Improvements in Apparatus to be Used in the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1889-Accepted. 10th Aug. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus to be Used in the Manufacture of Gas.
I JOSEPH DE BROUWER of Bruges in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gas Engineer
and Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus for use in the manufacture
of illuminating or heating gas, which will cause, by a rapid rotation, and the centri-
fugal action thereby set up, the gas to pass through suitable fabrics or narrow
passages, and in contact with or not in contact with (as may be desired) suitable
liquids, whereby one or more of the following effects will be produced
(1) The exhausting and forcing of the gas, thus replacing the exhausters now
in use.
(2) The precipitation of tarry vapours, and of other liquids that the gas holds in
suspension, thus replacing the apparatus used now to produce this effect.
(3) The cooling of the gas by its contact with the liquids injected, if these liquids
are of a temperature lower than that of the gas, or the warming of the gas, if
the liquids are hotter.
(4) The absorption of the vapours and crystals of napthaline, if tar or heavy
oils are injected.
(5) The carburation of the gas, if volatile hydro-carbons are injected.
(6) The purification of the gas of its ammoniacal vapours (or impurities), if feeble
ammoniacal liquor or pure water is injected.
(7) The absorption of carbonic acid, sulphohydric acid, and divers other impurities,
if purifying liquids, such as caustic ammoniacal liquor, are injected.
In fact, it is possible, by the rational use of my apparatus, to effect all the
operations to which gas is actually submitted, from the time of its production in the
retort, to its discharge into the distributing mains.
The apparatus consists of a closed box or case divided into compartments by.
diaphragms which have a central opening.
At the centre of the case is mounted a vertical shaft which carries the drums which
together for a turbine.
Each of these drums draws in the gas by its centrifugal action, and expels it by
thin or narrow openings, or through suitable fabric. At the same time, the liquids
introduced into the apparatus by an injection pipe, enter the drums through suitable
openings formed in the upper wall of the drum, being assisted thereto by deflectors
which prevent the liquids passing away except by the openings.
The gas enters the apparatus by a suitable pipe at the bottom of the case, passes
successively each of the drums, and makes its exit by a pipe at the top of the case.
The liquids, in the inverse sense, enter by a pipe in the top of the case, pass down-
wards through each drum, and escape, either by the gas inlet pipe, or by other suit-
able opening. These inlet and exit pipes of the gas and water may be single or
multiple.
In order that the turbine should properly effect the exhaustion or extraction of the
gas, it is necessary partially to obstruct the communication between one compart-
ment and the other, so as to avoid the return of the gas.
To this end, the lower wall of the drum is provided with a cylindrical portion, which
fits into the central opening of the diaphragm, so as to leave sufficient space for the
passage of the liquids, and prevent the rubbing of the drums against the diaphragms.
The work of the apparatus consists, then, in drawing in the gas successively into
each drum in an upward direction, and in bringing or forcing the descending liquids
nto contact with the gas.
It will be obvions (1) that the numban Ր
201

page_text: different liquid may be injected into each compartment, if desired; (3) that the
liquid may he left out, if desired, and the apparatus will serve to produce only
exhaustion, and the precipitation of the tar; (4) that the construction may be modified
in detail, without departing from the nature of my invention.
Dated this 9tli day of October 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus to be Used in the Manufacture of Gas.
I JOSEPH DE BROUWER of Bruges in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gas Engineer
and 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus for use in the manufacture
of illuminating or heating gas and for other purposes. It may be called a compound
turbine exhauster and scrubber. By its rapid rotation, and the centrifugal action
thereby set up, the gas is caused to pass through a series of drums or blowers, in
contact with, and intimately mixed with, suitable liquids, whereby one or more of
the following effects may be produced: (1) The exhausting and forcing of the gas,
thus replacing the exhausters now in use; (2) The removal of tarry vapors and of
other fluids that the gas holds in suspension, thus replacing the apparatus used now to
produce this effect; (3) The cooling of the gas by its contact with the liquids injected,
if these liquids are of a temperature lower than that of the gas, or the warming of
the gas if the liquids are hotter; (4) The absorption of the vapours and crystals of
naphthaline, if tar, or heavy oils are injected; (5) The carburation of the gas, if
volatile hydro carbons are injected; (6) The purification of the gas from its
ammoniacal vapors (or impurities), if weak ammoniacal liquor or pure water are
injected (7) The absorption of carbonic acid, sulpho-hydric acid, and divers other
impurities, if purifying liquids, such as caustic ammoniacal liquor, are injected.
In fact, it is possible, by the rational use of this apparatus, to effect all the
operations to which gas is actually submitted, from the time of its production in
the retort,' to its discharge into the distributing mains or holder.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown, in vertical transverse section, the
apparatus constructed according to my invention.
A A is a cylindrical casing. A is the cover of the casing. A is the bottom
plate. B B B BI BIV are diaphragms separating the casing A into a number of
chambers. These diaphragms fit tightly against the casing A, but are open at the
centre, and have a flange round the opening, so that the diaphragms will form
trays.
His the inlet pipe at the bottom of the casing below the lowest diaphragm B, for
the gas coming from the hydraulic main.-I is the outlet for the gas, after it has
passed through the machine, and it is situate above the upper diaphragm BIV.—K is an
inlet pipe for liquids that are intended to be used in the purification of the gas, which
pipe may be placed above the upper plate BIV. Other pipes can be put in at other
suitable parts of the apparatus; and L is the outlet pipe for the used liquids.
O is a vertical shaft, which turns in a step bearing in the bottom of the casing, and
projects upwards through the cover A¹, to a bracket secured to the cover A¹. This
shaft is caused to rotate by means of suitable gearing. -DI DI DI are a number of
horizontal drums fixed on the shaft or spindle C. Each of these acts as a blower, and
consists of a slightly conical or concave cast iron disc E, having a central hub E, by
which it is secured on the spindle C, and a thin circular metal plate EI, open in-
the centre, and having round the edge of the opening an iron ring i, which will fit
exactly the opening of the diaphragms B.-e
-eee are a number of small pipes
(cylindrical or conical), through which the water or liquids collected on the
plates B B B B BV, can flow onto the parts E of the drums below.
1

page_text: fare annular deflectors to prevent the liquids passing away under the centrifugal
action, and they also serve to guide the liquids to the holes ooo, by which they
pass into the drums.
zzz are the mouths of the blowing drums D DI DI DII -They are formed by
means of a number of flat annular plates kept apart by suitable means.
The plates E and E, with the annular plates, are firmly secured together,
the whole being fixed on the shaft C, so as to rotate with it. In addition to the above
essential features of the apparatus, I provide a compensating or regulating arrange-
ment M N, of any convenient form, a suitable gearing for the turbine T V W, and
an elastic packing s ss, to make the opening of the casing AI, where the shaft (;
passes through it, air tight.
The step bearing consists of a plug y; it is movable in the cast iron socket
and
is raised or lowered by means of a wedge piece R, by the aid of the right and
left hand screws Z and Z, so as to adjust the shaft or spindle C, with the
drums DDI DI DII, in the exact position, which is, that the edge of the plate EI
of the drums, should come, close to the edge of the diaphragms BBI BI BI BIV,
so that the gas is prevented from flowing back to the drum from which it has just been
expelled.
The space left above the drums, and under the upper diaphragm of the chamber, is
sufficient to allow the gas to pass freely over it, and to flow in at the opening of
the next drum in the series.
I will now proceed to explain the action of the apparatus. The shaft or spindle, C
with its drums D D D DI, is caused to rotate by the gearing T V W from the
prime mover, at convenient speed; and the pipes H I K L being connected to the gas
mains, pumps or reservoirs, as the case may be, the impure gas is drawn in at H. It
immediately enters the drum D, which forces it through the openings z into the
second compartment of the casing. From there the gas, being prevented from
returning to the drum D, travels upwards to the opening of the next drum DI, and so
on, until it reaches the upper chamber above, BI, and the outlet I.
At the same time, water or other suitable liquid is run into the casing A by K ; is
collected on the diaphragm or tray BIV; flows down the pipes e e e onto the part E
of the drum D, and, through the holes o o o, into the interior of the upper.
drum D, being guided thereto by the deflector f. The centrifugal action imme-
diately scatters the liquid, mixes it with the gas coming into the drum from below,
and forces the mixed fluids out together through the narrow passages z
and against
the casing A A.
.
The liquids descend by gravitation, and collect on the plates or diaphragms BIII, B",
B1, B, from which they flow, by the pipes e e e, onto and through the drums
below, until they reach the outlet L. The object of passing the gas upwards against a
downward stream of liquids, is to produce a systematic cooling and purifying of the
gas, which, as it rises through the apparatus, is gradually relieved of its impurities.
These impurities are gradually taken up by the descending stream of liquid, and pass
away by the pipe L, as before mentioned.
The effects of the apparatus on the gas and the liquids are multiple; they can be
ranged under three heads, viz., mechanical, physical, and chemical effects:
(I). As mechanical effects, there is first the exhaustion and driving under pressure
of the gas (or air); each drum or blower has a propelling power proportionate to
its speed, and to the quantity of liquids that pass through it; the total propelling
power of the compound turbine being in proportion to the number of the drums of
which it is made up. Another mechanical effect produced by the violent contact of
the gas with the walls of the drums and of the casing, and also with the liquid, is
the removal of the tarry and other condensable vapors contained in the impurified
gas.
(2) The physical effects are: (a) the cooling of the gas, if cold water is made to
meet warm gas, or the reverse, if cold gas is made to meet warm liquids; (b) the
evaporation or distillation of volatile constitutents of the liquids; (c) the saturation
of the liquids with condensable gases or vapors.

page_text: (3) As chemical effects, various reactions take place according to the nature of the
liquids and gases under treatment, but I will only mention the possibility of
depriving the gas of its acid compounds by scrubbing in the turbine with caustic
alkaline liquids, such as caustic ammoniacal liquor.
As it has been stated in the early part of this specification, the compound turbine
is particularly intended for use in the manufacture of illuminating or heating gas,
but it may also be used for other purposes incidental to gas manufacture; for
example:
It can be used as a continuous distillating still; thus, steam or hot air is let in at H,
and (for instance) gas liquor made to run down; this liquor can be distilled.
It can also be used to deprive tar of its light oils, water, and ammoniacal vapors.
I would here remark that I do not confine myself to the exact details of construction
herein shown and described, as the number of drums and partitions of the casing may
be changed. The particular shape of the drums or blowers, and the construction of
the narrow passages, are not essential. Instead of the discoidal drums, for instance,
radial or helicoidal blowers can be made use of. Neither is it necessary to make the
gas and the liquids pass in opposite directions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a closed cylindrical casing, provided with suitable inlets and outlets both for
gas and liquids, and divided into a series of compartments by horizontal partitions,
a horizontal drum turbine or centrifugal blower mounted on a vertical shaft or
spindle, to which rotary motion is communicated in any convenient manner, said
drum or blower having, at or near the centre, inlets for the gas, and also for liquids
that are made to run in continuously, and, at or near the periphery, an outlet for both,
this outlet preferably consisting of narrow passages, so that as the drum turbine
or blower is rotated, and centrifugal action set up, the gas and the liquids will be
drawn in, brought into contact, and expelled at the periphery, the inlet of the
gas at the centre of the drum being so arranged in relation to the horizontal
partitions of the casing, that the gas expelled by the centrifugal action of the drum
cannot flow back, but will be driven forward, if needed under pressure, as in the
case of common exhausters.
2. In a closed cylindrical casing provided with suitable inlets and outlets both for
gas and liquids, and divided into a series of compartments by suitable horizontal
partitions, a series of drums or centrifugal blowers, mounted in separate compartments
on one vertical shaft, and so arranged that the gas and the liquids cannot but pass
through the whole series of drums or blowers, the total action of the compound turbine
being thus equal to the action of one drum multiplied by the number of the drums.
Dated this 8th day of Inle 1880
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.