Year: 1887

page_text: I JACQUES BELOU of Paris, France rue de la Chaussee d'Antin 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
My invention relates to a new or improved process for obtaining pure hydrogen at
a cheap rate for industrial and domestic uses, and consists in passing steam over red
hot iron in retorts; this produces free hydrogen and magnetic oxyd of iron and in
afterwards passing fine charcoal dust over the oxyd formed by the decomposition of
the steam; this revivifies the iron and produces oxyd of carbon and carbonic acid,
heat being generated so that if a certain number of retorts are placed in one furnace,
and made to operate alternately, the heat resulting from such revivification of the iron
in some of the retorts helps to heat those in which the decomposition of the steam is
going on, and thus by the operation of ordinary taps, the continuous production of
hydrogen is obtained without any other expense, so to speak, than that of the cost of
the charcoal used in the revivification of the iron.
A suitable apparatus for carrying out my invention is represented in the accompany-
ing drawing in figs. 1 and 2 of which :
A A is a furnace consisting of a fire place properly speaking, for the first heating
of the retorts and of the steam generator. It is provided in front with two doors for
regulating and closing at will the access of the air into the furnace when the heat
caused by the revivification of the iron has become sufficient to keep up the continuous
action of the operation..
B B retorts arranged in series in the furnace chamber and containing the iron used
in the process. This iron is in the form of small solid or hollow bars placed vertically
and offering together with the maximum of surface sufficient gaps to allow the
pulverized charcoal which is to be brought into contact with them, to pass freely.
CC Mechanical hoppers intended to spread the charcoal dust in the retorts. They
are so constructed as to prevent any air from entering or any steam or gas from
leaving. They are worked either by hand or by any suitable mechanical means.
DD Steam generator provided with the usual accessories. It may be placed in the
retort chamber from which it is separated by a partition, and by dampers by means of

page_text: which the heat and the production of steam according to the requirements of the process,
are regulated. It might be placed in any other place, and be heated by the waste heat
which leaves by the chimney.
E E Tubes provided with taps, connecting the lower part of the retorts with the
generator. The steam might previously be superheated, before being admitted into
the retorts; this could be done by passing it through a superheater placed in such a
position as to be heated by the waste heat.
FF Tubes provided with taps, intended to convey the hydrogen to a suitable
receiver; gasometer or otherwise, or to a condensing or drying apparatus intended to
retain the particles of undecomposed steam which might otherwise be carried away by
the outward current of hydrogen.
GG Valves for drawing off oxyd of carbon and carbonic acid resulting from the
reaction of the charcoal dust on the oxyd of iron during the reduction of the latter.
They lead to the furnace chamber where the oxyd of carbon completes its combustion
by the help of the excess of air which it meets when its combustion has not been
perfect before its leaving the retorts.
H Chimney of the furnace for the escaping of the products of combustion.
I, I Dampers for regulating the supply of heat to the chamber of the retorts and
that of the steam generator.
J Door acting first as fire door, and second to intercept, in case of need, all com-
munication between the interior and exterior of the furnace.
From the general arrangement of the apparatus it will be seen that whilst a certain
number of retorts are employed for decomposing the steam, another set is used in the
revivification of the iron which has been used in the previous operation, and that it is
thus possible by merely opening and shutting taps and by suitably working the charcoal
distributors, to set the retorts in operation alternately, and succeed as above stated, in
producing continuously any given quantity of hydrogen by arranging the apparatuses
according to the quantities to be obtained, and that without any other expense, so to
speak, than that of the charcoal required in the revivification of the iron which has been
used in the decomposition of the steam. The hydrogen thus obtained being absolutely
pure, is suitable for many public and domestic heating and lighting purposes, as also
for use in various industries too numerous to mention here, my invention only consisting
in the process absolutely new.
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 I do not claim the
apparatus above described as the same end may be attained by any similar apparatus,
but what I do claim is
The new or improved process of obtaining pure hydrogen by passing steam over red
hot iron placed in retorts, and afterwards spreading fine charcoal dust over the oxyd
thus produced by the decomposition of the water.
”.
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