Improvements in and connected with Retorts for Distilling Shale or other Oil-yielding Minerals.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1840
Improvements in and connected with Retorts for Distilling Shale or
other Oil-yielding Minerals.
We, JOHN ARMOUR, of 6 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Managing Director, of The Hermand Oil Company Limited,
and HARRY ARMOUR, of East Breich, in the County of Linlithgow, North Britain, Oil
Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, to be as follows, that
1s to say:
This Invention has for its object the constructing of retorts and parts connected
therewith for distilling shale or other oil-yielding minerals in an improved manner,
and so as whilst such as to obtain the products from the minerals in good quantity
and quality, to be also economical in working, and comparatively durable
The
In carrying out the Invention the retorts, which are vertical, are arranged as usual
in a bench in two rows the space between the outer walls being divided by transverse
partition walls so as to divide the retorts into sets of four, or other convenient number.
The partition walls do not, however, extend quite to the top of the building
retorts are made of considerable length, and each is constructed with firebrick or
refractory material from bottom to top. Heat is applied to the retorts by means of
ordinary fire gases supplemented by the incondensible gas obtained in the distilling
process, or it may be entirely by means of combustible gas. The heating gases act
in flues which are constructed so that the heat is applied to the retorts in a graduated
manner from bottom to top A number of horizontal flues or flue spaces are formed
one above the other, each round a set of four or other number of retorts; and the
horizontal flues communicate each with the next higher one by ports which with stops
are arranged to lead the gases completely through each horizontal flue before they
pass to the next higher one.
For a length of three to four feet the upper ends of the retorts are enclosed in iron
casings, and the exit pipes for the vaporised oil and other products are connected to
the bottoms of these iron casings. The actual distilling parts of the retorts may be
said to terminate at the bottoms of the iron casings, the parts above that level serving
as feed hoppers, and for utilising the heat of the partially spent heating gases in
drying and partly beating the fresh minerals. The horizontal flues which encircle
the lower parts of the retorts and the transverse partition walls terminate at the level
of the bottoms of the iron casings, and the space above that level and enclosed in the
building forms a kind of oven which is common to the top parts of an entire bench of
retorts or to any number of retorts greater than a set of retorts between the partition
walls lower down. The partly spent heating gases from the several sets of lower
flues all pass into the oven space at the top wherein they become combined so as to
apply a uniform heat to the encased tops of the retorts. In the top oven space the
gases may be directed in various ways; but in a convenient arrangement the openings
between the retorts in each row are closed so that the space is formed into three
passages as long as the bench; and the gases are made to pass along the two outer
passages in one direction and to return in the opposite direction along the middle
passage from which they pass off to a chimney.
In working the improveu retorts all air is by preference excluded from the interiors
of the retorts, but steam is admitted into them at the lower parts, as has been
commonly practised. The minerals may be supplied to the upper ends of the retorts

page_text: in charges each equal to the contents of the top encased parts, or in other quantities ;
and the exhausted minerals may be withdrawn from the lower ends of the retorts in
any suitable known manner.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
mprovements in and connected with Retorts for Distilling Shale or
other Oil-yielding Minerals.
We, JOHN ARMOUR, of 6 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Managing Director of The Hermand Oil Company, Limited,
and HARRY ARMOUR, of East Breich, in the County of Linlithgow, North Britain, Oil
Works Manager, 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, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the construction of retorts and parts connected
there with for distilling shale or other oil-yielding minerals in an improved manner,
and so as, whilst such as to obtain the products from the minerals in good quantity
and quality, to be also economical in working and comparatively durable
In carrying out the Invention the retorts, which are vertical, are arranged as usual
in two rows, the space between the outer walls being divided by transverse partition
'walls, so as to divide the retorts into sets of four or other convenient number The
distilling parts of the retorts are constructed entirely of firebrick or similar refiactory
materials, and are heated by means of horizontal flues formed round them and
communicating each with the next above it in a manner to cause the heating gases to
pass completely through each horizontal flue in succession At the tops of the retorts
there are iron casings which serve as hoppers, and from the bottoms of which the
vaporised oil and other products are withdrawn The top casings serve for drying
and to some extent heating the minerals freshly charged into them at suitable
intervals, and they are heated by a mixture of the heating gases from all the retort
flues in a bench or from those of two or more sets of four retorts, these gases acting
in a kind of top oven or fluo space through which they may be directed in
various ways.
And in order that the said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing apparatus as constructed with our
improvements.
==
"Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the drawings is a horizontal section of a part of a bench of
retorts as taken a little below the top of the structure; and figure, 2, is in part a side
elevation and in part a longitudinal vertical section. Figure, 3, on sheet, 2, is a
transverse vertical section; and figures, 4, to 9, are horizontal sections as taken
through the several horizontal flues formed about a set of four retorts In these
drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In the bench of retorts the space between the outer walls, A, is divided by transverse
partition walls, A 1, and in each compartment thereby formed there are four retorts, B.
The partition walls, A 1, do not however extend quite to the top of the building.
'The retorts, B, are made of considerable length, and each is constructed of firebrick
or other suitable refractory material from bottom to top. Heat is applied to the
retorts, B, by means of coal fires in the first instance, and afterwards in part or wholly
by the combustion of incondensable gas obtained in the distilling process. Coal
furnaces, C, are constructed in the lower part of the building and so that each firè
i
3.5

page_text: may heat one or two sets of four retorts. The gases from the furnaces, C, pass by
flues, C 1, into horizontal flues, D 1, formed about the bottoms of the retorts, B, and
the incondensable gas is led into the same flues by pipes, E, fitted with regulating
valves or stopcocks. The heating gases act in flues, D 1, to D 6, constructed about
the retorts, B and connected so as to form a long continuous flue for each set of four
retorts. When incondensable gas is used as the source of heat the air for its com-
bustion passes up through the grates of the coal furnaces, (), other inlets for the air
might, however, be provided. The gas inlet pipes, E, might also be placed in other
positions than as shown; but even with the gas entering at the bottom flue, D 1, its
combustion is not complete until it reaches, perhaps, the third flue, D 3, at and above
which part the heat is extremely intense, this not, however being any disadvantage.
Figures, 4, to 9, of the drawings are sections of the several horizontal flues, Di
to D 6, and in each there is shown a port, F, by which the gases enter the flue from
the flue next below, and beside the port a wall or solid stop which causes the gases to
travel completely over each horizontal flue space before getting to the port, F,
admitting them to the next higher flue In the spaces between the four retorts of a
set, bricks are arranged with openings to regulate the proportions of the gases passing
through those spaces, and it may be here mentioned that distance bricks (which, to
avoid confusion, are not shown) are used between the retorts, B, and the outer and
partition walls, A, A 1, wherever they are considered necessary.
At the top of each retort, B, there is an iron casing or hopper, G, preferably of
somewhat larger internal area than that of the retort itself. Each casing or hopper, G,
is designed to hold at least a full charge of fresh shale, and a pipe, G 1, is formed on
or fixed to the bottom of it for the withdrawal in the usual manner of the vaporised
oil and other products. The retorts, B, terminate at the bottoms of the casings, G,
the parts above that level serving for utilising the heat of the partially used heating
gases in drying and partly heating the fresh minerals The horizontal flues, D 1,
to D 6, which encircle the retorts, B, and the partition walls, A 1, terminate at the
level of the bottoins of the iron casings, G, and the space, H, H1, H2, above that
level and enclosed in the building is common to the top casings, G, of an entire bench
of retorts, or it might be, to those of any number of retorts greater than a set of
retorts between the partition walls, A 1, lower down The partly used heating gases
from the several lower flues, D 6, all pass through ports, F 2, into the upper
space, H. H 1, H2, at the top, wherein they become combined so as to apply a
uniform heat to the top casings, G In the arrangement shown in the drawing, and
which is a convenient one, the openings between the casings, G, in each row are
closed by brickwork, H 3, so that the space is formed into three passages, H, H 1,
H 2, and the gases are made to pass first along the two outer passages, H 1. H 2, in
one direction, and to return in the opposite direction along the middle passage, I, from
which they pass off to a chimney, J.
The
For convenience when it may be desired to stop the action of any set of four
retorts for repairs or other purpose, a flue, K, is constructed along the bottom of the
bench building and communicating with the chimney, J, and flues, K 1, are made in
the side walls, to connect this bottom flue with the top flue space, H, H 1, H 2
space above any set of four retorts can then be cut off by temporary brick work, and the
partly used heating gases from the sets of retorts further from the chimney than
the cut-off set can pass down the wall flues, K 1, and the bottom flue, K, to the
chimney, J.
Whilst we do not restit ourselves to any precise proportions or dimensions we may
state that those of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings are what we
have found to be satisfactory in practice and what we at present believe to be the best
for carrying out the Invention In the delineated apparatus the aggregate length of a
set of the flues, D 1, to D 6, encircling the retorts, B, as measured along the middle of
the current of heating gases is about 200 feet In bench containing 40 retorts the
average distance traversed by the gases in the upper space or flues, H, H1, H2, 18
about 120 feet, making in all the distance traversed by the currents of heating gases,
within the bench to be about 320 feet.

page_text: .
In working the improved retorts air is by preference excluded from the interiors of
the retorts, B, but steam is admitted into them as has been commonly practised at the
lower parts by pipes, L, fitted with regulating valves or stopcocks. The minerals may
be supplied to the upper ends of the retorts in charges each equal to the contents of the
top casings or hoppers, G, or in other quantities; and the exhausted minerals may be
withdrawn from the lower ends of the retorts through outlets, M, or in any other
suitable known manner
In our improved apparatus the application to the entire length of the retorts, B, of
a heat which is still high at the top, secures the volatilisation of the various con-
stituents of the ninerals in the most satisfactory manner, whilst as the vaporised oil
and other products are drawn off (by the usual exhausting apparatus) at the bottoms
of the casings or hoppers, G, the minerals in these casings become heated by the
partly spent gases in the top space or flues, H, H 1, H 2, before the rising vapors
come into contact with them, and in this way are prevented the condensation of the
vapors within or above the retorts, and the loss from decomposition of condensed oil
returning down into the retort, which take place in some existing arrangements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. As a whole the improved combination of parts forming retorts and accessory
apparatus for distilling shale or other oil-yielding minerals, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. The combined construction of retorts and heating flues, the retorts being of
considerable length and entirely of firebrick or similar refractory material, and the
flues for each set of four or other convenient number of retorts extending to the tops
of the retorts and consisting of at least four horizontal flues one above the other each
communicating with the next above by ports arranged to cause the heating gases to
completely traverse each horizontal flue in turn, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.
3. Applying at the tops of the retorts and above the outlet pipes for the vaporised
oil and other products casings or hoppers for receiving the charges of fresh minerals
and for drying and heating them prior to their entering the retorts.
4. In a bench of retorts constructing at the top a flue space in which the partly
used heating gases from two or more sets of retorts combine for the purpose of further
utilising their heat substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fifth day of February 1890.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.