Improvements in the Manufacture and Distribution of Gaseous Fuel, and in Arrangements and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture and Distribution of Gaseous Fuel,
and in Arrangements and Apparatus therefor.
We, JOHN WATSON ORMISTON, ARCHIBALD REID ORMISTON, and JAMES
ORMISTON, all of 203, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Mining and Consulting Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
This invention has for its objects, economy in the manufacture and use of gascous
fuel, of or similar to what is known as "producer gas," utilisation of carbonaceous
materials existing in large quantities but hitherto regarded as valueless, prevention
or great diminution of smoke in all or any of the existing applications of solid fuel
for heating purposes, and the obtainment of other advantages, including increased
convenience, cleanliness, and absence of deleterious products in the use of the
gaseous fuel.
In carrying out the invention ordinary coal may be employed from which to
make the gaseous fuel, such coal being put into a large cupola or chamber like
that of a blast furnace and provided with apparatus for injecting a strong blast of
air in one or more streams at its lower part and with apparatus at its upper part for
leading away the volatilised products to condensers, scrubbers, and other apparatus
for separating and recovering their various constituents. The upper part of the
cupola or chamber is also provided with appliances of well known kinds for charging
in coal or carbonaceous materials as required; whilst at the lower part arrangements
are made for withdrawing unvolatilised residues.
The unvolatilised residues or ashes of ordinary coal are, by themselves, trouble-
some to deal with, but by this invention, when ordinary coal is used suitable earthy
materials are mingled therewith, such materials being such as will with the earthy
ingredients of the coal itself form a fluid slag, which can be tapped at the
bottom of the cupola and be thus withdrawn with great facility and with little
labor.
Instead of ordinary coal forming the only carbonaceous part of the charge, there
may be mixed therewith or used instead thereof any carbonaceous minerals of kinds
comprising comparatively large proportions of earths, such for example as the poor
shales known as "blaes" and not considered profitably workable for the obtain-
ment of paraffin oil. And in case the earths of such minerals are found to be by
themselves not well adapted for forming a fluid slag other suitable earthy matters
may be added to combine with them to form a flux. The addition of earthy
matters for fluxing purposes will also prevent fusing and caking together of coaly
constituents having that tendency in the upper part of the cupola. Amongst the
materials to be added for fluxing purposes, mention may be made of ordinary blast-
furnace slag, also of limestone or other carbonate the carbonic acid from which
will contribute to the formation of the gaseous fuel, its use somewhat diminishing
the percentage of nitrogen in the total products..
In operation, an intense heat will be maintained at the lower part of the cupola
by means of the blast so as at that part to drive off the remainder of the volatile
matters and fuse the earthy residues. The highly heated gases evolved at the
ower part will in rising operate on the materials above, the heat of the gases
being utilised in gradually volatilising the carbonaceous matters. Any carbonic
cid formed at the lower part will be converted to carbonic oxide a little higher
p; and the gaseous products passing off from the top of the cupola will consist
argely of carbonic oxide, which is one of the principal ingredients of the gaseous
D
.

page_text: fuel intended to be manufactured, but which will, have associated with it hydro-
carbons and other matters. Excepting the nitrogen of the air forming the blast
and permanent gases, containing carbon and hydrogen the volatilised matters
associated with the carbonic oxide will be separated and recovered by well known
means and will form saleable products the value of which will largely reduce the cost
of the gaseous fuel.
་་
In the case of large, works such as, those for making, steel where large quantities
of fuel have to be consumed, special or separate installations for. making the gaseons
fuel may be provided; but in the case of a large number of works in each of which
only moderate or small quantities of fuel are used it will be advantageous and
economical to provide in a district a large central installation from which the
It
gaseous fuel can be distributed to consumers through pipes or other channels.
is moreover contemplated, by the present invention, to supply the gaseous fuel even
And as the:
to dwelling houses and to any structures using fires however small.
distribution of the gaseous fuel in the very general way indicated will necessitate
means for conveying very large volumes, it is by this invention proposed, whilst
using iron or steel pipes where only moderate sizes are required, to form under-
ground tunnels to serve as the larger channels that may be required. Such tunnels
may be constructed of or lined with brickwork or concrete where necessary; but
it will in many cases be possible to form them through rock or strata of sufficient
density to be gas tight, and where such tunnels have to be at some depth below the
surface, vertical shafts or wells may be formed in connection with them at suitable
points from which smaller distributing pipes may radiate.
.
"
Advantages of some importance will arise from the use of "blaes
or poor shales
in the manner and for the purposes herein before indicated, as it has been
ascertained that the carbonaceous constituents of such shales although associated
with a large proportion of earthy matters are of a nature to yield, when volatilised
both condensible and permanently-gaseous products which are considerably richer
in hydrocarbons than ordinary producer gas, so that a given volume of the gases
produced from the "blaes" will contain more combustible matter and yield more
heat than an equal volume of producer gas.
in this round day of February 1801
-
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture and Distribution of Gaseous Fuel,
and in Arrangements and Apparatus therefor.
+1.
We, JOHN WATSON ORMISTON, ARCHIBALD REID ORMISTON, and James
ORMISTON, all of 203 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Mining and Consulting Engineers, 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, that
is, to say:
+4
.....This invention has for its objects, economy in the manufacture and use of gaseous
fuel of or similar to what is known as "producer gas "utilisation of carbonaceous
...materials existing in large quantities but hitherto regarded as valueless, prevention
..or great.diminution of smoke in all or any of the existing applications of solid fuel
for heating purposes, and the obtainment of other advantages, including increased
convenience, cleanliness, and absence of deleterious products in the use of the
gaseous fuel.
low
...The entire and complete conversion of solid coal into "producer gas." has two
important recommendations. It makes possible the recovery of distillation, bye
...products, and it makes. coal burning an almost smokeless operation, and in fact a
practically completely smokeless operation when the bye products are separated.

page_text: "
The process of making the "producer gas as hitherto conducted has, however,
been attended with waste of material and increase of charges for plant and labor,
as compared with the simple and direct burning of solid coal. The apparatus used
and the manner of working it have both been faulty.
By a part of our invention we seek to remedy the defects of and connected with
ordinary gas producers; and in carrying out our invention we may employ ordinary
coal from which to make the gaseous fuel, such coal being put into a large cupola
or chamber like that of a blast furnace, and which is provided with apparatus for
injecting a strong blast of air, in one or more streams at its lower part, and with
apparatus at its upper part for leading away the volatilised products to condensers,.
scrubbers, and other apparatus for separating and recovering their various .con-
stituents. The upper part of the cupola is also provided with appliances of
well known kinds for charging in coal or carboneceous materials as required;
whilst at the lower part arrangements are made for withdrawing unvolatilised
residues.
The unvolatilised residues or ashes of ordinary coal are, by themselves, trouble-
some to deal with, but by this invention, when ordinary coal is used suitable
earthy materials are mingled therewith, such materials being such as will, with the
earthy ingredients of the coal itself, form a fluid slag, which can be tapped at the
bottom of the cupola and be thus withdrawn with great facility and with little
labor.
Instead of ordinary coal forming the only carbonaceous part of the charge, we
prefer to mix therewith or to use instead thereof, any carbonaceous minerals of
kinds comprising comparatively large proportions of earths, such for example, as
the poor shales known as "blaes" and not considered profitably workable for the
obtainment of paraffin oil. And in case the earths of such minerals are found to
be by themselves not well adapted for forming a fluid slag, other suitable earthy
matters may be added to combine with them to form a flux. The addition of
earthy matters for fluxing purposes will also prevent fusing and caking together
of coaly constituents having that tendency in the upper part of the cupola.
Amongst the materials to be added for fluxing purposes, mention may be made of
ordinary blast-furnace slag, also of limestone, or other carbonate, the carbonic acid
from which will contribute to the formation of the gaseous fuel, its use somewhat
diminishing the percentage of nitrogen in the total products. Slag or cinder from
steel-making, puddling, and other furnaces may also be used. The proportions of
the shales and of the carthy matters will depend on the nature of the particular
coal employed. From trials we find that if the total earthy matters associated
with the carbonaceous matters form about one fifth of the aggregate materials
good results will be obtained; but if the coal tends to cake strongly larger
proportions of the shales will be required, the result aimed at being to have such
a mixture as will be readily penetrated by the air blast, and such as will descend
the shaft of the cupola producer without bridging or scaffolding. From careful
trials we find that the shales proposed to be used whilst containing considerable
earthy matters, have carbonaceous constituents of a kind yielding gaseous fuel of
greater heating power than those obtained in ordinary gas producers from common
coals.
. In operation, an intense heat will be maintained at the lower part of the cupola
producer by means of the blast, so as at that part to drive off the remainder of the
volatile matters and fuse the earthy residues. The highly heated gases evolved
at the lower part will in rising operate on the. materials above, the heat of the
gases being utilised in forming carbonic oxide, and in gradually volatilising the
carbonaceous matters. Any carbonic acid formed at the lower part will be
converted to carbonic oxide; and the gaseous products passing off from the top
of the cupola producer will consist largely of carbonic oxide, which is one of the
principal ingredients of the gaseous fuel intended to be manufactured, but which
will have associated with it hydrocarbons and other matters. Excepting the
hitrogen of the air forming the blast, and permanent gases containing carbon and

page_text: hydrogen, the volatilised matters associated with the carbonic oxide, will be
separated and recovered by well known means, and will form saleable products the
value of which will largely reduce the cost of the gaseous fuel. As in existing gas
producers steam may be injected into the lower part of the cupola producer, and
may increase the proportion of ammonia recovered.
We hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings,
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, being a general indicatory diagram of the apparatus for
producing and separating the gaseous fuel,
Figure, 2, on Sheet, 2, a diagram showing one modification of the distribution
arrangements, and
Figures, 3, and 4, an enlarged plan and vertical section of a part of the distributing
apparatus.
In Figure, 1, there is shown the blowing engine, A, for supplying blast by
pipes, 13, to the cupola producer, C, the volatilised products from which pass into a
preliminary washer, D, thence through an air condenser, E, and through a series
of scrubbing towers, F.
The cupola producer, C, is made with boshes, G, narrowing from the greatest
width to a contracted hearth, a construction which insures a more uniform descent
of the materials and better regulated actions on them, than takes place in ordinary
gas producers. The arrangements for withdrawing the unvolatilised residues in
the form of a fluid slag, may be the same as in iron smelting furnaces; they allow
of the removal of the residues when required in a convenient manner requiring little
labor, without disturbing the column of materials in the cupola and without
occasioning the least interruption in the gas making operations.
The cupola producer has the further important advantage over ordinary gas
producers in not only saving the valuable distillation bye products but in avoiding
the diminution and loss caused by the burning of them which occurs in ordinary
gas producers in consequence of the irregular manner in which the materials descend
and are acted on in such producers.
The preliminary washer, D, gives the gaseous current a downwards washing by
means of water spray playing from the top of the tower, which causes the
separation and deposition of dust and solid matters carried over by the current,
and also the heaviest of the tarry matters. The condenser, E, cools the gaseous
current down to atmospheric temperature and causes the deposition of the tar. The
scrubbers, F, do the work of extracting the ammonia in the usual way. Collecting
tanks are used for receiving the condensed matters, from which tanks they are
transferred to the stills or apparatus for working them up into finished products, all
in ordinary well known ways.
The fuel gas on leaving the separating or purifying apparatus passes into an
underground duct or tunnel, H, proceeding therein to gasholders or directly to
distribution mains.
In the case of large works such as those for making steel, where large quantities
of fuel have to be consumed, special or separate installations for making the gaseous
fuel may be provided but in the case of a large number of works in each of which
only moderate or small quantities of fuel are used, it will be advantageous and
economical to provide in a district a large central installation from which the
gaseous fuel can be distributed to consumers through pipes or other channels.
It is, moreover, contemplated by the present invention to supply the gaseous
fuel even
to dwelling houses, and to any structures using fires however
small. And as the distribution of the gaseous fuel in the very general way
indicated will necessitate means for conveying very large volumes, it is by this
invention proposed, whilst using iron or steel pipes where only moderate sizes are
required, to form underground tunnels to serve as the larger channels that may be
required. Such tunnels may be constructed of or lined with brickwork or concrete
where necessary; but it will, in many cases be possible to form them through rock
or strata of sufficient density to be gas tight, and where such tunnels or large pipes
have to be at some depth below the surface, vertical shafts or wells may be formed

page_text: in connection with them at suitable points from which smaller distributing pipes
may radiate.
In Figure, 2, Sheet, 2, of the drawings, are shown the proposed distributing
arrangements in connection with dwelling houses, J, there being a tunnel, K, at a
considerable depth below the street level, with vertical shafts, L, at suitable points.
The arrangements at the top of a vertical shaft, L, are shown enlarged, in
Figures, 3, and 4, and comprise a metal head, M, to which are connected distri-
buting mains, N, each provided with a stop valve. Provision is made for removing
any accumulation of water in the tunnel, K, by arranging at any convenient part
an inverted siphon or trap, P, from the outer side of which the water can
be pumped through pipes in a vertical shaft, Q, by means of a steam engine, R.
When for any purpose it is desired to enrich the scrubbed gaseous fuel or to
increase its luminosity when burned, the hydrocarbons separated from the crude
gas may be used for that purpose, being converted into gas in retorts, and the rich
gas so obtained being mixed with the scrubbed gaseous fuel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improved manufacturing system for obtaining gaseous fuel or producer gas,
together with the arrangements and apparatus therefor, all substantially as herein-
before described.
2. The converting of coal alone or mixed with shales or other carbonaceous
minerals into gaseous fuel by means of a cupola producer which in dimensions,
form, and manner of working is substantially such as is hereinbefore described.
3. The withdrawing of the unvolatilised residues from the producer in the form of
a fluid slag, suitable earthy natters being, when required, added to the carbonaceous
materials for the purpose of assisting the formation of such slag, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. The employment of poor shales for making producer gas, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
5. The arrangements for distributing gaseous fuel by means of underground
tunnels formed through rocks or dense strata combined with vertical shafts com-
municating between such tunnels and upper distribution pipes, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this Thirtieth day of October 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.