Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Carburetted Water Gas.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Carburetted
Water Gas.
We, LEONARD LANCASTER MERRIFIELD Gas Engineer of Franklin, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America and JOHN TOWNSEND WESTCOTT
Gas Engineer of Cramers Hill, State of New Jersey, United States of
America and WILLIAM HENRY PEARSON Junior of 46 King Street West,
Toronto, Canada, Gas 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 :-
Our invention has reference to apparatus for the manufacture of carburetted
water gas and consists of the combinations and constructions hereinafter
described.
We combine a generator, and one or more superheating or fixing chambers or
sets of chambers the superbeating or fixing chambers having four independent
connections with the generator two at the top and two at the bottom each connection
being fitted with a valve to control the movements of the gases. We provide the
superheating or fixing chamber or chambers with a gas outlet at the top and a gas
outlet at the bottom. We provide the said chambers with inlets for hydrocarbon
vapors or liquids and with masses of refractory material between the inlets. We
carry a flue from top to bottom of the superheating or fixing chamber or chambers
having connections with the top and bottom of the generator each connection having
a controlling valve. We provide the said chambers with a set of flues or gas con-
duits one terminating at the bottom and one at the top of the said chambers. We
preferably construct the superheating chambers by dividing one chamber into
several divisions by means of arches having openings in them, all being within
one external shell. The generator has two steam inlets one at the top and one at
the bottom.
The accompanying drawings represent an apparatus constructed according to
our invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line A' B¹ of Figure 2 and on the line C¹ D¹
of Figure 3.
Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal sections respectively on the lines A B and C D
of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line I J and K L of Figures 1, 2 and 3.
E represents a generator provided with the usual grate e to support the fuel,
el is an air blast conduit in the lower part of the generator, e² a steam inlet at the
bottom of generator, e a steam inlet at the top of generator, and e* a fuel inlet in
the top of the generator. X and W are two outlets at the top of generator;
Y and Z are two outlets at the bottom of generator. Each of these outlets X, Y, W,
and Z is provided with a valve, the valves being marked respectively P¹, P³, P³, P
in the drawings. The outlet X is a combustion flue also used as a gas exit flue
and its rear or exit end opens into a vertical flue X2 in the wall of the superheaters.
The upper end of the flue X2 is closed and the lower end is connected with the
transverse flue X³ that leads into the base of the superheating or fixing chambers.
The outlet W is a gas exit flue connecting with a vertical flue W₁ which extends
from the bottom to the top of the shell of the superheating or fixing chambers.
The outlet Y is a gas exit flue connected with the flue X². The outlet Z is a gas
exit flue connected with the flue W'. F, FA, and FB, are superheating or fixing
chambers containing refractory material placed in the form of checker work in the
usual manner. It will be noted that the products of combustion do not directly

page_text: enter the superheating or fixing chambers from the flues leading from the generator
but first enter the vertical flues W₁ and X2, and then the superheaters or fixing
chambers. One of the objects in providing the vertical flues is to catch the dust
and cinders before they enter the superheater or fixing chambers and thereby
avoid the deposition of the dust and cinders upon the checker work and the
subsequent clogging of the open work of the latter as has been the case when the
dust and cinders have not been intercepted before entering the superheating or
fixing chamber. The dust and cinders so arrested fall to the bottom of the flues
whence they are removed through suitable closed openings (not shown) at the bottom
of the flues.
The superheating or fixing chambers F, FA and FB, are contained in one single
shell and are separated from one another by divisional arches, F and F10, having
openings therein for the passage of the products of combustion from one chamber
to the other. Below and above the checker work in chamber F are located
respectively the openings of the air blast conduits F1 and F2. In each of the
chambers are located the exit openings of oil supplying pipes, pipe F³ being in
chamber F, pipe in chamber FA and pipe F³ in chamber FB. F and F are
outlets for conveying the gas from the superheaters or fixing chambers to other
parts of the works and they or their pipe connections are provided with suitable
valves (not shown) so that the gas, when occasion requires, can be diverted through
one or the other of the outlets. The outlet Fe is placed at the top and the outlet F
at the bottom of the superheaters or fixing chambers so that they can be used in
conjunction with the flues W₁ and X2. When the flue X2 is used, the outlet F" is
closed and the products of combustion are passed upward through the superheater
or fixing chamber and through the outlet F; and when the flue W¹ is used, the
outlet F is closed and the products of combustion are passed downward through
the superheating or fixing chambers and through the outlet F' for the purposes
hereinafter described. In the upper part of the superheater is an outlet pipe F³,
having a valve (not shown) which when opened allows the products of combustion
to escape to the smoke stack for the purpose hereinafter described.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
:-
The fuel is introduced into the generator through the opening e; the air blast
is then introduced through the opening e¹, and is forced through the fuel. The
producer gas thus formed is allowed to pass through the conduit X, X2 and X3 to
the superheaters or fixing chambers. Air is admitted through conduits F' and F2
into the said chambers, combustion is effected and the chambers are heated. The
products of combustion are allowed to escape through the valve in the top of pipe F
into the stack.
When the fuel in the generator is sufficiently ignited and the refractory material
in the superheaters and fixing chambers is sufficiently heated all the air blasts are
shut off and the valve in pipe F8 closed. Steam is then turned into the bottom of
the generator through the pipe e² and passing through the ignited fuel is converted
into water gas.
The valves P2, P3 and P4 having previously been closed the water gas passes
from the generator through the conduits X, X2 and X3 into the bottom of the
superheater or fixing chamber F where it becomes highly superheated by passing
through the refractory material with which the chamber is filled.
Hydrocarbon vapours or liquids are then introduced through the pipe F³ into
the chamber F where they are instantly vaporized and diffused with the highly
superheated water gas. Both gases then pass on through the openings in the
arches F and F10 into the chambers FA and FB, where the hydrocarbon vapors
are gasified and fixed with the water gas, and the gases then pass on through
the pipe or opening Fe to the washers, scrubbers, condensers and purifiers.
When the heat in the generator ceases to decompose the steam, the hydrocarbons
and steam are shut off, and the valve in the outlet pipe F8 opened; the air blast is
then turned on at el F1 and F, and the temperatures are raised as before described
and when the heats are sufficiently increased to again decompose the steam, the air

page_text: blasts e¹, F and F are shut, valve P* is opened and valve P¹ is closed, and then
the outlet valve of FB is closed. Steam is then introduced into the generator
through the pipe e³ and, which passing down through the fuel, is converted into
water gas.
The water gases passes from the generator through the conduit Z into the con-
duit W, and passes out at the exit W2 into the chamber FB, where it becomes
highly heated by passing down through the heated refractory material with which
the chamber is filled.
Hydrocarbon vapors or liquids are then introduced into the chamber F^ through
the pipe F and become instantly vaporized and diffused with the highly super-
heated water gas; then both gases pass on through the chambers FA and I where
the hydrocarbon vapors are gasified and fixed with the water gas, and the gases
then pass on through the outlet or opening F7 into the washers, scrubbers, con-
densers and purifiers.
The
When the heat in the generator ceases to decompose the steam, the hydrocarbons
and the steam are shut off, and the valve in outlet pipe F is opened.
valve P¹ is also opened, and the valve P₁ closed. If at this time, or at any other
time, it is found necessary to replenish the fuel in the generator, it is done by
introducing it through the opening e. The opening e¹ being closed the air blast is
again introduced through the openings e¹, F1 and F2 and the temperatures raised as
before described. When the temperature is sufficiently increased to again decompose
steam, the valves of the air blast e¹, F1 and F2 are closed.
The valve P is now opened and valve P¹ in the flue X and in the outlet pipe F8
are closed. Steam is introduced through the pipe e and passing through the fuel
is converted into water gas. The water gas passes from the generator through the
conduit W into the flue W', passes out at the exit W2 into the chamber FB, where
it becomes highly heated by passing down through the heated refractory material
with which the chamber is filled. Hydrocarbon vapors or liquids are then introduced
into the chamber FA through the pipe F4 and become instantly vaporized and diffused
with the highly superheated water gas. Both gases then pass on through the
chambers F and F where the hydrocarbon vapors or liquids are gasified and fixed
with the water gas, and through the opening F' into the washers, scrubbers con-
densers and purifiers. When the heat in the generator ceases to decompose the
steam, the hydrocarbons and the steam are shut off, and the valve in the outlet F*
and the valve P' are opened and the valve P² is closed. The temperatures
becoming raised as before described, until the heat is enough to decompose the
steam, the air valves, e', F and F are closed, and valve P3 is opened, the valve P¹
and the valve at the outlet F8 are then closed. Steam is now admitted through
the pipe e and passing through the fuel is converted into water gas.
The water gas passes from the generator through the conduit Y into the
conduits X and X³ into the bottom of the superheater or fixing chamber F where
it becomes highly superheated by passing through the refractory material.
Hydrocarbon vapors or liquids are then introduced into the chamber through
the pipe F3 and become instantly vaporized and diffused with the highly super-
heated water gas. Both gases then pass on through the chambers FA and FB where
the hydrocarbon vapors are gasified and fixed with the water gas, and through
outlet F to the washers, scrubbers, condensers and purifiers.
Our apparatus is not necessarily always operated in the exact order which we
have hereinbefore described. The changes may be varied as may be found most
convenient at the discretion and judgment of the operator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim in respect of apparatus for manufacturing carburetted water gas is :-
1. The combination of a generator, and one or more superheating or fixing
chambers or sets of chambers, the superheaters or fixing chambers having four
independent connections with the generator, two at the top and two at the bottom,

page_text: and each connection having a valve to control the movements of the gases, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A superheating or fixing chamber or chambers having a gas outlet at the
top and at the bottom, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination of superheating or fixing chambers having inlets for hydro-
carbon vapors or liquids, and masses of refractory material between the inlets for
the vapors or liquids, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination of a generator and a superheating or fixing chamber having
a flue extending from top to bottom of the said chamber, and having connections
with the top and bottom of the said generator, each connection having a controlling
valve, substantially for the purpose specified.
5. The combination of the superheating or fixing chambers having a set of
flues or gas conduits, one terminating at the bottom and one at the top of the
superheating or fixing chambers, and a generator having two outlets at the top and
two at the bottom and connected with the said flues or gas conduits and each
inlet having a valve to control the flow of gases therethrough substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
6. A superheating or fixing chamber divided into three or more divisions by
arches with openings in them and all within one external shell as and for the
purpose specified.
7. A generator having two openings for the admission of steam, one at the top
and one at the bottom, in combination with a superheating or fixing chamber
contained in a shell and divided into three or more divisions by arches with
openings in the arches as and for the purpose specified.
8. A generator having two openings for the admission of steam one at the top
and one at the bottom, in combination with a superheating chamber and a fixing
chamber substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination of a generator, a superheating or fixing chamber and vertical
flues into which the products of combustion from the generator pass before passing
into the superheating or fixing chamber as and for the purpose set forth.
10. The combination of a generator and a superheating or fixing chamber having
an outlet at each end and flues one opening at the top and the other into the
bottom of the said chamber and connected with the outlet or outlets of the said
generator, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination of a generator and a superheating or fixing chamber
having an outlet leading to a smoke stack, two outlets, one at each end leading to
the washer, scrubber or other apparatus, and two flues one opening in the bottom
and the other in the top of said chamber and both connected with the outlet or
outlets of the generator, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
12. The combination of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and repre-
sented in the accompanying drawings forming an improved apparatus for manu-
facturing carburetted water gas.
Dated this 25th day of April 1893.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.