IMPROVED MODE OF AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING DISTILLATION OF COAL, SHALE, IRONSTONE, AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Barrow of Clayton, near Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster for an Invention of IMPROVED MODE OF AND ARRANGEMENT
OF APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING DISTILLATION OF COAL, SHALE, IRONSTONE,
AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES,
L
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Barrow at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1883.
JOHN BARROW of Clayton near Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
"IMPROVED MODE OF AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING
DISTILLATION OF COAL, SHALE, IRONSTONE AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES"
My invention has reference to the arrangement of retorts, and the application
of heating substances, so that variation and gradual increase of temperature may
be easily attained.
The charging of the retorts, and the working off are effected in a successive
manner, the heat both external and internal being progressive, and under control
of the operator, so as at will to be either increased or decreased.
The retorts are arranged side by side, and back to back, in two long rows,
the retorts being so connected as to form a continuous series, or they may
be arranged so that the series in plan represents a flattened circle, or an oval.
The retorts are worked in sets of 2, 3, or more, the first retort of one set becoming,
after working off, the last of the succeeding set, thus ;-first working 1, 2, 3, 4,;
1, 2, 3, 4; 1, 2, 3, 4; second working 4, 1, 2, 3; 4, 1, 2, 3; 4, 1, 2, 3; third
working 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2; 3, 4, 1, 2; and so on round the whole series.
x
x
X
x
x
x
×
x
x
By reducing the number of retorts in each set, say from 4 to 2, I can increase
the temperature of the set of retorts, and by increasing the number of retorts
from 4 to 6, or 8, I can reduce the temperature of the set, the internal and external
heating gases having a longer or a shorter distance to travel, and a greater or less
quantity of material to heat.

page_text: As fuel for external heat, I prefer to use the gases generated in the retort after
all the more valuable constituents have been removed, but I can use the residual
coke or other fuel.
There is provided a system or arrangement of taps, or valves and dampers,
whereby I am enabled to apply the gas mixed with a due proportion of air, and
ignited to the first retort of the set, making the heat thus generated pass round
in succession the remaining retorts of the set, before escaping to the main flue.
When the charge is finished, the gas is shut off from the first retort, which, after
being re-charged, becomes the last of the succeeding set, and the gas being applied
to the next in the set which now becomes the first.
Into the first retort of each set, I inject a jet of steam as proposed in the
specification of former Letters Patent granted to me in the year 1861, and
numbered 2801, and I cause the whole of the gases generated in this retort with
the undecomposed steam (if any) to pass through the succeeding retort or retorts
of the set, and, after travelling in this way through the set, I then cause the same
to enter a main pipe common to all the series, and to be carried away for condensing,
purifying or other treatment. The residual gas is returned to the main gas pipe
supplying fuel to the retorts.
The retorts may be of various shapes and sizes, but I consider it advantageous
to use oval vertical retorts, made comparatively narrow. They may be made of
iron, or fireclay, or bricks.
The compounds of ammonia with sulphur and other bodies, after condensing in
the usual manner, can be treated in the manner proposed by me in the specification
of Letters Patent granted to me in the year 1878 and numbered 891, or in any
other suitable way.
To assist the condensation of bydrocarbon vapours from the waste gases, I may
use oil condensers, or scrubbers or washers, such as proposed in the specification of
Letters Patent granted to me in the year 1875 and numbered 3675 for condensing
vapours of naphtha.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Barrow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th August
1883.
JOHN BARROW of Clayton near Manchester in the County of Lancaster
IMPROVED MODE OF AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING DIS-
TILLATION OF COAL, SHALE, IRONSTONE, AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES.
. My invention relates to the distillation of (coal shale ironstone, and organic
substances such as peat, sawdust, hair, wool or woollen rags or animal or vegetable
waste substances and bas reference to the arrangement of retorts and the
application of heating substances in such a manner that variation and gradual
increase of temperature may be readily attained and that the first portion of the
distillate together with the steam may be got off at a comparatively low
temperature thereby obviating their decomposition.
Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates in plan an arrangement of retorts according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section in two different but parallel planes and to an
enlarged scale.
Fig. 3 is a view to the same scale as Fig. 2, partly in vertical section at right
angles to that figure and partly in elevation;--and Fig. 4 is a plan partly in
section to the same scale.
It will be seen retorts are arranged side by side and back to back in two long
rows connected at each end by single rows of retorts arranged side by side in a
semi-circular form so as to carry forward the steam and products of distillation
in a continuous or successive manner through the whole series of "sets" of retorts
as explained hereinafter.
In the setting illustrated the retorts are arranged so that the series in plan
represents a flattened circle or approximately an oval.
The retorts are worked in sets of 2, 3, or more, the first retort of one set
becoming, after working off, the last of the succeeding set thus:
First working 1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
x
x
Second working 4, 1, 2, 3
4, 1, 2,3
4, 1, 2, 3
f
.
U
x
x
Third working 3, 4, 1, 2
x
×
3, 4, 1, 23, 4, 1, 2 and so on round the whole series.
x
×
By reducing the number of retorts in each set say from 4 to 2 I can increase
the temperature of the set of retorts, and by increasing the number of retorts in
each set from 4 to 6 or 8 I can reduce the temperature of the set, the internal and
external beating gases having a longer or a shorter distance to travel and a greater
or less quantity of material to heat.
As fuel for external heat I prefer to use the gases generated in the retorts
after all the more valuable constituents have been removed, but I can use the
residual coke or other fuel.
There is provided a system or arrangement of taps or valves and dampers
whereby when gas is used I am enabled to supply it mixed with a due proportion
of air and ignited to the first retort of the set making the heat thus generated
pass round in succession the remaining retorts of the set before escaping to the
main flue.
A A are the vertical retorts, B B their mouth pieces with shoots C for
discharging coke etc. D D the charging mouth pieces opening into the retorts
with moveable covers as shown at E in Fig 4.- FF are outlet pipes for products
of distillation etc and are connected by branch pipes G with the hydraulic main H,

page_text: Each pipe G is provided with a tap or valve 1 for shutting off communication
with the hydraulic main when necessary. The outlet pipe F from each retort is
connected by a diagonal pipe J with the inlet pipe K of the preceding retort and
each pipe J is provided with a tap or valve L for breaking the connection with
the preceding retort when requisite. M M are fire places in connection with a
system of flues N passing from front to back and returning from the back round
each two retorts by the next upper flue and so on to the top of the retort whence
there is a descent provided by a down flue O either to the main flue P or if the
damper be closed and the damper R opened the gases are caused to travel on
through the flues round the preceding retorts and so on.
The heated gases are collected from each set of retorts and united in the main
flue P (Fig 2) and thence pass through a regenerative furnace which is a
modification of the well-known Siemens furnace and may extend under the entire
length of the series of retorts or under a portion of such length only when the
setting is very large. The open brickwork is divided by a central wall X into two
portions parallel to each other and which are worked alternately, the communi-
cation with one or the other being regulated by means of dampers S. The waste
and cooled gases pass away to the chimney. Each fireplace M is supplied with hot
air by causing atmospheric air. to pass alternately through one or other of the
regenerators or sets of brickwork of the Siemens furnace Z by flues T as indicated
in Fig. 2 the regulation being effected by damper U.
.
The charging of the retorts and the working off are effected in a successive
manner, the heat both external and internal being progressive and under control of
the operator.so as at will to be either increased or decreased. Into the first retort of
each set I inject steam as proposed in the specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me in the year 1861 and numbered 2801 and I cause the whole of the
gases generated in this retort with the undecomposed steam (if any) and other pro-
ducts of distillation to pass through the succeeding retort or retorts of the set, and
after travelling in this way through the set I cause the same to enter the hydraulic
main H through the pipes F and G and tap or valve I of the last retort of the set
to be carried away for condensing, purifying or other treatment.
The residual gas is returned by the main gas pipe W and branch pipes V
supplying gaseous fuel to the retorts.
The retorts may be of various shapes and sizes but I consider it advantageous to
use vertical retorts such as shewn made comparatively narrow. They may
conveniently be in cross section about 18 inches and be made of iron or fire clay,
or bricks. The compounds of ammonia with sulphur and other bodies after
condensing in the usual way may be treated in the manner proposed by me in
the specification of Letters Patent granted to me in the year 1878 and
numbered 891 or in any other suitable way.
Furthermore, to assist the condensation of hydrocarbon vapours from the waste
gases, I may use oil condensers or scrubbers or washers such as proposed in the
specification of Letters Patent granted to me in the year 1875 and numbered 3675
for condensing vapours of naptha. And in order that my invention may be well
understood I will now describe in detail the course of operations in a single
" set
of two retorts premising that two retorts set back to back as 'shewn in
plan in Figs. 1 and 4 are worked as a single retort except that they are discharged
at opposite sides of the stack and that each has its own inlet and outlet pipes
and connections to the corresponding hydraulic main. Hence it will be under-
stood that in speaking of N° 1 or N° 2 retort I mean in either case the pair of
retorts placed back to back and worked as one retort. The course of operations
begins by heating N° 1 retort by burning solid or gaseous fuel in the corresponding
fire place M and as soon as the temperature is sufficiently high the retort is
charged. Valve I is opened so as to allow the first products of distillation to
pass off at once to the hydraulic main, and valve L is closed thus shutting off
communication with the N° 2 retort. The surplus external heat from N° 1 retort
is now passing 'round N° 2' retort-gradually beating it When the distillation has

page_text: continued a sufficient length of time (that is until there is a great diminution in the
production of the bodies having a lighter specific gravity or a lower boiling point)
valve I of N° 1 retort is closed, valve L opened and valve I of N° 2 opened and
valve L of N° 2 closed. Steam is then ejected into N° 1 by the pipe Y through
the ports round the mouth piece M, and in this way the undecomposed steam
(if any) along with the last products of distillation from N° 1 and the first products
of distillation from N° 2 are carried into the hydraulic main, thence to condensers
and purifiers. After all the fluid or condensible bodies are separated the gases are
treated as herein described for the separation of the more valuable constituents,
and after this treatment are returned by the gas main W through the branch
pipes V to the fire place M to be used as fuel.
The distillation in N° 1 having been continued sufficiently long (that is to say
until the bulk of the fluid bodies and also the sulphur and ammonia are obtained)
communication with N° 2 retort is closed by shutting valve L. The steam pipe is
also closed and the contents of N° 1 are discharged through its mouth piece B and
shoot C. N° 1 now becomes the last retort of the succeeding set and is recharged
and worked off in the same way as above described with reference to N° 2 which
now becomes the first retort of the above described first set and is being worked off
as already described with reference to N° 1 and so on throughout the whole series
of retorts. The dampers Q and R are made to regulate the course of the external
heating gases, causing them to pass either through the main flue P into the
regenerative furnaces or to pass on through the flues of the succeeding retorts of
the set.
The materials for charging the retorts can conveniently be conveyed in trucks on
rails placed above the retorts as shewn at a in Figs. 2 and 4 and the coke or other
residues be removed by trucks from the shoots C by rails as shewn at b in Figs. 1
and 4. The hot atmospheric air from the Siemens furnace is supplied to the gas
jets in the fireplace M through the hot air flue T Fig. 2 in suitable quantities for
complete combustion, and if necessary an additional quantity of gas can be supplied
to be burned at the back of the retorts as indicated in Fig. 2.
Having described the nature of my said invention and the manner of carrying it
into practical effect I would have it understood that what I consider to be novel
and original and therefore claim as the invention secured to me by the Letters
Patent first hereinabove in part recited is :-
1. Effecting distillation of coal, shale, ironstone and organic substances by the use
of retorts arranged and worked in series with progressively increasing temperatures
in such manner that the first portion of the distillate is not decomposed but is
removed or allowed to escape at a comparatively low temperature substantially
as hereinabove described.
2. The arranging and working retorts for effecting distillation of coal shale,
ironstone and organic substances as herein above described with reference to the
drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said John Barrow have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
JOHN BARROW (L.s.)