IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OIL
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Young, of Clippens, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Oil Works Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES,
THE SAME BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OIL AND
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 29th March 1877.
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 29th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Young at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1877.
WILLIAM YOUNG, of Clippens, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Oil
Works Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL
AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE
MANUFACTURE OF OIL AND GAS."
This Invention which relates to improvements in the destructive distillation of
coal and other bituminous substances, is in part applicable to the manufacture of
oil and gas, and consists as follows:-
First. In producing or inducing the decomposition or destructive distillation of
coal, shale, or other bituminous substances, or other substance used for the pro-
duction of oil or gas by causing a rapid agitation or circulation of the volatile
products inside the retort or other distilling or decomposing vessel, either by means
of mechanical pistons or by the agency of jets of compressed gas, steam, or vapour,
with the object of bringing about a more regular and equal decomposition into oil
or permanent gas as may be desired, of the elements of the coal or other substance,
and in some cases, in increasing the volume of gases by the decomposition of steam
or vapours employed to produce the current, and also by blending or combining, or
carburetting the gases injected (to produce the currents) whilst in rapid agitation
or circulation in contact with the products of decomposition. The retorts or dis-
tilling vessels may be set vertically or horizontally, provided that arrangements
are made for a rapid agitation or circulation of the products of distillation through
or over the substance being or to be distilled.

page_text: Second. In improved means or methods of producing a rapid separation of those
condensible hydrocarbons from the crude gases, which it is desirable to remove in
the liquid form, and at the same time retaining in the gases the vapours of the
hydrocarbons, which are valuable for imparting to the gas a high illuminating
power. This is accomplished by causing the gas to pass through narrow passages
kept heated, these passages being preferably of a tortuous nature, causing the gas
to impinge or flow alternately from side to side, or by causing the crude gases to
impinge in narrow or minute streams against heated surfaces; or alternately the
crude gases themselves may be first highly heated and then passed through narrow
passages, or impinged against surfaces, whilst in this heated state, or by distributing
the gases and causing them to pass through small tubes or perforations in a series
of trays containing the condensed tars and other matters, through which the gases
are made to bubble by covering the small tubes or openings in the trays with
moveable caps or covers, such caps or covers being made of thin metal or other
substance in order that gas may lift them and cause them only to dip to a limited
extent in the tarry condensed matters, the gases and tars being kept in a heated
state.
Third. In sealing or luting the cover or door of retorts or distilling vessels, more
particularly of retorts used in the distillation of shale or other bituminous substanco
for oil, by having the door and the retort mouth turned, planed, or otherwise faced,
and a groove either in the door or retort mouth, or in both, into which steam or
compressed gas is passed at a pressure exceeding that inside the retort or distilling
vessol.
Fourth. In so arranging the method of conducting the distillation of shale or other
bituminous substance for tho manufacture of oil that the charging and discharging
doors may be closed by lids or covers similar to that employed in coal gas manu-
facture, and known as Morton's self-sealing lids. This part of the improvements is
effected by having the outlet for the pruducts of distillation placed immediately at
the doors or opening of retorts, so that any air that may find its way into the
retort does not require to pass through the substance being distilled, and at the
same time the outlet is kept so low that any oil condensed on the lid runs into it,
an exhaust being, by preferenco, kept on the retort during the time it is in
action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Young in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th September
1877.
WILLIAM YOUNG, of Clippens, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Oil
Works Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL
AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE
MANUFACTURE OF OIL AND GAS."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the destructive distillation of coal
and other bituminous substances, and is in part applicable to the manufacture of
oil and gas.
It consists, firstly, in producing or inducing the decomposition or destructive
distillation of coal, shale, or other bituminou substance used for the production of
oil or gas by causing a rapid agitation or circulation of the volatile products inside
the retort or other distilling or decomposing vessel, either by means of mechanical
pistons or by the agency of jets of compressed gas, steam, or vapour. The retorts or
distilling vessels may be sot vertically or horizontally, provided that arrangements
are made for a rapid agitation or circulation of the products of distillation through
or over the substance being or to be distilled.
And in order that this part of my said Invention inay be properly understood, I
now proceed to set forth the system, modo, or manner, in or under which the same

page_text: is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
In Figures 1 to 4ª, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawing, I have shown
various modes of carrying this part of my Invention into effect.
Figure 1 represents a section of a pair of horizontal retorts, in which the agitation
or circulation of the volatile products inside the retorts is effected or induced by
means of a piston A having reciprocating motion imparted to it through its rod a
by any suitable motor. On the motion of the piston the current of, the volatile
products will pass to and fro in the retorts through the connections B.
The brickwork of the retort is preferably continued around that part of the
retort in which the piston works, in order to protect the said retort at that part
from the direct action of the fire, as by so protecting it, that part of the retort is
less likely to loose its shape, and so prevent the free working of the piston.
In place of the piston A a jet of compressed gas or of steam or vapour may be
caused to issue into one of the connections B through the pipe b, indicated in dotted
lines, whereby a similar agitation or current of the volatile products is effected or
induced.
Figure 2 illustrates a double chambered retort in which the agitation or current
is effected or induced by a piston A working in the lower chamber. The partition C
is perforated, so that the current of volatile products on the working of the piston A
will pass through and over the substance under operation on the said partition.
A jet of compressed gas or of steam or vapour may be used in lieu of the
piston in this double chambered retort, as illustrated in Figure 3, in which the said
jet is introduced underneath the perforated partition B through the pipe D. The
said compressed gas or steam, or vapour, will pass through the substance under
treatment, and induce or effect the current or agitation of the volatile products of
distillation.
Figure 4 represents a section of a vertical retort in which the agitation or current
is effected or induced by a jet of compressed gas or of steam or vapour issuing from
the pipe D. In this Figure the jet is shown as issuing upward, but the pipe D
may be passed from the top of the retort and the jet be directed downwards, or the
jet may have other suitable or convenient direction.
A pipe E is supported in the retort to give a free passage for the current induced
by the jet, which current will pass upwards through the pipe and downwards
through the substance under treatment, or through a decomposing medium when
the latter is used. Or the current or agitation may be induced or effected by
dividing the vertical retort into two chambers by a partition, and the jet of com-
pressed gas or of steam or vapour being led by the pipe D into one chamber, will
cause the currrents to pass through the substance under distillation, or through the
decomposing medium when the jet of vapour is used, for instance, for the manu-
facture of water gas.
Figure 4a is a vertical section of a pair of vertical retorts, in which the agitation
or current is effected or induced after the manner shown with respect to the pair of
horizontal retorts, Figure 1. In this case the two retorts are connected by pipes or
passages B, and when a jet of compressed gas, steam, or vapour is employed to
effect or induce the agitation or current the said jet is led into one or other of the
pipes or passages B by a pipe, as at b. A piston may be employed in place of the
said jet, the said piston working in one of the pipes or passages B, as indicated in
dotted lines at A. The result of this agitation or current of the volatile products in
the retorts is a more regular and equal decomposition into oil or permanent gas, as
may be desired, of the elements of the coal or other substance, which in some cases
increases the volume of, or produces gases by the decomposition of steam or vapours
employed to effect the agitation or current of the volatile products, and also by
blending or combining or carburetting the gases injected to effect this agitation or
currents whilst in rapid agitation or circulation in contact with the products of
decomposition.

page_text: My Invention consists further in improved means or methods of producing in the
manufacture of gas a rapid separation of those hydrocarbons from the crude gases
which it is desirable to remove in the liquid form, at the same time retaining in the
gases the vapours of the hydrocarbons which are valuable for imparting to the gas a
high illuminating power. This is effected by causing the gas to pass through
narrow passages kept heated to a temperature of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit,
according to the boiling point of the vapours which it is desired to retain. I have
found that good results are obtained by simply keeping the surfaces impinged upon
by the crude gases surrounded by steam. The passages are preferably of a tortuous
nature, causing the crude gases to impinge or flow alternately from side to side, or
the crude gases may be caused to impinge in narrow or minute streams against
surfaces heated to a temperature of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit, as aforesaid, or
alternately the crude gases themselves may be first heated to a temperature of or
exceeding 150° Fahrenheit, as aforesaid, and then passed through narrow passages
or impinged against surfaces whilst in this highly heated state.
I am aware that the separation of the hydrocarbons which it is desirable to
remove from the crude gases has been previously effected by passing the gases
through minute perforations, and impinging them at a low temperature upon surfaces
of a low temperature insufficient to retain in the gas the valuable vapours of the
hydrocarbons which increase the illuminating power of gas, whereby both the hydro-
carbons, which it is desirable to remove, and the vapours of the hydrocarbons, which
it is desirable to retain, are separated from the gas, but by causing the crude gases
to impinge upon surfaces heated as aforesaid, or by previously heating the crude
gases, as aforesaid, the hydrocarbons which it is desirable to remove alone are
removed from the crude gases, and the vapours of the hydrocarbons which are
valuable for increasing the illuminating power of the gas are retained in the said
gas.
And in order that this part of my Invention may be properly understood, I now
proceed to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be carried into practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
Figures 5 and 6 are vertical and horizontal sections taken respectively on the
lines 1, 2, Figure 6, and 3, 4, Figure 5, of an apparatus constructed essentially in
accordance with the apparatus used in the method I have previously mentioned for
effecting the impingement of the crude gases upon surfaces of low temperature, but
with additions or modifications to fit it to be employed in effecting the impinge-
ment of the crude gases upon highly heated surfaces according to my Invention.
The crude gases pass from the hydraulic main through the pipe A into the chamber
B, and up a short trunk or chamber C into a bell-shaped vessel D, which vessel is
inverted over the chamber C, and dips into the condensed tarry matters contained
in a chamber of a corrugated figure E. An outer chamber or casing F surrounds
the corrugated chamber E, and steam is passed into the chamber through the
pipe f, whereby the corrugated walls of the chamber E are heated to a temperature
of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit, as aforesaid. The crude gases pass from the
inverted bell-shaped vessel D through small perforations d; these perforations being
opposite to those parts of the corrugated surface of the chamber E, which are nearest
to the said vessel D, the crude gases by impinging upon the said parts deposit those
hydrocarbons which it is desirable to remove, which drip down and overflow the
pipe C, and pass away to a tar well or other suitable place. The highly heated
surface of the chamber E will prevent the vapours of the hydrocarbons which it is
desirable to retain in the gas from passing away with the liquid, and the said
vapours will be retained in the gas, and will pass with it up through the passages
formed by the corrugations of the chamber E, and from the apparatus through the
pipe G to another one or more similar apparatus, in order that the hydrocarbons
may be further separated as may be desirable, and from the last of these apparatus
the said gas will pass to the condensers, where the surplus naptha may be
separated.

page_text: When in place of heating the chamber E the gases themselves are heated, as
before described, the outer casing F may be dispensed with, or the same object may
be effected by distributing the crude gases, and causing them to pass through small
tubes or passages in a series of trays containing the condensed tars and other matter
through which the gases are made to bubble by covering the tubes or passages with
moveable caps or covers, such caps or covers being made of thin metal or other
substance, in order that the gas may lift them, and cause them only to dip to a
limited extent in the tarry condensed matters. The tars and gases are kept at a
temperature of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit, as aforesaid, which will effect the
separation from the crude gases of the hydrocarbons which it is desirable to remove,
and at the same time allow the gas to hold the vapours of the hydrocarbons which
it is desirable to retain.
Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawings is an elevation, with the front plate
removed, of an apparatus suitable for this purpose. The casing contains a series of
trays, one above the other, as shown in elevation at A, A, each tray being constructed
after the manner of the lowest one, which I have shown in section. The crude gases
pass from the hydraulic main through the pipe B into the lower part of the casing,
and ascend through the bottom of the lowest tray by the short pipes b in the said
tray. These short pipes are each furnished with a moveable cover or cap c, which
is provided with a spindle, as shown at d, which spindles by the motion of the cap
caused by the gases will swing in the pipes 6 and prevent the clogging of the said
pipes. The caps c dip into the tar or matter in the trays, and the gases will pass
down between these caps and the exterior of the short tubes and will bubble through
the tarry condensed matters, which, together with the crude gases, are kept heated to a
temperature of or above 150° Fahrenheit, as aforesaid, by any suitable means, as for
instance, by a steam jacket surrounding the casing, as shown at H. In Figure 8 I
have shown, drawn to an enlarged scale, a portion of a tray A with a tube and cap,
by which the construction as herein-before described will be more clearly seon. By
the employment of the moveable caps or covers c the crude gases passing through
the short tubes b, will so raise the said caps as that the said crude gases will
always pass through the same or nearly the same depth of the tarry condensed
matters in the trays.
The gases from the first tray will pass in like manner through the tubes and
under the caps of the tray next above it, and so on through the series, and from the
topmost tray the gases will pass away by the pipe C, having in their passage (by
reason of the temperature at which the crude gases and the tarry condensed matters
are maintained as aforesaid) deposited the bydrocarbons which it was desirable
to remove, and retaining the vapours of the hydrocarbons which it is desirable to
retain.
The tarry matters deposited descend from tray to tray by overflowing pockets a, a,
depending from each tray and dipping into the tarry matters in the tray beneath.
The pocket of each tray is on that side of it opposite to that on which are the
pockets of the trays next above and below it; and each pocket has a lip projecting
to such distance above the bottoms of the trays, as will retain in the said trays the
requisite depth of the tarry matters. The tarry matters descending from the last
tray overflow the pipe D, and pass away to a tar well or other suitable place.
My Invention consists further in sealing or luting the covers or doors of retorts
or distilling vessels, more particularly retorts used in the distillation of shale or
other bituminous substance for oil, by having the door and the retort mouth turned,
planed, or otherwise faced, and a groove either in the door or retort mouth, or in
both, into which steam or compressed gas is passed at a pressure exceeding that
inside the retort of distilling vessel.
Figures 9, 10, and 11, of the accompanying Drawings illustrate the application of
this part of my Invention, in which Figure 9 is a vertical section of the mouth of a
vertical retort with this part of my Invention applied thereto; Figure 10 is a front
elevation of the same with (the door or cover removed, and Figure 11 is a side
elevation. In these Figures I have shown the aforesaid groove as being made in

page_text: the planed edge of the retort mouth; it is marked e, and steam or compressed gas
at a pressure exceeding that inside the retort or distilling vessel is passed into the
said groove through a pipe led into the socket f, the said steam or gas passing into
the said groove through the passage indicated in dotted lines, and marked g. It
will be readily understood without further illustration that the groove e may be a
formed partly in the edge of the mouth of the retort and partly in the door or cover,
or that it may be formed entirely in the door or cover.
My Invention consists further in so conducting the distillation of shale or other
bituminous substance for the manufacture of oil, that the charging or discharging
doors may be closed by lids or covers similar to that employed in coal gas manu- 1
facture, and known as Morton's self-scaling lids. This part of the improvements is
illustrated in Figure 12 of the accompanying Drawings, applied to the mouth of an
oil-distilling retort, and is effected by having the outlet I for the products of
distillation placed immediately at the door or opening of the retort, so that any air
that may find its way into the retort does not require to pass through the substance ]
being distilled. An exhaust is preferably kept on the retort during the time it is
in operation.
This arrangement is especially applicable to what are known as self-heating
retorts, where the residual fixed products are used as fuel for heating the retorts.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the systems or modes in which the saine is or may be used or carried
into practical effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Producing or inducing the decomposition or destructive distillation of a
coal, shale, or other bituminous substances, or other substances used for the produc-
tion of oil or gas, by causing a rapid agitation or circulation of the volatile products
inside the retort or other distilling or decomposing vessel, essentially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Producing a rapid separation of those hydrocarbons from the crude:
gases, which it is desirable to remove in the liquid form, and at the same time
retaining in the gases the vapours of the hydrocarbons, which are valuable for
imparting to the gas a high illuminating power, by causing the said crude gases to
pass through narrow passages or through small openings, and to impinge against
surfaces heated to a temperature of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit, according to
the boiling point of the vapours which it is desired to retain, as herein-before
described.
Thirdly. Effecting the objects stated in the last preceding or second claiming clause
by first heating the crude gases to a temperature of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit,
according to the boiling point of the vapours which it is desired to retain, and then 4
impinging them upon surfaces.
Fourthly. Effecting the object stated in the said second claiming clause by passing
the crude gases kept heated to a temperature of or exceeding 153° Fahrenheit
through tarry matters, kept heated to a temperature of or exceeding 150° Fahrenheit,
the temperature of both the said crude gases and the said tarry matters being
according to the boiling point of the vapours which it is desired to retain, essentially
in the manner herein-before described with reference to Figure 7 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fifthly. Providing the small tubes marked b, in Figures 7 and 8 of the accom-
panying Drawings, with the moveable caps or covers c.
Sixthly. Sealing or luting the covers or doors of retorts or distilling vessels by
forming a groove in the mouth of the retort, or in the door, or in both, into which
groove steam or compressed gas is passed at a pressure exceeding that inside the
said retort or distilling vessel, essentially as herein-before described.
Seventhly. So arranging the method of conducting the distillation of shale or
other bituminous substance for the manufacture of oil, that the charging or dis-
charging doors may be closed by lids or covers similar to that employed in coal gas

page_text: manufacture, and known as Morton's self-sealing lid, by having the outlet for
the products of distillation placed immediately at the doors or openings of retorts,
so that any air that may find its way into the retort does not pass through the
substance being distilled.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Young, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM YOUNG. (L.S.)