Improvements in the Apparatus for and in the Process of Manufacturing Water-gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1898-Accepted. 6th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for and in the Process of
Manufacturing Water-gas.
I, ANTHONY SPENCER BOWER, St. Neots, Hunts., Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of water-gas the process has hitherto been to first of all
blow air through a mass of fuel until the latter is in a state of incandescence,
the products of combustion being mainly carbonic oxide and nitrogen.
Carbonic oxide is formed because of the thickness of the fuel through which
the air has to pass. If the bed of fuel be thin, carbonic acid only will be formed
together with the nitrogen which forms the greater part of the ordinary atmosphere.
With a thick fire the carbonic acid first formed has to pass through more incan-
descent fuel and combining therewith forms carbonic oxide in a well-known
manner.
This latter operation absorbs heat, and keeps down the temperature of the
furnace.
It has been sought to mitigate this evil by supplying the air at different
heights in the mass of fuel so as to turn the carbonic oxide into carbonic acid.
Examples of this method are seen in Voisin's flameless cupola for melting iron
and in the "Delwyk" process for making water gas.
In water-gas making it is necessary that the steam to be converted into carbonic
oxide and hydrogen should pass through a considerable thickness of incandescent
fuel, otherwise a considerable quantity of carbonic acid may be produced, which
is not only useless as a combustible, but harmful in other ways.
The object of my invention is to so arrange the furnace or gas producer that
while air may be blown or drawn through a thin stratum of fuel there is never-
theless a thick layer of fuel in another direction through which the steam will
have to pass. Moreover, arrangements are made so that air and steam may be
thoroughly superheated if desired and pass through the whole of the fuel in thin
or small streams, whether it be in the case of the air which passes through a
small thickness, or in the case of the steam which passes through a large thickness
of the same incandescent fuel.
To do this I may make my gas producer of an elongated form in horizontal
cross section, and of any convenient height. The elongated form refers particu-
larly to internal dimensions of the apparatus, or to the dimensions of the hole or
cavity, into which the fuel is placed. This elongated hole or cavity is surrounded
by walls of refractory material and they are pierced horizontally, or nearly so,
with longitudinal passages which extend over the whole or greater portion of the
said walls.
Round the walls may be placed a casing of metal lined with refractory material,
and so disposed that spaces may be left between the perforated walls and the
casing. These spaces may be arranged so that they do not communicate with
one another without making a passage through the fuel. The fuel is therefore

page_text: surrounded by two longer and two shorter perforated walls, the long walls being
opposite one another, as also the short walls. The height of the walls may be
the same throughout and they may be provided at the top with an arrangement
for feeding the fuel in between them by gravitation while at the bottom of the
apparatus there may be provided an arrangement for withdrawing ashes or
clinker which may be formed during the process of converting the fuel into gas.
An internal horizontal cross section of an oblong shape is a convenient one to use.
In working the apparatus I cause air to enter one of the chambers or recesses
at the back of one of the long perforated walls, thence through the perforations
thereof, and through the fuel in the short direction of the oblong, so that little
or nothing but carbonic acid is produced since the air has only to pass through
a small thickness of fuel. The products of combustion then pass through the
perforations in the opposite long wall and raise the mass of material of which it
is composed to a high temperature close to the fuel, and a gradually decreasing
temperature towards the chamber or recess at the back of it. The products then
having parted with a large portion of their sensible heat pass away to the chim-
ney if desired, or if it be considered worth while they may be compelled to first
pass under the steam generator. Steam is then admitted to the chamber or
recess at the back of one of the short walls, passes through the holes or inter-
stices of the latter and then through the fuel in the long direction of the oblong,
or elongated cross section. In order that the steam may be compelled to pass
through the incandescent fuel in this manner, a perforated screen is caused to
block the holes or interstices in the long walls, otherwise the steam might make an
easier passage by passing round the chambers or spaces at the back of the long
walls. While passing through the fuel the steam becomes converted into water-
gas, and as such passes through the interstices of the opposite short wall giving
up the greater portion of its sensible heat thereto, and thence away to
the holder, or wherever else it may be wanted. The operation is then reversed,
air is forced or drawn through the interstices of the long wall which was pre-
viously heated by the products of combustion generated by the former passage
of air through the fuel. In this manner the air is highly heated before it reaches
the fuel at all, and is therefore in the best possible condition to raise the fuel
rapidly to an intense heat, the products of combustion again storing up heat in
the opposite long wall.
The screens referred to above are perforated in a "hit and miss" style so that
when moved in one position they may block the interstices or holes in the long
wall, but when placed in another position the holes in the screens correspond
with those in the walls, and a clear passage is left for the air or products of
combustion to pass through. These screens are now placed so as to block the
holes in the long walls, and steam is caused to pass through the interstices of
that short wall which was previously the recipient of the sensible heat of the
outgoing water gas, it then proceeds through the long way of the oblong or hori-
zontally elongated fuel receiver, deposits its sensible heat in the opposite short
wall and again away to where it is wanted, and this operation is continually
repeated.
By another method I may utilize the height of the producer or apparatus to
provide sufficient length or depth of fuel for the passage of the steam and in
such a case the long wall only need be perforated, but the chambers cr recesses
at the back of these walls may be divided each into three portions by horizontal
plates or partitions, so that the top and bottom portions of the chambers are
isolated from the middle and preferably larger portion. Screens similar to
those already described are fitted to the middle portions of the perforated walls.
Air is blown or drawn backwards and forwards through the middle portions of
these walls as was done in the case of the whole walls, while steam is then caused
to enter both the lower portions of the recesses at the back of the long walls,
thence through the lower perforations, becoming superheated in the passage,
thence to the lower portion of the deep mass of incandescent fuel and upwards

page_text: through it and away through the interstices in both the upper portions of the
perforated long walls. When the steaming operation is reversed, the steam
enters the upper portions of the long wall chambers, passes through the per-
forated walls and picks up the heat stored therein by the outgoing water gas
of the last steaming operation, then through the whole depth of incandescent
fuel and away as water gas, leaving its sensible heat in the brickwork of the
perforated long walls.
By keeping a sufficiency of fuel above the middle portions of the long walls,
and a sufficiency of ashes and the like below, I may dispense with the upper and
lower perforations excepting in so far as it may be necessary to admit and dry
the steam, and in such a case the bed of fuel above the middle perforations, and
the ashes below them may themselves serve as regenerators.
One great advantage of my method of side blowing is that there are no hot gases
passing through the upper, and green fuel while blowing up with air, and the
hydro carbon gases of the fuel are not wasted as they are now to a great extent
when bituminous coal is used.
When the steam passes upwards the hot water-gas then distils or causes such
hydro carbon gases to be given off which pass away with the water-gas and add
to the heating and illuminating power of the latter, and oil or other rich hydro
carbons may be mixed with the coal to still further enhance this effect.
By yet another method, I may work my invention by employing a series of thin
fires which may be blown up to a state of incandescence by an air blast, or urged
thereto by a natural chimney draught. The products of combustion from these
fires may be led through a general regenerator of chequered brickwork and the
steam then passed through this regenerator and thence through all the thin fires
successively, instead of at once through the aggregated areas thereof as does the
air during the period of heating up. Thus the air passes through an extended
thin body of fuel and the steam through several and successive thin bodies there-
of, each successive thin body assisting to ensure the complete conversion of the
steam into carbonic oxide and hydrogen, and acting to all intents and purposes
as one deep and thick layer of incandescent fuel would do.
-
I may cause the steam to pass up and down through the fireis from left to
right at one steaming operation, and from right to left during another, and so
arrange matters that when steam passes through a fire from below in one case
it passes downwards through the same fire into another. Furthermore, the
regenerator, or regenerators, may be made so powerful that the sensible heat of
the steam may be sufficient to completely carbonise green fuel which may be
In this
thrown upon the fires just before the steaming operation commences.
way any bituminous and coking fuel may be readily dealt with.
In the cases I have mentioned an ordinary chimney draught may be used, as
there is only a small thickness of fuel to pass through instead of the much greater
thickness which all water-gas producers at present are compelled to employ, and
by which expensive blowing apparatus may be dispensad with.
When I use several thin bodies or layers of fuel as described in the third
method of carrying out my invention, oil or other hydro-carbon may be mixed
with the fuel, or sprayed upon or into one or more of the fire boxes containing
the fuel at the time the highly heated steam is passing through the various thin
layers of fuel and becoming into water-gas. And, preferably, the enriching
material may be admitted or sprayed into the first one, or more of the thin fires
only so that the remaining ones may be in a state of incandescence and serve to
fix or assimilate the rich gases produced with the poorer water-gas.
When the steam operation is reversed, the green fuel and the enriching material
may be admitted to, those fires which were clear, or which were not fed with
green fuel or enriching material at the time of the previous steam operation,
and so on continuously.
In some cases I may dispense with the perforated screens hereinbefore_men-
tioned, by dividing the spaces at the back of the perforated long walls by

page_text: horizontal partitions, each smaller horizontal space having its own air inlet, and
products of combustion outlet. In this manner short circuiting is impossible
since it is easier for the steam to find its way from one horizontal partition to
another by way of the small thickness of incandescent fuel which intervenes in
the fuel chamber itself.
And by means of these separate horizontal partitions I may make the steam
pass to and fro sideways through several thin layers or strata of fuel in the same
manner as I cause it to pass up and down through the thin horizontal fires as
already described. Moreover, by means of these horizontal partitions each with
its own air supply I may vary the intensity of the blast at various heights of the
fuel to suit varying circumstances.
Total hi 21 d. of Tanum 1000
Improvements in the Apparatus for and in the Process of
Manufacturing Water-gas.
I, ANTHONY SPENCER BOWER, St. Neots, Hunts., Engineer, 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:-
In the manufacture of water gas the process hitherto has been to first of all
blow air through a mass of fuel until the latter is in a state of incandescence,
the products of combustion being mainly carbonic oxide and nitrogen.
Carbonic oxide is formed because of the thickness of the fuel through which
the air has to pass. If the bed of fuel were thin', carbonic acid only would be
formed together with of course the nitrogen which forms the greater part of the
ordinary atmosphere.
With a thick fire the carbonic acid first formed has to pass through more incan-
descent fuel and so it combines therewith and forms carbonic oxide in a well-
known manner.
This latter operation absorbs heat, and keeps down the temperature of the
furnace.
It has been sought to mitigate this evil by supplying the air at different
points in the mass of fuel so as to turn the carbonic oxide into carbonic acid.
Examples of this method are seen in Voisin's flameless cupola for melting iron
and in the Delvyk process for making water gas.
In water-gas making it is necessary that the steam to be converted into carbonic
cxide and hydrogen should pass through a considerable thickness of incandescent
fuel, otherwise a considerable quantity of carbonic acid may be produced, which
is not only useless as a combustible, but harmful in other ways.
The object of my invention is to so arrange the furnace or gas producer that,
while air may be blown or drawn through a thin stratum of fuel, there is never-
theless a thick layer of fuel in another direction through which the steam may
pass. Moreover, arrangements are made so that air and steam may be thoroughly
superheated, if desired, and pass through the whole of the fuel in thin or small
streams, whether it be in the case of the air which passes through a small thick-
ness, or in the case of the steam which passes through a large thickness of the
same incandescent fuel.
To do this I may make my gas producer of an elongated form in horizontal
cross section, and of any convenient height. The elongated form refers particu-

page_text: larly to internal dimensions of the apparatus, or to the dimensions of the hole or
cavity, into which the fuel is placed. This elongated hole or cavity is surrounded
by walls of refractory material and they are pierced horizontally, or nearly so,
with longitudinal passages which extend over the whole or greater portion of the
said walls.
Round the walls may be placed a casing of metal lined with refractory material,
and so disposed that spaces may be left between the perforated walls and the
casing. These spaces may be arranged so that they do not communicate with
one another without making a passage through the fuel. The fuel is therefore
surrounded by two longer and two shorter perforated walls, the long walls being
opposite one another as also the short walls. The height of the walls may be
the same throughout, and they may be provided at the top with an arrangement
for feeding the fuel in between them by gravitation, while at the bottom of the
apparatus there may be provided an arrangement for withdrawing ashes or
clinker which may be formed during the process of converting the fuel into gas.
An internal horizontal cross section of an oblong shape is a convenient one to use.
In working the apparatus I cause air to enter one of the chambers or recesses
at the back of one of the long perforated walls, thence through the perforation's
thereof, and through the fuel in the short direction of the oblong so that little
or nothing but carbonic acid is produced since the air has only to pass through
a small thickness of fuel. The products of combustion then pass through the
perforations in the opposite long wall, and raise the mass of material of which it
is composed to a high temperature close to the fuel, and a gradually decreasing
temperature towards the chamber or recess at the back of it. The products then
having parted with a large portion of their sensible heat pass away to the chim-
ney if desired, or if it be considered worth while, they may be compelled to first
pass under the steam generator. Steam is thers admitted to the chamber or
recess at the back of one of the short walls, passes through the holes or inter-
stices of the latter and then through the fuel in the long direction of the oblong
or elongated cross section. In order that the steam may be compelled to pass
through the incandescent fuel in this manner, a perforated screen is caused to
block the holes or interstices in the long walls, otherwise the steam might make an
easier passage by passing round the chambers or spaces at the back of the long
walls. While passing through the fuel the steam becomes converted into water-
gas, and as such passes through the interstices of the opposite short wall giving
up the greater portion of its sensible heat thereto, and thence away to
the holder, or wherever else it may be wanted. The operation is then reversed,
air is forced or drawn through the interstices of the long wall which was pre-
viously heated by the products of combustion generated by the former passage
of air through the fuel. In this manner the air is highly heated before it reaches
the fuel at all, and is therefore in the best possible condition to raise the fuel
rapidly to an intense heat, the products of combustion again storing up heat in
the opposite long wall.
The screens referred to above are perforated in a hit and miss" style so that
when moved in one position they may block the interstices or holes in the long
wall but when placed in another position, the holes in the screens correspond
with those in the walls, and a clear passage is left for the air or products of
combustion to pass through. These screens are now placed so as to block the
holes in the long walls, and steam is caused to pass through the interstices of
that short wall which was previously the recipient of the sensible heat of the
outgoing water gas, it then proceeds through the long way of the oblong or hori-
zontally elongated fuel receiver, deposits its sensible heat in the opposite short
wall and again away to where it is wanted, and this operation is continually
repeated.
By another method I may utilize the height of the producer, or apparatus, to
provide sufficient length or depth of fuel for the passage of the steam, and in
such a case the long wall only need be perforated, but the chambers or recesses

page_text: at the back of these walls may be divided each into three portions by horizontal
plates or partitions, so that the top and bottom portions of the chambers are
isolated from the middle, and preferably, larger portion. Screens similar to
those already described are fitted to the middle portions of the perforated walls.
Air is blown or drawn backwards and forwards through the middle portions of
these walls as was done in the case of the whole walls, while steam is then caused
to enter both the lower portions of the recesses at the back of the long walls,
thence through the lower perforations, becoming superheated in the passage,
thence to the lower portion of the deep mass of incandescent fuel and upwards
through it and away through the interstices in both the upper portions of the
perforated long wails. When the steaming operation is reversed. the steam
enters the upper portions of the long wall chambers, passes through the per-
forated walls and picks up the heat stored therein by the out-going water gas
of the last steaming operation, then through the whole depth of incandescent
fuel, and away as water gas, leaving its sensible heat in the brickwork of the
perforated long walls.
By keeping a sufficiency of fuel above the middle portions of the long walls,
and a suficiency of ashes and the like below, I may dispense with the upper and
lower perforations excepting in so far as it may be necessary to admit and dry
the steam, and in such a case the bed of fuel above the middle perforations and
the ashes below them may themselves serve as regenerators.
One great advantage of my method of side blowing is that there are no hot gases
passing through the upper, and green fuel while blowing up with air, and so the
hydro carbon gases of the fuel are not wasted as they are now to a great extent
when bituminous coal is used.
When the steam passes upwards through the hot water gas, it then distils, or
causes such hydro-carbon gases to be given off, which pass away with the water
gas, and add to the heating and illuminating power of the latter, and oil or other
rich hydro carbons may be mixed with the coal to still further enhance this
effect.
By yet another method, I may work my invention by employing a series of thin
fires which may be blown up to a state of incandescence by an air blast, or urged
thereto by a natural chimney draught. The products of combustion from these
fires may be led through a general regenerator of chequered brickwork and the
steam then passed through this regenerator and thence through all the thin fires
successively, instead of at once through the aggregated areas thereof as does the
air during the period of heating up. Thus the air passes through an extended
thin body of fuel and the steam through several and successive thin bodies there-
of, each successive thin body assisting to ensure the complete conversion of the
steam into carbonic oxide and hydrogen, and acting to all intents and purposes
as one deep and thick layer of incandescent fuel would do.
I may cause the steam to pass up and down through the fires from left to
right at one steaming operation, and from right to left during another, and so
arrange matters that when steam passes through a fire from below in one case
it passes downwards through the same fire in another. Furthermore, the
regenerator, or regenerators, may be made so powerful that the sensible heat of
the steam may be sufficient to completely carbonise green fuel which may be
thrown upon the fires just before the steaming operation commences. In this
way any bituminous and coking fuel may be readily dealt with.
as
In the cases I have mentioned an ordinary chimney draught may be used
there is only a small thickness of fuel to pass through instead of the much greater
thickness which all water gas producers at present are compelled to employ, and
by which expensive blowing apparatus may be dispensed with.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe
the accompanying three sheets of drawings, reference being had to the letters
marked thereon. Figure 1 is a cross or horizontal section through a water-gas
producer of any convenient vertical height. The fuel is fed into the elongated

page_text: cavity A which is bounded by the four perforated walls B, C, D, & E. At the
back of these walls are spaces F, G, H, & K and the whole is surrounded by a
casing of refractory material Land bound together by a metallic casing M.
Between the spaces F, G and the perforated walls B & C are interposed per-
forated screens N & P which may be caused to block the perforations in B & C
when so desired. At the top of the fuel receptacle A are arranged suitable
charging boxes or hoppers for feeding in the fuel, and similarly there is an arrange-
ment at the bottom of A for withdrawing ashes or clinkers. These are not shewn
as they form no part of my invention.
Q&R are passages leading into, or out of, the spaces F & G and similarly $ &'T
are passages leading into, or out of, H & K.
Q & R may be air inlets, or products of combustion outlets, at will, while S & T
may be made steam inlets or gas outlets, as desired. Air may be drawn or forced
through Q, thence to the space 1, through the perforated screen N, and per-
forated wall B and then through the fuel in A to the perforated wall C storing
heat in the longitudinal passages thereof as products of combustion which pass
to the space G and through the outlet R either to a chimney or steam generator
if so desired. The air is thus caused to pass in small streams through a small
thickness of fuel which it renders incandescent with little or no formation of
carbonic oxide. Steam is then admitted through say S, the perforated
screens N&P being then caused to block the perforations in the walls B & C.
The steam enters the space H, passes through the perforations D in the previously
heated wall D, and then through the incandescent fuel in A, but in the direction
of the greater length of the elongated fuel receptacle A. In its passage the steam
becomes converted to water gas and passes through the perforations in the wall E,
storing therein a considerable portion of its sensible heat, and so thence to the
space K and passage T to the gas holder or wherever the gas may be required.
While this operation is in action the passages Q & R are of course hermetically
sealed. Next S & T are closed and R opened to the air supply which picks up
the heat previously stored in the perforated wall C by the outgoing products of
combustion. The hot air then passes through the fuel in the short direction of
the fuel chamber A, brings the fuel in A to a high state of incandescence and the
products of combustion heat the perforated wall B, and pass through F & Q to
the chimney or steam generator, the perforated screens N & P having been pre-
viously made to uncover the perforations in the walls B & C and which were blocked
at the time of the steam passage, or gas making operation. The screens are now
made to block the perforations again, Q & R are sealed and steam is made to
enter at T this time, instead of at S as was previously the case. It passes through
the perforated wall E and picks up the sensible heat of the previous outgoing
water gas. It then passes through the incandescent fuel in the longer direction
of the chamber A, becomes converted into water gas, and as such. passes through
the perforated wall D storing a large portion of its sensible heat therein and so
away through H & S to the gas holder or other place. The whole operation is
now cyclic, and may be repeated as often as required, fuel being fed into A at
the top, and the ashes or clinkers removed from the bottom at requisite intervals of
time.
At first starting the furnace it is advisable to blow the products of combustion
through all the perforated walls, and heat them up, and this is readily done, if
means are provided whereby S & T may communicate with the atmosphere, or
chimney, or steam generator.
Figure 2 is a cross section of another form of producer.
Figure 3 is a vertical section thereof.
In this arrangement similar letters apply to similar parts of the previous one.
The difference exists in the fact that air is blown sideways through the fuel
as before but only through the middle portion of its vertical height, the upper
and lower portions being reserved for the steam passage. Air passes for instance
through Q to the space F, through the perforated plate N and perforations in

page_text: the wall B through the fuel in A and as products of combustion through the
perforations in C to the space G and passage R to the chimney or steam
generator. Its passage is shewn by featherless arrows. The steam then passes
through, say, the inlets S, S₂, to H, H, through the perforated walls D, and D
which are without screens and thence right down the fuel in A to the perforated
walls E, E, to the spaces K, K, and away as water gas through the pipes T,
and T. This course is shewn by feathered arrows." This operation is then
exactly reversed, air entering at R and products leaving at Q, then steam
entering at T₁ and Ꭲ, and water gas leaving at S₁ and S,
and so on continuously. The only real difference is that the depth of the fuel is
utilised in gas making instead of the long cross sectional thickness of fuel as in
the previous case, but in both cases the object of my invention is carried out,
namely, to cause the air to pass through a thin layer of fuel in divided streams
and to cause the steam to pass through the same incandescent fuel but in such a
manner that it must pass through a much greater thickness of fuel before it can
escape.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of another arrangement and in it a number
of fires A which may be thin or of moderate thickness are employed. These
fires are fed and clinkered as ordinary fires, excepting that the fire doors must
be capable of being sealed against the air, or gas, pressure inside the furnace or
gas producer. Air is drawn or blown in at the orifices Q when it passes through
all four fires A, A, A, A, simultaneously, or any other number of fires that may
be employed. The dampers D are moved to one side so that the products of
combustion may pass through the mass of chequerwork of refractory material
marked B and thence to the passage R leading to the chimney or steam generator.
As soon as the fuel is incandescent, and the chequerwork well heated the air
inlet and the outlet R are closed and steam admitted through the perforated
pipe S.
After the dampers D, D, and D, have been closed or placed over, say,
the orifices C, C2 C, S, is closed but S, and C are left open, therefore steam
from. S passes through the brickwork B becoming highly heated, it then goes
through C down through the fire A, through the passage E up through the
fire A, through passage E, down through the fire A, through the passage E₁
and up through the fire A₁, and as water gas through the pipe S₁, to the holder
or other place. As in previous cases the passage of the air is shewn by feather-
less arrows and of the steam by arrows with feathers. S, and S, are now closed
and the dampers D, D. and D, removed from the passages C, C, and C3; Q and R
are opened, and the fires are blown up again to incandescence. Next R and Q
are closed and S, is opened this time instead of S, and the dampers D₁, D, and D,
are made to cover the ports C₂ C, and C, instead of C, C, and C, as was previously
the case.
Steam which may have been previously superheated by the outgoing water gas
from S, enters the pipe S thence through the recuperator B, and now through
the only passage left for it, viz., C, down through the fire A, and passage E, up
through fire A, and passage E, down through fire A, and passage E, and finally
up through fire A4 to the pipe Są to the holder or other place.
Fuel may with advantage be put upon the last, or last two or more of the series
of fires just before the steaming or gas making operation, and oil may be injected
into any of the fire places, in the form of spray, while gas making is going on;
so as to carburet, and enrich the gas, when it is required for illuminating purposes.
Bituminous and caking coal can easily be used in this furnace as the fires are
readily got at, each one being of very moderate thickness, yet as has been shewn
the steam has to pass through the combined thicknesses of all the fires while air
has only to pass through a thickness equal to that of one of them and the object
of my invention is again carried out in a practical manner.
It is evident that if the injection of oil or other hydrocarbon into one or more
of the fire places be not considered sufficient to properly carburet the water gas

page_text: for illuminating purposes, a portion, or portions, of the recuperator B may be
utilised for fixing and carburetting the said gas, or a separate fixer and car-
buretter may be used, it being heated by part of the products of combustion as
they issue from the several fires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1.) In a water gas apparatus: the method of causing the air to pass through a
small thickness of fuel so that the formation of combustible gas is almost or
altogether prevented while the steam is compelled to pass through so great a
thickness of the same fuel that it is almost entirely converted into water gas.
The perforated side walls and screens acting as regenerators and dividing the
air and steam into a number of streams as herein described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
(2.) In a water gas apparatus: the method of causing the air to pass through a
number of thin fires simultaneously while the steam is compelled to pass through
the same fires in succession, or one after another, so that the result is the same
as if it had to pass through one great thickness of incandescent fuel substantially
as illustrated in Figure 4 as one example of carrying out the invention.
(3.) The arrangement of dampers D₁ D, and D, in Figure 4 so that the steam
is compelled to pass through fires A, A, A, and A, in succession at one time,
while at another it passes through A. first and A last, the direction of flow of
the steam being reversed at will as explained and illustrated.
(4.) The injection of oil or other hydrocarbon into one or more of the various
thin fires which may be employed.
1
1
1000
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.