Improved Method of Rendering Acetylene, and other Gases Rich in Carbon, Suitable for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Rendering Acetylene, and other Gases Rich in
Carbon, Suitable for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
1, LOUIS MIChel Bullier, of 12, Avenue d'Orleans, Paris, France, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The carbides of the alkali-earth metals manufactured according to the process
described in a previous application for Letters Patent, dated the 8th, day of
February 1895, No. 2820; enable acetyleue to be produced at low cost and to be
used commercially.
The present invention relates to a process by means whereof not only acetylene
but all other gases rich, in carbon may be utilized for lighting and heating purposes.
Acetylene when burnt at the normal pressure, produces a smoky flame of a red
colour which is due to the carbon, resulting from the decomposition of the,
acetylene, which escapes combustion, and consequently does not fulfil its proper
function of imparting a luminous quality to the flame.
In order to ensure the combustion of this carbon, I have essayed to multiply as
much as possible the points of contact of the acetylene with the oxygen of the air,
and with this object I have attempted to burn the acetylene in the form of thin
films emitted from burners having extremely fine slits. Experience has, however,
shewn that burners of this kind, besides being very liable to become clogged,
necessitate too much alteration of existing fittings to practically solve the
problem.
According to this invention, the desired increase of the surfaces of contact
between the oxygen serving to support the combustion of the acetylene is
obtained by diluting the latter in an inert gas and burning it in this diluted con-
dition in ordinary burners and fittings. The acetylene may, theoretically, be
diluted with air but, in practice, the mixture of acetylene and air presents certain
dangers. Explosive mixtures of gases are extremely dangerous, and, notwith-
standing all precautions in burning them, even under pressure, they are liable to
fire back towards the reservoir and so cause serious accidents. To avoid this
objection, my process consists in diluting acetylene with an inert gas, that is to say
by eliminating the oxygen of the air and retaining only the nitrogen, I am enabled
to so dilute the acetylene as to enable it to be applied for lighting purposes with
ordinary burners, the illuminating power of the acetylene being, moreover, much
greater when that gas is diluted with an incombustible gas than when it is mixed
with combustible gases. Theoretically, the lighting power of acetylene mixed
with a combustible gas is inversely proportional to the quantity of heat given off by
the combustion of the combustible gas.
It will be evident that the proportions of the acetylene and of the inert gas
entering into the composition of mixtures prepared according to my process
may be varied according to circumstances and the result to be produced, but
1 will indicate, as an example, a mixture for lighting purposes which gives good
results.

page_text: all gases rich in carbon and it should also be understood that I may employ as the
diluent gas, instead of nitrogen, any other gas which is inert or incapable of
forming a detonating mixture with the combustible gas with which it is mixel.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improved Method of Rendering Acetylene, and other Gases Rich in
Carbon, Suitable for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
I, LOUIS MICHEL BULLIER, of 12, Avenue d'Orleans, Paris, France, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The carbides of the alkali-earth metals manufactured according to the process
described in a previous application for Letters Patent dated the 8th day of
February 1895 No. 2820, enable acetylene to be produced at low cost and to be
used commercially.
The present invention relates to a process by means whereof not only acetylene
but all other gases rich in carbon may be utilized for lighting and heating purposes.
Acetylene when burnt at the normal pressure, produces a smoky flame of a red
colour due to the carbon resulting from the decomposition of the acetylene, which
by escaping unconsumed does not properly fulfil the function of imparting a
luminous quality to the flame.
I have endeavoured to effect the combustion of this carbon by multiplying
as much as possible the points of contact of the acetylene with the oxygen of the
air by burning it in the form of thin films emitted from burners having
extremely fine slits, but burners of this kind, besides being very liable to become
clogged, involve too much alteration of existing fittings to practically solve the
problem.
According to this invention the desired increase of the surfaces of contact
between the oxygen and the acetylene is obtained by diluting the latter with an
inert gas and burning it in this diluted condition at ordinary burners.
Acetylene may, theoretically, be diluted with air but, in practice, the mixture of
acetylene and air presents certain dangers, explosive mixtures of gases being
extremely dangerous and liable, notwithstanding all precautions in burning even
under pressure, to fire back towards the reservoir and cause serious accidents. To
avoid this danger 1 dilute the acetylene with an inert gas excluding the oxygen and
retaining only the nitrogen whereby the acetylene may be diluted to such an extent
as to enable it to be applied for lighting purposes with ordinary burners.
illuminating power of the acetylene is in fact much greater when that gas is
diluted with an incombustible gas than when it is mixed with combustible gases,
the lighting power of acetylene when mixed with a combustible gas being,
theoretically, inversely proportional to the quantity of heat given off by the com-
bustion of the combustible gas.
The
It will be evident that the proportions of the acetylene and of the inert gas may
be varied according to circumstances and the result to be produced, but I will
indicate, as an example, a mixture which gives good results for lighting purposes.
Acetylene
50 parts.

page_text: All that has been herein before stated with respect to acetylene applies also to all
gases rich in carbon, and it should also be understood that I may employ as the
diluent gas, instead of uitrogen, any other gas which is inert or incapable of forming
a detonating mixture with the combustible gas with which it is mixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described method of rendering acetylene, and other gases rich in
carbon, suitable for lighting or heating purposes, which consists in diluting com-
bustible gas in nitrogen or other inert gas so as to enable it to be burnt in ordinary
burners or apparatus, substantially as specified.
Dand this 23rd day of December 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.