Improvements in Retorts for Producing Gas.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Retorts for Producing Gas.
FREDERICK SANDERS of 48 Liteiny Prospect in the City of St. Petersburg, in
the Empire of Russia, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in retorts for use in producing illuminating
gas, water-gas, or a mixture of different gases, at will and in accordance with the
requirements of the particular purpose in view; also to the improved form and
arrangement of the retort employed, the construction of which facilitates the cleansing
of the retort and increases its durability.
My improved retort has the form of an elbow, or rectangular tube the junction of
the two limbs being formed as an easy curve to better facilitate equal diffusion of
heat over the body of the retort, and is mounted in a furnace, or heating place in
substantially ordinary manner, the ends of the retort projecting outwardly from the
furnace and being fitted with covers tightly fitted to the retort and these may be held
thereto by levers, screws or in an equivalent manner.
The horizontal part of the retort is provided with a mouth piece or closable opening
and cap-or cover having a tubular projection, or flanged conduit pipe, for the issue of
the gas formed in the retort, from whence it is conducted to purifying apparatus of
substantially ordinary construction.
In the vertical part of the retort are two one or other number of inclined plates or
shields with side walls or projecting edges or flanges and deflectors or intercepting
shelves or steps of curved inclined or other form. Each of these plates or shields
being so provided on its outer surface with inclined partitions or steps for the purpose
hereinafter explained.
The inclined plates or shields are preferably fitted with legs, prongs or supports and
are held by a dished vessel or trough having pointed legs or projections with but very
slight contact surface where they rest on the retort so that no avoidable area of
surfaces are brought into contact with the object of facilitating removal.
The cover of the upper leg or end of the retort may be provided with two, or other
number of syphon-tubes with funnels or other suitable form of conduit may be
employed for the introduction of fluids either vaporous or liquid to be converted
into gas.
It is evident, that by heating the retort to a red or white heat the inclined plates,
fans, or shields will attain practically the same temperature as the retort, so that if a
suitable hydrocarbon liquid (for instance crude petroleum oil or the like) be dropped
from one, or both, of the tubes on the inclined plate or plates, surfaces or fan or fans,
the liquid will flow gradually from one step to another down to the bottom (or until
vaporized), and, becoming highly heated, is speedily evaporated.
The vapours produced remain some time under the influence of a high temperature
in the top portion of the vertical limb of the retort and are transformed into a
fixed gas, and finally issue through the mouth piece of the retort and are led to
purifiers.
It is obvious that not only the number, but also the form of the fan or fans or
shield or shields may be varied. So for instance, the fans may be replaced by
sufficiently enlarged perforated tubes to obviate clogging, or equivalent means may
be used.
Thus according to a modification particularly useful when dealing with more fluid
bodies, such as vaporized hydrocarbons, a perforated metallic tube with a closed cap
at the end is introduced into the retort through the top cover, the crude petroleum or
other suitable mineral oil being introduced at the same time through a syphon or

page_text: syphons or tube or tubes placed on the same retort cover into the retort dropping on
the extended surfaces of the shields or like parts placed in the retort, and resting at
the bottom in an iron vessel or suitable holder supported on sharp legs, a flat bottomed
vessel without legs being liable to stick so hard to the retort that there would be
hardly any possibility to get it out of the retort for cleaning, or other removal.
Again to introduce fluids either vaporous, or liquid, into the retort instead of above
mentioned perforated straight metallic tube, a metallic tube of inverted syphon shape,
or a spiral shaped tube, may be provided, passing from a suitable reservoir or source
of supply through the cover of the vertical limit to and around the inclined fans,
-plates or heating surfaces supported in the dished bowl.
In such metallic tube or tubes, if several are placed in one retort, cold or pre-
ferably boiling fluids can be introduced at the same time when mineral oil gas is
created in the same retort.
Instead of introducing fluids into above retorts their steam or superheated vapours
can be directed through suitable gas tubes from generators or boilers into the retort
where they will mix with mineral oil gas. The gas is not as is usually the case let
out from the top of the vertical retort but from the upper side of the bottom leg by
means of a small conduit or side branch pipe which pipe is suitably continued to other
retort or retorts or to a reservoir or purifiers or as may be desired. Such retorts
can be so arranged and employed that one retort of the said construction can be
making one particular description of gas, whilst another retort of like shape can be
preparing superheated vapour of a like or different character which can be sent into
the retort first mentioned for mixture with the gas therein. Or one retort could be
producing a gas from (say) crude petroleum or like suitable body capable of being
rendered into a gaseous fluid whilst one or more retorts of the like shape and
construction could be producing each one, or mixed gases, and the gas from each
retort could be led away independently one of the other, into purifying apparatus
where they could finally mix together or the gases may be led into one retort after
another, or in any convenient course through more than one retort so as to mix the
gases respectively produced and the mixed gas can thence he led to the purifiers.
For producing water-gas, water, or vapour of water, or steam is let in through one
of the syphon tubes or other form of conduit and crude petroleum oil (or coal tar,
hydrocarbon oil and the like) is dropped through the other syphon-tube or other
suitable conduit on the extended inclined surface or shield or in a tube closed at its
bottom and having a side opening or provided with an inner tube etc. or the like
operation can be conducted with the modified apparatus.
The rectangular bent form of the retort requires to be cleansed only after very
considerable length of work, when producing illuminating gas, and practically little or
no cleansing when water-gas is produced.
For cleansing the retort it is not necessary to remove it from the furnace or to cool
down the furnace and the retorts.
The cleansing of the retorts can be rapidly effected little or no solid deposits
(cokes) being formed in the retorts especially with careful attention and manipulation
which cokes ordinarily require much labour in removal and cause damage to the retort
and to the brickwork.
The improved forms of retort described enable illuminating gas or water-gas to be
produced with the same retorts so that with the same retort or set of retorts alterna-
tively to produce water-gas or oil gas.
Dated the 10th day of July 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Retorts for Producing Gas.
I FREDERICK SANDERS of 48 Liteiny Prospect, in the City of St. Petersburg, in
the Empire of Russia, Merchant, 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 :--
My invention relates to improvements in reforts for use in producing illuminating
gas, water gas, or a mixture of different gases, at will and in accordance with the
requirements of the particular purpose in view; also to the improved form and arrange-
ment of the retort employed, the construction of which facilitates the cleansing of the
retort and increases its durability.
My improved retort has the form of an elbow, or rectangular tube the junction of
the two limbs being formed as an easy curve to better facilitate equal diffusion of heat
over the body of the retort and is mounted in a furnace, or heating place in substan-
tially ordinary manner, the ends of the retort projecting outwardly from the furnace
and being fitted with covers tightly fitted to the retort and these may be held thereto
by levers, screws or in an equivalent manner.
The horizontal leg of the retort is provided with a closable opening and cover
thereto having a conduit pipe, shown as flanged for convenience of attachment to a
line of piping for the issue of the gas formed in the retort, from whence it is conducted
to purifying apparatus which forms no portion of the present invention and which may
be of substantially ordinary construction.
In the vertical part of the retorts is an inclined plate with side walls or projecting
edges or flanges and deflectors or intercepting steps of inclined or other form.
Although I have described only one plate the number may be increased. Each plate
or shield being so provided on its outer surface with inclined partitions or steps for
the purpose hereinafter explained.
The inclined plate or shield is preferably fitted with legs or supports held by a dished
vessel or trough having pointed projections with very slight contact surface to rest on
the retort so that no avoidable area of surfaces are brought into contact, with the object
of facilitating removal.
The cover of the upper leg of the retort is provided with conduits for the introduction
of fluids, vaporous or liquid, to be converted into gas.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken lengthwise of the retort the covers at each end
being shewn in side view.
Fig. 2 is a vertical end section taken through the upright leg of the retort.
a is the vertical leg of the retort. a' the horizontal leg. is a plate supported in
the vertical leg a¹ on a pointed support which support rests with its pointed endțin
the basin c which again rests with its pointed feet c¹ on the floor of leg a' and beneath
leg a.
d is a pipe leading from any convenient source of supply of hydrocarbon liquid
whence such liquid drops onto b. The plate has ribs or angular ridges b² which
detain the liquid in its downward flow. e is a pipe of supply for vaporous fluid here
shewn as a downwardly hanging tube with straight return but this pipe may take any
convenient form such as a coil or spiral and the convolutions may pass around the
plate b. The top of open end of leg a is flanged, at a² as here shewn and the cover a³
is secured thereto by bolts and nuts a. Centrally of this cover a³ is an opening a
formed as a seating for the cap or cover a³ the meeting edges of the cap and cover
being preferably inclined and packed to secure complete fit. The drawings shew a
convenient mode of connecting this cap a to the plate a³: a' being a cross bar hinged
to the cover a³ at a³ and to the cap a at a whilst the outer end of bar a' is capable of
being held or released by rocking the lotted rock arm a" on its centre a fixed to the
plate a³, the end of bar a' being passed through the arm a⁰ and locked by turning up
that handle. a is a handle formed of a continuation of the bar a' and serving to aid

page_text: in operating the same. The open end a¹³ of the horizontal arm a' is closed by means of
a coned cover a" formed with a branch pipe a¹s here shewn flanged for connection to
any suitable pipe not shewn for conveyance of the gas to any suitable purifying
apparatus the opening in the cap or cover at at a¹ is also flanged for convenience
of attachment thereto of the flanged plate a" constructed with a central opening a¹9
forming a packed seating for the plug or cover a held thereto by the bar a² which
bar has a handle a" a hinged connection to the plate a" at a22, a hinged connection to
the cover a and a socketted locking hinged handle lock a connected also to the
plate a¹
The vapors produced hang for some time in the part of the retort a above the
point where its inner wall bends round to form the upper side or roof of the leg a¹,
exposed to the fullest heat and eventually pass down along a¹ out at a¹.
The outer surface of the retort in place of being formed plain may be advan-
tageously formed with horizontal, vertical or inclined or curved ribs or combinations
of such directions of ribbing or with projections the better to attain uniform conduction
of heat over the entire surface of the retort.
It is evident, that by heating the retort to a high heat the inclined plates will attain
practically the same temperature as the retort, so that if a suitable hydro-carbon
liquid (for instance crude petroleum oil or the like) be dropped from the tube on the
inclined plate the liquid will flow gradually from one step to another down to the
bottom (or until vaporized), and, becoming highly heated, is speedily evaporated.
The vapours produced remain some time under the influence of a high temperature
in the top portion of the vertical limb of the retort and are transformed into a fixed
gas, and finally issue through the month-piece of the retort and are led to purifiers.
It is obvious that not only the number, but also the form of the plate or plates
may be varied. So for instance, the fan may be replaced by sufficiently enlarged
perforated tubes to obviate clogging, or equivalent means may be used.
Through the metallic tube or tubes, if several are placed in one retort, cold or
preferably boiling fluids can be introduced at the same time when mineral oil gas is
created in the same retort.
Instead of introducing fluids into above retorts their steam or superheated vapours
can be directed through suitable gas tubes from generators or boilers into the retort
where they will mix with mineral oil gas. The gas is not as is usually the case let
out from the top of the vertical retort but from the upper side of the bottom leg by
means of a small conduit or side branch pipe which pipe is suitably continued to
other retort or retorts or to a reservoir or purifiers or as may be desired.
Such retorts can be so arranged and employed that one retort of the said
construction can be making one particular description of gas, whilst another retort
of like shape, can be preparing superheated vapour of a like or different character
which can be sent into the retort first mentioned for mixture with the gas therein.
Or one retort could be producing a gas from (say) crude petroleum or like suitable
body capable of being rendered into a gaseous fluid whilst one or more retorts of the
like shape and construction could be producing each one, or mixed gases, and the
gas from each retort could be led away independently one of the other, into purifying
apparatus where they could finally mix together or the gases may be led into one
retort after another, or in any convenient course through more than one retort so as
to mix the gases respectively produced and the mixed gas can thence be led to the
purifiers.
For producing water-gas, water, or vapour of water, or steam is let in through the
conduit tubes and crude petroleum oil (or coal-tar, hydrocarbon oil and the like) is
dropped through the other tube on the extended inclined surface or shield.
The rectangular bent form of the retort requires to be cleansed only after very
considerable length of work, when producing illuminating gas, and practically little
or no cleansing when water-gas is produced.
For cleansing the retort it is not necessary to remove it from the furnace or to
cool down the furnace and the retorts.
The cleansing of the retorts can be rapidly effected little or no solid deposits

page_text: (cokes) being formed in the retorts especially with careful attention and manipulation,
which cokes ordinarily require much labour in removal and cause damage to the
retort and to the brick-work.
The improved forms of retort described enable illuminating gas or water-gas to be
produced with the same retorts so that with the same retort or set of retorts alternatively
to produce water-gas or oil-gas.
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. A retort for the manufacture of combustible gas from hydrocarbon fluid
matters having its interior of L form with curved junction between the vertical and
horizontal branches the vertical branches having a closable end covered by a cap and
locked plug, said cap having passed through it inlet pipes, for supply of hydro-carbon
vapour, for hydrocarbon liquid or for both vapour and liquid and the horizontal
branch having its end closed by a covering piece provided with a side conduit for
carrying off the gas produced and a covering plug with locking devices in combination
with inclined plate surfaces as supported on pointed support resting in a vessel
supported on pointed legs resting on the floor of the retort all substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
2. In apparatus for the manufacture of inflammable gas from fluid matters an
inclined ribbed surface on to which the gas forming liquid is caused to fall said
surface being supported on a pointed foot resting in a vessel also resting on pointed
feet supported
on the floor of the retort, a supply pipe for hydrocarbon liquid
delivering on to said surface and an inlet pipe for the supply of vaporous fluid in
combination with an shaped retort formed of, two legs at right angles to each other
joined by an easy curve having its generating chamber and inlet passages in the
upper end of its vertical leg and its outlet in the horizontal leg arranged and
operating substantially as set forth.
3. A retort for the manufacture of hydrocarbon gas from fluid matters having two
legs, joined by an easy bend, at right angles one to the other, the vertical leg provided
with inlets forming the primary gas producing and retaining chamber and the
horizontal leg provided with outlet conduit the delivery conduit in combination with
a removable liquid dispersing surface and supporting basin as set forth.
4. The arrangement or combination of parts for the manufacture of combustible
gas from hydrocarbon fluid matters substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and shewn.
Dish Oil Joy of Anril 1800
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.