Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1887
Complete Left, 19th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 22nd June, 1888
We, H. C. BULL & COMPANY, Limited and HENRY CLAY BULL, Engineer, both of
31 Poultry, London do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the generation of that class of coal, or coke gas made by
passing superheated steam through a body of coal, or coke which has been previously
raised to a state of incandescence.
The production of gas is effected and the apparatus in which it is made is arranged
and constructed as follows. The apparatus is of the double chambered type, one of
which constitutes the steam super-heater and the other forms the receptacle for the
carbonaceous material and the chamber in which the solid fuel is converted into gases
the two vessels being connected together by a suitable duct, or passage. The super-
heating device is lined with non-conducting brickwork, or material and its interior is
provided with material, or brickwork (arranged as herein after described) presenting
a large surface. The other vessel or chamber is also lined with non conducting brick-
work, or material and its internal construction is in the form of a retort for a certain
distance down it (as hereafter described).
The process of making gas by the apparatus is an alternating one; that is, the coal,
or coke in the fuel vessel is first raised to a state of incandescence by forcing air
through it, the gases resulting therefrom being burned in the superheating chamber
by which it is also raised to incandescence. The flow is then cut off and steam is
passed in an opposite direction, first through the superheater and then the fuel vessel.
In the first operation namely blowing and heating up, coke is preferably used as the
fuel, the air used is preferably previously heated. In passing through the coke the
oxygen of the air uniting with the carbon of the fuel becomes converted into carbonic
acid first and subsequently into carbonic oxide of a high temperature. This together
with the liberated nitrogen passes up and around the retort and over into the upper
part of the superheater where it is supplied with air. Combustion of an intensely
high temperature takes place in the combustion chamber and the products of com-
bustion are passed over the brickwork surfaces by which a great portion of the heat
of the gases is taken up and stored. The gases are then led from the super heater
into any suitable duct, or culvert to a chimney or other place of disposal.

page_text: After the apparatus has been subjected to the above operation for a certain time the
air is cut off and steam is passed through the apparatus in the reverse direction first
passing up and over the heated brickwork whereby it becomes very much superheated,
and then through the fuel in the gas making vessel. The retort of the gas making
vessel previously to the turning on of the steam is filled with preferably brickets of
coal and the highly heated steam surrounding the retort before it enters the fuel at a
lower level, causes the distillation of the illuminating and other volatile gases of the
coal and converts it into coke. In passing through the incandescent coke the steam
is converted ultimately into carbonic oxide and hydrogen. The gases thus made are
led into a suitable main.
The illuminating gas made in the process above described may be used for any
desired purposes. For instance after being freed from tar and ammonia, it may be
readmitted to the apparatus with the steam and sent though the incandescent fuel and
delivered into the gas main.
Between the processes of reviving and gas making steam is admitted to drive out
any air, or gas that may have accumulated or lodged on the producer side of the gas
and air valves of the gas making chamber, thereby rendering the apparatus free from
explosions.
The particular form of apparatus according to our Invention for effecting the
production of gas as above described is constructed substantially as follows. The gas
producer consists as above stated of two chambers preferably round, lined with fire
brick, or other refractory substance connected together by a pipe near their upper
parts, which is also lined. One of these cylinders has, on the inside a conical retort,
made of fire-brick, or other suitable material occupying a certain amount of its
length from the top and being a certain proportion say about half the diameter of
the inner lining wall of the cylinder. The other cylinder has-inside-a central cylinder
of brickwork, or other suitable material communicating with an air valve at its bottom.
This cylinder is surrounded by diverging, or radiating walls forming large heating
and regenerating surfaces. Suitable valves are provided as will be hereinafter
described. The first or gas producing cylinder is provided with three valves, one for
the admission of hot air for the purpose of reviving the fire another for the outflow of
gas to the gas main and the third a steam valve which is used to clear the pipes first
of gas and afterwards of air. The second, or regenerating chamber is also provided
with three valves one for the admission of air through the central brick cylinder into
the combustion chamber at the top of it another communicating to a culvert leading
to a chimney and the third a steam valve connected with a steam main leading from
the steam generators. The top of the conical retort in the gas making chamber is
fitted with a suitable lid which can be readily opened, or closed and is provided with
a pipe to convey the volatile gases to an ordinary hydraulic main. The bottom of the
gas making chamber is provided with a box which has a lid which can be readily
opened or closed in which the cinder collects in a liquid state from whence it can be
removed from time to time as the gas making proceeds.
For a continuous production of gas, two or more producers are used in battery
some being revived by the admission of hot air while one is producing gas by the
admission of steam.
Gas produced in the manner herein before described is applicable generally for
heating purposes and for power, and the apparatus may be used for producing
illuminating as well as heating, or power gas.

page_text: Improvements in or Connected with Gas Producers.
We, H. C. BULL AND COMPANY, Limited, and HENRY CLAY BULL, Engineer,
both of 31 Poultry, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 relates to the generation of that class of gas known as water gas,
and which is made by passing superheated steam through a body of coal, or coke
which has been previously raised to a state of incandesence.
The production of gas is effected and the apparatus in which it is made is
arranged and constructed as follows: The apparatus is of the double chambered
type, one of which chambers constitutes the steam superheater and the other forms
the chamber in which coal is firstly distilled of its volatile constituents and then the
coke thus made in it is converted into gases; the two vessels being connected
together by a suitable duct, or passage. The superheating device is lined with non-
conducting brickwork, or material, and its interior is provided with material, or
brickwork (arranged as hereinafter described) presenting a large surface. The other
vessel or chamber is also lined with non-conducting brickwork or material and its
internal construction is in the form of a retort for a certain distance down it (as
hereafter described).
The process of making gas by the apparatus is an alternating one, that is the coke
in the fuel vessel is first raised to a state of incandesence by forcing air through it, and
the gases resulting therefrom are burned in the superheating chamber by which it is also
raised to incandesence. The flow is then cut off and steam is passed in an opposite
direction, first through the superheater and then the fuel vessel. In the first operation,
namely blowing and heating up, coke is preferably used as the fuel: the air used is
preferably, previously heated. In passing through the coke, oxygen of the air uniting
with the carbon of the fuel becomes converted into carbonic acid first, and subsequently
into carbonic oxide of a high temperature.
This together with the nitrogen pass up and around the retort, and over into the
superheater, where it is supplied with air. Combustion of a high temperature takes
place here and the products of combustion are passed over the brickwork surfaces, by
which a great portion of the heat of the gases is taken up and stored. The gases are
then led from the superheater into any suitable duct or culvert to a chimney, or other
place of disposal.
After the apparatus has been subjected to the above operation for a certain time
the air is cut off and steam is passed through the apparatus in the reverse direction,
first passing up and over the heated brickwork, whereby it becomes very much super-
heated, and then through the fuel in the gas making vessel. The retort of the gas
making vessel, previously to the turning on of the steam, is filled with brickets of coal,
and the highly heated steam surrounding the retort, before it enters the fuel at a
lower level, causes the distillation of the illuminating and other volatile gases of the

page_text: coal and converts them into coke. In passing through the incandescent coke the
steam is converted ultimately into carbonic oxide, and hydrogen.-The gases thus
made are led into a suitable main.
The illuminating gas made in the process above described may be used for any
desired purposes. For instance, after being freed from tar and ammonia, it may be
readmitted to the apparatus, with the steam and sent through the incandescent fuel
and delivered into the gas main.
Between the process of reviving and gas making, steam is admitted to drive out
any air or gas that may have accumulated, or lodged on the producer side of the gas
and air valves of the gas making chamber, thereby rendering the operations of the
manufacture free from explosions.
In order that this Invention and the manner of performing the same may be
properly understood there is hereunto appended a sheet of Drawings to be hereinafter
referred to explanatory of the Invention and representing an example of Gas Producer
with improvements according to this Invention applied thereto.
Figure 1 is an elevation in section of the improved Gas Producer being one
complete apparatus of a battery of same.
Figure 2 is a plan of apparatus shown in Figure 1 and
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 2.
The above Drawings form a part of this Specification, and together with the
description of the Invention herein contained are sufficient to enable others skilled in
the art to which it belongs to make and use the same. Like letters and figures of
reference are used throughout the views to denote like parts.
In the example illustrated A designates the vessel in which fuel is placed and
converted into gas, and B is the steam superheating vessel. C is the passage which
forms the communication between the two vessels. This communication is continued.
in an upward direction in the vessel A, marked (", and is continued in the vessel B
to the bottom of same. As will be seen by the Drawings, A and B are of cylindrical
formation and their shells consist of an outer casing of brickwork a and inner casings b
of fire brick. The vessel A has a conical retort d, made of refractory material.
Fitting into the upper part, or parallel portion of this retort there is a concentrically
arranged charging retort mouth d. This mouth d', is of less diameter than the upper
part of the retort d thereby forming an annular space between the retort and its
mouth. From this space the gases that are evolved (herein specified) in the retort
are led away by a pipe d² to an ordinary hydraulic main d³. The retort d is supported
by diverging walls e. The charging door is designated and the door for discharging
the cinder and ash is designated g. his the valve for admitting air to the vessel A
for the purpose of blowing up, and i is the valve for controlling the exit of the gas
made in the vessel A. Mains or culverts and serve respectively to supply air to
the vessel A and to carry off the gases made in it. These valves, valve rods and the
valve seats are maintained in a cool condition by water linings of ordinary construction,
and they are operated by a lever mechanism at j of any known type and chains
connected to the rods of the valves, by which the valve h is raised off its seat and
the valve simultaneously lowered to its seat, or vice versa.
The whole of the vessel A is raised above the level of the surrounding floor and is
supported upon columns E. By this arrangement the cinder and ash can be discharged
from the vessel A directly into trucks.
All the operating mechanisms of the apparatus are controlled and arranged upon a
platform K, placed level with the upper structure of the vessels A and B.
The steam superheating vessel B is constructed internally with a chamber 1, herein-
after termed the combustion chamber beneath which there is provided, concentrically
with the outer casings a and b an inner cylinder of brickwork forming the passage m.
Between this passage and the wall b, radial fire. brick walls n are built, and these

page_text: together with the lining b, the brickwork of the passage m and that of the chamber 7
serve as the heat absorbing and emitting body.
It may be here remarked that all internal brickwork parts of the apparatus subjected
to great heat are built of refractory fire bricks.
The whole of the bottom of the vessel B except that portion occupied by the
passage is formed into a vaulted, or arched chamber o. The passages n between
the chamber band the chamber o are not shown in Figure 1, but are denoted in outline by
the dotted lines n². The spent gases from the chamber o are led to a culvert o' through the
valve seating of the valve p, and air is admitted to the central passage m by a passage q
controlled by a valve at r. Both the air valve at r and the escape valve pare operated,
that is, opened and closed simultaneously by a bell crank lever which is connected to
the valve rods of the valves, by chains j¹. Steam is admitted at the proper time
to the chamber o. at any convenient point by a pipe controlled by a cock, or valve, not
shown in the Drawings.
The operation of making gas by the apparatus shown, is as follows:
It may be assumed that the culverts, and o¹ are common to all the valves h, i
and p respectively of the battery of producers; one complete producer of the battery
being shown.
Then to prepare the apparatus for gas making air-which may be previously heated
is drawn, or forced through the fuel in the vessel A from the main h¹, entering the
vessel by the passage ². The oxygen of the air in passing through the coke in the
vessel A first combines with it and is converted into carbonic acid, but upon rising
further through it, the carbonic acid is converted into carbonic oxide of a high
temperature. This together with the nitrogen pass up and round the retort d and
over through the passages C, C and C into the passage m of the superheater B. Here
air is admitted to the passage m by the way 9 and the gas is burned, the flames rising
up and flowing into the combustion chamber 1. From this chamber they descend by
the passages n to the chamber 9, from whence the spent gases pass into the main o¹;
the valve p being open. When the fuel in the vessel A is sufficiently heated and the
brickwork of the superheater B has become also sufficiently heated, the process is
stopped and the valves h, p and the air valve at r are closed. The door f of the
retort d is then opened and coal, preferably in brickets, is fed into the vessel A until
the retort is filled, and both vessels are cleared of air by allowing steam to blow
through them. The valve i is now opened the door f being shut and steam is
turned on into the chamber o. It rises from here over the highly heated brickwork
walls n, b, the wall of the passage m, and the combustion chamber l. From here it
passes down the passage m, then up and through the passages C, Cand C¹ and arrives
in the top of the vessel A at a heat of great intensity. It then descends and passes
over the surface of the retort d, and the great heat of the steam effects the distillation
of the illuminating and other volatile gases of the coal; the residue of the coal in the
retort will be coke.
The steam then passes through the body of incandescent coke below the retort d,
and its constituent elements are disassociated; the oxygen of the steam combining
with the carbon of the fuel forming carbonic oxide the hydrogen being so liberated.
These two gases leave the vessel A by the duct and pass away into the gas
culvert i¹.
The illuminating gas made as above described in the retort d rises from the fuel
and escapes from the retort by the annular space round the mouth d' and the pipe d²
into the hydraulic main d³. This illuminating gas may be used for any desired
purposes. For instance it may first have the ammonia and tar extracted from it
and then re-admitted to the apparatus with the steam into the chamber o and sent
through the incandescent fuel contained in the vessel A, and delivered into the gas
main, or culvert i¹.
The coke made in the retort d falls down onto the body of fuel in the vessel A as
the mass is consumed and its place in the retort d is filled up with fresh coal brickets
at each alternation of the process when gas is about to be made.
It must be stated that the vessel A of itself may be used for the production of

page_text: what is known as "producer gas as well as water gas, in which case it would be
used without the vessel or chamber B and the distillation of the volatile gases from
the coal would be effected by the heat of the rising gases made by forcing air through
the coke in the body of the vessel A; the producer gas being taken from the top of
the producer vessel A by the passage C or C or their equivalent. The air used may
in this case be mixed with a small quantity of steam as frequently practised.
For a continuous production of gas two, or any required number of the producers
are used in battery, some being revived by the admission of air, preferably hot air,
while one or more is or are producing gas by the admission of steam.
Gas produced in the manner herein before described is applicable generally for
heating purposes and for power, and the apparatus may be used for producing
illuminating as well as heating, or power gas.
Having now fully described this Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed what is claimed is:
1. In gas producing apparatus of the type herein described effecting the production
of gas from coal by first distilling the volatile constituents of the coal by the heated
steam from the superheating chamber (B), the said coal being placed in a retort
within the gas producing vessel (A), and then subjecting the coke resulting from such
distillation to the action of the superheated steam in a lower portion of the gas
producing vessel (A), as, or substantially as set forth.
2. A gas producer for making water gas from coal consisting essentially of a chamber
or vessel, such as A, having within it a retort, such as d, in which the volatile gases
of the coal are distilled and are drawn off therefrom as described; the coke resulting
therefrom being converted into gas by passing steam downwards through it when in
the lower part, or body of the said vessel A, substantially as herein set forth.
3. A gas producer for making "producer" gas from coal consisting essentially
of a chamber, or vessel such as A having within it a retort such as d, in which the
volatile gases of the coal are distilled by the heat of the gas produced, and are drawn
off therefrom as described, the coke resulting therefrom being converted into gas by
passing air (with or without a small quantity of steam) upwards through it when in
the lower portion, or body of the vessel A, substantially as herein set forth.
4. In a gas producing apparatus of the type described a steam superheating
chamber B consisting of an outer wall a, a passage m, walls n, and chambers l, and o
in which the gas and air are introduced at the bottom of the passage m, flow through
it as described and leave it by the chamber o, and the steam enters the chamber o and
flows in the reverse direction as described, constructed and operating as, or substantially
as herein set forth.
5. The apparatus for producing gas specified with reference to the Drawings,
consisting chiefly of the valves and i, vessel A, retort d, doors fand g, pipe d² and
main d³, passages C¹ C and C³, passages m and y, chamber 1, walls n, chamber o and
valve p, arranged and operating in combination as described and for the purposes set
forth.
H. C. BULL & Co., LTD.
HENRY CLAY BULL.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.