IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION AND PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of 6; Lord Street, Liver-
pool, in the County of Lancaster, British and International Patent and Trade
Mark Agent and Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE GENERATION AND PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR LIGHTING, HEATING, AND
OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by Victor Leon Paillard, Chemist, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
Sealed the 17th January 1879, and dated the 20th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1878.
"
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and International Patent and Trade Mark Agent and Civil
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION AND PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR
LIGHTING, HEATING, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THerefor."
communication from abroad from Victor Leon Paillard, Chemist, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
A
The object of this apparatus is to utilize the heat produced by the incomplete
combustion of coal, and to produce besides hydrogen and other rich gases, so as to
form a product containing a large per-centage of inflammable gas. It consists in a
form of generator preferably in the shape of a long vertical cylinder, the top of
which is furnished with a cover for introducing the material to be used.
At or
near the bottom I arrange a man-hole or cover for removing the ashes.
The gases pass through a grid at the bottom of the retort into a tube terminating
in a wire guaze case or washer immersed in water, and in shape a shallow trun-
cated cone.
After escaping through the meshes of the wirework into the water the purified
gas escapes through a tube for use.

page_text: Down the centre of the retort for a considerable length proceeds a vertical pipe,
to which at the top is coupled a horizontal pipe for supplying air for ventilation to
the retort. On the bottom of the vertical pipe a tuyere is fixed, and within this
again another tuyere. Through the centre of the inner tuyere proceeds a pipe for
forcing a blast of air through the tuyeres, which also induces a strong current of air
from the ventilating pipe, a few pieces of lighted charcoal being placed in the ver-
tical pipe for the purpose. At the same time the hearth gases are drawn in through
the outer tuyere by the pressure of the blast, and are violently driven back again;
thus the gases are forced to continuously circulate through the fire, and be continu-
ally mixed with fresh air till they are changed into a purely gaseous inflammable
mixture. A rose jet under the blast pipe sends in a fine spray, which is instantly
converted into steam by the heat, and materially assists combustion. A tap regu-
lates the supply of water to the jet.
i
Instead of or as well as water, jets of tar, heavy oils, and other inflammable
vapours or fluids could be injected with good effect or mixed with the fuel.
.
A modification consists in applying an outer casing to the generator, which gets
slightly heated, and which serves to vaporize a small quantity of water to produce
steam for ventilating through the vertical pipe by an induction jet. A small reser-
voir containing water is heated by a small flame supplying steam to a series of
conical jets arranged one within the other, and the last entering the ventilating pipe
so as to induce a strong current of air for ventilating it. When the heat is to be
diminished the steam is allowed to escape by a valve on the outer casing.
The generator is preferably constructed of sheet iron, the bottom part containing
the washer, escape pipe, et cetera, being made of cast iron.
The apparatus will produce gas a long time from one charging, and occupies very
little room, which renders it eminently suitable for supplying gas to gas engines,
and also for lighting, heating, and other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th January 1879.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and International Patent and Trade Mark Agent and Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION AND PRODUCTION OF GAS FOR
LIGHTING, HEATING, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
communication from abroad by Victor Leon Vaillard, Chemist, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
A
The following is the description of the Invention as forwarded to me, I having
merely translated it into English, and changed it from the first person singular to
the third. It thoroughly explains itself, without further comment from me, except
perhaps to say that the apparatus should be nearly filled with fuel before starting,
so that it may run as long as possible without refilling.
This apparatus has for its object the utilization of the heat produced by the com-
plete combustion of carbonaceous fuel, and to give, besides hydrogen, oxide of carbon
and other gas, so as to form a product containing 50 per cent. of inflammable gas.
The accompanying Drawings show two types of generator, one working with a
blast mechanism, the other working alone.
...
The first apparatus (Fig. 1) is composed of a column closed at the upper part by.
a cover A, which serves for introducing the fuel. It carries at its lower end another
cover B, permitting the exit of cinders.
The gases descend by a large tube C, surmounted by a grating, and pass through
a washing apparatus formed of a fine metallic cloth, which divides the gases into
many little jets previous to their passage through the water. This washing appa-
ratus has the effect of retaining the cinders.
The gases escape by a small tube D which is connected to the pipes of the
conduit.
In the centre of the generator, there is a vertical tube E joined by a socket to
another horizontal tube mounted on the generator and admitting air for ven-.
tilation.
To put the apparatus into working order it is sufficient to introduce into the
tube E some small bits of charcoal and a little lighted kindling wood, to plug the
top of the tube, and to work the blowing apparatus.
The system of concentric nozzles F, G, fixed to the lower part of the tube E, plays
a most important part in the manufacture of the gas. Under the influence of the
jet of air leaving the internal nozzle F, the gases of the furnace are quickly drawn
in by the openings made in the upper part of the other nozzle G, whence they are
forced to the fire.
These gases, which pass and repass over the highly heated carbon, are completely
reduced, owing to their experiencing in the only hot part of the apparatus an eddying
motion, which is always more considerable than that of their ordinary flow. Thus
the humidity as well as the smoke contained in the products of combustion participate
in the movement of the gas, and is entirely reduced into inflammable gas by the des-
Struction of tarry matters. A pulverizer or rose placed under the nozzle F introduces
water in proportion to the strength of the current.
The water conduit is furnished with a stop-cock, which serves to regulate the
quantity according to the combustible employed.
The temperature being very elevated under the nozzle G, it is indispensable to
give it enough thickness to prevent its deterioration and even its fusion. The heat
taken by this nozzle is not lost; it serves to surcharge with heat the gas introduced
into the fire, as well as to vaporize the major part of the water of the pulverizer.
One can still further augment the effect that I am about to describe by a great
number of concentric nozzles, Fig. 3. One constitutes thus a veritable jet apparatus,
which has for effect to cause a great movement of gas across the red-hot carbon.
'

page_text: This movement can be made in many parts of the fire by using many of these
nozzles together.
Mr. Paillard claims particularly at this place as the principle of his Invention the
fact of this movement of gases.
He claims also obtaining said movement, and as an application the employment
of blast pipes, or analogous apparatus giving the same result, for this purpose.
One sees low important it is to have a tube which brings the air and water
either separately or mixed into the middle of the mass of carbon in such manner as
to produce this movement of gas either by nozzle or by means of a ventilator,
injector, or other apparatus. One can replace the water by tar, heavy oils, or in
general by carburetted products mixed with the carbon above the blast pipe. By
this means is obtained a very rich and, often very economical gas, which does not
require purification if the carbon used be charcoal as in France.
The matters not easily volatilized maintain the action of the fire, dividing them-
selves up into coke and gas mixed, or very volatile products. The carbon commences
to burn under the blast pipe at an 'elevated temperature, but only for a short period.
The temperature of the work performed in the reduction of the gas, also because
the carbon is scarcely red at some distance from the twyer, and is cold at a
greater distance. As for the gases, they are quite cool when they arrive at the
washer.
The carbon which is above the blast pipe is reserved to replace that which gets
consumed.
I will now proceed to give the means employed by Mr. Paillard for carrying out
his Invention in detail in a light and simple manner, but at the same time state
that he does not bind himself to these details, as he claims as his Invention even
the manner of disposing of the fire in the centre of the carbon, whether the furnace
be constructed of sheet iron, cast iron, masonry, or other material.
The body of the generator is of sheet iron upon a piece of cast iron, which is
itself placed upon a foundation. The joints are furnished with packing, or simply
cemented, and are fastened by rods screwed at the ends and fitted with nuts and
pins. The piece of cast iron performs at the same time the office of ash-pit, washer,
and of aperture for the escape of the gases.
The generator of Fig. 2 presents very nearly the same disposition, but it is in
thick plate iron, with a double casing arranged in such manner that but lightly
heated. It is in this casing that a small quantity of vapour is made to effect by
means of a jet apparatus the ventilation of the generator.
To put the apparatus in train the inventor arranges a little special resevoir in the
which he vaporizes a little water by means of a small quantity of red-hot fuel or
by a small lamp.
•
Owing to the limited amount of heat communicated to the envelope the vapour
is produced regularly without any sudden movement.
'
When one wishes to diminish the production of gas in acting upon the spindle of
the jet apparatus a small quantity of vapour escapes by the valve M. To augment
the production it suffices to inflame for a few minutes a little of the gas from the
working resevoir L.
The two envelopes of the generator are rivetted together at the upper part. The
lower part is bolted upon a piece of cast iron, of which the vertical section is in the
form of a T.
This construction has for its object facility of cleaning and disencrusting the
envelope. This is not frequently required, however, owing to the insignificant
quantity of water vaporized.
Generally the generators are constructed with a reserve of combustible sufficient
to work for from ten to fifteen hours, and even longer. Those which contain a
water envelope contain in it a quantity more than sufficient for the consumption of
the generator during that period. They therefore do not require any tending
during that period when once fairly going.
While the water is being filled in afresh the work of the generator ought to be

page_text: suspended, and a little carbon mixed with cinder is thrown down by the door B at
the lower part of the fire. The stoppage of the generator during these operations
could be easily obviated by the employment of double folding doors, or a drawer, as
already employed in other industrial apparatus. A pump or injector can be used to
supply the feed water.
The dimensions given to the generator are proportioned to the quantity of gas
which is required to be furnished and with the time during which it is required to
work without feeding.
From the double point of view of first cost and maintenance it is desirable that
the diameter of the generator should not be greatly increased, but it should be
always of such size as to be scarcely heated. But if it is desirable to go above
certain limits, it will be indispensable to make a sufficient throttling to the blast of
the twyeres, in order that the humidity and the fumes of combustible shall
not escape their action. At the same time this throttling ought not to prevent the
regular descent of combustible.
With the advantages herein described, and the low price at which the gas can be
made, this new apparatus ought to be susceptible of numerous applications. One of
the most important will probably be in conjuction with the gas engines now so
largely coming into favour.
Another advantage of this application is in the small space it occupies, a generator
one metre fifty centimetres, say, four feet ten inches high, and fifty centimetres, say,
one foot eight inches diameter, is more than sufficient, in the opinion of Mr. Paillard,
to supply during ten hours an Otto engine of 16 horse power.
Besides the production of motive power this generator can yet be employed in
domestic heating, or in the industrial heating of furnaces, pipes, singeing apparatus,
and the like. In fine, the gas produced by my apparatus though of little illumi-
nating capacity, can still be employed for illumination, either by carburetting it or
by making the gas more from tars, heavy oils, crude fats, or resins, or, better still,
making the gas flame heat a coil of platinum wire, as has been done with
hydrogen.
Having now described the Invention as it has been communicated to me, I wish
it to be understood that what I directed to claim, and do claim as new is, a
generator producing its gas by means of the passage into the middle of the carbona-
ceous fuel of a mixture of air and water or oil, by means of an apparatus such as a
blast pipe producing an eddying movement of the gases of the same or a similar kind
to that caused by making them repass many times over the fuel, and becoming
reduced before being conveyed to the scrubber or washer. This gas being after-
wards employed in gas engines, heating, or in other industrial application.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of January in the year of our Lord
1870
W. P. THOMPSON. (L.S.)