the inner shell
to the combustion chamber lining. This latter plate is carried down to the base of
the structure and supports some of the weight of the generator and water therein.
If however the water space Q is not used, then a separate iron or steel (preferably
cast) ring plate (c) is employed-as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 10-as a support
to the superincumbent weight of the central portion of the generator. This plate
or plates as the case may be, is or are however also employed for another object,
and secure another effect, namely, they serve as a means for supporting and holding
in position, or as a backing for, the fire brick or fire resisting material e² and Ŏ
with which the combustion chamber and gas producer are respectively lined.
The downtake tubes or conduits D by which the combustible gases are conveyed
from the chamber C to the combustion chamber E, pass, it will be seen, through the
steam space and water in the generator, and also down through the combustion
chamber to the bottom thereof, where they are provided with apertures opening
out right and left. Thus the gas is brought quite to the bottom of the combustion
chamber and as it issues out of the apertures of the conduit D, it meets with
the heated air from the air heating passages Has it issues from its outlets h², with
the result that the hot air and gases assimilate freely, and complete combustion
is effected. The combustion chamber is thus filled with flame from the lowermost
parti.e. the floor-to the roof (which in this case is the bottom tube plate-
designated t-of the generator), the side walls c, e³, and floor, being thus rendered
incandescent throughout. This flame and the products of combustion then pass
through the tubes F to the waste gas outlet chamber C, the greater portion of their
heat being transferred to the water surrounding them, during their ascent. By the
great heat of the combustion chamber walls inside, the portions of the outer wall e³
which constitute the inside wall of the air passages H (including their horizontal
parts as well as the vertical ones) will be very hot, and also the surface of the
wans at the outside of these passages will be heated by radiant heat from the
inner walls e,, and hence the air in passing first through the vertical portion of the
passages H, and then the horizontal portions thereof, will have to pass over or by,
and more or less in prolonged contact with, surfaces heated by the hottest gases
of combustion in the combustion chamber, as well as being subjected to their
radiant heat, and in consequence will become heated to such an extent as will
cause it to assimilate with the hot combustible gases entering the combustion
chamber from the tubes D, and assist in securing complete combustion of said
gases.
In the example now under description (Figures 1 to 6) three downtake tubes D
are provided, and four sets of air heating passages, the two sets at the opposite
sides of the passage L being adapted to supply hot air to the gas issuing from the
apertures in the tubes D on that side, and the two sets at the other angles of the
combustion chamber being adapted to split the supply by bifurcating the vertical¸
passage H at the bottom, and to distribute it right and left to the gas issuing from
the apertures opening near such air passages.

page_text: In the arrangement of air heating passages in the generator shown in Figures 7
to 10, the descending air passages are the same as those shown in Figures 1 to 6
but the horizontal portion is carried beneath a horizontal diaphragm of fire brick
work forming the floor of the combustion chamber E-from the corners at
which it enters, to the corners at which the gas enters the combustion chamber from
the outside downtake gas conduits D; but in order to heat highly the brickwork
of which the floor is formed, and to thereby heat the air in the horizontal passage H
below, as it flows along it, the gases of combustion from the point at which the gas
and air unite (shown at the right hand lower corner in Figures 8 and 9) and
combustion takes place, for some distance laterally, are caused to pass horizontally
and in contact with the floor. This is effected by providing an intermediate roof r
between the floor and the lower tube plate t of the generator.
It will be seen in this arrangement that the gas leaving the conduits D by the
apertures d', at the bottom of the structure and on the same level as the horizontal
air passages, the hot air and gas flow in directions at right angles to each other;
this causes them to mix, assimilate, and completely unite. The resulting burning
gaseous fluid then ascends and flows into the horizontal space between the floor h
and the intermediate roof r and flows in a horizontal direction until it enters the
combustion chamber proper, E, wherein it distributes itself, and from whence it flovs
up the heating tubes F.
The arrows on the Drawings in all these Figures as well as those on sheet 1,
indicate the direction of flow and travel of the air and gases.
Of course it will be understood that suitable manhole doors and covers will be
provided as usual, to gain access to the interior of the steam generator, and for
drawing and cleaning tubes, and other analogous purposes.
With regard to the arrangement and construction of the gas producer in relation
to the lower tube plate and combustion chamber, as herein described and shown,
it is to be observed that the top of the former stands at a considerable height above
the latter, and partially within the water in the generator. Now the object and
effect of this is twofold. In the first place, I have found it necessary, in order to
work this kind of steam generator in a practical and ordinary way, to have a
depth of fuel on the bars, in the gas producer, considerably greater than is
theoretically required to cause an the oxygen of the air blown into it, to be con-
verted to carbonic oxide when it arrives at the top of the fuel, when working at a
relatively slow rate of combustion; and although by making the whole under
structure high, this required depth of fuel in the producer could be obtained,
it would necessitate an abnormally high generator, having heating tubes of a given
length, but by my arrangement described and shown, that defect is avoided and
Secondly, by my arrangement and combination, the length of heating tubes (F)
for a given length of generator are, relatively, long, (a great desideratum in gas
fired boilers), the combustion chamber is kept low, and the use, practically, of
any desired depth of producer within reasonable limits permitted; besides which a
means for heating the air in the substructure (brickwork) of the generator is
afforded.
The brickwork of the sub-structure of the generator is enclosed in a casing S, of
iron or steel, to retain it in position, but between the brickwork and the casing I
may interpose a lagging of suitable material which is a bad conductor of heat; or,
in lieu thereof the air used to support the combustion of the gases in the com-
bustion chamber may be caused to pass through spaces or passages arranged between
the casing S and the outer edge or surface of the brickwork lining e, or if the
lining be then used, it (the air) may be passed between the case S and the
brickwork lining and ³. By this means this air would be heated and used to
support combustion of the gases in the combustion chamber; and accordingly as
it is given a great or less distance of travel, or the brickwork is more or less thick,
"if will be more or less rapidly heated, and may either be passed directly from such
passages into the combustion chamber, or first through such passages, then through
the passages H, and then into the combustion chamber.

page_text: Having now fully described and illustrated by examples the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, in conclusion I desire
to remark, that in the foregoing specification I have described in connection with
the accompanying drawings, complete arranged or organized self-contained gas fired
steam generators, with various novel features which have been generally described,
and which are more particularly pointed out in the following claiming clauses; but
it will be understood that these novel features may be employed individually, as
well as conjointly, in self contained gas fired steam generators, since they are not
necessarily dependent upon each other. They may obviously, therefore, be
employed, one or more of them, in generators which in other features differ radically
from what I have shown. And I desire it also to be distinctly understood that
my Invention is not limited to the precise devices, or combination of devices
illustrated or described, since equivalent devices may be employed and various
modifications, not altering or departing from their essential or controlling feature
or purpose, may be substituted, without departing from either the principle,
purpose, or scope of the several features of my Invention. Also I wish to state that
the improvements connected with the gas producer and the combustion of gas made
by it, and the parts employed therefore, may by simple modifications, be readily
adapted and used in combination with self contained steam generators of other
types than the ones illustrated and particularly described. On the other hand I
wish it to be understood, that I make no general claim to self-contained gas fired
steam generators, that is steam generators wherein the gas producer forms an
integral part of the structure, and the gas made thereby is burned directly therein,
as such a type of steam generator has heretofore been proposed. Illustrations of
such constructions of steam generators are to be found in the Specifications of
Patents of Bull (No. 4774 of 1882, and No. 9433 of 1884), Thwaite (Nos. 4 and 1201
of 1885), and Taylor (No. 13733 of 1884 and No. 7633 of 1888), to which I make
no claim; but what I do claim in respect of the herein described Invention is:-
1. In a self-contained " gas-fired steam generator having a gas combustion
chamber into which chamber the gases made in the producer are introduced and
burned arranging or disposing the lower tube plate (t) of the water containing vessel
of the generator below the level of the upper part of the gas producer, and on or
above such combustion chamber; for the purposes set forth.
2. Constructing self-contained * gas fired steam generators with the gas pro-
ducer partially disposed within the water space of the generator-or mainly
therein, and with an outer chamber into which the products of combustion are led,
and in which the said products of combustion are distributed and from whence
they pass through heating tubes of the generator; such chamber and gas producer
being disposed relatively to each other as, or substantially as, in the manner set
forth.
3. A self-contained" gas-fired steam generator having a centrally or internally
arranged gas producer having its upper portion disposed within the water con-
taining vessel of the generator, an outer chamber adapted to form a combustion
chamber, or to receive and distribute the products of combustion, and nests of
heating tubes (F) arranged in multiple rows, directly round said gas producer, the
gases being conveyed to the said outer chamber by tubes or conduits (D) arranged
either on the outside of the shell of the generator or within same and in the
circular space within which said heating tubes are disposed; as, or substantially
as set forth.
4. The construction of combustion chamber, or base of self-contained" gas fired
steam generators wherein the wall thereof is provided with passages (such as H), in
which the incoming air used to support combustion of the gases introduced into
such combustion chamber is heated previous to its admixture with such gases,
substantially as described with reference to the drawings; that is to say the
particular arrangement and dispositions of air heating passages H, as set forth
respectively with reference to Figures 1 to 6, and 7 to 12 of the drawings.

page_text: 5. In a gas-fired steam generator, conveying the gases made in the gas producer
through the water in the containing vessel thereof by one or more tubes, or
conduits. I); substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 for the,
purposes specified.
:7
22
6. In a vertical self-contained gas-fired steam generator, the employment of a
ring of metal, el, by which the weight of the central portion of the steam generator
and water therein is borne; and by which also, support is afforded to the brickwork
of the combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, or the brickwork of both
the combustion chamber and gas producer; substantially as described.
1
7. The special arrangement and combination of parts of steam generators com-
prising the gas producer, combustion chamber, and heating tubes, as described
respectively with reference, to, and shown in, Figures 1 to 6, and 7 to 12 of the
drawings.
S. In a gas fired steam generator introducing the air and gas into the combustion
chamber thereof substantially as set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 6, and
Figures 7 to 12 respectively of the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1890
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Agents,