IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR.' A communication from abroad by Thomas Fitch
Rowland and Charles William Isbell, both of the City and State of New
York, United States of America.
Sealed the 10th October 1879, and dated the 28th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1879.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ILLUMINATING GAS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." [A communication from
abroad by Thomas Fitch Rowland and Charles William Isbell, both of the City
and State of New York, United States of America.]
In the ordinary process of manufacturing illuminating gas from coal and other
bituminous substances there are left in the tar collected in the hydraulic mains
certain hydrocarbons, such as benzole, naptha, and napthaline, containing elements
which by proper treatment may be economically converted into illuminating gas of
good quality. With a view to utilize such hydro-carbons by their conversion or the
conversion of portions of them into permanent illuminating gas, the first part of
this Invention comprises a process of first subjecting the tar in a suitable chamber
or apparatus to the combined action of the hot gas passing from the retorts in which
the coal or other substance has been subjected to distillation, and steam admitted
to or generated in said chamber or apparatus, thereby vaporizing and separating
such hydro-carbons and subsequently allowing the vapors so separated to pass along
with the gas from the said retorts through a.converter or retort in which the said
vapors are converted into permanent gas. This converter or retort may be arranged
in or in communication with the flues from the furnace of the first named retorts
and be sufficiently heated for the purpose by the waste heat thereof.
The chamber or receptacle in which as herein-above mentioned the tar is
subjected to the action of the hot gas from the distilling retorts and steam is

page_text: of such nature that it may be termed a steam-scrubber, and the second part
of the said Invention comprises the combination with one or more retorts for
the distillation of illuminating gas from coal or other bituminous substance, and
with a steam scrubber or similar apparatus into which are separately introduced
the hot gas from said retorts and a quantity of tar and ammoniacal liquor
from the hydraulic main of said retorts, and in which are vaporized a portion of the
hydrocarbons of such tar, of a converter which is arranged in or in communication
with the flue or flues of the furnace of said retorts and is heated by the waste heat
thereof, and into which the steam, gas, and hydro-carbon vapors pass from said
scrubber to be therein heated together with the conversion of the said vapors into
permanent gas. The flue or flues in or in communication with which the aforesaid
converter is arranged are provided with dampers or valves to provide for either
conducting the waste heat from the retort furnace to, through, or around said
converter before it passes to the atmosphere, or conducting the said waste heat
directly to the atmosphere without its passing to, through, or in contact with
the said converter, and it is in this combination of flues and valves with the retort
furnace and converter that the third part of the said Invention consists.
The fourth part of this Invention relates to a steam-scrubber of novel construction
for the purpose of carrying out the vaporization and separation of the hydro-carbons
from the tar in the process hereinabove mentioned. This steam-scrubber consists
of a chamber having a proper inlet near the bottom for steam and gas, and one
higher up for tar, and a proper outlet near the top for the gas and hydro-carbon
vapours, and one at or near the bottom for the residuum of the tar, such chamber
containing a series of superposed plates which are arranged at a short distance apart,
and are perforated alternately at and towards or near the centre only, and at and
towards or near the periphery or margin only, so that the gas and steam admitted
near the bottom of the said chamber and the tar admitted above may be caused to
pass over, between, and through the perforations of the said plates in such manner
as to be finely divided and brought into a very diffused and intimate contact with
each other, the said chamber being also furnished with a steam-coil in the lower
part for the purpose of heating the tarry residuum and keeping the same sufficiently
fluid to pass or be drawn off.
The Invention further relates to improvements in what are known as wet
scrubbers for removing ammonia, sulphur, and carbonic acid from illuminating gas.
The principal object of these improvements is to effect the wet scrubbing of the gas
with a smaller quantity of water than has heretofore commonly been necessary, and
thereby to obtain concentrated ammoniacal liquor of greater commercial value than
that heretofore obtained. One of these improvements in wet scrubbers consists in
the combination with a wet gas scrubber of an intermittently rotating water
distributor composed of or provided with a central receiving basin and hollow
distributing arms for the purpose of facilitating the proper wetting of the acting
surfaces of the scrubber. Another of these improvements in wet scrubbers consists
in the combination with such distributor of a water-supply-box organized to tilt
upon or about a horizontal shaft or fixed axis, and having two compartments
furnished with valves and arranged on opposite sides of the said shaft or axis and
by the filling of which alternately from a pipe or reservior the tilting of the box is
produced, each compartment having its valve opened by the tilting action and
its water being discharged into the distributor while the other one is being
filled.
A further improvement in wet scrubbers consists in the combination with the
tilting water-supply-box and the intermittently rotating water distributor of a
pawl or pawls attached to the said box and working in a ratchet or ratchets
provided on or attached to the said distributor, whereby the movement of the
distributor is derived from that of the water-box.
Another improvement in wet scrubbers consists in providing the distributor with
removable water distributing arms which are screwed into funnel-mouthed orifices
in the central trunk or shaft of the distributor, the funnel-mouths of the said orifices

page_text: being so arranged that they can be brought opposite to proper openings in the wall
or shell of the scrubber, and providing for the easy insertion into them of the
hollow arms as the latter are introduced through the said openings in the wall or
shell.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
January 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ILLUMINATING GAS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," A communication from
abroad by Thomas Fitch Rowland and Charles William Isbell, both of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
In the ordinary process of manufacturing illuminating gas from coal and other
bituminous substances there are left in the tar collected in the hydraulic mains
certain hydro-carbons such as benzole, naphtha, and naphthaline, containing
elements which by proper treatment may be economically converted into illuminating
gas of good quality. With a view to utilize such hydro-carbons by their conversion
or the conversion of portions of them into permanent illuminating gas the first
part of this Invention comprises a process of first subjecting the tar in a suitable
chamber or apparatus to the combined action of the hot gas passing from the retorts
in which the coal or other substance has been subjected to distillation, and steam
admitted to or generated in said chamber or apparatus, thereby vaporizing and
separating such hydro-carbons, and subsequently allowing the vapors so separated
to pass along with the gas from the said retorts through a converter or retort in
which the said vapors are converted into permanent gas. This converter or retort
may be arranged in or in communication with the flues from the furnace of the
first named retorts and be sufficiently heated for the purpose by the waste heat
thereof.
The chamber or receptacle in which, as herein-above mentioned, the tar is
subjected to the action of the hot gas from the distilling retorts and steam is of
such nature that it may be termed a steam-scrubber, and the second part of the
said Invention comprises the combination with one or more retorts for the distillation
of illuminating gas from coal or other bituminous substance, and with a steam
scrubber or similar apparatus into which are separately introduced the hot gas from
said retorts and a quantity of tar and ammoniacal liquor from the hydraulic main
of said retorts and in which are vaporized a portion of the hydro-carbons of such
tar, of a converter which is arranged in or in communication with the flue or flues
of the furnace of said retorts, and is heated by the waste heat thereof and into
which the steam, gas, and hydro-carbon vapors pass from said scrubber to be
therein heated together for the conversion of the said vapors into permanent gas,

page_text: The flue or flues in or in communication with which the aforesaid converter is
arranged are provided with dampers or valves to provide for either conducting the
waste heat from the retort furnace to, through, or around said converter before it
passes to the atmosphere, or conducting the said waste beat directly to the atmo-
sphere without its passing to, through, or in contact with the said converter, and it
is in this combination of flues and valves with the retort-furnace and converter
that the third part of the said Invention consists.
The fourth part of this Invention relates to a steam-scrubber of novel construction
for the purpose of carrying out the vaporization and separation of the hydro-carbons
from the tar in the process hereinabove mentioned.
This steam-scrubber consists of a chamber having a proper inlet near the bottom
for steam and gas, and one higher up for tar, and a proper outlet near the top for
the gas and hydro-carbon vapors, and one at or near the bottom for the residuum
of the tar, such chamber containing a series of superposed plates which are arranged
at a short distance apart and are perforated alternately at and towards or near the
centre only, and at and towards or near the periphery or margin only, so that the
gas and steam admitted near the bottom of the said chamber and the tar admitted
above may be caused to pass over, between, and through the perforations of the said
plates in such a manner as to be tinely divided and brought into a very diffused and
intimate contact with each other, the said chamber being also furnished with a
steam coil in the lower part for the purpose of heating the tarry residuum and
keeping the same sufficiently fluid to pass or be drawn off.
The Invention further relates to improvements in what are known as wet
scrubbers for removing ammonia, sulphur, and carbonic acid from illuminating gas.
The principal object of these improvements is to effect the wet scrubbing of the gas
with a smaller quantity of water than has heretofore commonly been necessary, and
thereby to obtain a concentrated ammoniacal liquor of greater commercial value than
that core obtained. One of these improvements in wet scrubbers consists in the
combination with a wet gas scrubber of an intermittently rotating water-distributor
composed of or provided with a central receiving basin and hollow distributing
arms for the purpose of facilitating the proper wetting of the acting surfaces of the
scrubber. Another of these improvements in wet scrubbers consists in the com-
bination with such distributor of a water supply box organized to tilt upon or about
a horizontal shaft or fixed axis and having two compartments furnished with valves
and arranged on opposite sides of the said shaft or axis and by the filling of which
alternately from a pipe or reservoir the tilting of the box is produced, each compart-
ment having its valve opened by the tilting action and its water being discharged
into the distributor while the other one is being filled.
A further improvement in wet scrubbers consists in the combination with the
tilting water supply-box and the intermittently rotating water distributor of a
pawl or pawls attached to the said box, and working in ratchet teeth provided on
or attached to the said distributor, whereby the movement of the distributor is
derived from that of the water-box.
Another improvement in wet scrubbers consists in providing the distributor with
removable water distributing arms, which are screwed into the funnel-mouthed orifices
in the central trunk or shaft of the distributor, the funnel-mouths of the said
orifices being so arranged that they can be brought opposite to proper openings in
the wall or shell of the scrubber, and providing for the easy insertion into them of
the hollow arms as the latter are introduced through the said openings in the wall
or shell

page_text: Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to Figure 1 on the
line x, x.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the converter and its appurtenances.
Figures 5 and 6 are sections in detail of the escape outlet for the residuum of the
tar from the steam scrubber.
Figures 7 and 8 are plans or top views of the perforated plates of the scrubber.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter described.
A indicates the bench of retorts, which may be constructed and organized like the
benches of retorts ordinarily used for the manufacture of coal-gas or in any other
suitable manner, and is furnished with the usual hydraulic main B, whence the gas
passes by a pipe C. This pipe C, which is shewn as having applied in connection
with it the steam-jet exhauster D, leads to the lower part of the chamber F of the
steam-scrubber to convey thereinto the gas from the retorts and the steam from
the exhauster. The exhauster is similar to those heretofore employed for the pur-
pose, and therefore needs no particular description. From the upper part of the
steam-scrubber a pipe G, for the exit of the gas, steam, and vapor therefrom, leads
to the converter H, I, which is arranged on the top of the retort bench to be
heated by the waste heat therefrom. From the hydraulic main a pipe J leads into
the steam-scrubber to conduct into the latter the tar from which the benzole,
naphtha, naphthaline, or other hydro-carbons to be utilized are to be obtained.
The tar may flow into the scrubber by its own gravity, or may be forced in by a
pump or other suitable apparatus. From this converter there is an exit pipe K,
through which the gas passes to the apparatus by which it is purified on its way
to the gasometers or holders in which it is stored for distribution; and this pipe K
has a connection E (see Figure 3) with the lower part of the pipe C to constitute a
bye-pass, through which the gas may pass directly from the upper part of the pipe C
to the pipe K without passing through the steam-scrubber whenever for any
purpose it may be desirable to suspend the action of the said scrubber. The pipe Č
is furnished with stop valves C', C2, and C³. The pipe G is furnished with a stop
valve G¹, and the pipe K is furnished with a stop-valve K¹; and a stop-valve E' is
provided between the pipe C and the pipe E.
The steam-scrubber may be variously constructed to produce a fine subdivision of
the steam and hot gas from the retorts, and such intimate and very diffused contact
between them as will facilitate the vaporization of the naphtha, benzole, naptha-
line, and other hydro-carbons contained in the tar, and their separation from such
tar. The scrubber represented consists principally of an upright chamber or trunk
of cylindrical or other form, in which are placed at short distances apart a number
of snugly-fitted superposed plates a and b, which may each be made of several
sector-shaped sections, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8, to facilitate their introduction
into the chamber F. The plates a, a, are perforated only in their central portions,
and the alternating plates b, b, are perforated only in their outer portions so that
the gas and steam received below them through the pipe C and passing upward
through the perforations will have to pass over large portions of the surfaces of the
plates, and so that the tar received above the lower ones through the pipe J and
passing downward through their perforations may also have to pass over large
portions of their surfaces, whereby the tar will be brought into intimate and
diffused contact with the steam and gas. The holes in the plates a and b are
countersunk, so that they will present large surfaces of contact for the tar and the
steam and gas. In the lower part of the scrubber is arranged the steam coil c,
which receives steam from any suitable generator for the purpose of heating the
residuum of the tar which collects in the lower part of the steam-scrubber. The
heat from this steam-coil may also serve to vaporize or convert into steam a portion
of the water contained in the liquors which pass with the tar from the hydraulic
main, and the steam thus obtained may in some cases, as when a steam-exhauster is
not used, serve the same purpose as the steam entering the scrubber with the
exhauster, namely, the facilitation of the separation from the tar of the hydro-carbon
vapors. At the bottom of the scrubber is the outlet d for the residuum of the tar

page_text: and of any water of condensation or other liquid that may collect in the bottom
of the said scrubber. Outside of this outlet is a seal-pot S, shown in section in
Figures 5 and 6, and in which is retained a sufficient quantity of the escaping
liquid to prevent the escape of gas. At the top of this pot S is an overflow
opening d, which communicates with a passage e, leading to a well f; below and
from this well a waste pipe g leads to any suitable receptacle. The outlet of the
steam-coil c also communicates with the well f for the discharge of its water of
condensation. In order to provide for drawing off the heavy residuum from the
scrubber without relying upon the overflow there is close to the bottom of the seal-
pot S an aperture h, which leads to a passage i, which has a communication with
the well f, the said communication being closed by a valve j until it is desired to
open it. This valve may be opened by hand on removing the cover of the seal
pot, and the liquid contents of the seal-pot and of the lower part of the scrubber be
thus drawn off directly into the well f, whence they are free to escape.
The converter may be variously constructed, but its nature is that of a retort.
In order to give it as large a surface as is desirable to enable it to be heated by the
waste heat from the bench of retorts it is preferably composed of pipes arranged in
serpentine or other form. The example represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, r, consists
simply of a V-shaped pipe I connected at one end with the pipe G, and at the other
with the pipe K, and arranged in an oven-like heating chamber H on the top of
the bench A. This chamber H has an outlet at n, and has communications, as
shewn at in Figure 4, with the exit flues m, m, of the retort-bench A, which
communications are capable of being closed by slides or dampers L, L. The direct
outlets of the flues m, m, are also provided with closing slides or dampers M, M.
When the converter is to be heated the slides or dampers M, M, are closed, and the
dampers L, L, opened, so that all the gaseous products of combustion and waste
heat from the retort furnace pass through the chamber H to the outlet n. When
it is not desired to heat the converter the slides or dampers L are closed, and the
slides M, M, opened, and the gaseous products of combustion pass directly out from
the flues m, m, in the usual way.
When the process of converting the hydrocarbons from the tar into permanent
gas is being performed with the use of the steam jet exhauster, as shewn in the
Drawing, the stop-valves C¹, E¹, are closed, and the valves C2, C3, G', and K' are
opened, and the valve J₁ at the connection of the tar pipe J with the hydraulic
main is also opened. The gas then passes from the hydraulic main by the pipe C
to the scrubber accompanied by steam from the steam exhauster. The gas and
steam rising through the scrubber meet the down-flowing tar, which is spread over
the plates a, b, and the united action of the gas and steam upon the tar thoroughly
vaporizes and separates the naphtha, benzole, and other hydro-carbons from the
pitchy portion of the tar. The hydro-carbon vapors in passing along with the gas
and steam through the converter are converted into permanent gas, which is added
to that which was made in the retorts. The whole of the gas passes from the con-
verter through scrubbers and purifiers, such as are ordinarily used, or may be sub-
jected to such further treatment as is necessary to render it fit for use.
If it should be desired to take the gas directly from the hydraulic main without
using the process herein described of converting the hydro-carbons, or whenever it
may be necessary to clean or repair the steam scrubber or converter, the said
scrubber and converter may be shut off by closing the stop-valves C¹, C³, G³, and K¹,
and opening the valves C² and E'. The gas will then pass along the pipe through
'the steam jet exbauster D, valve E', and bye-pass pipe E to the final outlet pipe K;
or by closing the cocks C² and E¹, as well as the cocks C³, G', and K¹, and opening
the valve C¹ only the gas may pass directly from the pipe C to the final outlet K
without passing either to the steam-jet exhauster, the steam-scrubber, or the con-
verter.
The improvements in wet scrubbers hereinbefore referred to are illustrated in
Figures 9, 10, and 11 of the Drawings, in which Figure 9 represents an elevation
partly in section of portions of a wet scrubber; Figure 10, a sectional elevation of

page_text: the water supply and distributing apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale; and
Figure 11 is a plan of the same.
A is the shell or shaft of the scrubber, which may be of cylindrical form, and
formed of cast or wrought iron of any desired height, and constructed of any number
of sections built one upon another with openwork floors, upon which are arranged
the perforated trays C, which are superposed one upon another. The shaft or shell
and its floors and perforated trays may be of any well known or suitable con-
struction, by which the water received at the top of the scrubber may be caused to
be spread to present a large wet surface to the gas, which is introduced to the
scrubber by a pipe D at the bottom, and caused to circulate upward through and
over the said trays. Instead of being furnished with trays the shell A may be
packed with furze, twigs, or broken material of any suitable kind.
E is the discharge-pipe receiving the washed gas at the top of the scrubber, and
delivering it at the bottom thereof, and b is the pipe for running off the ammoniacal
liquor.
G is the house or tower which is built up around the shell or shaft A of the
scrubber, and provided outside of the said shell or shaft with floors or galleries c,
from which man-holes in the shell or shaft may be reached, and with stairways H
leading to the several floors or galleries. This house or tower may also be provided
with a ventilator at the top, and with windows e, e, and with an outside gallery f
to gain access to the mechanism by which the water is distributed. This water
may be supplied from a tank above or from a main under pressure, or may be
pumped up by a pump from below, and is delivered through a pipe to the tilting
supply box I, hereinbefore referred to as a part of this Invention.
The tilting supply box I is provided with two compartments g, g, and arranged
to rock in a frame T upon a horizontal shaft or axis h, on opposite sides of which
the said compartments are situated, and the said box is so arranged under the
pipe z that according as it is tilted in one or the other direction one or other of its
compartments may be filled with water. At the bottom of each compartment g is
a spout n, the entrance of which is fitted with a valve J. The two valves are con-
nected by rods l, l, with fixed points of attachment m, m, in such manner that
when the box is tilted over in either direction the valve of the upper compartment
is closed, and that of the lower one is opened.
Below the tilting supply box is situated the receiving basin K of the inter-
mittently rotating water distributor. This basin K is secured centrally to two
vertical shafts o, u, arranged in line with each other, the lower one of which u is
hollow and communicates with the upper part of the interior of a seal trap M,
which is fast to the basin and with the lower part of which the basin has com-
munication by means of pipes or ducts 8, s. The hollow shaft u which is fast to
the seal-trap, and therefore must rotate with the basin K, passes through a mercury
seal trap on the head B of the shaft or shell A of the scrubber, and inside of the
said shaft or shell A there is secured to the bottom of the said shaft u a box v into
which are secured hollow perforated distributing arms P, P, for the distribution of
the water into the scrubber. To provide for the removal of these arms P, P, for
cleaning and their re-insertion, they are screw-threaded at their inner ends and
screwed into tapped orifices in the box v, and these orifices are surrounded with
funnel-like mouth-pieces y, y, to facilitate the insertion of the said arms into them
through hand holes w, w, provided in the shell or shaft A. for the purpose, the said
holes being provided with suitable lids for closing them gas-tight after the insertion
of the arms P, P. Around the upper edge of the basin K are the ratchet teeth r,
and attached to the tilting box I are pawls L, L, engaging with said ratchet
teeth.
The operation of supplying water to the scrubber is as follows:-When a certain
weight of water has accumulated in the uppermost side or compartment of the
tilting box I the box is tilted over on that side, and as it tilts the valve J of the
said compartment opens and the valve J of the other compartment is closed by the
action of their respective rods l, l. The box which was last filled now discharges

page_text: and the other one fills, and' in this way the tilting box is self-acting and gives an
intermittent supply of water to the basin K of the distributor, at the same time by
means of the pawls L, L, and ratchet teeth r giving an intermittent rotary motion
to the distributor and causing an intermittent distribution to the scrubber of the
water, which passes from the basin K, seal-trap M, hollow shaft u, box v, and hollow
arms P, P.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The process, substantially as hereinbefore described, for utilizing by their
conversion into permanent gas, various hydro-carbons existing in the tar which
passes from the retorts in which coal or other bituminous substances is distilled for
the manufacture of gas, such process consisting in first subjecting the tar to the
combined action of the hot gas from the retorts and steam, thereby separating and
vaporizing such hydro-carbons, and subsequently passing the vapors so obtained
with the gas from the retorts through a heated converter in which the said vapors
are converted into permanent gas.
Second. The combination with a retort or bench of retorts and its hydraulic
main and a steam scrubber, into which are introduced hot gas from the retorts and
tar from the hydraulic main, of a converter which is heated by the waste heat from
the retort-furnace, and into which the steam, gas, and hydro-carbon vapors pass
from the steam-scrubber, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination with the converter for changing the hydro-carbon
vapors obtained from tar in the distillation of coal or other bituminous substances
into permanent gas, and with the flues of a bench of retorts used in distilling such
coal, of slides or dampers for controlling the escape of the heated gaseous products
of combustion from the bench to, through, or around the said converter or out of
the way thereof, substantially as above described.
Fourth. The steam-scrubber constructed and operating substantially as and for
the purpose herein specified.
·
Fifth. The combination with a wet gas-scrubber of an intermittently rotating
water-distributor, substantially as above described.
Sixth. The combination with a gas-scrubber of an intermittently rotating water-
distributor and a tilting water-supply-box operating in connection with the said
distributor substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The combination with the tilting water-supply-box and the inter-
mittently rotating water-distributor of a pawl or pawls carried by the said box
and ratchet-teeth on the said distributor, substantially as above set forth and for
the purposes specified.
Eighth. The removable arms of the water-distributor in combination with the
central trunk or shaft of the said distributor provided with funnel-mouthed orifices
for the reception of the said arms, and the wall or shell of the scrubber furnished
with openings for the passage of the said arms, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
PARE