A NEW METHOD OF MANUFACTURING Gas and GraphITE FROM MINERAL, VEGETABLE, AND ANIMAL COAL, AND FROM TAR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS."
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Karl Wenzel Zenger, Professor of Natural
Philosophy at the Polytechnic Institute of Prague, in Bohemia,
in the Empire of Austria, for the Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF
MANUFACTURING Gas and GraphITE FROM MINERAL, VEGETABLE, AND ANIMAL
COAL, AND FROM TAR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Karl Wenzel Zenger
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th August 1871.
I, KARL WENZEL ZENGER, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the
Polytechnic Institute of Prague, in Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GAS AND GRAPHITE FROM MINERAL, VEGETABLE,
"to be as
AND ANIMAL COAL, AND FROM TAR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS,'
follows:-
In the ordinary method of manufacturing gas considerable losses
in the yield of gas are sustained by the formation of certain bi-products

page_text: A
lost to distillation and produced by a faulty regulation of temperature
such
as tar, naphthaline, and others.
In my new method of manufacturing gas, the object of which is to
produce either illuminating or heating gas, and at the same time the
maximum quantity of graphite, the retort or generator is not allowed
to reach that degree of temperature under which the heavy hydrocarbon
gas is transformed into light hydrocarbon gas and into heavy liquid
hydrocarbons.
In the furnaces employed for my new process, which may be of the
'usual construction, the distillation of coal takes place in the usual
manner but at a much lower temperature in one portion or section of
the retorts, which I will call the generators. The products of distillation
· obtained in the generators are then carried over into the second section
of. retorts, which I will call the decomposers, and which are heated to
a much higher temperature, but not above 960° Centigrade, the melting
point of brass, whereby.the formation of tar, naphthaline, and similar
products is prevented, whilst heavy and light hydrocarbon gas is
obtained and graphite deposited. In order to offer the largest possible.
surface for contact, the retorts acting as decomposers are subdivided
by partitions, slabs, blocks, or lumps, which are formed in preference
of graphite or of coke dust mixed with tar, or the said slabs or blocks
may be made of any refractory material. One decomposer will act for
from one to three generators.
'
When the manufacture of graphite is the principal object, then tar
is used with the greatest advantage, inasmuch as it yields up to fifty
per cent. of its weight in graphite. For the purpose of charging the
tar, lumps of coke are saturated with tar, or powdered coke or graphito
are mixed with tar, and blocks, bricks, or slabs made therewith, which
are then introduced into the producers, or such blocks or slabs may
be formed of tar mixed with from thirty to forty per cent. of clay.
The gas produced under these circumstances is a light hydrocarbon
gas inferior for illuminating purposes, but of great heating power, and
when the process is well conducted no liquid hydrocarbon is produced.
The graphite obtained by my process may be used for all purposes
for which graphite or black lead is generally used, but I intend to use
it more especially for the manufacture of articles of refractory material,
such as crucibles, retorts, slabs, bricks, and, other objects, and also for
lining furnaces, vessels, and apparatus employed for the manufacturo

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Karl Wenzel Zenger in the Great Seal Patont
Office on the 26th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, KARL
WENZEL ZENGER, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Polytechnic,
Institute of Prague, in Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo
and grant unto me, the said Karl Wenzel Zenger, Her special licence
that I, the said Karl Wenzel Zenger, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Karl Wenzel Zenger, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " A NEW METHOD
of Manufacturing Gas and GrapHITE FROM MINERAL, Vegetable, and Animal
COAL, AND FROM TAR AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Karl Wenzel Zenger, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the naturo
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Karl Wenzel Zenger, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :—
In the ordinary method of manufacturing gas considerable losses
in the yield of gas are sustained by the formation of certain bi-products,

page_text: such as tar, naphtaline and others, which are the result of a faulty
regulation of temperature.
In my new method of manufacturing gas, the object of which is to
produce either illuminating gas or gas for heating purposes, and at tho
same time the maximum quantity of graphite, the retort or producer |
is not allowed to reach that degree of temperaturo under which the
heavy hydrocarbon gas is transformed into light hydrocarbon gas and
into heavy liquid hydrocarbons.
In the furnaces employed for my new process, and which may be of
the usual construction, the distillation of coal takes place in the usual
manner but at a much lower temperature in onc portion or section of
the retorts, which I will call the producers. The products of distillation
obtained in the said producers are then carried over into the second
section of retorts, which I will call the decomposers, and which are
heated to a much higher temperature, but not above 960° Centigrade
the melting point of brass, whereby the formation of tar, naphtaline;
and similar products is promoted, whilst heavy and light hydrocarbon
gas is obtained and graphite deposited. In order to offer the largest
possible surface for contact the retorts acting as decomposers are sub-
divided by partitions, slabs, blocks, or lumps which are formed in
preference of powdered graphite or of coke dust mixed with tar, or the
said slabs or blocks may be made of any refractory material. Onc
decomposer will act for from one to three producers.
:
When the manufacture of graphite is the principal object, tar offers
the greatest advantages inasmuch as it yields up to fifty per cent. of
its weight in graphite. For the purpose of charging the tar lumps of
coke are saturated with tar, or powdered coke or graphite are mixed
with tar, and blocks, bricks, or slabs made therewith, which are then
introduced into the producers, or such blocks or slabs may be formed
of tar mixed with from thirty to forty per cent. or more or less of clay.
The gas produced in this manner is a light hydrocarbon gas inferior
for illuminating purposes but of great heating power, and when the
process is well conducted no liquid hydrocarbon is produced.
By the addition of clay, hydrate of lime, or of hydrated oxyde of
iron into the retorts, a considerable increase of hydrogen gas is
obtained, whereby the heating power is much augmented. The
water at a red heat forming carbonic acid with carbon, hydrogen
gas is liberated, and as the additional quantity of the latter will take

page_text: up any remnant of heavy liquid hydrocarbons, the illuminating power.
is likewise increased.
The graphite obtained by my process may be used for all purposes
for which graphite or black lead is generally employed, but I intend
to use it more especially for the manufacture of articles of refractory
material such as crucibles, retorts, slabs, bricks, and other objects, and
also for lining furnaces, vessels, and apparatus employed in the manu-
facture of iron, steel, glass, and in other processes where a high
temperature is required.
When the quantity of graphite deposited is large enough to require
removing, that portion adhering to the partitions formed of coke or of
clay as above described may either be separated from or crushed and
ground up together with the same, according to the purposes for which
the graphite may be intended...
What I claim as the Invention to be secured to me by the hercin in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The use of a lower temperature for the. production of the
gas and other products, and of a higher temperature for the decom-
position of the same, in the manner and for the purposes as described.
Secondly. The use of partitions in the retorts for the purpose of
collecting the graphite, in the manner and for the purposes as
described.
"Thirdly. The use and application of graphite in whatever way pro-
duced or obtained, whether in the shape of bricks, blocks, or slabs, or
in the shape of powder, paste, or other condition, and whether mixed or
combined with clay or other substances or ingredients, or whether
without any admixture for the purpose of forming parts of the interior
of furnaces or of lining or feltling.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Karl Wenzel Zenger, have here-
-unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February,
in the voor of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.