IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES, AND IN THE CON- STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR
A communication from abroad by Carl Adolf Gröbe, residing at Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 11th January 1878, and dated the 14th November 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Primerose Howard
Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November
1877.
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
COMBUSTIBLE GASES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS.
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR." [A communication from abroad by Carl Adolf Gröbe,
residing at Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.]
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the production of combustible
gases capable of being applied to various useful heating purposes, and in the con-
struction and arrangement of apparatus to be employed therefor.
The apparatus for the production of the combustible gases consists mainly of two
separate parts, one of such parts being the "extractor," in which the gases contained
in the substance or substances treated therein are evolved and expelled therefrom,
and the other of such parts being the "converter," in which the solid substance
remaining in the "extractor" after treatment is brought into contact with atmos-
pheric air and converted into oxide of carbon. The two gases are then mixed and
burned together with atmospheric air in order to produce heat.
The "extractor" is a hollow cylindrical receptacle, one or more of which is or are
placed horizontally either above, at the side, or beneath the place in which the
gases are to be utilised. The extractors are made of cast iron, fire-clay, or of any
other suitable material, and are respectively in connection at one end thereof with
[Price 6d1

page_text: a hopper and screw, or any other suitable mechanical contrivance, by which the
fuel, such as coal, peat, sawdust, or other carbonaceous material or materials suitable
for the purpose, is or are pressed in and moved onwards, whilst the other end is
open to afford an outlet for the gases which are evolved from the fuel whilst in a
heated state, and also for the removal of the solid substance which remains after
the gas has been expelled. If fuel is used which swells or increases in bulk when it
arrives at a red heat in the extractor, the latter must be of larger dimensions or of
a wider or conical form from this point, as otherwise the feeding screw will not be
able to force the coked fuel onwards. The screw or other contrivance is turned or
actuated by mechanical power, either continuously or intermittently.
The "extractors" are heated by waste heat, which is obtained from puddling,
melting, or other furnaces for the heating of which the apparatus is used, and which
waste heat passes through channels provided for that purpose, and which surround
the "extractors." The gases contained in the fuel are evolved therefrom by the
operation of the waste heat communicated to the "extractors," as before mentioned
in the first part of the same. As the screw or other contrivance closes the front end
of the extractor, the gases are forced to pass over the mass of red-hot solid car-
bonaceous substance or substances towards the other end of the extractor. The
gases capable of decomposition, steam, and carbonic acid, are there decomposed and
converted into hydrogen and oxide of carbon. The tar which is produced during
the process of expelling the gases. does not leave the "extractor," as it is decom-
posed by the red-hot carbonaceous substance or substances. The gases which are
produced, such as hydrogen, carburetted hydrogen, and oxide of carbon, are heated
when expelled at the open end of the "extractor" to about an equal temperature
to that of the waste heat which has been employed..
ور
When an even unvarying temperature is required, the waste heat is first used to
heat the atmospheric air which is employed to burn the gases, as before mentioned,
and in that case an air-heating apparatus is fixed in or behind the said air channels.
By actuating the screw or other mechanical contrivance the fuel is pushed on in
the "extractor; as the extracting process goes on, a continuous or intermittent
but always regular movement of the fuel is obtained, by which the formation of
large pieces of coke is prevented. The solid substance which remains in the
"extractor" after the separation and evolution of the gases, as before described, is
pushed forward by the screw or other mechanical contrivance, and finally falls into
the "converter."
-
The "converter" is constructed of any suitable material, and is so arranged as:
to admit air at the lower part thereof, either through a grate or in any other suitable
manner. The air coming in contact with the red-hot carbonaceous matter, oxide of
carbon and carbonic acid are produced therefrom. The latter gas is converted into
oxide of carbon by passing through the upper layers of the red-liot carbonaceous
material. According to the velocity with which the fuel is pushed on in the
extractor" the "converter can be kept more or less filled.
it
"
In order that the slag from the cinders may melt at a low temperature a corre-
sponding amount of suitable ingredients calculated to act as a flux may be mixed
with the fuel as it enters through the hopper and is forced forwards by the screw.
If powdered carbonate of lime be employed, the latter will be converted in the.
extractor into quicklime and carbonic acid, which latter again will be converted
into oxide of carbon, whilst the quicklime finds its way with the solid residues
into the "converter," in the lower part of which the ashes only of the fuel pre-
viously used remain (the solid carbon being oxidised), and forming with the quick-
lime or other flux employed a slag which melts at a low temperature.
- The gases emanating from the "extractor," such as hydrogen and carburetted
hydrogen, will unite with those from the converter, the latter consisting of oxide of
carbon and nitrogen from the atmospheric air, and the mixture of the two kinds of
gases thus evolved consists of hydrogen, carburetted hydrogen, oxide of carbon, and
nitrogen. The mixture of gases from the "extractor" and the "converter" enters
into a channel. provided for that purpose, the temperature of the gases at the

page_text: entrance of the channel being very high, and corresponding with that derived by
the "extractors " from the waste heat and from conversion of the carbon into oxide
of carbon.
2
The gases having been generated, as before described, are then passed through a
suitable channel, in which they are mixed with air and burned for heating, puddling,
and other furnaces, or are burnt for any other heating purposes to which they are
applicable. The atmospheric air, previously to being mixed with the gass to burn
the same, is passed through suitable channels which are heated by waste heat.
Small apertures covered by glass, mica, or any other suitable transparent sub-
stance, are provided for observing the progress of the process in the " extractors
and "converters."
"
It should also be mentioned that small valves are employed for regulating the
supply of atmospheric air to the channel.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of the
said Invention will be more clearly understood.
The same letters of reference in the several Figures indicate similar parts.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, in which the chamber in
which the gases are utilised is placed above the feeding arrangements; Figure 2 is
a transverse section, and Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, in which the chamber wherein
the gases are utilised is placed beneath the feeding arrangements.
The
A is the "extractor;" B, the "converter;" C is the place in which the gases
are utilised; a is the hopper which receives the fuel, and b, the screw before
mentioned; & and D are the channels through which the waste heat passes.
grate is shewn at f, f¹; g is the channel into which the mixture of gases from the
"extractor" and "converter" enters. The channels through which the atmospheric
air passes are shewn at i. The valves for regulating the supply of air are shewn
at K.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the same,
are,-
First. The method of treating carbonaceous substances so as to produce com-
bustible gases originally from the fuel, and as a secondary product from the resulting
coke, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
And, Secondly. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus,
constructed substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.