Improvements in or relating to Means for Generating, Purifying, Storing, and Distributing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1898
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Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug, 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Means for Generating, Purifying,
Storing, and Distributing Acetylene Gas.
I, ALEXANDER DAVIDSON WILLIAMSON, of Bridge Street, Coleraine, in the County
of Londonderry, Ireland, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention has for its object the generating, purifying storing and distribut-
ing of acetylene gas, from carbide of calcium. It is constructed to work auto-
matically, and is designed more especially to act with perfect safety and simplicity
and to ensure the removal of impurities and objectionable odour from the acetylene
gas. It is so constructed that it has five safeguards against undue pressure and
hydrostatic seals are provided to do the double duty of preventing "firing" back,
and the cooling and purifying of the gas.
The apparatus comprises a generator, condenser, double purifier and storage
gas holder.
The generator comprises a vessel to be charged with water to a certain level
when charging.
In this vessel is a bell having an orifice in the top surrounded by a downwardly
directed hollow flange open above into which a downwardly directed flange on the
charger case enters thus forming a water seal for the charger case.. The charger
case comprises a carbide case and a water jacket or vessel covering the carbide
case.
A cleansing plug is provided at the bottom of the generator. To charge the
generator the case is taken out by its handle, the dip of the double flange prevent-
ing gas in bell from escaping. Carbide being placed in charger it is replaced
with its flange within the double flange of the bell which forms a seal and
hydraulic valve, gas being produced on the carbide touching the water. The bell
rises so that the carbide only touches the water when gas is drawn off. The water
jacket is for the double purpose of keeping the generator cool, and giving the
necessary weight or pressure to overcome the resistance of the gas pressure in the
bell, the carbide being lifted out of water should excessive pressure arise within
the generator.
The gas is conveyed from the generator by a pipe which dips say two inches
in the water of the condenser and hydraulic seal where the gas is cooled and washed
the arrangement of this being such that the level of the water is fixed by an
inverted syphon a perfect seal being obtained. The dip pipe with filter is so
arranged that it also acts as a means not only of renewing the water as occasion
requires but also as a water seal and a means of escape should any undue pressure
arise. From the condenser the gas passes by a pipe into the first chamber of a
purifier which is filled to a certain level with refined petroleum, or spirit of
petroleum, naptha or such like oil. The gas is made to pass through a body of
oil, perforations being made in the pipe to break up the gas, this pipe is formed
so as to act as a seal no gas can thus pass back. A feed cup is fitted for oil

page_text: supply when required. In the second chamber of purifier the gas is made to filter
down through a body of oxide of iron to a grid through which it passes to a pipe
leading to the gas holder. The purifier is provided with a water seal this
constitutes the fourth means of relief from undue pressure. A tap to give relief
when opening is provided on top of the purifier. The gas is distributed to the
burners by means of galvanized iron and compo piping to gas fittings adapted to
the use of acetylene gas.
The holder is fitted with guide rod and tube so that the bell is guided perfectly
no friction occurring and it can be balanced to give the pressure required by one
set of balance weights.
The water scal of the holder constitutes the fifth means of relief from undue
pressure.
Improvements in or relating to Means for Generating, Purifying,
Storing, and Distributing Acetylene Gas.
I, ALEXANDER DAVIDSON WILLIAMSON, of Bridge Street, Coleraine, in the County
of Londonderry, Ireland, Hydraulic and Gas Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has for its object the generating, purifying, storing, and dis-
tributing of acetylene gas.
The apparatus is made to work automatically.
The novelty and utility of the combined and complete apparatus consists in the
construction whereby absolute safety, simplicity and unfailing action are obtained
in working as well as the removal of the impurities and objectional odours in
acetylene gas.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which the
general arrangements are shown in section but which only represent an apparatus
provided with one generator. The same principle of generator applies to all
generators combined with condensers purifiers and gas holders forming the
combined plant as may be required for a complete installation or installations
and may be arranged as circumstances of space will admit.
air.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the whole plant.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the charging vessel.
Fig. 3 is a similar view of the carbide holder.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 illustrates the apparatus for mixing acetylene with other gas or with
Fig. 6 shows a modified form of purifier.
The combined apparatus is so constructed that it has five distinct and separate
safe-guards against undue pressure and hydrostatic seal valves are provided in
the generator, condenser and liquid purifier, and so designed as to act so as to
prevent "firing back and also for the purpose of condensing, scrubbing and
washing the gases.
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page_text: The apparatus consists of one or more generators, condensers, combined purifyers
according to size of installation, and storage gas holder as hereinafter more fully
described and illustrated in the drawing. Fig. 1. 1 is a vessel filled with water
up to the level of the tap 2 at the time of charging when the charge has been put
in it is to be then filled up with water to the top of the holder.
3 is a gas bell having free ascensional movement in vessel 1 and carrying the
carbide cage.
In the top of the gas bell 3 is an opening surrounded by the grooved annular
flange 4 which serves as a water seal for the equally deep outer tube 5 of the
charging vessel 6. This vessel 6 is cylindrical and has near its bottom a transverse
water tight diaphragm 7 and near its upper end another similar diaphragm 8.
The space between being air-tight, air is prevented from uniting with the gas
when charging and the space above the lower diaphragm may be varied according
to size of generator so as to give water space to weight the apparatus, the space
between the, inner and outer cylinders 6 and 5 of the charging vessel is closed
above and a pipe 9 extends across from one side to the other forming a handle and
also a communication 10 with the air blow off cock 11 under handle for the
removal of air before gas making. Beneath the diaphragm 7 is a cross rod 12 to
which the carbide vessel 13 may be detachably connected by bayonet slots 14
having self locking arrangement.
Water is placed in the seal and above diaphragm 8 to respectively seal the
vessel with water and to regulate the working pressure on the whole apparatus.
15 is the cleaning out plug or valve at the lower end of the conical shaped
bottom or taper outlet pipe of the vessel 1.
It is claimed for the generator that the annular tubular seal, and the bell or
charging vessel 6 with dip pipe and sealing tube and air excluding self locking
bayonet joint cage connection, water jacketting and water cooling and weighting
arrangement constitute a novelty.
Fig. 1 represents the generator after being recharged and when almost at
rest, the carbide being nearly exhausted, the carbide cage being submerged in
water.
To recharge, taps 2 and 11 are opened, the case 6 is withdrawn, the dip of the
sealing cylinder 4 (the lower edge of which is below the water level in vessel 1)
preventing the gas remaining in the bell from escaping. Carbide being placed
in the cage 13 is then dipped into petroleum oil and hooked on the rod 12. The
flange 5 of the vessel 6 is then replaced into groove 4 which forms a seal and
hydrostatic valve. On the carbide in the cage touching the water in holder 1 at
the level of tap 2 gas is generated and the taps 2 and 11 are shut. The bell 3
will then rise and keep the carbide at the surface of the water and generate only
the amount of gas which may be required for the supply, or for the filling up of
the gas holder. The pressure being regulated by the weight of water above
diaphragm 8 the generator holder being filled with water as required. The
tap 50 on outlet pipe 17 the branch 51 of which stands up above water level in
vessel 1 is made to regulate indirectly the generation or the rate of make of the
gas by regulating the rate of its outflow.
66
The gas is taken from the generator by pipe 17 into the cooler or condenser 18
where it is washed and the vapours condensed. The gas is made to pass into
the vessel by spray perforations on the underside of the coil pipe 19, this spray
coil being 1 inches under water which is made to form a seal and hydrostatic
valve preventing firing back" into the generator and preventing the gas from
returning into the generator. The water is maintained at a uniform level by an
inverted syphon, 20 being the outlet which also acts as the outlet for the condensed
vapours and foul water, fresh water being supplied through a stand pipe 21 for
small sizes of apparatus and by connection with cock 2 on large size apparatus.
Stand pipe 21 is water sealed and self regulating.
The gas after passing through the condenser is conducted by the syphon pipe 22
into the purifiers,

page_text: The purifiers are liquid and dry.
24 is the liquid purifier filled with a hydrocarbon oil to the level of the overflow
stand pipe 25 with regulating tap 26, the feed cup 27 being only used for supply
when working. The syphon pipe 22 with antisyphon chamber prevents the
liquid from flowing back into the condenser stand pipe or the gas returning after
it passes through the perforated spray pipe 231 the coil being say one and a half
inches under the surface of the oil. The gas being separated from the objection-
able odour of unpurified acetylene passes over the division 41 into the dry
purifier 42 formed by perforated plates; the upper portion being filled with
chlorinated powdered lime and the lower portion with oxide of iron, the gases rise
out of the liquid purifier and then filter down through the dry purifying medium
where the gas is separated from the sulphuretted hydrogen, phosphoretted hydro-
gen and other impurities and also dried before passing through to the gas
holder.
The purifier is provided with a water seal which forms a safeguard against
undue pressure preferably by the lid being water sealed as at 43, a relief tap 44
being fitted on the cover to clear the vessel of air and so permit the cover to be
removed without disturbing the water seals of the condenser or displacing the
level of the liquid in the purifier.
The form of purifier shown on a larger scale in Fig. 6 may be employed in place
of that shown in Fig. 1. The gas on entering the liquid purifier passes into
an anti-syphon chamber 53 from which it is conveyed by three vertical pipes 54 to
a horizontal spray pipe 55 the gas outlets being small perforations in this
pipe 1 inches below the surface of the oil in which the gas is washed and
separated from the objectionable odours of unpurified acetylene. After the gas
has been scrubbed it is made to pass over a central dividing plate 41 to the dry
division 42 of the purifier which again is divided by perforated plates 56, 57.
The upper portion is filled with chlorinated powdered lime saturated and the
lower portion with oxide of iron. The gases rising out of the liquid purifier are
made to filter down first through the saturated chlorinated lime and then through
a body of oxide of iron the gases being separated from the sulphuretted hydrogen,
ammonia, phosphoretted, and siliconetted hydrogen also dried and freed from
benzene and other impurities. The gas is then passed into the gas holder unless
it is to be used as a blend. The purifiers are provided with a water seal and
according to size may be either circular or rectangular and in one or more parts.
A relief tap 44 is fitted on cover as in the purifier of Fig. 1. The exhausted liquid
runs off through pipe 26*.
The gas holder tank 29 and bell 28 are fitted with a guide rod 31 and tube 32
respectively. These are so arranged that they keep the gas bell perfectly vertical
the bell being stayed at top and bottom; by this means friction is prevented and
the gas pressure kept uniform on the supply pipes and burners, the bell should
be balanced to two inch pressure of water column, this may be done by regulating
the weight of bell alone, or by any number of balance weights 33 according to
size and weight of the bell.
For the purpose of blending acetylene with coal, oil, or water gas a mercurial
governor 34 is fitted on the pipe 35 leading from the acetylene purifier 23 to the
gas holder 29 and a similar governor 36 on the supply pipe 37 from the gas holder
of the blending coal, oil or water gas or gases. On each pipe before entering
the acetylene gas holder a graduated tap 38 39 adjusted for the required blend is
fitted. A by pass 40 allows the blending devices to be excluded.
It is also provided that the acetylene gas plant may be used for the supply of
acetylene for blending and that the blending of acetylene with coal oil, water
or other gas or gases may take place in an intermediate coal gas, or other gas
holder or in the main supply pipes of a coal or other gas apparatus when in like
form the mercurial governors and gauges or graduated taps may be applied on the
leading pipes for the supply of the mixed gas or gases for illumination, heating
or the production of motive power or other like purposes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The whole arrangements and principle of the combined apparatus as described
and illustrated, constructed for safety and efficiency in an acetylene gas plant.
2. In an acetylene gas generating plant the combination in a generator of a
holder 1, water level regulating tap 2 therein, a gas bell 3 having an orifice
surrounded with a grooved flange 4 depending in said bell to below the level of the
tap 2 when the bell is in its lowest position, a charging vessel consisting of a
cylinder 6 closed below having its upper part adapted to contain water and having
an outer cylinder 5 gas-tightly connected to it at the upper end and adapted to
enter the groove of the flange 4 and to be sealed therein by water, a carbide
basket adapted to be removably attached to the bottom of the charging vessel, a
pipe 9 having a communication with the space exterior of the charging vessel 6 and
within its sealing flange 5, and having an outlet 10 adapted to be water sealed
by the water in the upper end of the charging vessel and a stop-cock 11 in
said pipe.
3. The combination with an acetylene gas generator of a gas condenser distinct
from the generator and comprising a vessel containing water, a pipe from the
upper part of the generator communicating with the condenser below the level
of the surface of the water therein and a gas outlet from the condenser above the
water.
4. The combination with an acetylene gas generator of a gas purifier separate
from gas generator and comprising a vessel having two compartments in combina-
tion with oil in one compartment and chlorinated powdered lime and oxide of iron
in the other compartment, and means for passing the gas from the generator
through said oil, lime, and iron oxide.
5. In an acetylene generating plant the combination of a generator condenser,
a purifier containing oil, chlorinated lime, and oxide of iron, a gas holder and
connections between them for passage of the gas from the generator through the
condenser, and purifier to the holder.
6. In an acetylene generating plant the combination of a generator, a condenser,
a purifier containing oil, chloride of lime and oxide of iron and a holder and
water sealed non-return communications between them for the passage of the gas
from the generator through the condenser and purifier to the holder.
7. In an acetylene generating plant the combination of a generator, condenser,
purifier, and holder fitted with anti-friction guide rod and tube so arranged that
they keep the gas bell vertical for the purpose of securing uniform gas pressure
on the supply pipes and burners.
8. In an acetylene generating plant the combination of a generator and a gas
holder separate from said generator, means of communication for passage of gas
from the generator to the holder and vessels separate from the generator and
holder, for purifying the acetylene during the passage of the gas between generator
and holder.
9. In an acetylene generating plant the combination with a generator of a
condenser exterior to said generator adapted to act as a cooler and as a water
washer and hydrostatic valve to safeguard the generator from back firing and to
remove ammonia from the acetylene.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to the Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.