AN IMPROVED METHOD OR MODE OF PRODUCING INFLAMMABLE GASES OF GREATER PURITY AND HIGHER ILLUMINATING POWER THAN THOSE IN USE, AND ALSO IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE, AND WHICH APPARATUS MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HOLWORTHY PALMER, late of Surrey Square, Old Kent Road, in the County
of Surrey, but now of Westbourne Villas, Harrow Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Seventeenth day of April now last past, did give and grant unto me, the
said George Holworthy Palmer, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her express
license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said George
Holworthy Palmer, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said George Holworthy Palmer, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR MODE
OF PRODUCING INFLAMMABLE GASES OF GREATER PURITY AND HIGHER ILLUMINATING
POWER THAN THOSE IN USE, AND ALSO IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE, AND WHICH APPARATUS MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES;" and whereas in the said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso that I, the said George Holworthy Palmer, shall particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to

page_text: be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Holworthy Palmer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
My Invention relates, in the first place, to an improved mode of setting and
arranging the retorts in conjunction with what may be termed regenerators or
auxiliary generators or decomposers, so as to ensure their being heated
uniformly to the required temperature. The arrangement and construction
of the flues in which the retorts and regenerators are set are such as to ensure
the former being raised to an uniform temperature sufficient to carbonize the
coal in a given period of time, with the least expenditure of fuel and wear
and tear of such retorts, whilst the regenerators are raised to a temperature
sufficient to produce the combinations of gaseous carbon and hydrogen, but
without being in such eccess as to occasion the precipitation of the carbon in
a solid state. By this mode of carbonizing and generating gas a striking
and marked advantage is obtained, viz', not only an increase of volume, but
also an increase in the illuminating power of the gas obtained from a given
weight of coal, whereas in all the modes which I have witnessed an increase
of volume (beyond a given amount) from carbonizing at high temperatures,
whether by using retorts alone or by the addition of auxiliary tar and naptha
decomposers, is invariably attended with a sacrifice of illuminating power
more than equivalent to the increased volume of gas obtained. This beneficial
effect in the manufacture of gas I am enabled to obtain by adopting the
peculiar arrangement of furnaces and flues shewn in Figures 1 to 6, herein-
after more particularly described, whether a lesser or greater number of
retorts and regenerators be set in one and the same furnace. And I would
also observe, that the relative cubic contents of the regenerators and the
retorts, as well as the temperature of each, are extremely important in the
economic production of gas; and I find it beneficial that the cubic contents of
each regenerator (one being set to each retort) should not exceed the pro-
portions shewn in the Drawings, viz', about two thirds the cubic contents of
the retort, and that the temperature of the retorts need not be so high as that
usually practised, or need never exceed what is commonly known as a bright
cherry-red heat at daylight, and that the temperature of the regenerator.

page_text: should not exceed a dull red heat at daylight. The surface of heating medium
may be increased at pleasure by the introduction of metallic clippings, or by
sheet-iron plates raised within the regenerators.
My Invention, secondly, relates to an improved mode and to certain
improvements of the apparatus and its arrangements for abstracting the
vapours of tar and naptha, as well as the gaseous ammonia and its compounds,
and may therefore be termed the condensing processes. To accomplish these
most important objects three simple and distinct means are resorted to; first,
the use of an apparatus into which the crude gas flows direct from the rege-
nerators, after having been blown through the dip pipes in the hydraulic main,
which apparatus I call a mechanical precipitator. This is combined with
cooling apparatus, the united influence of which will effect a rapid deposition
of tar and other condensable products. Secondly, the use of an apparatus
which I call ammoniacal filtering towers, through which the gas flows, being
washed in its course by liquid ammonia descending like rain in a continuous
stream through one or more perforated plates in each tower, and so on
through the same, as shewn in Figures 9, 10, and 11 of the Drawings herein-
after more particularly explained. The efficiency of this part of the process
will depend upon the volume and subdivision of liquid ammonia. And I
would observe, that by causing the liquid ammonia to rain or descend through
the crude gas in the manner directed, the ammoniacal gas becomes condensed
and removed without subjecting the gas to an encreased pressure during the
process. The third and final process of condensation is accomplished by the
use of pure steam, rather exceeding the atmospheric pressure, whether gene-
rated at that elasticity or by the use of high steam employed in an expanded
state. The gas, having been subjected to this process first described in the
ammoniacal filtering towers, is passed through a series of chambers, in each
of which the volume of steam employed is about equal to the volume of the
gas with which it is to be combined. The pure steam and crude gas will pass
from the first of the series of steam chambers or towers into its condensing
chamber, where the steam will be converted into water, which in its descent
will carry with it a great proportion of the remaining gaseous ammonia and
its various compounds, after which the perinanent gases will flow from No. 1
condenser into No. 2 steam chamber, where it will be again saturated with
steam, and will, as in the former case, flow into its proper refrigerator, to
deposit the steam charged with another portion of the products referred to, in
a liquid form, whilst the gas will pass into No. 3 chamber, when, as in the two
former cases, it will be finally saturated with steam, and passing from thence
into No. 3. condenser, will deposit the remaining ammonia and its compounds,.

page_text: together with a portion of sulphuretted hydrogen, all of which liquid products
it is important to observe should flow from the aforesaid condensers as fast as
they are deposited into a suitable receiver or receivers, each being sealed by
an hydraulic joint, in order to prevent the gaseous vapours and gases again
returning and combining with the gas from which they had been extracted.
It will be obvious that a series consisting of a greater or less number of steam
chambers may be employed, but I believe three will be found to answer best,
regard being had to the expence as well as the perfection of the operation.
From this apparatus the gas will pass freed from the impurities, consisting of
condensable vapours and gaseous compounds, into the lime machines, which,
being charged with "dry lime" in the usual way, will be found (owing to the
state in which the gas is previous to entering the lime machines) to purify a
much larger volume of gas than can be accomplished with a given quantity of
lime by the present processes, and also to avoid any inconveniences which
arise on opening the purifiers, and removing the "refuse lime" from the
sieves, preparatory to recharging with fresh lime. And as a further means of
obviating such inconveniences I cause atmospheric air, heated or otherwise
(the former being more rapid in its purifying operation), to be blown through
the materials employed for purifying the gas. The air, after being so blown
through, may be discharged into or through the furnace bars or chimney
shaft, the inflammable gas contained in the lime purifier having been first
blown out, and discharged into the atmosphere. The apparatus employed for
this purpose may be a centrifugal bellows or other suitable pneumatic
apparatus, the blast pipe being connected to the exit pipe of the purifier, thus
blowing out the contaminated atmospheric air, vapours, and gases combined
therewith through the pipe by which the gas enters the purifying vessel, an
extra pipe and valve being attached to the entrance and exit pipes of each
lime machine for this purpose. The reason why the atmospheric air is made
to take the opposite course in its passage through the purifier is, to ensure the
air coming in contact in the first instance with the less contaminated lime or
other product, and vice versa. And I would observe, that this injection of
air into the lime purifier, when out of action, may be employed with advantage
in the manufacture of gas preparatory to removing the lime and other refuse
materials, whether such manufacture be carried on according to my improved
process or the processes of manufacture hitherto adopted. The now purified
gas goes into the gasholder, and in its transit from the gasholder to the mains,
for the supply of the consumer, may be napthalized, if required. For this
purpose apparatus may be employed similar to that already described, as the
ammoniacal filtering towers, by simply substituting naphtha for the liquid

page_text: ammonia, and permitting it to descend through the atmosphere of gas to be
napthalized. For this purpose one or more filtering towers may be employed,
according to the volume of gas to be napthalized or the rapidity with which
the naphtha is pumped up and passed through the gas; but I would observe,
that in all cases the gas, previously to its being napthalized, must be at a tem-
perature not exceeding the lowest to which it will be subject in the mains;
otherwise a portion of the atmosphere of naphtha supplied to the gas will be
deposited during the transit to the consumer. In case the gas should be of
too high an illuminating power, or that the naphtha contained in the gas is of
more commercial value when extracted than when left in the gas, and
employed for the purpose of illumination, a given portion of such naphtha
may be extracted from the gas by the application of animal or vegetable oils,
or purified tar, as a solvent, applied by means of the apparatus already
described as the filtering towers, the solvent employed being pumped up to the
vessel supplying the perforated plates or diaphragms until the denaphthalizing
process has been carried to the requisite extent, or until the solvent employed
has become saturated with the naptha, when it must be removed, and a fresh
supply furnished. It will be obvious that the apparatus herein-before referred
to, and hercin-after more particularly described as the mechanical precipitator,
may be employed with advantage for the separation of other gaseous com-
pounds, in which the separation will be facilitated by subdivision and agitation
of the particles, combined with reduction of temperature.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
Figures 1 to 6 inclusive shew the mode of setting and heating the retorts and
regenerators, Figure 1 being a sectional elevation; Figure 2, a longitudinal
section; Figure 3, a plan of one of the lower retorts, shewing the opening through
which the flame rises; Figuro 4, sectional plan of the regenerators, shewing the
manner of setting and heating the same; Figure 5, a sectional plan of the top
retort; Figure 6, front elevation of retorts and regenerators, shewing the sights
and flue plugs. In the above Drawings the same letters refer to the same part
in each; a, b, c, being the retorts; d, e, f, the regenerators, shewing the plates
or metallic clippings contained therein, which are intended to increase the sur-
face of heating medium over which the gas flows from the retorts below; g, g,
the furnaces; h, h, the blow holes through which the flame rises from the
furuaces. The flames or products of combustion first pass over the two lower

page_text: retorts, and then ascend through the flues i, i, into the flue of the regenerators
d and f, and then combining pass over the top retort c, whence they proceed
to heat regenerator e, and finally escape into the flues above in its course to
the chimney shaft, as shewn by the arrows in the Figures 1 and 2. m, m, are
the pockets into which the solid depositions are received, and from which they
are discharged at the flue plugs 1, 2, which letter also designates all the other
plugs and sights shewn in Figure 6. k, k, shews the protecting tiles covering
the retorts where the flame rises. In this method of setting the retorts the
furnace bridge is altogether abandoned, and the flame is made to rise direct
from the furnaces in front of the retorts through the two side openings h, h.
And in order to ensure the bottom of the lower retorts being at the required
temperature, they are raised by means of cross bricks about three inches,
thus leaving ample space for the flame to act upon their bottoms. It will be ob-
served, on reference to the Drawings (see Figure 6), that each retort is furnished
with a separate regenerator, into which the gas passes immediately from the
retort with which it is connected, as previously explained. Figure 7 is a vertical
section of the mechanical precipitator, and Figure 8 is the plan of the same.
a, a, are the perforated revolving fans intended to agitate the gas in the chamber
b, b, in which it revolves. The shaft being stepped into the lower chamber is
passed through an inclined plane d, d, under which the gas blows through the
tar in its passage from the pipe x, x. e, e, is a chamber connected with the
aforesaid, containing a convoluted worm or refrigerating pipe g, g, intended to
cool the gas after it has escaped from the chamber 6 through the curved pipe
f, for which purpose the pipe is kept cool by a constant supply of water
passing through the chamber e, e, provided by the pipe h, h, entering at the
top of the chamber, and discharged through the pipe j connected to the
bottom. These pipes h and j are the short and long legs of a syphon, the
chamber e, e, being also a part of the said syphon. The legs of the syphon
are each furnished with a cock or valve, to open a communication with or to
cut off the supply of water to the body e of the syphon. The top of the pipe h
is furnished with a water feed, in order to fill the body of the syphon previous
to its being put into action, the valves or cocks p, p, being shut during the
m is an air
process of filling, the air being discharged through the pipe s.
pump affixed to the top of the chamber e, as shewn in Figure 8, which pump,
as well as the perforated agitating apparatus, will be both worked by the
descent of the water flowing from the long legj of the syphon, which gives
motion to a small water wheel in connection with the bevel wheels, riggers,
and band. This air pump is employed for the purpose of removing the small
quantity of air which would otherwise collect and stop the action of the

page_text: syphon; or motion may be given to the air-pump piston and the shaft driving.
the vertical revolving fan by a steam engine or any other available power..
All the condensable products collected in the refrigerating pipe g flows there-
from through the pipe n into the chamber c, as do the like products precipi-
tated in the agitating chamber 6, b, which products finally pass off at the
opening r, and at the level of the dotted line, into a suitable receiver provided'
for that purpose. To prevent the gas blowing through the aperture in the
inclined plane where the fan shaft passes, the shaft is inserted in a pipe
bolted to the said inclined plane, being of an altitude sufficient to overcome'
the pressure of the
gas. Instead of the usual stuffing box for the agitating
shaft to work in, I employ an hydraulic seal consisting of an inverted cup t,
affixed to the said shaft, dipping into water or any other liquid contained in:
the concentric space of the circular vessel v.
Figure 9 is a plan, and Figure 10 a sectional elevation, of the ammoniacal
filtering towers, steam chambers, and its condensors, shewn combined in one
apparatus, but which may be separated, if more convenient. The operation is:
as follows:-The gas takes the course of the arrows in the ammonical.
towers, Numbers 1, 2, and 3, entering each at the bottom, and making its
exit at the top, from whence it proceeds into the steam chambers Numbers 4,
5, and 6, and undergoes the processes of steaming and condensing, as before:
fully explained. a, a, are the steam pipes, with cocks to regulate the volume.
of steam to be combined with the gas in each of the chambers, 6 being the
entrance from the boiler. c, c, c, are the three separate condensers before.
explained, shewing the entrance and exit pipes leading to and from the steam
chambers and condensers. d, the tank into which the ammoniacal liquor
is pumped, passing through the pipe e, which tank has two divisional plates
ff, affixed to the top and sides, and descending to within a few inches of the
hottom of the tank, heing sealed at the level of the dotted line by liquid
amonia. To ensure the gas flowing from one tower to another, as before
detailed, each tower is furnished with a pipe g, connecting it at the aforesaid
tank, and rising in the latter to the height of the dotted line, at which level.
the liquid ammonia flows through the pipe g into its particular tower, where,"
falling on the perforated plate n to the bottom of each tower, it washes and
extracts the ammonia, as before described. In order to ensure an equalization:
of pressure in each compartment of the feed tank, air pipes h, h, h, connect
the said towers and feed chambers. Instead of the arrangement of the
filtering towers, as shewn in Fig. 10, a modified arrangement, with several>
perforated divisional plates, as shewn in Figure 11, may be adopted. In this:
modification the gas flows from the lower into the upper chamber, through the

page_text: pipes w, in order, finally escaping at the pipe y. It is obvious that the
number of towers, or of the divisions, as above described, for filtering the
ammoniacal liquor, may be increased at pleasure.
The series of operations and processes constituting my improved method of
producing gas of greater purity and illuminating power is as follows:-The
gas passes direct from the retorts into the regenerators, where its volume and
illuminating power are increased by a further combination of the constituent
gaseous elements already partially effected in the retorts, and which is most
advantageously accomplished by this second dose of caloric when the tempe-
rature to which the gaseous matter is exposed does not exceed a dull-red heat
visible by daylight. From the regenerators the gas blows in the usual
manner through the sealed pipes in the hydraulic main, and passes on into the
mechanical precipitator, and from thence traverses the refrigerating pipe
within the body of the cooling syphon apparatus, where, with the diminished
temperature which the crude gas experiences, and the agitation to which it is
subjected, a large portion of the tar, naptha, and liquid ammonia is deposited.
Passing from this apparatus, the gas then enters the ammoniacal towers,
where, being washed with the liquid ammonia in a state of division, & further
portion of the ammonia contained in the gas is absorbed, and the liquid
ammonia increased in its strength, and consequently in its commercial value.
From the ammoniacal towers the gas enters into the steam chambers, where
it is dosed several separate times with pure steam; the first volume
of steam; with the gaseous ammonia and its compounds which it contains,
being condensed and deposited before the gas is charged with the second
volume of steam, and so of the volumes of steam with which the gas is
subsequently combined, and which are subjected, as in the first case, to con-
densation. The gas then enters the dry-lime purifiers, where it is divested of
the remaining deleterious gases, namely, sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic
acid, and proceeds thence to the gasholder. To prevent the sulphuretted
hydrogen and other impurities escaping into the atmosphere (when the same
have not been wholly removed by the preceding process of manufacture), on
the opening of the purifyers, a volume of atmospheric air, heated, or at the
temperature of the atmosphere, is blown with the centrifugal bellows or other
suitable apparatus through the impure lime, the air being made to enter at a
pipe attached for the purpose to the purifyers' exit pipe, and to escape by
another affixed in like manner to its entrance pipe, so that the air as injected
comes first in contact with the lime which has absorbed the least of the
impurities. Lastly, if the gas should require napthalizing to improve its
illuminating power, it is passed through a similar apparatus to the ammonical

page_text: towers, substituting naptha for the liquid ammonia; or, if the gas be of too
high an illuminating power, and require denapthalizing, a portion of the
naptha may be removed by the use of a fixed oil (either animal or vegetable)
or purified tar as a solvent, being permitted to descend (in a similar apparatus
to the aforesaid) through the gas to be denapthalized.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare the Invention whereof
the exclusive use is intended to be secured by the said Letters Patent to be as
follows:-
Firstly, I claim the manufacture of gas by means of the series of processes
herein-before described.
Secondly, I claim, in and for the manufacture of gas, the use and appli-
cation of a furnace constructed and arranged as above described, so as to
ensure uniformity of temperature to the retorts and regenerators employed for
the production of the products of coal.
Thirdly, I claim the construction of the mechanical precipitator, and its use, .
in combination with the arrangements and apparatus for keeping the gaseous
products cool in the manufacture of gas, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the causing liquid ammonia, in a comminated or divided
state, to descend or pass through the crude gas, without subjecting the gas
to increased pressure for that purpose.
Fifthly, I claim the application of steam in a series of chambers to further
purify the gas which has been deprived of a portion of its ammonia by causing
ammoniacal liquor to pass through it, as above described.
Sixthly, I claim the using of atmospheric air, to be blown through the lime
purifyers before they are opened for the removal of the refuse lime, as above
described, and the applications and adaptations of suitable apparatus for that
purpose.
Seventhly, I claim the apparatus herein-before described as the ammoniacal
filtering towers, and the application thereof for the napthalizing and de-
napthalizing of gas. And,
.
Lastly, I claim the apparatus herein-before described as the mechanical
precipitator in combination with the cooling apparatus, and the application
thereof to precipitating the condensable products of gaseous compounds.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Holworthy Palmer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-seven.
G. H. (L.B.) PALMER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid George Holworthy Palmer came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and speci-
fied, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.