Improvements in the Method of Making Charcoal from Peat and other Materials and at the same Time Recovering the Volatile Matters therefrom.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
Improvements in the Method of Making Charcoal from Peat and
other Materials and at the same Time Recovering the Volatile
Matters therefrom.
I WILLIAM ASCROFT BYROM, of 12 New Croxted Road, West Dulwich in the
County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:
I convey the gases produced by the Blast Furnace during the smelting of iron, or
the gases produced in any similar process, and lead such gases to suitable closed
retorts, in which I place the peat, or other material, to be treated. By an arrange-
ment of doors, slides, or valves, I pass into the retorts any desired portion of such
gases, at or about the temperature at which they are given off from the furnace, or
at a temperature modified by cooling in transit, or increased in temperature by
passing through stoves, or by other suitable means, as may be desired I also arrange
that there may be introduced, when desired, either into the main conduit of the
gases, or into a bye take, a certain admixture of atmospheric air so as to allow entire
or partial combustion to take place within the retort.
In cases where I use retorts that can be also externally fired, (as prefer doing)
I so arrange that I can use, either altogether or in part, the gases so given off, as well
as the permanent gases, produced by the distillation of the peat or other materials
for the purpose of heating the retorts.
I also, preferably, use retorts, through which the material to be treated is propelled
by mechanical means, but do not confine myself to any particular system.
The whole of the volatile matters are thus driven off and may be recovered and
condensed by suitable well known means, and the charge in the retort may be either
drawn or expelled by mechanical means, and then compressed into compact charcoal
blocks.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of Making Charcoal from Peat and
other Materials and at the same Time Recovering the Volatile.
Matters therefrom.
T WILLIAM ASCROFT BYROM of 12 Now Croxted Road West Dulwich in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
After peat has been cut and stacked, so as to be exposed to the air for some time,
for the purpose of its being drained from some of its excessive moisture, and partially
air dried, I convey the pent to a covered building, for the purpose of there getting
rid of a further portion of its moisture. This building I construct with "louvred
sides or openings, in suitable positions; and I pass, by means of flues underneath the
floor of the building, or within or around such building, the waste gases produced by
the blast furnace during the smelting of iron, or the gases produced in any analogous
process; the admission of which, either with an admixture of air, or just as evolved
from the furnaces, I regulate by suitable valves, doors, or dampers, so that the
temperature in the building should seldom exceed 212° Fahrenheit and so that there
will be no dissociation of the volatile matters contained in the peat.
The peat having thus had as much as possible of its moisture driven off by the
application of heat, I convey the same to closed retorts, for the purpose of being
converted into charcoal, the volatile portions thereof being driven off and condensed.
The method of heating the retorts is as follows:-After the gases from the blast
furnace have been used, for the purpose of drying the peat as above mentioned, the
gases have consequently become cooled, I pass the same either at the temperature at
which they then are, or at a temperature modified by further cooling, or increased by
passing through stoves or other suitable means, or raised by the chemical action
accompanying the admission of air directly into the retort, in such quantities,
regulated by valves, doors, or dampers, as found suitable; but the quantity and
character of the gases admitted are so regulated that the normal temperature in the
retort shall be from 700 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
In cases where I use retorts which can be externally fired (as I preferably do)
I use, either altogether or in part, the gases so given off, as well as the permanent
gases produced by the distillation of the peat for the purpose of heating the retorts
externally.
I also (preferably, use retorts through which the material to be heated is propelled
by any ordinary mechanical means.
The whole of the volatile matters are thus driven off, recovered, and condensed;
the charge in the retort is drawn or expelled by mechanical means, and compressed
into suitable charcoal blocks. Where the retort used is of the coke-oven class, the
charge is of course cooled before being drawn, and 1 then use a press, and, after

page_text: adding a small proportion of the heavy tar or residual oil, obtained by re-distillation
of the condensible volatile products I compress the same into blocks of suitable size
and shape for the furnace.
Where however I use a mechanically driven retort, I lead the delivery outlet
directly to the press, so as not to expose the hot charcoal to the action of the air, and,
having injected the required proportion of tar, or heavy residual oil, the charcoal is
then compressed into the blocks required.
This charcoal is subsequently used as the fuel for charging the blast furnace.
By these means a complete cycle of operations is effected, the retorts furnishing the
charcoal for smelting the iron, at the same time that the bye-products are being
recovered, and the furnaces producing the pig iron are yielding their waste heat and
gases as the necessary fuel for the driving-off the volatile matters, and the production
of the charcoal from the peat.
Where I wish, for the purpose of making a stronger charcoal or otherwise varying
its character, I sometimes mix other substances such as well washed coal slack, with
the peat, and it is obvious that although I have referred to the treatment of peat alone,
coal, sawdust or other substances, capable of producing coke or charcoal, and having
volatile and condensible oils, acids, or spirits, may be similarly treated.
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. The application and use of the waste heat and gases from blast and other
furnaces for the firing of retorts, for the distillation of peat and other materials,
substantially as hereinbefore described.