Process and Apparatus for Converting Non-gaseous Hydrocarbons and Materials Containing them into Combustible Gas.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1893—Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Process and Apparatus for Converting Non-gaseous Hydrocarbons
and Materials Containing them into Combustible Gas.
1, FREDERICK SIEMENS, of 10 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, in the
County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:--
My invention relates to a process and apparatus for converting non gaseous
hydrocarbons, such as petroleum, paraffin, naphtha and other oils and spirits, fats,
tars, resins, wax, naphthalene and the like, or mixtures of any of these substances,
into combustible gas.
For this purpose I ignite the surface of the hydrocarbons contained in a vessel to
which, after ignition, a limited supply of air is admitted.
The heat of combustion converts the hydrocarbons into combustible gas, which
Whether the gas thus
passes away, along with the products of combustion.
produced be used directly or stored for subsequent use, it may be used alone, or
in admixture with other gases or vapours with or without purification or enrich-
ment in fires for heating or cooking, in regenerative or other furnaces for lighting,
or for producing motive power.
In order to obtain the best results in the quality of the gas made, I have found
that the flame of the hydrocarbons under decomposition should be mainly of a
blue colour. The gas made may be deprived of its moisture, also of some of the
carbonic anhydride produced by combustion, by efficient cooling.
The inflow of air to the apparatus may be controlled or promoted, by an injector,
or fan, or by an exhauster for the gas, or other well known means; but, in cases
where the gas and products of combustion pass freely away, the draught caused by
their ascent in a pipe above the vessel may be found sufficient to draw in the
required supply of air.
The apparatus for operating as above described consists of a vessel in which
the hydrocarbons are ignited, surmounted by a vertical pipe up which the gases
ascend.
Over the hydrocarbon in the vessel a number of small holes or tubes admit air
near the surface of the hydrocarbons. When a liquid hydrocarbon is used, it is
kept at a nearly constant level by being supplied from a reservoir in quantity
regulated by a cock, or valve, or automatically in the manner of a fountain glass,
or by means of a ball tap.
When solid or pasty hydrocarbons are used an internal vessel containing the
material may be supported by a spring, or otherwise, so that, as its contents
evaporate, this vessel may rise and thus maintain the surface of the hydrocarbons,
under decomposition, at an approximately uniform distance from the air inlets. For
igniting the hydrocarbon in the vessel a flame may be introduced through an opening
in the cover, and, if required to assist in starting the ignition, a small quantity of
spirit or light hydrocarbon, may be used. When the liquid is ignited the lid on
that opening should be closed.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1893.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process and Apparatus for Converting Non-gaseous Hydrocarbons
and Materials Containing them into Combustible Gas.
I, FREDERICK SIEMENS, of 10 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, in the
County of London, 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 process and apparatus for converting hydrocarbons,
such as petroleum, paraffin, naphtha, and other oils and spirits, fats, tars, resins,
wax naphthalene and the like, or mixtures of any of these substances, into
combustible gas..
For this purpose I ignite the surface of the hydrocarbons contained in a vessel
to which, after ignition, a limited supply of air is admitted.
The heat of combustion converts the hydrocarbons into combustible gas, which
passes away, along with the products of combustion. Whether the gas thus produced
be used directly or stored for subsequent use, it may be used alone, or in admixture
with other gases or vapours with or without purification or enrichment in fires for
heating or cooking, in regenerative or other furnaces for lighting or for producing
motive power.
In order to obtain the best results in the quality of the gas made, I have found
that the flame of the hydrocarbons under decomposition should be mainly of a blue
colour. The gas made may be deprived of its moisture, also of some of the carbonic
anhydride produced by combustion, by efficient cooling.
The inflow of air to the apparatus may be controlled or promoted, by an injector,
or fan, or by an exhauster for the gas or other well known means, but, in cases
where the gas and products of combustion pass freely away, the draught caused by
their ascent in a pipe above the vessel may be found sufficient to draw in the
required supply of air.
The apparatus for operating as above described consists of a vessel in which the
hydrocarbons are ignited, surmounted by a vertical pipe up which the gases
ascend.
Over the hydrocarbon in the vessel a number of small holes or tubes admit air
near the surface of the hydrocarbon. When a liquid hydrocarbon is used, it is kept
at a nearly constant level by being supplied from a reservoir in quantity regulated
by a cock, or valve, or automatically in the manner of a fountain glass, or by means
of a ball tap.
When solid or pasty hydrocarbons are used an internal vessel containing the
material may be supported by a spring, or otherwise, so that, as its contents
evaporate, this vessel may rise and thus maintain the surface of the hydrocarbons,
under decomposition at an approximately uniform distance from the air inlets.
For igniting the hydrocarbon in the vessel, a flame may be introduced through an
opening in the cover, and, if required to assist in starting the ignition, a small
quantity of spirit or light hydrocarbon, may be used. When the liquid is ignited
the lid on that opening should be closed.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section of apparatus according
to my invention for converting hydrocarbons into combustible gas and Fig. 2 is a
plan in halves taken at the two levels indicated by the lines X X in Fig. 1.
A modified form of the apparatus is shewn in the vertical sections Figs. 3 and 4
taken on planes at right angles to each other and in Fig. 5 a sectional plan on Y Y
of Fig. 3. A part section of a modification is shewn in Fig. 6.
In these figures similar parts are denoted by like letters of reference.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, A is an annular reservoir supplying liquid
hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon rendered liquid by heat through a pipe B to the
central combustion vessel C the cover of which has through it a number of small

page_text: holes D or they may be tubes E, admitting air to the surface of the hydrocarbon.
An elbow pipe F having several holes through its closed lower end, and having a
door G also admits to the surface of the hydrocarbon an additional quantity of air
as determined by opening more or less the door G. Or, as shewn in Fig. 6, there
may be a central passage F' domed over to admit air from below to the combustion
vessel C which may be supplied from an external source. Through a door Ha
taper is introduced to ignite the oil, whereupon gas is produced which ascends the
tube K to be led to a gas holder or other recipient, or it may be led directly for
consumption to a fire place or furnace.
As shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the reservoir A of hydrocarbon is situated above
the combustion vessel C, it is supplied through a plugged funnel tube L which
extends down into a cup at the bottom of the reservoir so as to be sealed by the
liquid. The vessel C receives its supply through a tube M provided with a
regulating valve, the level of the liquid in C being kept constant by an arrangement
operating in the manner of a fountain glass, a tube N admitting gas to the space
in A above the liquid, so as to allow liquid to flow down to C, only when the lower
end of the tube becomes unsealed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The herein described process for converting non gaseous hydrocarbons into
combustible gas by igniting the hydrocarbon in a vessel to which a limited quantity
of air is admitted in small currents distributed over the surface of the hydrocarbon,
so as to maintain a partial combustion of the hydrocarbon, thereby producing gas,
which ascends or is drawn, from the vessel.
2. Apparatus for producing gas in the manner above set forth, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and 6.
3. The modified apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3, 4
and 5.
Dated this 16th day of November 1893.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.