IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CARRONACEOUS MINERALS FOR THE ORTAINMENT. OFGAS, AMMONIA, AND OTHER USEFUL PRODUCTS; AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Neilson, Manager of the Walkinshaw Oil
Works, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, and Alexander Cunningham
Thomson, Chemist at the said works, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CARRONACEOUS MINERALS FOR THE ORTAINMENT.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Neilson and-
Alexander Cunningham Thomson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 7th October 1882.
.
ALEXANDER NEILSON, Manager of the Walkinshaw Oil Works, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, and ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM THOMSON, Chemist at the
said Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CARBONACEOUS
MINERALS FOR THE OBTAINMENT OF OIL, GAS, AMMONIA, AND OTHER USEFUL
PRODUCTS; AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
">
This Invention has for its object the treatment of certain carbonaceous minerals
in a manner to secure, more completely and advantageously than has hitherto been
done, the various useful products obtainable therefrom. The Invention is intended
to be applied to what is known as "Renfrewshire shale coal" but is also advan-
tageously applicable to carbonaceous minerals found in various places and which,
like the said shale coal contain a small proportion of iron.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification eight vertical retorts
of oblong form in horizontal section are placed in two chambers (containing four
retorts each) formed in a building with a furnace chamber between them. The
fire gases from the furnace pass into the chambers which constitute ovens for
heating the retorts and after being in contact with the retorts pass into outer
spaces or casings formed on three sides of each oven or chamber and thence to the
exit flue. Above the furnace there is a coil of piping through which steam is
passed for the purpose of being superheated and of being thereafter led into the
retorts. The retorts are built of firebrick and rest upon soleplates carried on brick
walls, and they are fitted with metal tops having covers or hoppers for introducing
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the minerals; and with exit pipes communicating with an hydraulic main for
leading the vapors and gases from the retorts:
In the space beneath each pair of retorts having their broad sides facing each
other, there is constructed a small cupola, made with its sides inclined so that the
bottom or hearth is smaller than the upper part. A tuyere is provided for
introducing a blast of cold or heated air at the lower part of the cupola, and
arrangements similar to those in use in smelting furnaces are mado for tapping or
withdrawing slag and molten metal. The superheated steam is also by preference.
introduced in one or more jets through the sides of the cupola at suitable parts
between the bottoms of the retorts and the bottom of the cupola.
In working with the improved apparatus hereinbefore described and after it has
been started fresh materials are introduced into the retorts by preference at
intervals such that about one half their capacity can be filled up; and the
materials in gradually descending through the retorts are acted upon partly by the
heat in the ovens and partly by the heated gases and vapors passing up through
them from below, the heat acting on the materials being the greater the further
they descend. The action of the blast at the bottom of the cupola causes the
complete decomposition of the carbonaceous constituents of the materials and
finally fuses the earthy constituents and also the iron, these last being drawn off' as
slag and as molten metal. If necessary some sand or lime or other suitable
materials may be added to the carbonaceous minerals to insure the fluxing of the
earthy matters and smelting of the iron.
The action of the superheated steam promotes the yield of ammonia and this
yield is made the more complete through the complete burning of the carbon or its
separation from the earthy and metallic constituents such complete combustion or
separation being due to or promoted by the air blast.
The apparatus herein before described is obviously susceptible of modification
without departing from the essential features of the Invention; thus the forms of
the retorts may be changed and the number of them arranged in connection with one
furnace may be greater or less than that hereinbefore mentioned, whilst each
cupola may be in connection with a single retort or with more than two.
The gases and vapors which pass off from the retorts are led through condensers
and other apparatus of known kinds for the separation of the various products and
the incondensible gas is partly used in the ovens for heating the retorts themselves
and is partly applied otherwise for supplying heat and light.

page_text: ;
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Alexander Neilson and Alexander Cunningham Thomson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th April 1883.
ALEXANDER NEILSON, Manager of the Walkinshaw Oil Works, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, and ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM THOMSON, Chemist, at the
said Works "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CARBONACEOUS
MINERALS FOR THE OBTAINMENT OF OIL, GAS, AMMONIA AND OTHER USEFUL
PRODUCTS; AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,”
"
Our
Our said Invention has for its object the treatment of certain carbonaceous
minerals in a manner to secure, more completely and advantageously than has
hitherto been done, the various useful products obtainable. therefrom.
Invention is intended to be applied to what is known as Renfrewshire shale
coal" but is also advantageously applicable to carbonaceous minerals found in
various places, and which, like the said shale coal, contain a small proportion
of iron.
In carrying out our Invention vertical retorts are used and the minerals being
supplied at the tops and moving downwards in a more or less gradual manner
are subjected to more intense heats at their lower parts than at their upper parts
and in proportion as the more volatile constituents are driven off or distilled.
We carry this increasing of the heat towards the lower parts to a greater degree
than has hitherto been practised and to the extent of fusing the earthy and
ferruginous residue with the aid of a blast of cold or heated air. In carrying out
our Invention according to some modifications we construct a cupola-like chamber
below two or more retorts and communicating with their bottom ends at its top;
and at the bottom.of the cupola we make arrangements similar to those in use in
smelting furnaces for tapping or withdrawing slag and molten metal. Provision
is also inade for introducing superheated steam in one or more jets through the
sides of the cupola at suitable parts above the blast tuyeres.
In working with our improved apparatus, and assuming that it has been started,
fresh materials are introduced into the retorts at suitable intervals; and the
materials in gradually descending through the retorts are acted upon partly by
the heat in the ovens or spaces surrounding the retorts, and partly by the heated
gases and vapors passing up through thein from below, the heat acting on the
materials being the greater the further they descend or the external beating may
be dispensed with. The action of the blast at the bottom of the cupola causes the
complete decomposition of the carbonaceous constituents of the materials, and
finally fuses the earthy constituents and also the iron, these last being drawn off
as slay and as molten metal. If necessary some sand or lime or other suitable
materials may be added to the carbonaceous minerals to insure the fluxing of the
earthy matters and smelting of the iron. The action of the superheated steam
promotes the yield of ammonia and this yield is made the more complete through
the complete burning of the carbon or its separation from the earthy and metallic
constituents, such complete decomposition or separation being due to or promoted
by the air blast.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append three sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing modifications of apparatus
to be employed in effecting our improvements.
Figures, 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings are vertical sections

page_text: as at right angles to each other of one arrangement of retorts for carrying out our
Invention. Figures, 3, and 4, on sheet, 2, are vertical sections as at right angles
to each other of a second modification which is the one we prefer to adopt when
constructing entirely new apparatus. Figure, 5, on sheet, 3 is a sectional plan
corresponding to figures 3, and 4, and figure, G, is a vertical section of a third
modification. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repented.
In figures 1, and 2, the retorts, 7, or portions of the chambers above the cupolas
are shown constructed as designed or invented by us some years ago; but having
had these parts or retorts in use some time we do not claim them as covered by
the herein before in part recited Letters Patent so far as their use as more retorts
is concerned and when uncombined with the lower cupola-like parts. It will
however facilitate the explanation of our present improvements if we first describe
the retorts, 7, as designed by us and as formerly used by us. The retorts, 7, which
are of oblong form in horizontal section are arranged in sets of eight, cach such set
being placed in two chambers, 8, (containing four retorts each) formed in a building
with a furnace chamber, 9,.between them. The fire gases from the furnace, 9, pass
into the chambers, 8, which constitute ovens for heating the retorts, 7. and after
being in contact with the retorts pass into outer spaces or casings, 10, formed on
three sides of each oven or chamber, 8, and thence to the exit flue, 11. Above tho
furnace, 9, there is a coil, 12, of piping through which steam is passed for the
purpose of being superheated, and of being thereafter, led into the retorts. The
retorts, 7, are built of firebrick and rest upon sole plates, 13, carried on brick
walls; and they are fitted with metal tops, 14, having hoppers and covers, 15, for
introducing the minerals, and with exit pipes, 16, communicating with an hydraulic
main, 17, for leading the vapors and gases from the retorts. The left-hand halves
of figures 1 and 2, show the retorts, 7, as used by us before they were modified
and added to for the purposes of our present Invention and the right-hand halvus
of those figures show how we have adapted these retorts for carrying out our
present improvements, according to one modification.
In the space beneath each pair of retorts, 7, having their broad sides facing each
other, we construct a small cupola, 18, made with portions of its sides inclined so
that the bottom or hearth, 19, is smaller than the upper part. A tuyero, 20, is
provided for introducing a blast of cold or heated air at the lower part, 19, of the
cupola, and arrangements similar to those in use in smelting furnaces are made for
tapping or withdrawing slag and molten metal. The superheated steam' is
introduced from main pipes, 21, through branches, 22, having regulating stopcocks,
into small flues formed with orifices, 23, in the inclined sides of the cupola, 1$.
When the apparatus is converted in this way for the purposes of our present
Invention the sole plates, 13, are dispensed with, and the parts between the retorts
which do not rest on the side walls of the cupola are supported by an arch, 24,
thrown across the upper part of the cupola.
Our improved apparatus is obviously susceptible of modification without
departing from the essential fentures of our Invention; thus the forms of the
retorts (7) may be changed and the number of them arranged in connection with
one furnace may be greater or less than hereinbefore mentioned, whilst each
cupola (18) may be in connection with a single retort or with moro than two.
In the modification shown in figures, 3, 4, and 5, and which as already
mentioned we prefer when constructing entirely new apparatus, the cupola or
chamber, 18, is constructed in brickwork from ten to twelve feet in height and
about five feet square at the top in. horizontal section, its four sides. tapering
inwards below a vertical part or dip of about two feet, and terminating in a hearth
about twenty inches square, the bottoin of which slopes downwards from.back.to
front. At the top of and directly over the cupola chamber, 18, brick arches, 24, arc
built across from front to back to assist in carrying small vertical brick retorts, 7;
preferably three in number with spaces, 8, between and around each in communi-
cation, with one another and forming an oven in which gas is burned for heating

page_text: the retorts, such gas either being obtained from the special combustion of fuel in a
furnace or grate (9) or being the permanent gas or a portion thereof, which is
evolved from the; materials treated, in the retorts. The retorts, 7, are about three
feet six inches high and about four feet by eight or nine inches in horizontal,
section, and are provided with iron tops, 14, with hoppers and valves or covers, 15.
The iron tops, 14, of the two outermost of each set of three retorts have connecting,
pipes cast on them so as to communicate with the middle retort top, 14, from
which one pipe, 16, serves for leading off the gases and vapors from all three
retorts: A little above the bottom of the hearth, 19, and at the front thereof
there is placed a tuyere, 20, (or tuyeres may be placed at each side of the hearth)
for the injection of a cold or heated air blast, the tuyere if of metal being of the
kind formed for the circulation of water round it to prevent it from being.
overheated. About eighteen inches above the tuyere, or tuyeres; 20, there are at
each side of the cupola orifices, 23, for the introduction of the steam which may be
soft or superheated. In a bench of these combined' retorts and cupola it is
convenient to arrange them in two rows, of chambers, back, to back, and
separated by a partition wall in which may be formed the flue for leading to the
chimney the spent gases used in the spaces, 8, for heating the retorts.
In starting operations with this apparatus the chamber or cupola, 8, under the
retorts, 7, is filled with coke, or the partially spent material containing carbon, a
sufficiently combustible material being placed in the hearth, 19. A fire is then
kindled in the material in the hearth and a little blast is turned on; and when the
whole mass in the cupola, 18, has reached a bright red heat as well as the retorts, 7,
at the top, a charge of fresh materials, is introduced through the hoppers, 15, and
these hoppers are then closed and sealed, and the valve opened to give communi-
cation with the hydraulic main, 17. The steam jets at the sides of the cupola and
the air blast are now turned full on so as to completely fuse the spent material or
earthy and metallic residue as it gradually descends to the hearth. The charge in
the retorts, 7, gradually descends into the lower chamber or cupola, 18, and by
means of small ports, 25, in the walls of the building immediately below the
arches, 24, the operation can be observed, and if necessary any large agglomerations
of the materials can be broken up by introducing a rod, and the materials be
thereby rendered more susceptible to the action of the steam and ultimately to
the action of the blast. When the materials are of a kind tending to agglomerate
the retorts, 7, may be formed, as shown, with partitions subdividing their interiors
vertically.
The modification shown in figure, 6, of the accompanying drawings comprises a
form of retort which we have designed and used (but without our present
Invention) some time prior to the date of the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent. Each retort, 7, which is about sixteen feet in height is complete in itself
is made with an inclined bottom, 26, and with a door, 27, at the side to give egress
to residuary materials. We formerly supplied the steam to these retorts by
admitting it into spaces, 28, beneath the inclined bottoms, 26, from which spaces
it found its way upwards through perforations in the inclined bottoms. For the
purposes of our present Invention we insert tuyeres, 20, for the introduction of the
air blast, and we provide for the introduction of the steam at a higher level.
In all the modifications of apparatus designed for carrying out our Invention
the gases and vapors which pass off from the retorts are led through condensers
and other apparatus of known kinds for the separation and utilisation of the
various products; and the incondensible gas is partly used in the ovens for heating
the retorts themselves, and is partly applied otherwise for supplying heat and
light. We believe that by our Invention the following advantages are attained-
namely a larger yield of valuable tar, an increased yield of ammonia, a large
production of heating gas, and the obtainment of iron from the residue.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated but that what we believe to be novel

page_text: and original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of thọ
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The improved system of treating Renfrewshire shale and similar carbonaccous
minerals for the obtainment of oil, gas, ammonia, and other useful products,
wherein the residues are fused after volatile matters have been gradually driven
off from them substantially as herein before described.
2. The obtaining of iron from Renfrewshire shale coal and similar carbonaceous
minerals substantially in the manner herein before described.
3: The improved apparatus for trenting oil yielding minerals for the obtainment
of oil, gas, ammonia, and other useful products, and consisting of upper vertical
retorts combined with lower chambers or cupolas and with blast tuyeres and
accessory parts for fusing and withdrawing the earthy and metallic residues
substantially as herein before described.
.In Witness whereof, we, the said Alexander Neilson and Alexander.
Cunningham Thomson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this third
day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-three
ALEX NEILSON (L.S.)
A. C. THOMSON.
A.-C.
(LS.)