The Application of Anthracite Gas to Metallurgical and other Furnaces, and Arrangements connected therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
TOY IDIONAL OF MULTIVALIN.
The Application of Anthracite Gas to Metallurgical and other
Furnaces, and Arrangements connected therewith.
I, THOMAS DENNIS ROCK, of 62, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C., Mercantile
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
:-
The application of producer gas made entirely from anthracite, or stone, coal,
plus steam & air, to regenerative steel, re-heating, and other furnaces, metallurgical
or otherwise also for the occasional introduction, at will, of materials by special
or ordinary arrangements, for the due testing of the said gas whilst in combustion,
whereby the character of the flame can be ascertained and regulated, so as to
produce the exact results intended.
Dated this 24th day of Anil 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
The Application of Anthracite Gas to Metallurgical and other
Furnaces, and Arrangements connected therewith.
I, THOMAS DENNIS ROCK, of 62, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London,
Mercantile Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to render possible and practicable to apply
producer gas made entirely from anthracite or stone coal, to regenerative steel
furnaces, and to improve the conditions of application of such gas to metallurgical
furnaces in general, or to other furnaces in which it may be used.
I am aware that experiments have been made with a view to the use in steel
furnaces, of producer gas made entirely from anthracite or stone coal; but such
use has not hitherto been successful, and it has come to be generally understood
that this kind of gas is unsuitable for the purpose. I have found, however, after
various trials and experiments, that such gas, (which I shall hereinafter term
"Anthracite gas"), can be successfully and advantageously employed in these steel
furnaces, if it is used under the most favourable conditions for that gas, and if
certain means be adopted to ensure that these conditions are constantly and
regularly maintained. The application of my system and my devices will moreover
render the use of such anthracite gas more economical and controllable in many
other cases in which such gas is or may be employed, and will assist in producing
certain and reliable results.
An important feature of my invention consists in providing for the supply of the
anthracite gas to a furnace at a fixed, predetermined, and carefully ascertained
pressure. provide means, such as gasholders, pressure gauges, indicators, or
other convenient arrangements, whereby any required pressure may be ascertained
and maintained.
I have found that it is difficult, in using anthracite gas, to determine when a
proper and exactly sufficient supply of air is being admitted into the furnace for
combustion therewith. It is, nevertheless, of the utmost importance that this
supply should be regulated with accuracy, and another important feature of my
invention consists in providing for the convenient testing of the flame at any
moment, in order that it may be known if the supply of air is right, and not
5 Pain Qd7

page_text: deficient or in excess of what is required. The best method with which I am at
present acquainted for this purpose, consists in the introduction to the gas or to the
Hame at any suitable point, of hydrocarbons or smoke giving materials or
liquids.
The manner in which I carry out my invention will be best understood by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Eig, 1 represents, generally, an
arrangement of plant for the manufacture of steel according to my invention.
A is a gas producer in which I generate gas from anthracite coal; the gas
generated being carried by the pipe B into the gas holder C. The gas is then led
as desired, by means of the pipe H, from the gas holder to the regenerative
furnace F, where it is burned with a suitable admixture of air. D is an apparatus.
which is similar to a gas holder in construction, and which is connected to the
pipe H near the furnace, so that it may, by its movements, indicate any change of
pressure in the gas as supplied to the furnace. I may also connect an ordinary
siphon water or mercury pressure gauge E, to the gas main H, so that the actual
pressure of gas, in inches of water or mercury, may be ascertained and noted. I
use gas and air valves of ordinary construction and operate them in the usual
manner such valves are. therefore not shown.
' 1
The regenerative furnace F, may be of ordinary construction, except that I
provide means for the introduction, at the points K and L, of materials for testing
the flame. Suitable apparatus for this purpose is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 which
are drawn to a larger scale.
Fig. 2 represents an apparatus suitable for, the introduction of solid smoke
forming substances, such as coal dust. It consists of a hopper. M which contains
the testing material, and a suitable valve N operated by the chain,O.and weighted
lever P. When it is desired to test the nature of the combustion which is taking
place, the operator, by pulling the chain O, opens the valve N and thereby admits
to the flue or furnace more or less of the testing material, whilst observing the
effect through suitably disposed sight-holes of ordinary construction. The valve N.
will be closed by the weighted lever when the chain O is released.
Fig. 3 shows a form of apparatus for the introduction of testing materials, which
is suitable for liquids such as mineral oils. R is a tank in which the liquid is.
placed. It is connected to the proper point in the furnace, by the pipe S and a
valve or cock T. The valve or cock 1 is operated substantially as described in
reference to the valve N in Fig. 2. In regenerative furnaces, I generally prefer
to provide for the testing of the flame or gas at the entrance to, and at the exit
from, the furnace, but I may use a like test and apparatus wherever it may be
found desirable.
If the testing material, when applied to the entrance of the furnace, is not
consumed without smoke, then more and more air must be admitted with the gas
until such testing material is just consumed without producing smoke.
If an
excessive supply of air is being admitted, then the escaping gases at the point: L
will contain a greater or less amount of unconsumed air, which can be readily
detected by the introduction of testing materials at that point. I. may-use any.
suitable smoke giving material for testing, and may, moreover, modify the
apparatus for introducing the same, as may be found convenient.
It will be seen that cases might occur in which I could conveniently, dispense
with either the gas holder C, or the pressure indicating apparatus D; or could
make one such apparatus of suitable dimensions to perform the offices of both. In
many cases the gas holder may be at a considerable distance from the furnace, and
a pressure indicator such as D, near the furnace, is generally desirable" in such
cases.
1
This invention, besides rendering it possible and practicable to manufacture steel
in regenerative furnaces whilst burning nothing but anthracite gas, improves the
conditions of working in other cases in which such gases may be used.
It will be found advantageous to use care to ensure the producer or producers
being fed with regularity, so that the gas may be of uniform composition.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained my invention, and the manner
in which it is to be carried out, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The application of producer gas made entirely from anthracite or stone
coal, to the manufacture of steel in regenerative furnaces.
Second. In the application of anthracite gas, the combination of appliances
substantially as described, whereby the gas may be maintained at the most
advantageous uniform pressure, and the flame tested and regulated at will.
Third. The method of testing the character of the flame, and the apparatus
therefor, substantially as described.
11
T
1001
T. DENNIS ROCK.