Improved Process for Burning Petroleum and other Hydrocarbons and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION:
Improved Process for Burning Petroleum and other Hydrocarbons
and Apparatus therefor.
A communication from abroad by JOHN WILSON, of New York City, County, and
State, and ALLAN MASON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of
New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to the use of hydrocarbons such as petroleum and other oils
and fatty substances, as fuel in boiler furnaces and other heating furnaces used in the
arts and manufactures, and the object of the said invention and improvements is to
use such hydrocarbons in the form of a vapour or gas or spray generated or developed
from the hydrocarbon in the furnace.
The invention consists, (a) in injecting a portion of the hydrocarbon fuel in a
vaporized condition as distinguished from sprayed in one laterally divergent and rear-
wardly projected jet in the upper portion of the furnace chamber, so as to produce a
distinguishably individual fire and at the same time maintain a distinctively separately
burning fire of localized jets of oil in the lower space, upwardly and locally impinging
their products on and commingling them with the laterally projected fire; (b) also
in injecting oil, steam and air into a pipe retort located in and subject to the heat of
the furnace chamber, passing the same unobstructedly and mixing, expanding and
gasifying them therein, and injecting additional oil, steam and air into the retort near
the issue and together discharging the highly heated gases and the directly injected
elements together en masse at the burning point and thus effecting superior combus-
tion and greater heat; (c) and also in injecting oil, steam and air into a pipe retort
and maintaining them for a time therein subject to the heat of the combustion chamber
for mixing, expanding vaporizing and gasifying them therein and also superheating
air by subjecting it, separately, from the above mentioned elements to the heat of
furnace and discharging the vapours or gases and superheated air together at the
point of combustion and thus effecting more perfect combustion and producing corre-
spondingly greater heat; (d) also the application of the system of generating gaseous
or vaporous fuel in a retort in the fire chamber, to furnaces provided with secondary
combustion chambers, with the object of securing more effectual combustion of the
gaseous portions of the fuel and more effective application of the heat than are
obtained with a single combustion chamber, and is especially designed for the greater
and more economical generation of steam in marine and other boilers through the
instrumentality of a secondary combustion chamber communicating with the primary
furnace chamber to receive and consnine the unconsumed gases, and return the heat
products through the upper portion of the boiler; but it is also designed for all
similar or other furnaces in which secondary combustion may be advantageously
utilized; (e) the invention also comprises effecting a lateral diffusion of injected and
atomized and vaporized oil and its due measure of forcing and atomizing steam and
air for supporting combustion, co-extensive with the breadth of the combustion
chamber or thereabouts, the latter containing a bed of refractory or refractory and
absorbent substance, a suitable distance beneath the inlet of the injected film of com-
bustibles, for the combustion of the drippings of oil from the inlet or spraying nozzle
or the same and oil otherwise supplied to it in combination with the direct combustion
from the said inlet, either by air of the lower portion of the injected film or with
other air introduced separately to the porous bed and with or without a steam jet,

page_text: whereby a double process results in which one fire diffuses laterally and along the
combustion chamber and the other upwardly from the lower bed, and each helps the
other by crossing and intermixing of the combustible matters more intimately and
effectively than as in the common process, and so that the accidental extinction of the
flame of either source, and especially of the upper inlet, to which such burners are
more or less liable by excessive or inadequate supply of either of the elements, and
other causes, is avoided, and continuous combustion secured, the temporary interrup-
tion of either being instantly resumed by ignition again from the other. The object
of this application of the invention is to present the hydrocarbon fuel to the heating
apparatus so as to obtain perfect combustion, and to obtain more heat from a given
quantity of the fuel than by the usual methods, and to atomize and rarefy the hydro-
carbon fuel so that continuous combustion may be obtained. The process in this case
is for what is termed the "Damp Process" in contradistinction to others known as
the "Dry Process" of burning hydrocarbon fuels.
Various contrivances of apparatus may be employed for carrying out the above
processes of burning hydrocarbons but only some of those that have commended
themselves in practice will be here described, the apparatus appropriate to each
process above described being introduced by the corresponding letter "(a)." In any
boiler or other furnace chamber a pipe retort is arranged with an inlet branch
entering the fire door, the general arrangement of the retort being a circuit of the
combustion chamber along the inner walls with a terminal issue of its inner extremity
for the discharge of the gases and vapours projected backward from a point near the
fire door alongside of the inlet branch and preferably composed of sections of
gradually enlarging diameter from the inlet to the issue end. But the form and
arrangement of the retort may be varied at will as it may be coiled vertically or
horizontally along the rear transverse part or along the side walls if desired. Pre-
ferably also the retort pipe may be arranged on lateral trunnion pivots by which the
front and rear may be respectively elevated and depressed to change its pitch as
circumstances may require; for example, to change the application of the heat and
to vary the flow of the matters passing through it. In the inlet are arranged an oil
feeder and a steam jet nozzle for introducing the oil and steam and spraying the oil
to be mixed, vaporized and gasified and introduced into the furnace through the
retort issue.
With the oil and steam this invention provides for the introduction of air through
an inlet along with them. With the fire thus produced having wide range rearwardly
and laterally in the furnace chamber it is proposed to use a lower fire, burning
upward from a bed of refractory or refractory and absorbent material for greater
diffusion and intensity and for preventing interruption of the upper fire and also for
vaporizing and burning the drippings of oil that may fail of being vaporized in the
retort, and for that purpose troughs are provided charged with porous stone, asbestos
or the like, said troughs being arranged above an air space and having numerous air
tnbes admitting air above the oil and also arranged with spaces between for a like
purpose, for effective distribution of the air. The oil is supplied to each trough by
suitable means and an overflow device is also provided. It is to be noted that this
form of the invention is especially favourable to the expansion and rarification of the
combustible matters by reason of the increasing dimensions of the retort and the
unobstructed issue out of which the vapours and gases escape in expanded and
therefore more combustible condition than when compressed in the retort and issues.
(b) In this process a retort substantially the same as that last described is used in
connection with a boiler or other furnace chamber. The oil, air and steam inlets
being similar in construction and application.
With the highly combustible elements produced and injected into the furnace from
said retort and calculated to burn with greater intensity and corresponding limit of
projection of the flame at the issue, are introduced, at the bend of the retort near the
fire door, additional measures of oil steam and air or either of them, under pressure
or not, or heated or not, by providing proper inlets for the said oil, steam and air,
which like the others are to have suitable connections for feeding or injecting the

page_text: respective elements as required. With these additional inlets the longer flame of the
less volatile elements, thus directly admitted to the burner, may be had in combination
with the shorter but more volatile and inflammable gases generated in the retort.
This example of the invention is also essentially favourable to the expansion,
rarification and consequently increased combustibility of the matters issuing from the
retort.
(c) A retort similar to that described in paragraph "a" is used in connection
with any boiler or other furnace and applied in substantially the same manner, but in
connection therewith highly heated air is introduced conveyed through a second air
pipe, constructed and traversing the furnace chamber similar to the retort described,
and connected to the issue of the retort by an annular injector or drum so as to
deliver the heated or superheated air into the retort at or near the issue thereof for
commingling with the heated gases, vapours, etcetera, generated in the retort. The
said air pipe has its entrance end carried through the front plate of the furnace and
any suitable stopper may be used for closing it when necessary.
(d) The apparatus for use in connection with this form of the invention is variable
to some extent at the option of the constructor, and for different forms of combustibles
to be used, but, as an example, an ordinary furnace provided with primary and
secondary combustion chambers may be used, both having the usual fire door, ash pit
door, and the usual system of fire tubes communicating between them, and also the
return flue system of tubes connecting the secondary chamber with the smoke flue.
In connection with the above is used an injecting apparatus for oil, steam and air for
combustion in the primary chamber, consisting of a steam nozzle, and air inlet funnel,
and an oil feeding tube, one or more of the latter being used to deliver oil on the
upper surface of the steam nozzle, which may have a groove or grooves to conduct
the oil off the end of the nozzle to be mixed and atomised or vaporised with the steam
and air; the steam nozzle to be suitably connected with the boiler and the oil pipe or
pipes with any suitable source of supply with suitable regulating cocks and other
devices, and all being suitably connected with the furnace through the fire door of the
first coinbustion chamber. With the above method of producing combustion in the
main chamber, an auxiliary fire is provided for in the secondary chamber, by a series
of oil burners placed in the secondary chamber and supplied with oil and air through
the ash pit and one or more of the fire tubes, by means of pipes passed through the
lower part or ash pit of the main furnace, and any approved means of injecting said
oil and air through said pipes to the burners. With the oil, coal slack may also be
burned to be forced through a pipe or pipes by a fan or other means; or the slack
may be used with an ordinary coal fire in the secondary chamber to begin with, and
to be subsequently maintained by the slack alone.
(d) Another mode of applying the process to furnaces with main and secondary
chambers consists in placing a retort similar to that described in paragraphs “a” “1”
"c" in the primary combustion chamber with oil, steam and air inlets, as heretofore
described, to more effectually combine, vaporise, and gasify the several elements by
causing them to mix therein and together traverse the retort. With this retort for
combining and gasifying the elements, consisting of oil, steam and air to be employed
in the main furnace, gas burners will be used in the secondary furnace with a branch
or branches of the retort extending through one or more of the fire tubes into it, and
supplying the burners with gas generated in said retort, which said retort also supplies
the main chamber with its fuel through its issue, and thus enables both fires to be fed
by one set of injector apparatus for a simple contrivance of the same; but a separate
retort may be employed for each chamber, if desired.
(e) In the apparatus for applying the "Damp Process" of burning hydrocarbons
in furnaces, to produce the broad flame in the upper portion of the furnace chamber,
a broad flat steam injector nozzle is employed, about as wide as will enter the ordinary
fire door, but sufficiently contracted vertically to allow air space above and below for
the inflow of air, and having a series of small steam issues and slits, if desired, at the
end with slight grooves in the upper surface, in which the oil from suitable supply
pipes discharging into said grooves, may be conducted off the end of the nozzle into

page_text: the steam jets, which nozzles are inserted in the fire door with any suitable support
and pipe connections with the boiler necessary for supplying the steam, and with a
funnel for facilitating the induction of the air by the suction of the steain jet, and
guiding and directing the same to the jet; or the steam may be omitted, and air used
instead.
With the above injector having issues and oil guides properly diverged, a film of
combustible elements will be supplied, coextensive with the length and breadth of the
chamber, the oil being very thoroughly atomised for efficient combustion and for
effective burning in the upper part of the furnace. With this, combustion is provided
for in the lower part of the chamber and also more thorough intermixture of the
elements, by the use of a bed of refractory or refractory and absorbent substance
below, for receiving and holding the drippings from the injector for combustion,
either alone or with other oil, with the air of the lower portion of the injected draught
with or without other air and steam admitted below. By these means, an upward
burning fire from the whole surface is produced, commingling transversely with the
upper fire, thus insuring a more perfect admixture of the elements than with one fire,
besides having, in the cross fires, an effectual preventive of the sudden extinguishment
of the fire. For supplying oil to the bed in addition to the drippings from the
injector, a series of metallic troughs may be employed, that can be readily introduced
through the fire door and located in about the position of the grate bars of an ordinary
furnace, on which the drippings will be well distributed, and to which oil may be
supplied through a feeder pipe and branches to each trough and with waste pipes to
prevent overflowing, air tubes being supplied to conduct air from the space below to
support combustion.
This system is doubly automatic in this way, namely, the drippings are lighted by
the atomised oil, vapour or gas flames, which keep the drippings constantly ignited,
and, in turn, the fire from the drippings keeps the atomised oil, vapour or gas
constantly ignited.
Dated this 1st day of July 1889
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process for Burning Petroleum and other Hydrocarbons
and Apparatus therefor.
A communication from abroad by JOHN WILSON, of New York City, County and
State, and ALLAN MASON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of
New York, United States of America.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6. Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street. Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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:-
:-
The object of this invention is to so present the oil to the heating apparatus
that perfect combustion is obtained, and to obtain more heat from a given quality
of the material than by the usual means of supplying heat to atomise the petroleum,
so that continuous uninterrupted combustion is obtained; also to obtain a safe,
continual and economical heat for mechanical and other purposes.
Petroleum or other oil or fatty substance, steam and air in proper proportion are
introduced and the oil is thoroughly atomised and mixed with steam by impinging
steam or air upon it, or oil upon steam or air on its way to the flame. The air makes
the combustion perfect, and may, when used without steam, be injected to produce
the draught and spray the oil. The steam, when used, supplies the drawing or
forcing power, and, in addition, the steam decomposes in the flame and gives an

page_text: additional element of heat in the evolving hydrogen and oxygen. This decomposition
can be assisted and stimulated, as also the vaporising of the oil, by the use of super-
heated steam and hot air.
The apparatus comprises the means, hereinafter described and claimed, of
effecting a lateral diffusion of the injected and atomised or vaporised oil and its
due measure of forcing and atomising steam and air for supporting combustion
co-extensive with the breadth of the combustion-chamber or thereabout containing
a bed of refractory, or refractory and absorbent, substance a suitable distance
beneath the inlet of the injected film of combustibles for the combustion of the
drippings of oil from the inlet, or the same and oil otherwise supplied to it in
combination with the direct combustion from the said inlet either by the air of the
lower portion of the injected film or with other air introduced separately to the
porous bed, whereby a double process results, in which one fire diffuses laterally
and along the combustion-chamber and the other upward from the lower bed, and
each helps the other by crossing and intermixing of the combustible matters more
intimately and effectively than as in the common process, and so that the uncertainty
of accidental extinction of the flame of either source, and especially of the upper
inlet, to which such burners are more or less liable by excessive or inadequate
supply of either of the elements and other causes is avoided and continuous com-
bustion secured, the temporary interruption of either being instantly overcome by
ignition again from the other. The said apparatus, which is claimed in this
application for a patent, is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a boiler-furnace of ordinary con-
struction for burning coal with the improved apparatus applied so that oil-fuel may
be readily substituted for coal, and vice versa, without any change of the furnace.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a detail in transverse section of the furnace, and
Figure 4 is a section of the injector for introducing and spraying the oil and
producing the draught.
To produce the broad flame in the upper portion of the furnace-chamber a, the
broad flat steam-injector nozzle b about as wide as will enter the ordinary fire-
door c is employed, but sufficiently contracted vertically to allow an air-space d
above and below for the inflow of air, and having a series of small steam-issues e
and slits f, if desired, at the end, with slight grooves or troughs g in the upper
surface in which the oil, from suitable supply pipes / discharging into said grooves,
may be conducted off the end of the nozzle into the steam-jets, which nozzle is
inserted in the fire-door about as shown; with any suitable exterior support, and such
pipe-connection with the boiler as is necessary for supplying the steam, and with the
funnel i for facilitating the introduction of the air by the suction of the steam-
jet, and guiding and directing the same to the jet; or the steam may be omitted
and air used instead, as before stated. With this form of injector having issues and
oil-guides properly divergent, as indicated in Figures 2 and 4, it will be readily
seen that a film of combustible elements will be supplied co-extensive with the length
and breadth of the chamber, the oil being very thoroughly atomised for efficient
combustion, and being especially disposed with relation to the upper portion of the
steam and air jets for effective combustion in the upper part of the furnace chamber,
with which provision is also made for like combustion in the lower part of said
chamber and for more thorough intermixture of the combustible elements by the use
of bed of refractory, or refractory and absorbent, material j below, as asbestos,
porous stone, or the like, for receiving and holding the drippings from the injector
above for combustion, either alone or with other oil, and with the air of the lower
portion of the injected draught, together with or without other air, or air and steam,
admitted below said porous bed, whereby there is an upwardly-burning fire from the
whole surface commingling transversely with the upper fire, and thus insuring the
more perfect admixture of the elements than with one fire alone, besides having in
the cross fires which support each other, an effectual preventative of the sudden
interruption of the fire, which is common in the burning of oil in one fire only,

page_text: from various well known causes, as the momentary interruption or material variation
of the oil-supply by clogging or other causes.
For an efficient means of supplying oil to the refractory bed, in addition to the
drippings from above, a series of metallic troughs k are employed that can be readily
introduced through the fire-door and located in about the position of the fire-grate
in the ordinary furnace, on which the drippings will be well distributed, and to which
oil may be supplied through the feeder and a branch m to each trough with pipe-
connections n, to prevent overflow and to conduct any excess into a receptacle p, and
with air-tubes for the supply of air from the space below, and, if desired, the
troughs may be fitted with slight air-spaces s between them for the better distribution
of the air.
A refractory and absorbent substance is placed beneath the inlet and flame, and as
oil will burn readily, when lighted, in the presence of the air, the oil that drips from the
inlet-pipe or other means of introducing the oil to the flame-chamber is immediately
lighted and burns until all is consumed, and this will, in turn, light the highly
atomised, vaporised or gasified oil, should it be put out at any time by any accident, or
by having in combination too much steam or air, or both. Thus the whole system
cannot fail to work steadily and surely, and is doubly automatic in that way, the
drippings are lighted by the atomised oil, vapour, or gas flame, which keeps the
drippings constantly ignited, and in turn the fire from the drippings keeps the atomised
oil, vapour or gas constantly ignited.
The atomising, vaporising and, whenever required, gasifying of the oil, are so
accomplished by the apparatus that combustion is so perfect that there is no smoke or
lamp-black; there is no possibility of the fires becoming extinguished or being
suddenly reduced or increased, except as desired by the operator; the flame is broad,
covering the entire heating-surface, and has no tongue or jet that would cut, channel
or burn the metal.
The boiler will last as long as with coal or wood fires, and longer because the heat
is more uniform by this process than when a coal or wood fire is used. The flame
being broad, covering the entire heating-surface, no brick-work or other protection is
necessary to protect the surface being heated from any jet or tongue that, by being
concentrated on one point or part of the metal, would burn through it or shorten its
life, and which is also an element of danger, as by the boiler being burned through
at the point of contact there is great danger of explosion.
In the case of small tubes the living flame can be put through each tube, thus
insuring even heating and perfect combustion.
The invention further consists of the improvements in apparatus for burning
petroleum and other hydrocarbons, as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being
made to Figures 5 to 6' of which :-
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a furnace, and partly a plan view and partly a
-sectional view of some of the apparatus.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the furnace and apparatus, and
Figures 6 and 6b are details of the expanded burner it is preferred to use.
In any boiler or other furnace-chamber a is arranged a pipe-retort with an inlet
branch centering the fire-door d, the general arrangement of the said pipe-retort
being a circuit of the combustion-chamber along the inner walls, with a terminal
issue e of its inner extremity for the discharge of the gases and vapours projected
inward from the fire-door alongside of the inlet branch c, and being successively larger
in diameter along the different sections; but the form and arrangement may be varied
at will, as it may be coiled several turns, either vertically or horizontally, along the
rear transverse part, or along the side walls of the furnace, if desired, and said trans-
verse part may be located at the rear wall of the furnace instead of in the advance
position of the same, as here shown. It is also preferable to arrange said pipe-retort b
on trunnion-pivots f, or in any other approved way whereby the front and rear may be
respectively elevated or depressed to shift its pitch or inclination as varying conditions
may require, as to change the application of the heat and to vary the flow of the
matters passing through it. In such case the injector-pipes will be suitably jointed for

page_text: turning or shifting to allow of such adjustment, and with the inlet c an oil-feeder g
and a steam-jet nozzle / are arranged, for introducing the oil and steam and spraying
the oil to be mixed, vaporised and gasified and introduced into the furnace through
the issue e, and with the oil and steam thus introduced means are also provided
for the introduction of air through the inlet c at i along with them, and also other air
through another pipe-retort j, traversing the furnace substantially like retort, and
connected to issue e by the annular injector k so that both inlets may be used or not,
as preferred, any suitable stopper being provided to exclude the air from retort b,
when desired. The air-retort j may, however, be dispensed with and all the air
supplied through retort b, although it is preferable to use it alone for air, as it
seems that the best results are obtained by using retort b for oil and steam only, by
which more effective decomposition of the steam results than when atmospheric
oxygen is present.
With the highly-combustible elements thus produced and calculated to burn with
great intensity, and corresponding limit of projection of the flame at the issue e,
advantage is taken of the facility afforded by the bend where the retort b terminates
in the issue.e for introducing additional measures of oil, steam, and air or either of
them, either under pressure or not, or heated or not, by providing the respective
inlets l, m, anl n therefor, which, like the others h, g, and c, are to have the suitable
connections for feeding or injecting the respective elements as required. With these
additional inlets, the longer flame of the less volatile elements thus directly admitted
to the burner may be had in combination with the shorter but more intense flame of
the more volatile and inflammable gases generated in the retorts.
The issue nozzle or burner e may have the flaring mouth ., (represented in
Figures 5 and 6) together with or without the curled extremity there shown for the
expansion and distribution of the escaping vapours, which is found in practice a very
efficient and practical form; but it is preferred to employ the variable expander-
nozzle represented in Figures 6 and 6b, and consisting of articulating jaw-plates o,
having intermeshing and suitably alternating distributing plates p, calculated to effect
lateral diffusion and expansion of the gases more effectively than other burners, and
being variable at the will of the operator through the instrumentality of a lever or
any approved contrivance enabling the jaws to be shifted at will for opening and
closing them more or less to enlarge or diminish the direct passage, and thus cause
more or less lateral diffusion. With the fire thus produced and having wide range
rearwardly and laterally in the furnace-chamber, it is also proposed to use in som
cases, or as desired, the lower fire burning upward from a bed of refractory or
refractory and absorbent material, as in the case of the damp process ove
referred to,
for greater diffusion and intensity, and for preventing interruption of the
upper fire, and also for the vaporising and burning of any drippings of oil that may,
under some circumstances, fuil of being vaporised in the retort, and for that purpose
there are represented herein similar means or apparatus therefor, as the oil-holding
troughs with the refractory materials, as porous stone, asbestos, or the likes,
supported upon them or above, said troughs being arranged above the air-space t and
having numerous air-tubes u admitting air above the oil, and also arranged with
spaces between them for effective distribution of the air. The oil is supplied from
the pipe w by a branch to each trough, and an overflow y, connected by a branch
with each trough, allows any excess that may flow into the troughs to escape into a
receptacle ; but, of course, any other approved apparatus for the application of this
lower fire may be employed.
It is to be noted that the invention is essentially favourable to the expansion and
rarefaction of the combustible matters by reason of the progressively increasing
dimensions of the retort or retorts and the unobstructed issue out of which the
vapours or gases escape in more expanded, and therefore more combustible, condition
than when subject to compression by retention in the retorts through the effect of
contracted issues.
By the greater expansion in the retort, the vapours and gases are proportionately
hotter, as well as more expanded, when reaching the point of combustion.

page_text: By introducing oil and steam together, the formation of coke in the pipe-retort is
prevented, and at the same time the oil and steam are decomposed together, their
vapours thoroughly intermingling, and the heat-giving elements are withdrawn from
the steam and are perfectly amalgamated with the heat-giving elements of the oil.
Thus there is a most perfect amalgamation and incorporation of hydrogen, carbon,
and oxygen, especially when air is used in addition, which gives an additional supply
of oxygen.
By the passing of the oil and steam through the pipe or pipe-retort. my corre-
spondents gradually, so as to procure best results, and yet thoroughly (or
instantaneously, as they choose) vaporise and gasify the oil, separating both it and
the vapour or water into their elements. The continual exhaust prevents any danger
from explosion. The pipe or pipe-retort being adjustable, the heat is thrown against
at any angle and in any quantity desired, so that the vaporisation of the products
in the retort is automatic. Any triple injecting system may be used for supplying
the air in conjunction with the steam and oil and passing them all through the pipe
or pipe-retort.
Perfect vaporisation may be provided for by passing of the pipe retort any desired
number of times around the furnace, or by having it pass back and forward in a coil
several times in the rear or in the side or sides of the furnace.
The conditions may be varied and the operations modified to counteract any
deficiency which might occur from accident or improper working of the machinery
employed by accidental causes, by supplying oil, or oil and steam, or steam and air,
or oil, steam, and air, or oil and air, according to the circumstances required in the
manner and by the apparatus shown.
The sudden extinguishing of the flames is provided against by the bed of refractory,
or refractory and absorbent (usually the latter) material beneath the flames of the
burner, continuously supplied with oil and air, and steam, if desired, as specified.
The flames and heat are presented to the furnace or surface being heated in the same
condition or manner that is, uniformity of distribution-as with coal or wood fire,
but with much greater intensity.
The invention also relates to boiler and other furnaces in which one or more
secondary combustion-chambers are employed, with the objects of securing more
effectual combustion of the gaseous portions of the fuel and more effective application
of the heat than are obtained with a single combustion-chamber, and is especially
designed for the greater and more economical generation of steam in marine and
other boilers through the instrumentality of a secondary combustion-chamber at the
rear or opposite end from the primary furnace chamber, and communicating with it
to receive and consume the unconsumed gases and return the heat products through
the upper portion of the boiler; but the invention is also designated generally for
all similar or other furnaces in which secondary combustion may be advantageously
utilised, as hereinafter fully described, reference being made to Figures 7 and 8,
in which :-
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of a boiler-furnace, showing the auxiliary fire in
the secondary furnace maintained with the vapour or gas of hydrocarbon and air, or
air and steam if desired, generated and combined in a retort in the primary furnace,
and which also supplies the combustibles burned in it; but coal or other fuel may be
used therewith, and
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line xx, Figure 7.
My correspondents are aware that it has been attempted to consume in secondary
chambers such gases as fail of complete combustion in the first chamber, it bein
supposed that, sufficient room being provided, the heat of the primary chamber would
be sufficient for effecting such combustion; but they find such method is a failure
practically, although it may work at times and under some circumstances; but
generally the gases are too much chilled to insure continuous combustion, and, when
extinguished by fall of temperature or other causes, fail to relight, even when
considerable increase of temperature takes place; hence they find auxiliary fire in the
secondary chamber an imperative necessity for practical efficiency; but such a fire as

page_text: is commonly made by intermittent supplies of fuel through the ordinary fire-door
will not do, because, when the door is opened, it stops the draught in both fires,
besides admitting cold air in great excess, and therefore materially interferes with
both fires, and if a fan-blower is used to urge the main fire, as is commonly the case
with marine boilers, the door cannot be opened without first stopping the fan, and the
fan also interferes with magazine-feeders and other automatic stokers for the auxiliary
fire by forcing more or less gas out through them. To overcome these difficulties
and to secure a reliable and uniform auxiliary fire adapted to insure effectual
combustion of the unconsumed gases from the main fire, a system has been contrived
which comprises the continuous and unobstructed forced supply of the elements of
combustion alike to the primary chamber and to the continually closed secondary
chamber, in addition to the gases entering it from the main furnace, and in such
manner as to accelerate the natural draught of the main furnace and to be alike
available with a forced draught thereto, the arrangements being such that the same
is controllable at the front where the main fire is tended, and so that the apparatus
is applicable to and detachable from ordinary furnaces constructed with a secondary
chamber without change or permanent attachment.
The apparatus which it is preferred to use is substantially as follows:-
In the boiler-furnace represented in the drawings, a indicates the main or primary
combustion-chamber, and 6 the secondary chamber, both having the customary fire-
door c and ash-pit door, with the usual system of fire-tubes e communicating between
them, and also the return system of tubes f connecting the secondary chamber with
the smoke-flue g. In this example is represented a retort k, located in the first
combustion-chamber, with oil, steam and air-inlets jh and i to more effectually
vaporise and gasify the several elements by causing them to traverse the retort, which
is a pipe suitably coiled and made to discharge rearwardly from the furnace-door or
thereabouts. With this retort k for gasifying the elements to be employed in the
main furnace, there will be employed gas-burners & in the secondary furnace, with a
branch or branches u of the retort extending through one or more of the fire-tubes
into it and supplying the burners with gas generated in said retort, which also
preferably supplies the main chamber a with its fuel through issue 1, and thus
enables both fires to be fed by one set of injector apparatus for a simple contrivance
of the same.
The invention further relates to an improved method of burning liquid hydro-
carbon, which consists of injecting oil, steam and air into a pipe-retort located in and
subject to the heat of the furnace chamber, passing the same unobstructedly along
and mixing, expanding and gasifying them therein; also injecting additional oil,
steam and air into the retort near the issue and together discharging the highly
heated gases and the directly injected elements together en masse at the burning point
and thus effecting superior combustion and greater heat, all as hereinafter fully
described, reference being made to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings,
in which is represented apparatus by which the improved process may be carried out,
Figure 9 representing a horizontal section of a furnace and partly a plan view and
partly a sectional view of some of the apparatus, and Figure 10 is a longitudinal
sectional elevation of the furnace and apparatus.
In any boiler or other furnace-chamber a is arranged a pipe-retort b, with an iolet-
branch centering the fire-door d, the general arrangement of the pipe-retort being a
circuit of the combustion-chamber along the inner walls with a terminal issue e of
its inner extremity for the discharge of the gases and vapours projected inward from
the fire-door alongside of the inlet branch e, and being successively larger in diameter
along the different sections; but the former arrangement may be varied at will,
as it may be coiled several turns either vertically or horizontally along the rear
transverse part or along the side walls of the furnace, if desired, and said transverse
part may be located at the rear wall of the furnace, instead of in the advance position
of the same as here shown. It is also preferable to arrange said pipe-retort bon
trunnion-pivots f, or in any other approved way, whereby the front and rear may be
respectively elevated or depressed to shift its pitch or inclination, as varying

page_text: conditions may require, as to change the application of the heat and to vary the flow
of the matters passing through it; and with the inlet c is arranged an oil-feeder g
and a steam-jet nozzle h for introducing the oil and steam and spraying the oil to be
mixed, vaporised, and gasified and introduced into the furnace through the issue e,
and with the oil and steam thus the introduction of air through the inlet cat i
along with them is also provided for.
With highly combustible elements thus produced and calculated to burn with great
intensity and corresponding limit of projection of the flame at the issue e,
advantage is taken of the facility afforded by the bend where the retort b terminates
in the issue e for introducing additional measures of oil, steam and air, either under
pressure or pot or heated or not, by providing the respective inlets l, m, and n
therefor, which, like the others hg, and i, are to have the suitable connections for
feeding or injecting the respective elements as required. With these additional
inlets the longer flame of the less volatile elements thus directly admitted to the
burner may be had in combination with the shorter, but more volatile and
inflammable gases generated in the retorts.
The issue nozzle or burner e may have the flaring mouth represented in Figures 9
and 10 together with or without the curled extremity there shown for the expansion
and distribution of the escaping vapours, which is found in practice a very efficient
and practical form.
It is to be noted that the invention is essentially favourable to the expansion and
rarefaction of the combustible matters by reason of the progressively increasing
dimensions of the retort or retorts and the unobstructed issue out of which the
vapours or gases escape in more expanded and therefore more combustible condition
than when subject to compression by retention in the retorts through the effect of
contracted issues.
By the greater expansion in the retort, the vapours and gases are proportionately
hotter, as well as more expanded, when reaching the point of combustion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
+1
1. The combination, with the boiler furnace, of the injector-nozzle having,
laterally-expanded and vertically-contracted issue and provided with a serie of
troughs for distributing oil laterally in said injector, pipes for supplying oil thereto,
a series of oil-burners and supply-pipes, and an absorbent bed of non-combustible
material in the lower portion of the furnace-chamber, said burners forming a grate
to hold the absorbent material, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with a boiler-furnace, of the injector-nozzle having the
laterally-expanded and vertically contracted issue, orifices e, connected by narrower
slits, and provided with a series of troughs for distributing oil laterally in said
injector, and pipes for supplying oil thereto, said nozzle being detachably fitted in the
fire-doorway, substantially as described.
3. The combination, with a furnace-chamber, of the vaporising or gasifying pipe-
retort and an injector for feeding it, said retort located and suitably coiled in the
furnace-chamber, and arranged for the resultant vapours to pass out of the
unobstructed inner terminal of the retort into the chamber, and also mounted
on trunnion-pivots for varying and adjusting the inclination, substantially as
described.
4. The combination, with a furnace-chamber, of the vaporising or gasifying pipe-
retort, an injector for feeding it, and the air-heating pipe-retort, said retorts located
and suitably coiled in the furnace-chamber, and connected together by the annular
injector K at the issue nozzle, for discharging the resultant vapours and the hot air,
so as to combine at and pass out of the inner terminals of the retorts en masse into
the combustion-chamber, substantially as described.
5. The combination, with a furnace-chamber, of the vaporising or gasifying pipe-
retort located and suitably coiled in the furnace-chamber, and arranged for resultant

page_text: vapours to pass out of the inner terminal of the retort into the combustion-chamber
at or near the front of the same, an injector for primarily feeding the retort, and
another injector feeding fresh air, oil, and steam at the inner terminal of said retort,
substantially as described.
6. The combination, with a furnace-chamber, of the vaporising or gasifying pipe-
retort located and suitably coiled in the chamber, and arranged for the resultant
vapours to pass unobstructedly out of the inner terminal, an injector for feeding the
retort, the air-heating pipe-retort, also located and coiled in the furnace-chamber and
connected with the vaporising-retort at its inner terminal, and the bed of refractory,
or refractory and absorbent, material and oil-burners located below the retorts,
substantially as described.
7. The combination, in a boiler-furnace having primary and secondary combustion-
chambers, of the pipe-retort entering and extending around the sides, back and front
of the primary combustion-chamber, and terminating therein in a lateral discharge,
the branch pipe of said retort, said branch pipe extending into said secondary
combustion-chamber and provided with a series of burners, and the injector-feeder
extending within the retort for supplying said retort with the fuel elements, sub-
stantially as described.
8. The process of burning liquid hydrocarbon, which consists in injecting oil,
steam, and air into a highly heated retort, vaporising and gasifying said
hydrocarbons, and combining with said highly heated gases other oil, steam and air
and discharging the resultant products at the burning-point, substantially as
described.
Dabad thin Oct 1
A: 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.