Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas for Heating and other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Gas for Heating and other
Purposes.
I, VIVIAN BOLTON DOUGLAS CCOPER, of 2 Marlborough Mansions, Victoria
Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil and Electrical Engineer, 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:
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for the manufacture of water gas,
whereby the process of manufacture is continuous instead of intermittent. I effect
this by using two independent chambers, the one as a retort for the production of
water gas, and the other as a furnace for heating the retort and forming producer
gas.
[ carry out my invention in the manner illustrated by the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1. Sheet No. 1. is a view in vertical section of my apparatus, and
Figure 2. Sheet No. 2. is a modification thereof.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figure 1. Sheet No. 1. of the accompanying drawings, the apparatus
consists of three essential parts, viz. ;--the retort A, the outer furnance B, and the
inner furnace B'. These chambers are of any convenient size, but are preferably of
circular shape as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. The retort A is of a
hollow circular form and is placed in the centre of the furnace B. The space within
the retort forms the inner furnace B¹. The tops of these furnaces are connected by
suitable apertures formed through the retort A. The furnace B may if desired be
formed in two or more separate chambers and it is provided with two ог
more fire beds b and furnace doors 6 at its lower end, and with two or more
sealed hoppers 622 of any convenient construction at the top for the introduction of
the coal, coke, or other fuel under seal. The retort A may be formed in one or more
chambers, and is provided with two or more openings a at its lower end communi-
cating with the exterior of the furnace, the said openings being fitted with suitable
doors a¹ which provide a means of withdrawing the coal, or coke, from the retort, or
for cleaning the same. The top of the retort is fitted with two or more hoppers a² of
suitable construction to admit of the introduction of the coal or coke into the retort
under seal.
The air blast is admitted to the furnaces B and B₁ by the pipes C C etc. from the
main C. The producer gas formed in the furnaces passes away by the outlet D to
the place where it is desired to burn it, for such purposes as heating the steam
boilers etc. Steam is continuously admitted into the bottom of the retort A by means
of the pipe E which preferably passes down through the inner furnace B₁ to super-
heat the steam. The pipe E is fitted with a suitable valve for regulating the admission
of the steam, and the water gas formed passes away by the pipe F from the top of the
retort to the place where it is desired to burn or store it.
When the producer gas cannot be conveniently used elsewhere, or when it is desired
to make the apparatus self-contained, I use the producer gas for heating the inner
furnace B' the construction of which is modified as illustrated by Figure 2. Sheet
No. 2. of the accompanying drawings. The inner furnace B' is packed with loose
pieces of cellular fire-brick or other suitable material through which the pipes for the
air blast, steam, and gasses, are passed, thus forming both a furnace and a regenerative
chamber. The boiler for generating the steam is preferably of the coiled-tube type
and is located in the top of the inner furnace or chamber where it is heated by the
products of combustion of the producer gas. The producer gas receives the supply
of air necessary for combustion from the pipe F¹ in the lower part of the
chamber B¹.

page_text: The outer wall of the furnace B is made of fire-brick enclosed in a suitable casing
and preferably lined with a non-conducting material. The inner and outer walls of
the retort A are also made of fire-brick, or clay, of as thin a section as is consistent
with the required strength.
Water gas is produced in the following manner ;-The retort A and furnace B (and
also furnace B in case the producer gas is not burned) having been charged
with coal, coke, or other suitable material, the furnaces are lighted at the bottom by
means of doors etc. The air blast having been started the whole contents
of the furnaces and retort become highly heated, and the producer gas formed in
the furnaces either passes away for consumption elsewhere, or it is used to heat
the furnace B' as the case may be. When the coal or coke is heated up to a
sufficiently high temperature for gas making, steam is admitted into the retort A
through a pipe fitted with a suitable valve, and passing down through the bed of
incandescent carbon, thereby becomes decomposed into Hydrogen and Carbonic
Oxide or Water gas. By regulating the quantity of steam admitted into the retort in
proportion to the heating surface of the furnaces B and B whereby the carbon
in the retort is constantly kept incandescent, the necessary temperature for the
complete conversion of the gases is maintained thus enabling the water gas to be
produced continuously. The gas can thus be delivered red hot to the point of
consumption dispensing if need be with a gas holder.
Suitable hoppers shown in dotted lines in the drawings are provided for charging
the retort and furnaces under seal.
*I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of
construction hereinabove described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings,
but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall
within the spirit and scope of my invention. For instance instead of using an
air blast for blowing up the furnaces, an exhauster may be connected with the
top of the furnace B, to exhaust the products of combustion, i.e., the producer gas,
which will cause the air to rush into the furnace and create the necessary draught
or blast. Again instead of admitting steam to the retort, water may be injected
into the highly heated retort when it immediately becomes vaporised and converted
into dry steam. It is further immaterial whether the steam or water jet is admitted
into the retort at the top or bottom thereof, provided that the exit for the water gas
is placed at the opposite end thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is ;-
1st. An apparatus for the continuous production of water gas consisting essentially
of two chambers, whereby the production of producer gas and water gas is carried on
independently simultaneously and continuously, without the necessity of reversing the
functions of each chamber, as set forth.
2nd. The process herein specified of making water gas continuously, consisting of
passing steam or water into a retort containing a bed of incandescent carbon heated
by an independent furnace or furnaces, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In an apparatus for the manufacture of water gas, the combination with the
retort A, of the internal furnace or regenerative chamber B', and the external
furnace B, all constructed arranged and' operating substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.