Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Peat for the Production of Fuel and Bye Products.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Peat for the
Production of Fuel and Bye Products.
We WILHELM LOÉ Chemist and CARL GUMBART, Engineer both of Munich in
the Empire of Germany do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of peat for producing a kind of fuel from
peat which burns without smoke or smell and which at the same time is sufficiently
compact for economical transport, whilst bye products may be obtained from the
peat treated such as sulphuric acid, acetic acid etc.
The peat fuel is formed into blocks by use of a medium which is extremely cheap
and simplifies the whole process so that besides the possibility of obtaining a large
output of bye products such as sal ammoniac, acetic acid etc. a fuel is produced from
the peat which in consequence of the particular transformation of the medium caused
by the process is sufficiently compact and hard for transport without any noticable
loss of material as well as to be used with blast furnaces. The new fuel thus
obtained leaves when burnt very little and pure ash which on the one hand because
of its ingredients is of great value as a manure and on the other hand is suitable as
a substitute in a convenient form for the addition of fuel of substances such as chalk,
necessary in various industries, as for instance, with the blast furnace process during
working.
The new method is carried out as follows:
The peat is dug or dredged, after which it is formed into a convenient shape.
The peat blocks thus obtained are submitted to air drying process on drying fields
during which process the peat is deprived of its contents of water up to 20 % partly
by the absorbing power of the drying field and partly by the outer atmosphere.
The substance thus prepared is accumulated in heaps on the drying fields said heaps
requiring only some slight protection against rain.
If there should not be sufficient space for drying fields, a mechanical quick drying
kiln is used in the place thereof.
Previous to the complete drying of the peat, the peat blocks are taken to a
disintegrator or crushing machine and are there crushed into pieces of the size of
about a nut and then taken direct into a kiln heated by gases escaping from the
carbonizing furnaces in order to leave said kiln as peat nearly free from water.
This kiln may contain two or more endless carrying bands or aprons placed one
above the other in a space which is either traversed through by the gases escaping
from the carbonizing furnaces or is heated by the heated gases by the latter passing
through ribbed pipes or the like which are arranged underneath the bands so that
these ribbed pipes supply their heat to the atmosphere of the drying space. Air passes
into the drying space through a hot air channel the vapour escaping above. On the
carrying bands are slung slats which are supported horizontally during part of
their course by stationary guide rails under the bands and are upheld by the latter
for certain distances. These guide rails are arranged thus that the peat introduced
at the peat inlet reaches in the first instance the supported slats or flaps and that
these latter loose their support at the end of the upper horizontal course.
then fall downwards into the vertical position and empty the substance resting on
them upon the lower returning part of the same carrying band where the slats are
again supported by a guide rail from the beginning of the notion until shortly
before the finish.
The slats

page_text: The peat after having returned is then dropped upon the second carrying hand
by the slats falling down again on this second band, the process described repeats
itself until the peat is thrown out at the outlet in an almost dried state.
From the drying space or when using drying fields from the disintegrator the
substance is carried to a mixer placed space where lime for the formation into blocks
as well as for the production of nitrogen is slaked and added to the peat. The
amount of this addition is variable and depends upon the condition of the peat and
of the quantity as well as of the composition of the organic substances therein, this
addition the amount of which is to be fixed for each peat by trial is such that on
the one hand the amount of ash left in burning should not be increased unnecessarily
and on the other hand a sufficient adhesion should be obtained in the block.
The lime if possible recently burnt is here mixed with so much water so that
when slaked it breaks up into powder and the latter is mixed with the pent in an
ordinary mixing drum.
From this mixing drum the substance is taken to the carbonizing furnaces; if
convenient the lime may be also added in the disintegrators.
For carbonizing furnaces ordinary charcoal kilns may be used as the effect of
heat of dry peat suffices also in such furnaces for the carbonization.
But if a production of a bye product is to be combined with the manufacture of
the new fuel retorts or charcoal kilns with outer firing must be used as only with
these can such regulating of the carbonizing temperature be had that the formation
of the bye products takes place.
The substance leaving the mixer is introduced through the mouth into one of the
furnace chambers which has the shape of an oblique parallelogram cut in halves
and having two vertically placed sides whereby the emptying of the chambers is
facilitated as this shape in consequence of the oblique base, guides the substance
towards the door.
The firing of the furnace takes place by an outside located generator of an
optional construction. The fire gases produced here travel through a channel
located underneath the chambers into branches separately arranged for each
chamber which former may be regulated by a slide, from here the heating gases,
heat the base of the chamber by means of a downward channel and the walls by
means of the side channels.
The heating of the chamber does not exceed 500°; when this temperature is
reached the carbonizing and cementing process is finished. The increasing heat
decomposes or volatilizes the combination of ammonia existing already in the peat,
the slaked lime added analyses the proteine substances and thereby increases the
output of ammonia.
The carbonate of lime formed thereby is again burnt by the subsequent heating
and enters into a cement like connection with the silicic acid contained in the peat
and the silicate of alumina etc. which increases considerably the fitness for forming
the mixture into blocks. After the final temperature is reached water is added by
means of roses to the substance leaving the outlets so that a cooling of the glowing
substance takes place at the same time the burnt lime is slaked.
The fuel withdrawn from the outlet is dispatched in closed conveyors into the
block forming plant. Here the mass is ground and stirred with a little water into
a stiff paste and brought into the desired shape by means of block presses. The
blocks obtained which are stored in the warehouse become perfectly hard after a
few days drying. When the manufacture of bye products is in working, the gases
formed are absorbed at the upper part of the chamber. Said gases travel through
adjustable bent tubes into a suction tube separate from the tar in the tar separator
and are then used in the known manner in suitable apparatus for making acetic acid
and ammonia.
Dated this 21st day of June 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Peat for the
Production of Fuel and Bye Products.
We WILHELM LOE, Chemist and CARL GUMBART, Engineer both of Königin-
trasse 71 Munich, in the Empire of Germany 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 the treatment of peat for producing a kind of fuel from
peat which burns without smoke or smell and which at the same time is sufficiently
compact for economical transport whilst bye products may be obtained from the peat
treated such as sulphuric acid, acetic acid etc. etc.
The peat fuel is formed into blocks by use of a medium which is extremely cheap
and simplifies the whole process so that besides the possibility of obtaining a large
output of bye products, such as saf ammoniac, acetic acid etc. etc., a fuel is produced
from the peat, which in consequence of the particular transformation of the medium
caused by the process is sufficiently compact and hard for transport without any
noticable loss of material as well as to be used with blast furnaces. The new fuel
thus obtained leaves when burnt very little and pure sh which on the one hand
because of its ingredients is of great value as a manure and on the other hand is
suitable as a substitute in a convenient form for the addition to fuel of substances
(such as chalk) necessary in varicus industries as for instance with the blast furnace
process during working.
The new method is carried out as follows reference being made to the accom-
panying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a complete arrangement of the plant for forming peat into blocks whilst
Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the peat kiln and Figs. 3 to 7 the construction of
the carbonizing furnaces.
The peat is dug or dredged after which it is formed into a convenient shape.
The peat blocks thus obtained are submitted to an air drying process on drying
fields (4 in Fig. 1.) provided with the rails 3 thereon, during which process, the
peat is deprived of its contents of water up to 20 % partly by the absorbing power
of the drying field and partly by the outer atmosphere.
The substance thus prepared is accumulated in heaps on the drying fields said
heaps requiring only some slight protection against rain; thereafter for the purpose
of further treatment they are brought to the respective apparatus by means of the
rails (5 in Fig. 1).
If there should not be sufficient space for drying fields, a mechanical quick drying
kiln is used in the place thereof.
Previous to the complete drying of the peat, the peat blocks are taken to a
disintegrator or crushing machine 6 in Fig. 1. and are there crushed into pieces of
the size of about a nut and then taken direct into a kiln heated by gases escaping
from the carbonizing furnaces in order to leave said kiln as peat nearly free from
water.
This kiln which is shown in Fig. 2 in vertical section may contain two or more
endless carrying bands or aprons K placed one above the other, in a space R which
as shown in the drawing is either traversed by the gases escaping from the
carbonizing furnaces or is heated by the heated gases by the latter passing through
ribbed pipes or the like which are arranged underneath the bands so that these
ribbed pipes supply their heat to the atmosphere of the drying space.
Air passes
into the drying space through a hot air channel H L as shown by the drawings,
whilst D A shows the outlet for escape of vapour. On the carrying bands are
slung slats G which are supported horizontally during part of their course by

page_text: stationary guide rails L under the bands, and are upheld by the latter for certain
distances. These guide rails L are arranged thus that the peat introduced at the
peat inlet T E reaches in the first instance the supported slats or flaps G and that
these latter lose their support at the end of the upper horizontal course; the slats G
then fall downwards into the vertical position and empty the substance resting on
them upon the lower returning part of the same carrying band where the slats are
again supported by a guide rail L from the beginning of the motion until shortly
before the finish.
The peat after having returned is then dropped upon the second carrying band
by the slats falling down again; on this second band the process described is
repeated until the peat is thrown out at the outlet T A in an almost dried state.
From the drying space or when using drying fields from the disintegrator the
substance is carried to a mixer (8 in Fig. 1) where lime for the formation into
blocks as well as for the production of nitrogen is slaked and added to the peat.
The amount of this addition is variable and depends upon the condition of the peat
and of the quantity as well as of the composition of the organic substances therein;
this addition the amount of which is to be fixed for each peat by trial is such that
on the one hand the amount of ash left in burning should not be increased
unnecessarily and on the other hand a sufficient adhesion should be obtained in the
block.
The lime, if possible recently burnt, is here mixed with so much water that when
slaked, it breaks up into powder and the latter is mixed with the peat in an ordinary
mixing drum.
From this mixing drum the substance is taken into the carbonizing furnaces
(9. Fig. 1). If convenient the lime may be also added in the disintegrators.
For carbonizing furnaces ordinary charcoal kilns may be used as the effect of heat
of dry peat suffices also in such furnaces for the carbonization.
But if a production of a bye product is to be combined with the manufacture of
the new fuel, retorts or charcoal kilns with outer firing must be used as only with
these can such regulating of the carbonizing temperature he had that the formation
of the bye products takes place.
The furnace with outside firing shown is especially suitable with a continual
working for executing the process above mentioned. This carbonizing furnace is
represented by Figs. 3 to 7. Figs. 3 and 4 being sections respectively on lines rayy
Fig. 6. Fig. 6 being a section on line 11. Fig. 3. Fig. 5 an outside elevation and
Fig. 7 a plan of the pipe system.
The carbonizing furnaces work continually, the removal of one charge being
followed immediately by a new charge.
The heating should be preferably effected in a slow fashion in order to assist the
manufacture of acetic acid as a bye product.
The substance leaving the mixer is introduced through the mouth y into one of
the furnace chambers which is shaped as shown having two vertically placed sides
and an inclined floor whereby the emptying of the chamber is facilitated as this
shape in consequence of the oblique floor guides the substance towards the
outlet.
The firing of the furnace is performed by an outside located generator of optional
construction. The fire gases produced, here travel through a channel, a located
underneath the chambers into branches separately arranged for each chamber which
former may be regulated by slides ; from here the heating gases heat the base of
the chamber by means of downward channels and passing out at into the side
walls heat the latter by means of the side channels t.
The distilled gases returning by the tube after the separation of the bye
products (12 in Fig. 1.) are blown into the base channel regulated by cocks (see
Fig. 4 and the left hand position Fig. 7.) the cocks being omitted from the
drawing.
At the place of blowing in, the gases mix with the air coming from the opposite

page_text: direction in the channel L the supply of which air may be regulated at the inlet
opening of the furnace.
After the gases have travelled through the side channels they pass underneath
the regulating slide i into the flue which carries them into the drying kiln or into
the open air.
The heating of the chamber should not exceed 500°; when this temperature is
reached the carbonizing and cementing process is finislied. The increasing heat
decomposes or volatilizes the combinations of ammonia existing already in the peat,
the slaked lime added analyzes the protein substances and thereby increases the
output of ammonia. The carbonate of lime formed thereby is again burnt by the
subsequent heating and enters into a cement like connection with the silicic acid
contained in the peat and the silicate of alumina etc. which increases considerably
the fitness for forming the mixture into blocks. After the final temperature is
reached, water is added by means of roses to the substance leaving the outlets so
that a cooling of the glowing substance takes place; at the same time the burned
lime is slaked.
The fuel withdrawn from the outlet is dispatched in closed conveyors e into the
block forming plant (11 in Fig. 1).
Here the mass is ground and stirred with a little water into a stiff paste and
brought into the desired shape by means of block presses. The blocks obtained
which are stored in the warehouse (13 in Fig. 1) become perfectly hard after a few
days drying.
When the manufacture of bye products is in working the gases formed are
absorbed at the upper part of the chamber. Said gases travel through adjustable
bent tubes W into a suction tube U separate from the tar in the tar separator 1,
and are then used in the known manner in suitable apparatus, (12 in Fig. 1) for
making acetic acid and ammonia.
tube r.
As mentioned already the here remaining gases return to the furnace through the
If for some reason or other the bye production is to be stopped the bent
tube W which had previously the position shown in the left of Fig. 7, (position II)
is simply withdrawn from the tube socket U and placed into the socket V located
at the side so that the position will be as seen on the right of Fig. 7 (position I)
and in Fig. 3. The gases cooled in the tube W by the atmospheric air travel
downward in the tube V, are mixed with air from the passage L and continue along
the same way as previously described with regard to the mixture of the heating and
return gases.
As already mentioned the blocks produced in the described manner form a
particularly suitable fuel which when ignited which even in the open air and without
any artificial draught, burns free from smoke and smell leaving white light and
powdered ash which as a manure is of great value, or by the addition of water may
be used as mortar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The method for producing a fuel from peat by mixing with the peat previously
dried in the atmosphere or in a suitable kiln drying device, a quantity of slaked
lime, heating the mixture thus obtained in a suitable furnace with or without the
recovery of bye products from the distilled gas whereby the ash ingredients of the
peat enter into a cement like combination with the lime mixing the substance, thus
obtained with water and forming the same into blocks by pressure.
2. The apparatus for drying peat consisting in the chamber R having the carrying
bands with movable hinged slats G supported on part of their horizontal course
by guide rails L whereby the same carrying band receives the substance to be dried
both during going and returning as described.
3. The carbonizing furnace for drying or carbonizing the peat having the furnace

page_text: chambers shaped as described with movable pipe W and connections therefor by
the different adjustment of which pipe the working may be conducted with or
without the production of bye products and in the latter case with improvement of
the draught produced by the cooling of the gases in the said pipe substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of March 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., Agents to Applicants.