improvements in Gaseous Fuel producing apparatus
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 27th Aor., 1889
BENJAMIN HOWARTH THWAITE of 37 Victoria Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in Gaseous Fuel producing apparatus
and partly relates to former Inventions for which Letters Patent have been granted
to me and numbered 16,328, A.D. 1884, No. 4. A.D. 1885 and No. 15621,
A.D. 1886.
In order to produce a continuous supply of gas by the reaction-2 H₂O + 2 C=
4 H + O2 CO. I use two or three gas producing vessels placed side by side, and
connected to each other by valvular connections, which are so devised that one
movement will reverse all the valves, as well as the chemical reactions proceeding in
the two vessels, so that whilst in one vessel a blast of air or oxygen is blowing or
revivifying the coal therein, the other vessel which has its fuel in a condition of
incandescence, is being subjected to a steam blast, by which gas is produced by the
well known formulæ already given or 2H,O + 2 C= 4 H+2 CO, and this action
continues until the temperature of the fuel in second vessel falls below the degree at
which chemical action can take place.
The movement of the single valvular actuating lever, will reverse the cycle of
chemical operations in the two vessels, so that whilst one vessel is producing gas by
the reaction described, the other is undergoing the operation of revivification.-The
gas produced is led into a main for distribution. In its passage into this main it
may be directed through a steam generator or through an air recuperator chamber-
The products of combustion resulting from the revivification of the fuel can also be
led through a steam generator, or through air recuperator chambers. I may provide
two of these recuperator chambers through which the products of combustion of the
revivification of the fuel are alternately led. The air to support the combustion of
the fuel during revivification, (or to maintain where necessary the combustion of

page_text: the gas produced) is directed through these recuperative chambers and in its
passage the air becomes highly heated and thus adds to the calorific intensity of
combustion.
I preferably build the gas producing vessels above the ground and support them on
columns. At the bottom thereof or base and in and under the centre thereof of vessel,
I provide a clinkering door. The wagon for the removal of the clinkers is brought
immediately under this clinker door which I prefer to arrange so as to slide or turn
horizontally on hinges.
Un opening the clinker door the clinkers and residuum fall into the wagon. In
order to support the mass of fuel above the clinkers during the clinkering operation I
provide an arrangement that admits of firebars being driven through the fuel
immediately above the clinker door. When these bars are in place, the clinker wagon
may be removed and the clinker door closed, and fastened up by any well known retort
lid arrangement or by a simple cross bar and screw.
If I employ one vessel instead of two, I store the gas in a holder, so as to produce a
continuous supply in the mains.
In another modification of my Invention I use one generator or gas producing
vessel cylindrical in plan but with a base of larger diameter than the trunk. I prefer
to use rocking firebars of the type shewn in my patent Number 16,328, A.D. 1884
ог I may use a solid hearth in this instance I supply the oxidising blast through an
annular air space with perforations through the wall, and for which I may provide
tuyeres or an overhanging wall so that the oxidising blast is fed into the centre of
the fuel.
When I require the gas for gas motor or other purposes where cleanliness is a
required characteristic, I employ for the fuel anthracite or coke, and I may purify and
scrub the gas by any well known system.
For feeding the fuel into this gas generator I employ a radially movable coal
hopper which allows the fuel to be fed into it from the ground floor when it is inclined
from the vertical, and which can then be raised to a vertical position, and in this
position perfectly tight surfaces are provided and the upper or open part of feed
hopper is automatically closed-and the base of hopper which may be a sliding
plate or revolving shaft with radial blades can be worked so that the fuel may fall into
vessel without the operation being attended with the escape of gas.
I may use in scrubbing and purifying this gas, perforated asbestos screens, and I
may burn part of the gas produced in a tubulous steam generator, in order to generate
steam for producing the oxidising blast, or I may use for the oxidising blast to
generate a gas free from nitrogen, pure oxygen, produced by any well known process
such as that known as the Brin process.
In another form of my Invention for producing carbonic oxide gas, I construct the
hearth so as to be suitable for grates, or as a solid hearth, I form, projecting from
each side and opposite to each other, two triangular and cone shaped boxes provided
with perforations through their sides by which, the oxidising blast is distributed to the
centre of the fuel, these boxes being so fixed as not to interfere with the clinker
removal operation.
I may provide four grates radiating from the centre of vessel, each grate having its
own clinkering door and fuel charging hopper. Between the charging doors I
may fix the steam jet air inducer or blower so that the oxidising blast is equally
distributed.
I employ a special form of poking hole frame and plug piece which allows greater
play for the use of the poking bar.
For the clinkering doors I use a frame-work of iron lined with refractory material
fireclay or asbestos, and I project the doors some distance from the face of side casing
of gas generator.
When the fuel is of an inferior description such as lignite, I adopt a modification of
the duplex generator-for which letters patent have already been granted to me and
numbered 15621 A.D. 1886. I make the vessels about one third higher, and in
place of using steam for inducing an oxidising blast, I employ a Roots or other form

page_text: of blower or fan. The oxidising blast enters in one generator, at the base of the fuel
immediately over the clinkering doors, and ascends through the fuel which is raised to a
condition of bright incandescence. The gas evolved passes over a central wall dividing
the two generators, and descends through the fuel in the other generator vessel
escaping into an outlet at the base of the central wall which said outlet is provided
with a reversing valve by which the oxidising blast in the other generator is prevented
from entering the gas main.
The air blast supply is also provided with a reversing valve which is actuated by the
same spindle or shaft that controls the gas reversing valve.
Dated this 30th day of Annil 1000

page_text: CUMPLEIE DI MUITIVATION.
Improvements in Gaseous Fuel Producing Apparatus.
BENJAMIN HOWARTH THWAITE of 37 Victoria Street Liverpool 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 said invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing gaseous fuel.
Before proceeding to describe in detail the 7 sheets of drawings that accompany and
are intended to form part of this specification I wish it to be clearly understood that
.I do not wish to be confined to the exact details shewn therein as these may be
modified without departing from the nature of my Invention.
In sheet 1 of drawings figure 1 is a vertical section of one gas generating vessel,
and figures 2 and 3 a part elevation and section of a pair of gas generator vessels
acting in unison.
The modus operandi and reactions of the process of producing the combustible gases
and the apparatus therefor is described as follows
The carbonaceous fuel is fed into the gas generating vessel A by means of the fuel
feeding hopper B, which is provided with a sliding-plate C, and a hanging bell shaped
plug D, the latter is actuated by a counterbalanced lever E, the former by lever and
connecting links F. At the base of the fuel chamber there are two annular flues or
passages G and H; the one marked H is for the escape of the combustible gases
known by the technical name of water gas.
Forming the base or bottom of and supporting the fuel in the chamber is a door I
of the usual retort-lid form, opening horizontally on the pivot J and provided with a
screwing up arrangement K, for making the lid absolutely tight.
The arrangement for holding up the fuel when the door I is opened is as
follows
Clinker bars can be inserted into the fuel by moving a slide door M by which
openings into the fuel are exposed, and through which the clinker bars can be driven
through the fuel or clinkers; before however the bars are inserted, the clinkers and
ashes which have gravitated on to the door I are allowed to fall into the clinker
wagon N, suspended from projections O; After the clinkers have filled the wagon,
the clinker bars P are driven through the fuel, and support the super-incumbent mass,
after the wagon is released from its points of suspension, allowing the clinkers to be
removed.
The clinker door can now be re-closed and thoroughly screwed up.
The clinker bars P can be withdrawn, the side door reclosed and the processes
involved and hereinafter described for generating combustible gases can be continued.
The process of producing gaseous fuel is effected by the combination of two gas
generating vessels combined as shewn in figures 2 and 3.
The valve Q is intended for reversing the flow of the gas and steam alternately
from one and then from the other of the two generating vessels, such gas being

page_text: produced by the action of air blown through the openings in one case,
from the annular flue G, the air in passing through the fuel acts on the latter in a
condition of varying degrees of incandescence as follows-2 (NO + C) = 8N + 2 CO
-these gases escape by the valve Q into the main R-the air is forced or aspired in
an ascensional direction through the fuel until it is raised to a condition of bright
incandescence. During the period the air is being forced through the fuel in one
chamber in an ascensional direction, steam (H, O) is applied to the fuel in the other
generating chamber. The application of the steam is continued as long as the upper
portion of the fuel remains sufficiently incandescent for chemical action to take
place This chemical action is as follows, the steam H, O in contact with the incan-
descent carbon, is dissociated thus 2 (H, O+ C)= 4 H + 2 CO.
The steam valve S is so arranged that the reversal of the valve Q is effected
simultaneously with that of the steam valve S, the dotted lines shew the pipes leading
the steam into the upper part of vessel and the arrangement by which if desired the
steam may be made to aspire or produce a vacuum so that there will be no tendency
for the steam to enter into outlet gas main through valve Q.
The steam inlet may be arranged on the top lid of valve Q so that the reversal of
the latter distributes the flow of steam at the same time.
The air supply valve T distributes the air to the annular air flue of the two vessels
by means of connections U.
The air is blown or forced into the annular flue or air belt G by means of a Roots
blower or a similar mechanical contrivance, the air is blown first into and through
the valve T.
The water gas, produced by the reactions herein described escapes by valve W
a.ternately from one vessel and then from the other into pipe X from which the
water gas may be led to the holder or if necessary be scrubbed otherwise purified.
The whole of the reversal valves which may be oil or water jacketted, are reversed
simultaneously by means of the endless chain passing around sprocket wheels or
chain pulleys, fixed on the valve spindles. The generator vessels are supported
by columns Z.
In Sheet 2, Figure 3 illustrates a vertical section of a gas generating vessel intended
to work either independently as a gas producing apparatus or in conjunction with
other generators.
The fuel feeding hopper 1 in this arrangement has a lower chamber 2 intervening
between it and the arch 3 of generator 4, so as to preserve. it from the effect of the
hot gases evolved from the fuel.
To enable the exact height and condition of fuel to be ascertained, I provide a
series of sight holes 5, covered with hit and miss, tale and mica or other transparent
medium.
On each side of hopper I provide a poking hole tube 6-covered with a plug 7.
The base of generator chamber may be built as shewn, or in pyramidal form, or it
may be constructed as shewn in figures 4 and 5 in which said arrangement, 8 is the
annular flue for the introduction of air which passes through equally distributed
openings 9 of inner wall 10 into the fuel.
The generator may be provided with a water jacket or with air belt 11 in order to
recover heat radiated from side.
The valve 12 is provided with a water lined movable flap 13 which is intended for
reversing the direction of and closing the flow of the gases produced during the
revivifying or blowing up of the fuel with air and also of the steam supplied by
pipo 14 from a reversing valve 15, which is reversed simultaneously with the reversal
of the valve 12, the steam either flowing through the jet 16 at the top or upper
-or the steam
of an aspiratory tube 17 and thus inducing and forcing through the fuel-
is supplied to an engine driving a fan or Roots blower by pipe 174.
end
The air supply either induced or forced flows through the valve 18 (water lined)
into an annular space 19, from which by tuyere holes 20 it enters the fuel.
Instead of the arrangement of inducing or forcing the air to base of fuel, the
arrangement shewn in figure 6 may be applied.

page_text: In this arrangement the air is drawn through the fuel by means of an aspirator
the air may be exhausted or aspired through the fuel by means of the pipe shewn in
dotted lines.
Figure 7 is an elevation of generator shewing clearly the general arrangement of
valves, 23 is the pipe for leading away the combustible gases produced by the
application of air and 24 that for leading away the water gas.
The whole of the reversing valves are actuated simultaneously by the chain
wheel 25.
In the generator shewn in figures 8 & 9 figure 8 is a vertical section and
figure 9 an elevation, the air is induced by the steam jet aspirator 26, to flow
ascensionally through fuel in generator 27, the air enters into air jacket, 26* issues by.
pipe 28 and valve 29 and enters the fuel through air tuyeres 30.
The steam supply pipe which produces aspiration is connected to reversing valve 31
from which a pipe 32 leads or conveys the steam for producing water gas.
The valves are simultaneously reversed by an endless chain arrangement 33 and
sprocket or chain wheels 34.
Figures 10. 11. 12. and 13 sheet 4 of drawings shew respectively a vertical section,
a side elevation, a plan in section through valve and a part plan in section through
upper connection. In this arrangement the cycle of reactions is identical with that
shewn in my specification of the patent granted to me and numbered 15621 and dated
30th November 1886. In the two generator chambers 35 & 36, the fuel is first raised
to a state of incandescence, and then simultaneously, air is blown ascensionally through
the other vessel; the gases resulting from the air blast through the fuel flow through
an upper connection 37 in which steam pipes, 38 & 39 have their ende pointing one
towards one vessel 35 the other towards 36, both pipes lead from a reversing valve 40,
which is actuated by a chain passing round sprocket wheel on rotary valve 41 which
serves to reverse the flow of the combustible gases as well as the air blast.
The connection 37 may be made so as to act as an aspirator, as shewn in dotted
lines. By this arrangement the air can be drawn ascensionally through the fuel by
the aspiratory action of the steam jets.
Figures 14, 15. 16 and 17 on sheet 5 of drawings shew a modification of my twin
gas producer arrangement. The two chambers 42 and 43 are divided partially by a
mid wall 44; the outlet is effected from each chamber by hanging arches 45 one on
each side of mid wall the space 45 between forming the outlet.
There are four grates or sets of movable firebars which may be on the rocking
system; and two triangular grates of the fixed type.
The outside casing has an air belt 47 through which air is aspired by blowers 48.
I prefer to employ four feeding hoppers 49 this enables the fuel to be fed evenly
and an uniform level is easily maintained.
Instead of the triangular grates I may provide an arch 50 springing across from
over inlet from blower to midwall and sufficiently above the bottom floor of producer
to allow the air blast to permeate through fuel.
This latter arrangement is shewn by figures 18. 19 on sheets 5 and 6 of drawings.
In the arrangements shewn in sheets 4 and 5, the gaseous fuel produced is simply
that due to the following reactions or 2 NO + 2C 8N + CO, + C = 8N + 200
a mixture of Nitrogen and Carbonmonoxide, and the Hydrogen due to the steam
used for injecting or aspirating the air.
=
Figures 20 to 23 in sheet 7 of drawings shew the method adopted for injecting
air to the base of fuel for lignite or commoner qualities of combustibles The air is
blown through side tuyeres 51 which project a certain distance into the fuel, and are
connected by flue 52 formed under floor.
Having now particularly ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The arrangement for effecting the clinkering operation shewn in Figures 1, 2,
& 3 of sheet 1 of drawings.
Second. The arrangement of valves for the reversal of the direction of the flow of

page_text: the air steam and gases produced, for the purpose and substantially as herein shewn
and described and illustrated on figures 1. 2 and 3.
Third. The combination of two vessels for generating the gas technically known
as Water gas and their valves as shewn on Figures 2 and 3.
Fourth. The arrangements for effecting the induction or aspiration of air and
alternate directions of the flow of air and steam necessary for the production of
the gas technically known as water gas, substantially and for the purpose herein
described and illustrated in figures.
Fifth. The arrangement of generating vessels and valves applied as described and
shewn in figures and applied for the production of a gaseous fuel according to
the reactions described in my patent Numbered 15,621 and dated the 30th of
November 1886.
Sixth. The arrangement for effecting the clinkering by a part movable grate and
part fixed inclined grate as shewn in figures 14. 15 and 16.
Seventh. The combination of the method of injecting the air into the fuel by an
annular flue or by a central arch as shewn in figures 10 and figures 18 and 19.
Dated this 20th J
CT
1000
B. H. THWAITE.