Improvements in Water Gas Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1894-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
Improvements in Water Gas Apparatus.
I, OLAF NICOLAUS GULDLIN, of Fort Wayne, in the County of Allen, State
of Indiana, United States of America, Gas 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing illuminating water-gas,
constructed in three separate chambers or shells; and more particularly the
invention relates to improvements in the carbureting and fixing chamber, located
between the generator and the usual superheater or fixing chamber. The two
chambers of the superheater (sometimes termned the double superheater) are
preferably set upon the same level with the generator, and in this form, are
frequently the most effective and satisfactory in operation.
The object of my invention is to provide for vaporizing and gasifying the hydro-
carbon oil, at a comparatively low temperature, and then mixing such vapor or gas
with water-gas, in such a way that the current of water-gas will completely envelop
and protect the oil gas, preventing the oil globules or atoms from being split up or
overcracked, from heavy to light hydrocarbon, so that a better illuminating gas
will be formed, and the formation of lamp black and hard carbon avoided.
Another object of my invention is to provide for protecting the oil supply pipes
or injectors from being injured by excessive heat, and also to protect the brick
checker work from accumulations of hard carbon, ashes, &c., which are apt to
accumulate and clog up the passages between the brick.
Heretofore the carbureting chamber and the fixing chamber have been con-
structed in separate shells in connection with a water-gas generator, but the method
therein used for supplying oil to the carbureting chamber and vaporizing or gasi-
fying it for mixture with the water-gas, was defective, being wasteful of the oil and
destructive of the brick checker work, for the reason that the top of the carbureting.
chamber was heated to an excessively high temperature by combustion of the hot.
producer-gas at that point; also the oil was sprayed, by means of a vertically and
centrally arranged injector, directly down against the checker brick, resulting in
rapidly destroying the brick, and also producing lamp black and hard carbon,
which, together with ashes, blown from the generator, caused the spaces between
the bricks to be obstructed and rendered useless. In carrying out my invention, I
overcome these difficulties and produce greatly improved results, as will be pointed
out below in connection with the drawings.
The details of construction of my improvements are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure represents a vertical section of a three-chambered gas generating
apparatus, with parts in elevation, and showing my improvements;
Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same;
Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section through the oil vaporizing and heating
chamber on the plane of the oil injectors.
The improved pipe and valve connections and valve operating mechanism,
between the top and bottom of the generator and the top of the carbureting and
fixing chamber, are best shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
The gas generating furnace, A, is of the usual construction, and is provided at
the top with a fuel opening, a, closed by a lid, x, and at the bottom by the usual.
ash and clinker openings, a¹ and a", closed by doors, r¹ and ". It is also provided

page_text: at top and bottom with steam supply pipes, p and p₁, and with the air pipe V,
(Fig. 2) connecting with the ash-pit. The gas escape pipes, B and C, connecting
respectively at top and bottom of the generator, are provided with valve boxes or
chambers B and C, which connect by pipe B", with the combustion chamber, f,
in the carbureting and fixing chamber E. The cylindrical valve chamber, B¹, is
connected between the eduction pipe, B, and the delivery pipe, B", and is prefer-
ably provided with an annular hollow valve seat for the conical or hemispherical
valve, h. The lower gas eduction pipe, C, is provided with a cylindrical valve
chamber, C, having a suitable valve seat and a valve, i, and said valve chamber
connects by a short pipe with the delivery pipe, B. The valves, h and i, are
connected respectively by rods and c with a suitably fulcrumed-lever, D; and
the rod, b, is formed at its upper end with a rack-bar, b', with which engages a
pinion connecting by a shaft with the hand wheel, M, for raising and lowering
the valves and i,-the construction being such that when one valve is lowered
upon its seat, the other valve will be raised off from its seat so as to always insure
a free passage for gas through one of the eduction pipes to the carbureting and
fixing chamber.
My carbureting and fixing chamber, E, is constructed with an open brick work
arch, e, near its bottom, forming the bottom chamber, f, and serving to support the
brick checker work, E', above it; and chamber E, is provided near the top with a
brick arch or partition, g, forming an inclined annular hearth or floor for the
upper vaporizing and heating chamber G, and containing a central opening, m.
The partition or floor, g, is preferably composed of large brick extending inward
from the circumferential walls, so as to form the comparatively large central
openings, m. The upper surfaces of the bricks, forming partition, a are inclined
downward from the sides of the chamber toward the central opening for conducting
any oil which may be admitted in chamber G, down to the central opening and
thence on to the checker brick, E', below. A combustion chamber, f, is formed
between the checker brick E', and the partition, g, and is provided in its side walls
with air ports, v, and the gas inlet pipe, B. Chamber, G, is provided at the top
with a central vertical opening or passage, g', which, in practice, is closed by a
tile, d, and a tight fitting lid, e'.
The oil supply pipes or injectors, k, are placed horizontally in the walls of
chamber G, and, as shown in Fig. 3, are arranged tangentially, or at an angle to
the circumferential wall, so as to give to the jet of oil a whirling motion in
chamber G. With this construction, the oil spray will circulate around in the
chamber and become heated and vaporized or gasified, after which it will flow
down through the central opening, m, into chamber, f, and there be enveloped and
absorbed by the water-gas flowing in through pipe B".
In the old form of carbureting chamber, now generally in use, the oil injector is
set vertically at the center in the top or crown of the superheater or fixing chamber
and just at the top of the combustion chamber, so that it was rapidly burned out
and destroyed by the heat of the burning producer-gas, the flames of which
impinged directly upon it. In my improved construction, the oil injectors being set
horizontally in the circumferential wall of the vaporizing chamber, are protected
from injurious heat, and are further protected by the annular floor or partition, g.
The top central opening, g', closed by tile, d, gives access to the oil vaporizing and
heating chamber without disturbing the oil injectors, so that the chamber can be
readily examined, cleaned and repaired, which is of great advantage in practical
operation.
The bottom chamber, f¹, of carburetor, E, is connected by pipe, F, with the
bottom chamber, n, of the usual superheater or fixing chamber L. The superheater, L,
is provided with the usual open brick arch, 1, near the bottom, supporting the
checker brick above in a well known manner, and it is provided at the top with a
short smoke stack, o, having a tight fitting lid, l. The gas take-off pipe, P,
connects with stack, o, and extends down into the water seal chamber, Q. An
air supply pipe, V₁, connects through the ports, r, with the combustion chamber, f,

page_text: at the top of chamber E. and a second air supply pipe, V", connects with
chamber, n, at the base of fixing chamber L.
The operation is as follows: A fire is kindled on the grate, and it is fed with
hard coal or coke until a deep body thereof is heated to incandescence. So soon
as combustible producer-gas is given off from the bed of fuel, such gas is passed
through pipes, B and B, into chamber, f, where it is burned by jets of air
admitted through ports, r, and the products are passed down through the checker
brick E, and thence through pipe F, into the bottom chamber, n, of the super-
heater or fixing chamber L, and finally escape through stack, o, lid, of which is
open. Additional air may be admitted into the gaseous products through pipe Vi
in chamber n. The oil vaporizing and heating chamber G, is heated by radiant
heat from the combustion chamber, f below, and is heated to a sufficient degree to
properly vaporize and partially gasify the hydrocarbon oil without destructively
decomposing it or cracking the globules of heavy oil into lighter hydrocarbon.
The body of fuel having been heated to incandescence and the two chambers con-
taining checker brick, having been heated to the desired temperature, the air blasts
are shut off, lid, ', at the top of superheater L is closed, and water-gas is now
generated by admitting steam, either at top or bottom of the generator, and the
resulting water-gas is passed off through one of the eduction pipes B or C and the
delivery pipe B, into chamber, f, of the carburetor and fixing chamber E. At
the same time, oil is forced, under pressure, through the injectors, k, and discharged
in a fine mist in the vaporizing and heating chamber G, in which vaporization and
partial gasification are effected. In my process of making gas, the hydrocarbon
oil is heated in a suitable steam heating device before being supplied to the
injectors, k, so that it is readily vaporized and partially gasified in chamber G.
The oil vapor or gas passes, in a comparatively slow current, down through the
large central openings, m, and is immediately enveloped in, and absorbed by the
entering water-gas which prevents it from being cracked or destructively
decomposed. The oil gas and water-gas are thus intimately mixed and combined
to form a high candle power illuminating gas without waste of oil, resulting in
great economy and a superior gas. About one minute before steam is shut off
from the generator, or before the run is finished, the valve in the oil supply pipe is
closed. Then the water-gas rises through the central opening, m, into the
vaporizing chamber G, and absorbs and carries out the remaining oil vapors, so
that all the oil vapor is utilized.
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. The combination with a water-gas generator, of a carbureting and fixing
chamber, having a separate oil vaporizing chamber at the top, free from checker
brick and provided with a lateral oil atomizing or spraying device and a solid
annular floor or hearth having a central opening, communicating with the fixing
chamber below, a combustion chamber below said vaporizing chamber and above
the fixing chamber, a pipe for gas leading from the generator, and a separate air
inlet pipe, both connecting with said combustion chamber, whereby the atomizing
device will be protected from excessive heat, and whereby the oil vapor or gas
passing down through said central opening will be enveloped by the current of
inflowing water-gas and intimately mixed therewith, thereby preventing the hydro-
carbon vapors from being destructively decomposed by excessive heat of the brick
work, substantially as described.
2. In a water-gas apparatus, the carbureting and fixing chamber constructed
with a separate oil vaporizing and heating chamber having an inclined floor or
hearth and an opening into the fixing chamber below, and one or more oil supply
pipes or injectors in the circumferential wall, in combination with a gas inlet pipe
connecting with the fixing chamber below said vaporizing chamber, substantially
as described.

page_text: 3. The combination with a water-gas generator, of a carbureting and fixing
chamber containing a separate oil vaporizing chamber at the top, free from checker
brick, and provided with a lateral atomizer or supply pipe and a solid annular
hearth having a central opening communicating with the fixing chamber below, a
combustion chamber below said vaporizing chamber and above the fixing chamber,
a pipe for gas leading from the generator, and a separate air inlet pipe,—both
connecting with said combustion chamber, a separate superheater, as L, and a pipe
connecting the base of the carbureting and fixing chamber, with the base of said
superheater, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.