An Improved Process and Apparatus for Manufacturing Water-gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Duguriin alu
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process and Apparatus for Manufacturing Water-gas.
1
ว
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (as communicated to me from abroad by Gesellschaft für Lindes
Eismaschinen of Wiesbaden, Germany) to be as follows:
In the manufacture of gas by distilling it from mineral coal, the production
of coke necessitates repeated interruptions of the working for charging and dis-
charging the retorts and the extraction of the by-products requires special
devices.
In the direct production of gas without distillation of carboniferous substances
the gases are obtained mostly from the non-volatile constituents, if by incomplete
combustion of the materials, or with addition of steam for production of water-gas:
In the two latter cases the large proportion of nitrogen in the air introduced
for confbustion constitutes a very great quantity of useless incombustible gas,
which either reduces the colorific power of the useful gas, or, as in certain
processes, has to be separated; this involves great difficulty in the working,
reducing the production of valuable products and of by-products.
To obviate these difficulties Mr. Andreae of Vienna has proposed improve-
ments in the production of gas-which however have not given satisfactory results.
According to his proposals first the heat for manufacturing gas is produced
by using atmospheric air very rich in oxygen and the heated coke decomposes
the steam afterwards introduced. This necessitates as in most apparatus for
producing water-gas a regular change of the working so that at least two apparatus
having vertical retorts must be coupled together. Each single apparatus of
Andreae however continuously produces gas, but during the alternating periods
of hot and cold blowing gases of very low value are obtained during the one
period and it is only in the other period that water-gas of high value is obtained.
The present invention has for its object a simplified process and apparatus*
for continuous manufacture of highly valuable water-gas single shaft-furnaces
being employed. By this process there is a continual production of gases and
complete gasification without distillation of carbonaceous substances all the
volatile by-products being utilised and the production of useless gases being
greatly reduced. These results are obtained by employing atmospheric air freed
from most of its nitrogen and at the same time introducing superheated steam
into the zone of gasification.
The two periods of the hot and cold blowing in the process of Andreac, the
effects of which are so sharply distinguishable from each other, are avoided in
the: new process, which is continuous. The temperature of the combustion pro-
duced by the blast rich in oxygen is so high, that the immediate admixture of
steam to take up heat is necessary. But the temperature is nevertheless so high
that it allows of other special admissions of steam into the boshes situated.
above the hearth, and thus the durability of the structure of the gasification
chamber is considerably, increased

page_text: The admission of air enriched in oxygen and the supply of steam is regulated by
valves so certainly and easily, that below, the cinders of the coke melt regularly
and above, the temperature necessary for gasifying the coke and for decomposing
the steam is maintained with certainty.
The proportion of nitrogen removed from the air varies, according as the
quality of the gas produced permits of more or less expense being incurred for
that purpose.
In our process, where air rich in oxygen is used, illuminating gas is
produced in the retort, but, in contradistinction to the older process of 'Andreae,
a valuable gas consisting of carbonic oxide and hydrogen and little nitrogen
is regularly produced in the gasifying chamber. A generator similar to a
cupola or shaft-furnace, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing is employed
in carrying out our new process. The generator is supported by an Iron
ring which has its middle opening closed by a disc and is carried on small
columns. The generator is enclosed in a gastight casing of sheet-metal closed
at the top by an annular sheet-metal lid capable of expanding when heated.
The casing is lined with refractory material as shown in the accompanying
drawings; Fig. 1 being a vertical section, Fig. 2 shows in its upper part. a
plan of the upper part of the apparatus, in its middle part two horizontal
sections on the lines M N and O P Q R of Fig. 1 through the retort and the
tap-hole and tuyere respectively, and in its lower part two horizontal sections
on the lines S T U V through the steam tuyers ooo and the connecting-
chaunelm and m³.
The furnace contains the retort A which is widened at the bottom and around
which flow the gases ascending from the hearth C into the circularly arranged
vertical flues D and into the annular space E, the gases being taken off from the
charge in the usual way. The lower part a a of the wall of the retort is made
of refractory material, and likewise the part D which carries it and forms
the flues.
"
The upper part of the furnace may consist of a tube bb, the lower end of
which enters without being fixed the refractory part of the retort. This tube
may be provided, for better absorbing heat, with external ribs, it may be made
in several segments preferably of cast-steel. The upper end of the tube is
conically widened and has an annular flange by which it is fixed to the lid' in
such a manner, that it can readily be removed and replaced by another tube.
Upon the upper mouth of the tube is carried the central lid having a
pipe e, for outlet of the moderately hot " upper-gases produced in the
retort. The sheet-metal lid of the annular space E carries the second outlet
pipe for the “
under-gases" which ascend from below the retort and are
still very hot even after heating the retort, the quantity of these latter gases
being considerably greater than that of the upper-gases. The mixture of the
cool upper-gases with the hot under-gases must take place only after the cooling
of the latter, so that the valuable by-products of the upper-gases are not destroyed
and this necessitates a separate eduction of the two sets of gases.
Each of the two gas outlet-pipes c¹ and is provided with a tar-receiver F¹
and F.
In order to draw-off or to remove easily the tar and dust, these receivers enclose
two concentric pipes open at the bottom. The mouth of the large pipe dips into
the tarry liquid only so deep as is necessary for constituting a seal. The mouth
of the narrow pipe extends nearly to the bottom of the vessel and serves for
removal of dust and for observing the height of the tarry liquid in the vessel.
The gases enter excentrically into the upper parts whirling to deposit
the dust and then descends being washed by the tarry liquid into the lower
parts and thence pass to the gas-conduits fif. The inner pipes g¹ g³ serving
for removing the dust may be closed at top by a removable cover which on
starting the generator may be opened for escape of the gases still unfit for use.
The conically shaped bottoms of the tar-receivers are provided with obliquely

page_text: ascending tubes h¹ ª for drawing off the tarry liquid to the required level. It
is advisable to use the annular space E for superheating the necessary steam and
cooling the under-gases" before they enter the tar-receiver. The space E
may be surrounded by a low-pressure boiler (not shown) for supplying the necessary
steam. In the drawing is the steam admission pipe, are heating pipes
constituting a superheater for which any suitable known arrangement may be
substituted. is the steam-conduit to the tuyeres, m² m² m³ are the three valves,
the valve m' admitting superheated steam for producing water-gas to a channel n n
formed in the casing and connected by small vertical ducts to the radial
tuyers ooo which external openings closed by sight glasses p' pp.
The valve m puts the steam conduit in communication with the blast pipe g
which introduces air rich in oxygen, so as to moderate the temperature of the
combustion resulting from the air rich in oxygen by mixing it with steam.
The valve m³ regulates the air rich in oxygen arriving from the blast-pipe q.
This air is distributed in the annular pipe to the tuyeres sss, of which three
are shewn. It is advisable to employ, as in iron-blast-furnaces, tuyeres cooled
by water, and to connect the nozzles uü in such a manner with the blast-pipe,
that they can readily be removed.
'
To observe the working of the furnace, the nozzles are provided with sight
glasses ttt.
Dated this 10th day of July 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY;
Agente for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process and Apparatus for Manufacturing Water-gas.
i
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent; do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (as communicated to me from abroad by Gesellschaft für Lindèa
Eismaschinen of Wiesbaden, Germany) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
In the manufacture of gas by distilling it from mineral coal, the production
of coke necessitates repeated interruptions of the working for charging and dis-
charging the retorts and the extraction of the by-products requires special
devices.
In the direct production of gas without distillation of carboniferous substances
the gases are obtained mostly from the non-volatile constituents, if by incomplete
combustion of the materials, or with addition of steam for production of water-gas.
In the two latter cases the large proportion of nitrogen in the air introduced
for combustion constitutes a very great quantity of useless incombustible gas,
which either reduces the colorific power of the useful gas, or, as in certain
processes, has to be separated, this involves great difficulty in the working,
reducing the production of valuable products and of by-products.
To obviate these difficulties Mr. Andreae of Vienna has proposed improve-
ments in the production of gas which however have not given satisfactory results.
According to his proposals first the heat for manufacturing gas is produced
by using atmospheric air. and the heated coke decomposes the steam after-
wards introduced: This necessitates as in most apparatus for producing water-
gas a regular alternation of the working so that at least two apparatus having

page_text: vertical retorts must be coupled together. Each single apparatus of Andreae how
ever continuously produces illuminating gas, but during the alternating periods of
hot and cold blowing, gases of very low heating value are obtained during the one-
period and it is only in the other period that water-gas of high value is obtained.
The present invention has for its object a simplified process and apparatus
for continuous manufacture of highly valuable water-gas single shaft-furnaces
being employed. By this process there is a continual production of gases and
complete gasification, all the volatile, by-products being utilised and the pro
duction, of useless gases being greatly reduced. These results are obtained by
employing atmospheric air freed from most of its. nitrogen and at the same time
introducing superheated steam into the zone of gasification.
V
The two periods of the hot and cold blowing in the process of Andreae, the
effects of which are so sharply distinguishable, from, each other, are avoided in
the new process which is continuous. The temperature of the combustion pro-
duced by the blast rich in oxygen is so high, that the immediate admixture of
steam to take up heat is necessary. But the temperature is nevertheless so high
that it allows of other special admissions of steam into the boshes situated
above the hearth, and thus the durability of the lining of the gasification chamber
is considerably, increased.
ان
"
1
The admission of air enriched in oxygen and the supply of steam are regulated
by valves so certainly and easily, that below, the cinders of the coke melt regularly,
and above, the temperature necessary for gasifying the coke and for decomposing
the steam is maintained. with certainty.
The proportion of nitrogen removed from the air varies, according as the
quality of the gas produced permits of more or less expense being incurred for
that purpose.
In this process, where air rich in oxygen is used, illuminating gas is
produced in the retort, but, in contradistinction to the older process of Andreae,
a valuable gas consisting of carbonic oxide and hydrogen and little nitrogen is
regularly produced in the gasifying chamber. A generator similar to a cupola or
shaff-furnace, as illustrated in the drawing accompanying the Provisional Specifi-
cation is employed in carrying out the new process. The generator is supported by
an iron ring which has its middle opening closed by a disc and is carried on low
columns. The generator is enclosed in a gastight casing of sheet-metal closed;
at the top by an annular sheet-metal lid capable of expanding when heated.
The casing, is lined with refractory material as shewn in the said drawings
Fig.
being a vertical section, Fig. 2 shews in its upper part a plan
of the upper part of the apparatus, in its middle part two horizontal
sections on the lines M N and P Q R of Fig. 1 through the retort and the
tap-hole and tuyere respectively, and in its lower part two horizontal sections
on the lines ST UV through the steam, tuyeres o oo and the connecting-
channel mand.m² The furnace contains the retort A-which is widened at the
bottom and around which flow the gases ascending from the boshes B and the
hearth C into the circularly arranged vertical flues :D and into the annular
space E, the gases being taken off from the charge in the usual way. The lower 4
part aa of the wall of the retort is made of refractory material, and likewise
the part 1) which carries, it and forms the flues. .:*
The upper part of the furnace may consist of a tube bb, the lower end of
which enters and can be adjusted in the refractory part of the retort. This tube
may be provided, for better absorbing heat, with external ribs, it may be made
in several segments preferably of cast-steel. The upper end of the tube is
conically widened and has an annular flange by which it is fixed to the lid in
such a manner that it can readily be removed and have another tube sub
stituted for it. Upon the upper mouth of the tube is carried the central lid having
a pipe, for outlet of the moderately hot "upper-gases" produced, in the
retort The sheet-metal lid of the annular space E carries the second outlet
and th

page_text: "
pipe for the "under-gases which ascend from below the retort and are
still very hot even after heating the retort, the quantity of these latter gases
being considerably greater than that of the upper-gases. The mixture of the
cool upper-gases with the hot under-gases must take place only after the cooling
of the latter, so that the valuable by-products of the upper-gases are not destroyed-
and this necessitates a separate eduction of the two sets of gases.
Each of the two gas outlet-pipes and. is provided with a tar-receiver F
and F
In order to draw off or to remove easily the tar and dust, these receivers enclose
two concentric pipes open at the bottom. The mouth of the large pipe dips into
the tarry liquid only so deep as is necessary for constituting a seal. The mouth
of the narrow pipe extends nearly to the bottom of the vessel and serves for
removal of dust and for observing the height of the tarry liquid in the vessel.
The gases enter eccentrically into the upper parts whirling to deposit
the dust and then descend, being washed by the tarry liquid into the lower
parts e and thence pass to the gas-conduits ff. The inner pipes g' g² serving
for removing the dust may be closed at the top by a removable cover which on
starting the generator may be opened for escape of gases unfit for use.
The conically shaped bottoms of the tar-receivers are provided with obliquely
ascending tubes for drawing off the tarry liquid to the required level. It
is advisable to use the annular space E for superheating the necessary steam and
cooling the under-gases" before they enter the tar-receiver. The space E
may be surrounded by a low-pressure boiler (not shewn) for supplying the necessary
steam. In the drawing is the steam admission pipe, kk are heating pipes
constituting a superheater for which any suitable known arrangement may be
substituted. is the steam-conduit to the tuyeres m¹ m² m² are the three valves
the valve m admitting superheated steam for producing water-gas to a channel n n
formed in the casing and connected by small vertical ducts to the radial tuyeres o o0
which have external openings closed by sight glasses PPP.
16
The valve m puts the steam conduit 7 in communication with the blast pipe q
which introduces air. rich in oxygen, so as to moderate the temperature of the
combustion resulting from the air rich in oxygen by mixing it with steam.
The valve m³ regulates the air rich in oxygen arriving from the blast-pipe q.
This air is distributed in the curved pipe r to the tuyeres sss, of which three
are shewn. It is advisable to employ, as in iron-blast-furnaces, tuyeres cooled
by water, and to connect the nozzles in such a manner with the blast-pipe,
that they can readily be removed.
To observe the working of the furnace, the nozzles are provided with sight
glasses ttt.
It is to be understood that the apparatus may be varied, that shewn being
given by way of example.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A process for the continuous production of gases poor in nitrogen, in which
there is supplied to the material to be gasified in the generator simultaneously,
air for combustion rich in oxygen, that is to say, that has been freed to a greater
or less extent from its nitrogen, and super-heated steam, whereby carbonic oxide
and hydrogen gas are formed.
2. A method of carrying out the process above referred to in which the hot
gaseous mixture produced forms a current which washes around the raw car-
Boniferous materials which are to be treated; for the purpose of preliminary
removal of their gases.
3. For carrying out the process set forth in Claims 1 and 2, a shaft-shaped
generator, over the gasifying zone B C of which there is built-in a retort A
surrounded by the ascending gas exit passages D in such a manner that in

page_text: said retort there is produced a distillation of the charge of coal passing through
it, there being also arranged around the upper retort A an annular gas-space E
(which may be surrounded by a low pressure steam boiler) which may also serve
to receive super-heating piping & for the steam to be introduced into the gasifying
zone.
4. In the generator specified in Claim 3, the separate drawing off of the gases
produced in the retort A and in the gasifying zone B.C by means of pipes c
from the furnace mouth coyer or from the shaft cover into separate tar receivers
, for the purpose of purifying the gases, the arrangement being such that
the dust collecting tubes g g of the receivers, which are closed at the top by
removable covers, during the permanent generation of gas allow gases unfit for
use to escape at the commencement of the working.
.
ليمي
13
་་ 1000