Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of
Illuminating Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY FERGUSSON, of Batavia Buildings, Hackins Hey, Liverpool,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has mainly for its object the production of illuminating gas of
higher candle power and greater volume from a given quantity of coal than is now
produced by the ordinary processes employed; that is to say, to produce a gas of
high illuminating power and of a large volume from ordinary coal, without the use
of cannel.
According to this invention, coal is distilled in a plurality of ordinary retorts, or
equivalent retorts, and carried up to and through liquid in a hydraulic main wherein
the heavier portion of the tarry vapours, or some of them, are deposited. The
gas, that is the combined volume of several retorts, with the remaining uncondensed
vapours, is then conveyed from the hydraulic main and passed through a duct or
chambers, the temperature of which is comparatively low, especially at the outlet,
that is, materially lower than the temperature at which the coal distilling retorts
are maintained. In passing through this duct, the tarry vapours are distilled along
with the non-permanent or insufficiently distilled gases, and converted to permanent
gas, which, along with the rest of the gas then passes out of the duct through a
cooling pipe or passage on the outlet portion of the duct, by which the temperature
of such gases is reduced, and the prevention of deposition of pitch or other hard
carbonaceous substances on its surface, or in the conduits into which it delivers.the
gases, is effected.
The temperature of the duct is controlled by suitable dampers so arranged that
the quantity of heating gases admitted to the chamber in which it is placed, is
controlled, and any portion or portions of such chamber cut off. The heating of
the duct may be effected, if desired, by the gases leaving the retort beds after
having heated the retorts therein.
In this process, it will be seen, that coals are distilled in retorts kept at a high
temperature. The resulting gases are then led to a liquid seal, such as a hydraulic
main, and the whole body of the gas with the tarry vapours is then subjected to a
reheating or second distillation at a comparatively low temperature, whereby the
tarry vapours and non-permanent gases are converted into permanent gas in the
presence of the other or bulk of the gas, and then the whole combined volume is
artificially cooled upon leaving the relicating duct.
Liquid tar may also be used under this invention, with advantage, as by its use
the quantity and quality of the gas produced is further increased.
The gas is treated in the same way as above described and led through the
hydraulic main, but tar is introduced into the duct and gasified. The duct or ducts
is or are, in this case, preferably built apart, and heated by a separate furnace of
their own, and so arranged as to be able to control the heat, and do so without
interfering with the retort benches.
The gas from the hydraulic main from the ordinary retorts may be passed into
the duct along with tar, into or near that end of the duct which is hottest, and
where the heat is sufficient to gasify the tar; but it is preferable to allow the tar
alone to enter the duct at this point where the duct is hottest, and let the gas from
the coals into the duct further along where the duct is cooler, when the two gases
mix and travel along together through the duct at a graduated temperature, till
they reach the water jacket as before described.

page_text: No more tar must be run into the duct than can be gasified, hence the more
heat in the duct where the tar falls, the more tar will be gasified, and vice versa.
When this invention is applied to, or used in connection with, ordinary gas
making processes and plant, the combined volumes of gas produced in one, two, or
more beds of retorts, may be led to and treated in one reheating duct; and the
retorts of the beds may be charged in rotation, so that the gas being introduced
into the duct is practically constant in quality and quantity.
Although this invention, as above stated, is mainly intended to be used to
dispense with the use of cannel coal, entirely, yet it may be used in cases where
cannel coal is being used, in which case (and even in cases where only ordinary
coal only is used) the high-power illuminating gas which would be produced, and
which would be above the requirements as to quality, may have its quality reduced
by diluting it with hydrogen, producer gas or other diluent, to bring it down to the
required standard, the diluent can be let into the duct with the coal gas, or at other
points.
The invention may be applied to different arrangements and beds which exist or
may be erected in different gas works and applied to cases where anti-dips are
employed and it may be modified in different ways to suit the different or varying
conditions under which it may be used.
Dated this 7th day of August 1801
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Manufacture of
Illuminating Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY FERGUSSON, of Batavia Buildings, Hackins Hey, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Manager, 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:-
This invention has mainly for its object the production of illuminating gas of
higher candle power and greater volume from a given quantity of coal than is now
produced by the ordinary processes employed, that is to say to produce a gas of
high illuminating power and of a large volume from ordinary coal, without the
use of cannel.
According to this invention, coal is distilled in a plurality of ordinary retorts, or
equivalent retorts and carried up to and through liquid in a hydraulic main wherein
the heavier portion of the tarry vapours, or some of them, are deposited. The
gas, that is the combined volume of several retorts, with the remaining uncondensed
vapours, is then conveyed from the hydraulic main and passed through a duct or
chambers, the temperature of which is comparatively low, especially at the outlet,
that is, materially lower than the temperature at which the coal distilling retorts
are maintained. In passing through this duct, the tarry vapours are distilled along
with the non-permanent or insufficiently distilled gases, and converted to permanent
gas, which, along with the rest of the gas then passes out of the duct through a
cooling pipe or passage on the outlet portion of the duct, by which the temperature
of such gases is reduced, and the prevention of deposition of pitch or other hard
carbonaceous substances on its surface, or in the conduits into which it delivers the
gases, is effected.
The temperature of the duct is controlled by suitable dampers so arranged that
the quantity of heating gases admitted to the chamber in which it is placed, is con-
trolled, and any portion or portions of such chamber cut off. The heating of the
duct may be effected, if desired, by the gases leaving the retort beds after having
heated the retorts therein.

page_text: In the process, it will be seen, that coal is distilled in retorts kept at a high
temperature. The resulting gases are then led to a liquid seal, such as a hydraulic
main, and the whole body of the gas with the tarry vapours is then subjected to a
reheating or second distillation at a comparatively low temperature, whereby
the tarry vapours and non-permanent gases are converted into permanent gas in the
presence of the other or bulk of the gas, and then the whole combined volume is
artificially cooled upon leaving the reheating duct.
Liquid tar may also be used under this invention, with advantage, as by its use
the quantity and quality of the gas produced is further increased.
The gas is treated in the same way as above described and led through the
hydraulic main, but tar is introduced into the duct and gasified. The duct or ducts
is or are, in this case, preferably built apart, and heated by a separate furnace of
their own, and so arranged as to be able to control the heat, and do so without
interfering with the retort benches.
The gas from the hydraulic main from the ordinary retorts may be passed into
the duct along with tar, into or near that end of the duct which is hottest, and
where the heat is sufficient to gasify the tar; but it is preferable to allow the tar
alone to enter the duct at this point where the duct is hottest, and let the gas from
the coal into the duct further along where the duct is cooler, when the two gases
mix and travel along together through the duct at a graduated temperature, till
they reach the water jacket as before described.
No more tar must be run into the duct than can be gasified, hence the more heat
in the duct where the tar falls, the more tar will be gasified, and vice versa.
When this invention is applied to, or used in connection with, ordinary gas
making processes and plant, the combined volumes of gas produced in one, two, or
more beds of retorts, may be led to and treated in one reheating duct; and the
retorts of the beds may be charged in rotation, so that the gas being introduced into
the duct is practically constant in quality and quantity.
Although this invention, as above stated, is mainly intended to be used to dispense
with the use of cannel coal, entirely, yet it may be used in cases where cannel coal
is being used, in which case (and even in cases where ordinary coal only is used)
the high-power illuminating gas which would be produced, and which would be
above the requirements as to quality may have its quality reduced by diluting it
with hydrogen, producer-gas or other diluent, to bring it down to the required
standard, the diluent can be let into the duct with the coal gas, or at other
points.
The invention may be applied to different arrangements and beds which exist or
may be erected in different gas works and applied to cases where anti-dips are
employed; and it may be modified in different ways to suit the different or varying
conditions under which it may be used.
In the drawings which illustrate my invention I. shew examples thereof, and in
these drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one of said examples; Figure 2 is a plan of
same Figure 3 is an outside end view and part cross section of same.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of another example of the
invention Figure 5 is a plan; Figure 6 is an end view; and Figure 7 is a
cross section at X X Figure 4.
With reference in the first instance to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the apparatus shewn
therein as regards the arrangement and mode of heating the duct is substantially
the same as that set forth in the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 15,947,
of 1889, granted to me, and therefore it is deemed unnecessary to describe this in
detail, and particularly as it is not necessary that the duct should be placed and
beated in the manner therein described. The duct is designated D; the retorts
are designated A; B is the brickwork or setting of the retorts; E is the cooling
pipe by which the gases are cooled artificially upon leaving D; a' are the ascension
pipes; H is the hydraulic main into which the gas is led in the ordinary way by
the ascension pipes a', dip pipes being employed as usual. I is a pipe connecting

page_text: the hydraulic main H with the lower chamber of the duct D; and J is the foul
main into which the gas passes after having been cooled in the pipe E.
It may be conveniently here stated that the cooling artificially of the pipe E
may be effected by jacketting and passing a cooling fluid, such as water or its
equivalent, through it; or it may be done in any other way.
C represents in dotted lines, an ordinary trapped or syphon tube device for
introducing tar into the duct D, said tar being adapted to fall onto the division
plate of the duct D, as shewn.
In operation, the gas made in the ordinary distilling retorts A, passes by way of
the ascension pipes a' into the hydraulic main H in the usual way. From here it
passes by way of the outlet pipe I into the lower chamber of the duct D, wherein
it passes to the back end of same, then up at the back end and through the upper
chamber thereof. Instantly upon leaving the duct D, it passes into the artificially
cooled pipe E, which is placed upon the mouth of the duct D, and is thereby cooled..
After leaving the pipe E, the gas passes to the foul main J, or other outlet.
The action and effect of this mode of treatment are that the gas first passes into
the hydraulic main in the usual way, wherein it deposits some of its condensible
matters. It is then conveyed with its tarry vapours or non-permanent gases, into
the heated duct D and passed through same, whereby these tarry vapours or non-
permanent gases are largely converted to permanent gas; the temperature, however,
of the duct D is much lower than that of the retorts, say from about 1000
to 1,300 degrees Fahr., this temperature being maintained to prevent injury of the
gas. And after this the gas is cooled as above specified.
In the arrangement shewn in the Figures 4 to 7, the duct D is set in a separate
setting B from the retorts and the gas is led from the hydraulic main by the pipe I
or 1. The temperature of the front part of the duct where tar is introduced by
the pipe C is preferably maintained at a greater temperature than at the latter half
of the duct, and this is regulated by opening or closing more or less the
dampers K K Thus in action, if tar be introduced through the pipe C into the
duct at the front and hottest end, it would be distilled; whilst the gas from
the hydraulic main being introduced through the pipe I, the two gases mix and
pass together through the cooler part of said duct, and thereby become permanent
and homogeneous. After leaving the duct they pass through the artificially cooling
passage E.
The temperature of that portion of the duct D lying between land
the end wall of the setting, may be about from 1000 to 1300 degrees Fahr.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The arrangement or construction of apparatus for making illuminating gas as
herein described and set forth with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings;
that is to say, an arrangement wherein coal is distilled in ordinary retorts at a
relatively high temperature, the resulting gas conveyed up into a hydraulic or
equivalent main, and then conveyed therefrom and passed through a reheating duct
or chamber at a lower temperature such as specified.
2. The arrangement and construction of apparatus for making illuminating gas
as herein described and set forth with reference to Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings;
that is to say, a duct D in a continuous straight length, and adapted to be maintained
at different temperatures, at different parts, and having the tar introduced at the
front end, and illuminating gas in or about the middle of said duct.
Dated this 6th day of May 1892
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.