Improvements relating to the Production and Purification of Gas and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr.,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Mar.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Production and Purification of Gas and
Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES ALEXANDRE BELLON-LENOAUCHEZ, called LENCAUCHEZ, of 95, Boulevard
Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to a novel method for producing and purifying gas.
My novel forin of apparatus comprises essentially a grate which varies with the
quantity of cinders given by the combustibles employed. This grate consists of
two opposite stepped gratings and also a flat grating resting upon iron bars or
supports. These iron bars which support the lower grating rest in openings
provided in the supports. Owing to this arrangement, it will be understood that
when combustibles giving but little cinder are used, the grate can be raised to
the desired height by simply raising the bars in the openings arranged one above
the other, and this without making any alteration whatever either in the grate
or in the length of the bars. At the upper part of the grate are arranged the
hollow bars which may be withdrawn and changed through doors provided in
the apparatus. These bars leave above them spaces intended for the passage of
Hat or round irons for suspending the charge of fuel when the operation of
cleaning is taking place. In this manner it is arranged, according to the quantity
of cinder, that between two cleaning operations, only the slags and cinders without
fuel are withdrawn.
During the cleaning the stepped bars slide upon the supports and may be easily
removed.
My novel form of apparatus likewise comprises a controllable water feed, with
the object of assuring the vaporising action. This feed apparatus, comprises a
horizontal pipe arranged on the same level as the water in the bed of the
apparatus which is forined by two inclined planes, in such a manner that a slight
variation of water level considerably increases or diminishes the evaporating
surface as the case may be. This water level is regulated by means of a sluice
actuated by a screw and hand-wheel. The feed water coming from the hollow
bars or from any other source, enters by a pipe and a portion of this water passes
to the bed of the apparatus by way of a pipe whilst the excess flows off by the
sluice.
The introduction of the air is controlled by an admission regulator which
consists of a conical part connected with a balance beam which is connected by
means of a chain with the hell of the gasometer in which the gas is stored. This
gasometer, in rising, lifts a counter weight which balances the said beam and
This latter then descends and allows the whole or the excess of air to
cone.
escape.
.
If, on the other hand, the gasometer falls, the cone rises and closes the escape,
opening, in such a manner that the whole of the air passes to the apparatus.
A water seal serves to prevent the return of the gas should the bellows stop.

page_text: The air, previous to its entering the furnace of the apparatus, traverses a heater
formed of ribbed plates arranged on both sides of the furnace. The air heated
by contact with these plates passes into the radiator through openings and is
saturated with steam before passing through the fuel.
The gas produced in the apparatus passes out by a central duot the lower edge
of which is serrated, and which is provided with two tubes so as to enable it to be
readily cleaned. These tubes have openings communicating with the interior of
the apparatus. The fuel is distributed around the gas duct by a box or hopper
whilst the gas produced pusses into it by the lower portion, and the distillation
gases and the vaporised water of the fuel by the openings in the aforesaid tubes.
The whole of these gases unite in the general conduit whence they pass to the
condensing and purifying apparatųa.
The gas, on leaving the gas producing apparatus which I have just described,
traverses a scrubber."
This scrubber comprises essentially a vessel or tank of cast iron having a water
trup or seal through which the gas arrives by a serrated pipe. The
through a grating traverses the whole of the coke column, and, during its passage
gas then passes
through this column, it comes into contact with a circulation of water which falls
from the upper part of a distributor, consisting of two serrated concentric circular
columns. The gas thus washed passes out through a pipe in the upper part of
the scrubber, to a purifying washer.
This purifying washer comprises essentially a plate valve pierced with an
opening and provided with a series of movable gratings, each of which is formed
of waved or undulating bars, arranged in such a manner as to form an adjutage,
so that the gas to be purified passes into the concavity of each bar and is dis-
tributed right and left in the concavities of the following series of bars.
The bars of one series or of one grating form an adjutage one with another and
are arranged quincunx with reference to the bars of the following series and
to those of the preceding series. The last series is formed of semi-cylindrical bars
Owing to this arrangement, the gases which traverse the grating are submitted
to a series of shocks which produce mechanically a separation of the tars. These
latter run off vertically in the concave portions of the bars, whilst the gases
circulate horizontally around these same bars.
In order to facilitate the cleaning of the undulating bars, they are fixed by
means of small T-shaped irons, which likewise sorve to space the gratings formed
by these bars. The lower irons rest in a groove in the plate valve.
At the front portion of the gas inlet, the first grating is placed against flanges,
the second against the first, and so on. The last grating is kept in place by bars.
It will thus be seen that the different gratings may readily be removed one by one
for the purpose of cleaning.
The plate valve is open at its lower portion and all the gratings enter the-liquid
contained in the vessel which encloses the plate valve. This latter is connected
with a rod which terminates in a hand wheel, and, it is possible to raise or lower
the plate valve in the liquid. In this manner the space above the surface of the
water for the passage of the gases may be varied. This constitutes a method of
regulating the purification.
If the plate valve is completely lowered into the liquid, it may be placed opposito
a door, and after having drawn off the liquid, the cleaning of the different gratings
may be effected by removing them one after the other,
-
By establishing a shunt parallel to the plate valve the gases may be made to pass 5
from the entrance pipe to the exit of the purifier, without their having to traverse
the same, should it be desired to isolate this latter.

page_text: Improvemonts relating to the Production and Purification of Gas and
Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES ALEXANDRE BELLON-LENCAUCHEZ, called LENCAUCHIEZ, of 95, Boulevard
Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare tho
nature of this invention and in what manuer the same is to bo performed; to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
1
This invention relates to a novel method for producing and purifying gas.
In order that the following description of my invention may be clearly and
readily understood, I have represented in the accompanying drawings, by way of
example only, the apparatus which forms the subject of the said invention.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section through the apparatus, on line A B
Fig. 3.
Figure 2 is likewise a vertical section, taken at right angles to Figure 1 on line
CD Fig. 3.
Figure 2 shows an alternative form of gas generator furnace.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line GH Fig. 2.
Figures 4 and 5 show in detail the water feed which may be regulated at will,
Fig. 4 being a section on line ab Fig. 5.
Figures 6 and 7 relate to the washing barrel or scrubber in which the gases
circulate upon leaving the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 relate to the purifier in which the gas circulates upon
leaving the washing barrel or scrubber.
Figure 8 representing a vortical section through the purifier,
Figuro 9 a horizontal section and
Figures 10, 11, and 12 views upon a larger scale shewing the constructional
details of the essential portion of the purifier.
Figure 13 is a general view of the plant for the production and purification
of the gas.
My novel form of apparatus comprises essentially a grate which varies with the
quantity of cinders given by the combustibles employed. This grate consists of
two opposite stepped gratings II and also a flat grating n (Figures 1 and 2) resting
upon iron bars or supports n¹n. These iron bars n' n' which support the lower
grating n rest in openings provided in the supports K. Owing to this
arrangement, it will be understood that when combustibles giving but little
cinder are used, the grate can be raised to the desired height by simply raising .
the bars in the openings n arranged one above the other, and this without
making any alteration whatever either in the grate or in the length of the bars n.
At the upper part of the grate are arranged the hollow bars m, m which may be
withdrawn and changed through doors provided in the apparatus. These bars
leave above them spaces intended for the passage of flat or round irons for sus-
pending the charge of fuel when the operation of cleaning is taking place. In
this manner it is arranged according to the quantity of cinder, that between two
cleaning operations, only the slags and cinders without fuel are withdrawn.
During the cleaning the bars II slide upon the supports K K and may be
easily removed. As indicated in Figure 2 I may when the fuel utilized yields
many ashes, use on one side of the furnace of the gas generator a wall forming a
hinged door, facilitating thereby the removal of ashes and clinker and compelling
the air to pass under the lower grate so as to prevent the formation of clinker at
he upper part of the furnace.

page_text: My novel form of apparatus likewise comprises a controllable water feed, with
the object of assuring the vaporising action. This feed apparatus, which is shown
in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a horizontal pipe p arranged on the same level as
the water in the bed of the apparatus which is formed by two inclined planes, in
such a manner that a slight variation of water level considerably increases or 5
diminishes the evaporating surface, as the case may be. This water level is
regulated by means of a sluice p'.actuated by a screw P, and hand wheel P. The
feed water coming from the hollow bars m, m or from any other source, enters by
a pipe p and a portion of this water passes to the bed of the apparatus by way of
a pipe whilst the excess flows off by the sluice p³,
The introduction of the air is controlled by an admission regulator B which
consists of conical part B connected to a balance beam B which by means of a
chain is connected with the bell of the gasometer in which the gas is stored. This
gasometer, which is not shewn in the drawings, in rising lifts a counter weight
which balances the said beam B and the cone B. This latter then descends and 1
allows the whole or the excess of air to escape.
If, on the other hand, the gasometer falls, the cone B¹ rises and closes the
escape opening, in such a manner that the whole of the air passes to the apparatus.
A water seal of the pipe B³ serves to prevent the return of the gas should the
bellows stop.
The air, previous to its entering the furnace of the apparatus, traverses
heater h formed of ribbed plates arranged on both sides of the furnace. The
air heated by contact with these plates passes into the radiator through open-
ings K' K' and is saturated with steam before passing through the fuel.
The gas produced in the apparatus passes out by a central duct e the lower edge
of which is serrated, and which is provided with two tubes el e' so as to enable it
to be readily cleaned. These tubes have openings e³, communicating with the
interior of the apparatus. The fuel is distributed around the gas duct by
a box
or hopper & whilst the gas produced passes into it by the lower portion, and the
distillation gases and the vaporized water of the fuel by the openings e. The
whole of these gases unite in the general conduit whence they pass to the con-
densing and purifying apparatus.
The gas, on leaving the gas producing apparatus 1, Fig. 13 which I have just
described, traverses a scrubber 2, Fig. 13 represented in detail in Figures 6 and 7.
This washing barrel or scrubber comprises essentially a vessel or tauk of cast
iron having a water trap or seal. The gas arrives by a serrated pipe T₁, passes
through the grating P₁, traverses the whole of the coke column, and, during its
passage through this column, it comes into contact with a circulation of water
which falls from the upper part of a distributor D¹, consisting of two serrated con-
contric circular columns. The gas, thus washed passes out through a pipe T, to
the purifying washer 3 Fig. 13 illustrated in detail in Figures 8 9 10 11 and 12.
This purifying washer comprises essentially a plate valve 9 pierced with au
.opening and provided with a series of movable gratings a a, each of which is
formed of waved or undulating bars b b, arranged in such a manner as to form
an adjutage, so that the gas to be purified passes into the concavity of each bar b
and is distributed right and left in the concavities of the following series of bars.
The bars 6b of one series or of one grating form an adjutage one with another
and are arranged quincunx with reference to the bars of the following series and
to those of the preceding series. The last series (Figure 12) is formed of semi-
cylindrical bars.
Owing to this arrangement, the gases which traverse the grating are submitted
to a series of shocks which produce mechanically a separation of the tars. These
latter run off vertically in the concave portions of the bars, whilst the gases circu-
late horizontally around these same bars.
In order to facilitate the cleaning of the bars b, b, they are fixed by means of
small T-shaped irons c, c, which likewise serve to space the gratings «, a formed
by these bars b, b. The lower irons ce rest in a groove f in the plate valve g.

page_text: At the front portion of the gas inlet, the first grating is placed against
flanges, h h (Figure 9) the second against the first, and so on. The last grating
is kept in place by bars d', d. It will thus be seen that the different gratings
may readily be removed one by one for the purpose of cleaning.
The plate valve g is open. at its lower portion, and all the gratings a a enter
the liquid contained in the vessel which encloses the plate valve. This latter is
connected with a rod which terminates in a hand wheel, and, from the arrange-
ments represented in Figure 8, it will be readily understood that it is possible to
raise or lower the plate 7 in the liquid. In this manner the free surface section
situated above the surface of the water for the passage of the gases, may be varied.
This constitutes a method of regulating the purification.
If the plato valve 9 is completely lowered into the liquid, it may be placed
opposite à door J, and after having drawn off the liquid, the cleaning of the
different gratings may be effected by removing them one after the other.
As will be seen upon reference to Figure 8, the gases enter the purifier at 1
and leave it at 2. A shunt established parallel to the plate valve allow the gases
of one branch to be made to pass into the other, without their having to traverse.
the purifier should it be desired to isolate this latter.
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. In the gas producing apparatus, a grate formed of two stepped gratings and
a horizontal grating, the capacity of which may be varied as desired by merely
raising, more or less, the horizontal part of the grating in the furnace; this latter
grating being supported by metal bars adapted to rest in openings provided in
suitable apparatus, as above specified.
2. In the gas producing apparatus a water feed capable of being regulated as
desired, and consisting of a box connected by a horizontal tube with the ash. pit.
bed, such, reservoir being in communication with a waste pipe the opening of which
is provided with a sluice the section of the passage through which may
diminished by means of a screw und a hand-wheel, as above specified.
bo.
3. In the gas producing apparatus a conical air regulator connected with a
balance beam following the oscillatory movements of the gasometer receiving the
gas, the said cone serving to close the escape orifice of the regulator which is
provided with a water seal with the object of preventing a return of gas should
the bellows stop working; the air thus introduced into the apparatus being first
of all heated by circulation in a space provided around the furnace and furnished
with heat conducting ribs or projections, as above specified.
4. In the gas producing apparatus, a central gas duct with a serrated lower edge
which duct communicates with two tubes with the object of facilitating cleaning
operations; the said tube being provided with two openings placing them in
communication with the upper part of the apparatus, as above specified.
5. A washing barrel or scrubber into which the gas passes through a serrated
tube plunging into a liquid contained in the lower portion of the barrel, and
which is surmounted by a column of coke traversed by a double current of water
falling from a distributor placed above, as above specified.
6. A novel purifier acting by shocks and constituted by a series of movable
gratings which are adapted to be readily dismounted and are formed by waved or
undulating bars forming an adjutage one with another, the bars of any one grating
being arranged quincunx with regard to both the following and preceding grating,
in such a manner that the tars may run off vertically in the concave portions of
the bars whilst the gases circulate horizontally around the said bars.
7. In the purifier described in Claim G, the arrangement of a trough containing
a liquid in which are partially immersed the series of gratings constituting the
purifier; this latter being adapted for being raised more or less with regard to

page_text: the surface of the liquid, with the object of causing the section offered to the
passage of the gas to vary.
Dated this 8th day of December 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.