Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Liquid Fuel.
Year: 1899

page_text: I, CHARLES WEYGANG, of 17, Park Place, Gravesend, in the County of Kent,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention comprises certain improvements in or relating to the manufacture
of liquid fuel and has reference to the soluble saponaceous mixtures produced by
processes described in various Patents already granted to me for inventions
relating to the same subject.
I first produce a more or less miscible or soluble saponaceous mixture prefer-
ably in the form of an oil, proceeding for this purpose substantially in a manner
as described in my Specification No. 3025 of 1894. For instance:-To a melt
of mineral oil and resin I add alkali in a gradual manner so as to keep the
mixture in an oily condition.
I thus produce a miscible oil and in order to render this more permanently
miscible or soluble I generally add a small percentage of soap or a fatty matter
which is readily saponifiable.
Of this miscible or soluble oil or saponaceous compound I add to ordinary
oils more particularly crude mineral oils a small proportion generally from five
to ten per cent. but my invention is not confined to these ratios which I have
stated by way of example as useful working proportions and not as defining the
limits of useful combination, the result being that such oil become readily
miscible with water at almost any stage of its future use.
In order to render such mixture more susceptible to future additions of water
I add water preferably softened with a little alkali and after thorough mixing
I allow the mixture to stand when a certain amount of water will separate leaving
the oil in the form of an emulsion which will readily mix with any further
quantity of water and which may be used as liquid fuel.
Dated the 17th day of February 1899.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Liquid Fuel.
I, CHARLES WEYGANG, of 17, Park Place, Gravesend, in the County of Kent,
Chemist, 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 comprises certain improvements in or relating to the manufacture

page_text: For
of liquid fuel by the emulsification of mineral oils and has reference to the
soluble or miscible saponaceous mixtures produced by processes described in
various Patents already granted to me more particularly Nos. 3025 of 1894
and 19243 of 1895. In the mixtures produced by my earlier processes the mineral
oils thereby rendered miscible with water have been strongly emulsified.
the purpose of liquid fuel however I find that the best results are obtained by
spraying into the furnace products which are only just sufficiently emulsified to
prevent the water readily separating from the oil. Such products I call "slightly
emulsified" oils although it will be understood that the emulsification is sufficient
to prevent the separation of the water and oil.
I have discovered two methods of producing an emulsion of this kind from
mineral oils, both of which have the advantage that only a small percentage of
the total weight of the resulting product is composed of other substances besides
mineral oil and water.
In my first process I add to ordinary mineral oil or per centum of linseed
oil or other easily saponifiable substance mixed thoroughly, and then gradually
add about one third to one half of soft water to which a very small proportion
of caustic alkali has been added so as just to give it a distinct alkaline reaction.
The mineral oil then readily emulsifies under energetic mixing.
If this mixture is allowed to stand some of the water will separate leaving
the desired emulsion floating at the top. This floating portion is then separated
and is the slightly emulsified oil which I find so suitable for mixing with water
and using as liquid fuel. It may after mixing with water be sprayed into a
furnace in any convenient manner such as for instance as described in my
Specifications Nos. 11,109 of 1896 and 20,597 of 1898.
It is essential to employ only the smallest possible proportion of alkali which
will give emulsification and the quantity required depends on the nature of
the oil. A larger proportion of alkali would produce a more strongly emulsified
product which would be not nearly so suitable as a liquid fuel.
It sometimes happens that some oils are more refractory to the above treatment
than others and such oils I find are rendered more amenable by first treating
them with a trace of acid.
The second method consists in producing a soluble saponaceous compound from
mineral oil and then mixing a small percentage of this with ordinary mineral
oil. If soft water slightly alkaline be added in the manner hereinbefore described
the mixing of any subsequent quantity of water is greatly facilitated.
To produce the soluble saponaceous compound from mineral oil which should
itself be an oil. I may proceed sulistantially in the manner described in my
Specification 3025 of 1894. To a melt of mineral oil and rosin or equivalent
saponifiable matter, I add alkali in a very gradual and intermittent manner so
as to keep the mixture in an oily condition."
I usually employ about one third of rosin to two thirds oil, melting the mixture
under heat, and preferably adding part of the alkali (more generally caustic
soda in a saturated solution) while the melt is hot and afterwards as much caustic
soda as the mixture will take up when cold.
To the soluble saponaceous compound thus produced I may add a certain
percentage of soap, of a fatty matter which is readily saponified, employing for
instance an oil soap in a proportion of 10 to 20 per cent. or a fatty matter easily
saponifiable in a proportion of 5 to 10%.
I add to ordinary oils, more particularly crude mineral oils and residues, a
small proportion, generally from 5 to 10 per cent. but my invention is not
confined to these ratios which I have stated by way of example as useful working
proportions and not as definite limits of useful combinations a proportion of about
7 to 8 per cent. gives excellent results.
By adding 5 to 10% of the compound thus produced to any ordinary mineral
oil the resulting mixture becomes readily miscible with water. But I prefer to
add about one third soft water rendered alkaline as hereinbefore described. Some

page_text: of this water separates on standing and the remaining compound is the desired
emulsion which is readily miscible with large proportions of ordinary water
before it is used as a fuel.
The aqueous mixture of oil is applied in the form of a spray on a bed of
incandescent fuel consisting of coal or other material substantially as described
in my Specification 11109 of 1896 and by apparatus there described, or by
apparatus described in my Specification 20597 of 1898 or any other convenient
means.
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:-
1st. For the purpose of a liquid fuel the producing of a slightly emulsified
mineral oil by mixing the same with water containing a minimum percentage
of alkali substantially as herein described.
2nd. For the purpose of making a liquid fuel the process of producing a
slightly emulsified oil which can be readily mixed with water, consisting in
mixing mineral oils, or residues with a small percentage of an easily saponifiable
substance such as linseed oil, and adding soft water which has a slight alkaline
reaction i.e. water containing a minimum percentage of alkali and allowing the
mixture to stand substantially as described.
3rd. For the purpose of a liquid fuel the process of producing a slightly
emulsified mixture of oil and water by mixing mineral or other oils or residues,
with a small percentage of a saponaceous product of mineral oil, then adding
water softened with alkali substantially as herein described.
4th. A mixture of oil and water for use as a fuel produced by adding to
ordinary mineral or other oil or residues, a small percentage of a more or less
soluble saponaceous product of mineral oil, and then adding softened water
substantially as herein described.
5th. A mixture of oil and water for use as a fuel produced substantially as
herein described.