A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND FUEL FROM RICE HUSKS
Year: 1876

page_text: **LETTERS PATENT Jan Anthony Muller, of Amsterdam, Holland, Civil Engineer,
at present of 123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
AND FUEL FROM RICE HUSKS."
Sealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 27th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jan Anthony Muller at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1876.
JAN ANTHONY MULLER, of Amsterdam, Holland, Civil Engineer, at present of
123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND FUEL FROM RICE HUSKS."
This Invention consists-
1st. In the manufacture of a gas for lighting and heating purposes out of rice
husks.
2nd. The converting of the refuse of this distillation into a fuel.
To effect the first object I expose the rice husks directly to the requisite tem-
perature, by which they are decomposed into a light gas, for if the rice husks are
allowed to be gradually heated in the retorts, as is the case with coals, they are
decomposed to a very great extent in gases which have scarcely any illuminating
power.
Various devices can be employed to carry out effectually the proper decomposition
of rice husks. One arrangement which I have tried and found to answer well is
as follows: A cylindrical pipe or tube, representing the retort of suitable material
and dimensions, is provided with an archimedean screw which projects out of the
oven, and can be moved consequently on the outside. The pipe or tube is at its
one end in connection with a receiver for the busks, through which the archimedean
The pipe
screw also passes, and at its other end with a receiver for the refuse.
or tube is placed horizontally in the passage of the flame of the oven, and conse-
quently heated, and when the proper degree of heat is reached the rice husks by
turning the archimedean screw in the proper direction and with the proper speed are
brought at once in the necessary temperature to decompose them in light gas, which
escapes through suitable channels to the gas reservoir, whilst the refuse finds its
way downwards to its receiver. The gas on its way to the reservoir is cooled so as
to be purified of all foreign liquid matter.

page_text: One or more of these pipes or tubes can be used according to the quantity of
gas required in a certain time, and by suitable gearing the individual archimedean
screws are connected together, and driven by one and the same motive power. The
receivers for the rice husks and the refuse are provided with stops or valves at
suitable places in such a manner that they can be charged and discharged with-
out interupting the process of manufacture of gas.
The arrangement of the archimedean screw can be modified by placing the pipes
or tubes either in a vertical or slanting position in the oven (omitting the screw),
so that the husks will pass through them at the proper speed to be effectually
decomposed.
The refuse can be mixed with tar or other suitable liquid inflamable matter and
pressed into cakes, and will be found to have a great heating power, and thus serve
as a useful fuel.
SPECIFICATION' in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Jan Anthony Muller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th October
1876.
JAN ANTHONY MULLER, of Amsterdam, Holland, Civil Engineer, at present of
123, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS AND FUEL FROM RICE HUSKS."
This Invention consists -
First. In the manufacture of a gas for lighting and heating purposes out of rice
husks; and
Secondly. In the converting of the refuse of this distillation into fuel.
To effect the first object I expose the rice husks directly to the requisite tempera-
ture, by which they are decomposed into a light gas, for if the rice husks are
allowed to be gradually heated in the retorts, as is the case with coals, they are
decomposed to a very great extent in gases which have scarcely any illuminating
power.
Various devices can be employed to carry out effectually the proper decomposi-
tion of rice husks. One arrangement which I have tried and found to answer well is as
follows: A cylindrical pipe or tube, representing the retort of suitable material and
dimensions, is provided with an archimedian screw, which projects out of the oven,
and can be moved consequently on the outside. The pipe or tube is at its one end
in connection with a receiver for the husks, through which the archimedian screw
also passes, and at its other end with a receiver for the refuse. The pipe or tube
is placed horizontally in the passage of the flame of the oven, and consequently
heated, and when the proper degree of heat is reached the rice husks, by turning
the archimedian screw in the proper direction and with the proper speed, are
brought at once in the necessary temperature to decompose then in light gas,
which escapes, through suitable channels to the gas reservoir, whilst the refuse finds
its way downwards to a receiver. The gas on its way to the reservoir is cooled so
as to be purified of all foreign liquid matter.
One or more of these pipes or tubes can be used, according to the quantity of gas
required in a certain time, and by suitable gearing of their individual archimedian
screw connected together and driven by one and the saine motive power. The
receivers for the rice husks and the refuse are provided with stops or valves at
suitable places in such a manner that they can be charged and discharged without
interrupting the process of manufacture of gas. The arrangement of the archi-
median screw can be modified by placing the pipes or tubes either in a vertical or
slanting position in the oven (omitting the screw), so that the husks will pass
through them at the proper speed to be effectually decomposed. The refuse cau be

page_text: mixed with tar or other suitable liquid infla:nable matter and pressed into cakes, and.
will be found to have a great heating power, and thus serve as a useful fuel.
In order that my Invention may be well understood I have hereunto annexed
a Sheet of Drawings and referred thereto in the following particular description by
figures and letters of reference :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through one of the pipes serving
as the retort, and transversely across the furnace and charging and discharging
receivers and
Fig. 2 is a diagram of alternative arrangement for propelling the rice husks into
the leated retorts.
The
The apparatus consists of the oven or furnace A, which may be constructed so as
to be fired from both ends, the cylindrical pipe or retort B of fire-clay or other
suitable material, the receiver C for the supply of the husks, and the receptacle D
for the refuse, the said receivers being of cast iron or other suitable material.
supply receiver C is divided into an upper and lower compartment provided
with a cover E at the top; a slide valve F opening and closing communication
between said compartments and an archimedian screw G. The receptacle D for
the refuse is also divided into two compartments, and provided with two slide
valves H and I, both of which can be moved from the outside. Properly
constructed boxes or chests are fitted on the outside of the receivers C and D, by
means of which the valves F and H and the archimedian screw G can be
examined and repaired without the necessity of taking the receivers apart;
K is the pipe conducting the gas to the coolers and gasometer, and L is the
chimney.
This apparatus is to be worked as follows:-After heating the retort or retorts
to about a white heat, the slide valve F is opened and the two compartments of
the receiver C are charged through the opening E with rice husks, the slide
valve F is then closed and the archimedian screw G set in motion, whereby the
husks are brought into the retort B, where they are exposed to the high degree of
heat necessary to decompose them into lighting gas, and after being submitted to
this process of dry distillation they are gradually pushed forward and find their
way into the receiver D, while the manufactured gas itself escapes through the
pipe K to the coolers and gas reservoir or gasometer. By opening the slide valve
H while I is kept closed the refuse falls into the lower compartment of the recep-
tacle D, and by closing H and opening I the refuse can thus be removed out of
the receptacle D with the least possible escape or loss of gas, and the receiver C
can be recharged in the manner above described without it being necessary to
interrupt the process of manufacturing the gas.
The retort or retorts B may be laid either horizontally or obliquely, as shown
in the Drawings, in which position the exit of the refuse is more easily effected.
In using more than one of these retorts they are connected together at their
outer ends so as to be fed by the same receiver, furnished with the requisite
archimedian screws or propellers and to discharge the refuse into the same general
receptacle by the ordinary and well-known arrangement of transverse conduits,
such conduits being provided with valves or cocks by means of which one or more
of the retorts can be closed off without interfering with the process of manufac-
turing the gas, the individual archimedian screw of each retort being geared so
as to be driven by one and the same power, all as will be well understood.
According to a modification I place the retort or retorts B in a more vertical
position, the archimedian screw can then be dispensed with as means of propelling
the husks through the retort or retorts.
According to another modification I construct a store room for the husks, suffi-
ciently high above the entrance opening of the retort B to prevent escape of the
gas, and I lead a conical pipe from the bottom of this room into the room C, which in
this case will consist simply of a cylinder with archimedian screw or propeller
without the slide valve F; the column of husks will then descend according to the

page_text: speed of the archimedian screw, but in all cases the retort or retorts must be
thoroughly heated for the immediate action of the heat upon the husks.
Instead of using an archimedian screw to propel the husks, I may employ as a
modification the arrangement shown in the diagram, Fig. 2. Upon the shaft Ma
fan wheel N is mounted, and as in the former case is driven from the outside of the
receiver C and propels the husks to the retort B.
With the refuse I mix tar or other inflamable liquid or material and press the
mass into blocks or cakes, which will furnish a fuel of great heating power and
utility.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and shown the manner
in which the same is to be or may be carried into practical effect, I claim-
First. The new or improved method for the manufacture of gas for lighting and
heating purposes from rice husks, substantially as set forth.
Secondly. The use or employment of the refuse from said manufacture for the
purpose of fuel; and
Thirdly. The special arrangement of apparatus, substantially as herein described
and shown by the Drawings, whereby the rice husks are brought directly into the
retorts heated to the necessary temperatures so as to ensure their decomposition
into lighting gas.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jan Anthony Muller, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
- One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
J. A. MULLER. (L.S.)