Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
I STEPHEN WARNE VAN SYCKEL, of No. 18 North Ninth Street, in the City
of Newark, in the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, United States of
America Manufacturer of Gas Apparatus, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for
the manufacture of gas for illuminating and heating purposes; and more particularly
for the manufacture of gas from oil and steam.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a cross-sectional view of a gas-generating furnace, embodying
my invention, together with its accessory scrubber and exhauster, some of the parts
being shown in elevation ;
Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the gas-generating furnace ;
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section and partial elevation of the same;
and
Figure 4 represents, in longitudinal section, and on a larger scale, the
construction of the preferred form of burner or injector used in connection with
my invention.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several
views.
Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates the brick lining or masonry work of a gas
generator, mounted upon a suitable foundation 6, and provided with a gas-tight
metallic casing 7. At the bottom of the generator is a basal chamber formed by
the arch 8, and accessible by means of the closing plate 9. Within this basal
chamber is contained a body of refractory checker-work fire-brick 10, piled up as
shown so as to present a large heating surface.
At its extreme end the basal chamber communicates with the proximate ends of
a set of horizontal multiple flues located side by side, and discharging into a cross-
flue 11 which in turn communicates with the ends of a similar set of horizontal
multiple flues, discharging into a like cross-flue 12. Additional superposed sets of
horizontal multiple flues having connecting cross-flues 13, 14, are likewise arranged
within the generator, the several superposed sets of multiple flues being thus
connected in zig-zag order back and forth across the generator. It will be noted
that the flooring or horizontal partitions between the sets of flues are made up of
single courses of fire-brick, laid upon their flat faces, and that the dividing walls
between the members of each sets of flues are made up of single courses of fire-brick
set edge-wise and spaced apart so as to form the flues. In this manner, I am
enabled to provide flues of the desired uniformity and regularity, the work of
construction being of great simplicity, and involving a minimum amount of skill
and labor on the part of the workmen employed to build up or repair the flues. At
the same time, the multiple flues expose a large heating surface to the passage of the
gases and products of combustion passing through them in the operation of the
invention.
At the upper part of the furnace, I construct a super-heater consisting of a series
of flues connected with the cross-flue 14, and of varying heights. These flues 15
are surmounted by an arch 16, and the partitions between the said flues present a
largely increased extent of heating surface to that of any one of the sets of horizontal
multiple flues 17 below them. They are located at the point where the products of
combustion leave the generator, and, by reason of the large extent of heating
Burface referred to, they absorb and retain a very large volume of heat, while at
ID 71

page_text: the same time not materially interfering with the draft of the generator, as would
be the case if the smaller flues below were continued in zig-zag order to the full
height of the generator. The dividing walls, moreover, serve as an additional
means of support to the arch 16, and thereby add strength and stability to the
general structure. The casing 7 is provided with a removable plate 18, upon whose
removal, the flues may be made accessible for repairs, by breaking down and
removing a part of the masonry at the front of the generator.
The flues 15. discharge into a cross-flue 19 from which projects a stack 20, for
discharging the products of combustion into the atmosphere, said stack being
provided with a weighted valve 21 having a pivoted lever 22 and operating rod 23,
whereby the stack may be closed gas-tight during the gas-making stage of the
operation. A gas exit pipe 24 also communicates with the said cross-flue 19 and is
provided with a shut-off valve 25 of any suitable pattern, adapted to be closed by the
operating rod 26 during the heating up stage of the operation. The gas-exit
pipe 24 enters a suitable scrubber, as 27 and dips below the water-level therein as
shown, said water level being kept constant by a seal 28. In the form of scrubber
illustrated in the drawing the gas on its way to the pipe 29 leading to the holder, is
broken up by the grid-like structure 30, made up of wooden bars laid in alternate
courses opposite in direction and spaced apart as shown. A perforated spray
pipe 31 distributes a shower or spray of water upon the structure 30 and the gases
rising through it, and effects the condensation and removal of condensible and sooty
particles from the gas. To establish and maintain a proper exhaust during the gas
making stage of the operation, I employ a steam jet 32 within the pipe 29 and
located in front of a contraction in said pipe.
Within the basal chamber or combustion chamber 33, I insert the discharge ends
of two injector burners, preferably of the type illustrated in Fig. 4. I do not
confine myself to the specific form of injector burner shown, as
may employ a
different arrangement of oil and steam injector than that illustrated. I prefer,
however, the employment of the particular injector referred to, as I have secured
my best results when employing the same.
The construction of the injector will be readily understood. It consists of a
steam jet 34 supplied from a steam pipe 35, said steam jet having its discharge
orifice located above an oil supply pipe 36 so as to draw oil up from said pipe and
project it into the oil and steam mixing pipe 37. The pipe 37 is surrounded by
a concentric pipe 40 supplied with air, preferably pre-heated by means of the
pipe 41.
With a given steam pressure, this injector burner can be set to supply a
flame of the desired calorific power.
The steam supply may be derived from any suitable generator and is supplied
through a pipe 42 which is provided with a continuation 43 imbedded in the masonry
of the generator above the arch of the basal chamber 33; so that the steam in
passing through the pipe extension 43 will be heated to a high temperature, but
without 43 being brought into contact with the products of combustion so as to be
oxidized thereby. A branch pipe 44 from the steam supply pipe connects with the
depending pipes 35 leading to the injector burners, and a pipe 45 supplies crude
petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbon of a like character to the oil inlet pipe of
the injector burner. It will be noted that suitable valves are provided for
controlling, regulating or entirely cutting off the flow of steam or oil through
the several pipes, according to the necessities of the case.
The operation of the invention is as follows: The stack valve being opened, a
small fire is started in the combustion chamber 33 by means of waste or other
material. Steam is then admitted through the inlet pipe 42, super-heater 43,
branch 44 and depending pipe 35, into the injector burners. The steain draws in
oil from the oil supply pipes of the injector burners, and together with said oil
issues through the opening in front of the jet nozzle, and finally issues into the
combustion chamber, drawing in with it a quantity of air through the surrounding
air pipe. The mingled jet of steam, oil and air becomes ignited and produces a
flame of intense heat. The supply of air, may, if desired, be further increased

page_text: by opening the door of the combustion chamber to a greater or less extent. The
flame from the injector burners strikes the mass of checker-work fire-brick within.
the combustion chamber and rapidly brings it to a high state of incandescence,
generally approximating a cherry-red heat, and sometimes exceeding that degree,
according to the particular character of the hydrocarbon employed. The products.
of combustion pass from the combustion chamber in a zig-zag direction through
the super-posed sets of multiple flues 17 and in their passage through said zig-zag
sets of multiple flues, they give up to the walls thereof a great quantity of heat;
finally the products of combustion pass through the single set of super-posed
flues 15 imparting to the more extended surface of the latter practically all of
their remaining available heat, and finally passing out through the stack into the
atmosphere. When the apparatus is brought to the requisite degree of heat for.
decomposing steam and oil and re-combining their constituent elements into.
permanent fixed gases, the supply of steam, oil and air is temporarily cut off from
the combustion chamber, thereby extinguishing the fire therein. The door
to the combustion chamber and the stack-valve are also closed, and thereupon
steam and oil but not air, is admitted through the injectors into the combustion
chamber. The jets of steam and oil thus admitted strike the highly heated
refractory material in the combustion chambers and are decomposed thereby into
gases which pass through the flues 17 and 15, and the exhauster is put in operation.
The gas thereupon passes to the scrubber and thence into the gas holder. The
gas on its passage through the flues 15 and 17, becomes fixed and combined into
permanent gas of high candle power.
At the conclusion of the gas-making run, which generally lasts from about
twenty to twenty-five minutes, under normal conditions, the apparatus is heated
up as before, preliminary to a succeeding gas-making run. The apparatus is
thus used alternately in preparing for the making of gas, and in the actual
making and storing of the gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A gas generator, provided at its base with a combustion chamber having a
filling of refractory material; a series of superposed sets of horizontal multiple
flues communicating with the combustion chambers, the members of each set being
arranged side by side, and opening at their ends into a cross-flue which in turn
communicates with the proximate ends of the next succeeding set; a super-
heater composed of a set of multiple flues having flue walls of varying heights
surmounted by an arch; and oil and steam supply pipes entering the combustion
chamber; substantially as described.
2. A gas generator, provided at its base with a combustion chamber having a
filling of refractory material; a series of super-posed sets of multiple horizontal
flues the flooring between each set being made up of single courses of fire-brick
arranged between the floorings and spaced apart to form the flues; cross-flues at
alternately opposite ends of the multiple horizontal flues thereby connecting the
sets in zig-zag order; a super-heater composed of a set of multiple flues separated
from each other by fire-brick walls of varying heights, surmounted by an arch;
and oil and steam supply pipes entering the combustion chamber, substantially as
described.
3. A gas generator, provided at its base with a combustion chamber surmounted
by an arch and having a filling of refractory material; a steam pipe, having a
portion of its length embedded in the generator above said arch, so as to be
subjected to heat therefrom but protected from the products of combustion,
and having a branch extending along in front of the generator and depending pipes
from said branch; oil injector burners entering the combustion chamber and
supplied with steam by the depending pipes; an oil pipe for supplying oil to said
injector burners; super-posed sets of multiple flues communicating with the

page_text: combustion chamber and connected in zig-zag order; and a superheater composed
of a set of multiple flues having flue-walls of varying height, surmounted by an
arch; substantially as described.
4. A gas generator comprising a basal combustion chamber surmounted by an
arch and containing refractory material; a superposed series of sets of multiple
flues said sets being connected in zig-zag order above said arch; a super-heater
composed of multiple flues of varying heights surmounted by an arch; and a
metallic casing surrounding and enclosing the generator body; substantially as
described.
5. In a gas generator, a fixing chamber consisting of sets of multiple horizontal
flues arranged above each other in zig-zag order, and a superposed set of flues of
varying heights supported by the lower flues, and surmounted by an arch;
substantially as described.
6. In a gas generator, a fixing chamber consisting of sets of multiple horizontal
flues arranged above each other in zig-zag order and communicating by means of
single cross-flues, and a superposed set of flues of varying heights supported by
the lower flues, and surmounted by an arch; substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of August 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.