Improvements in Water Gas Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
COME LEIE DIECIFICATION
Improvements in Water Gas Apparatus.
I, JOHN MORRELL RUSBY, of Jersey City Gas Works, Jersey City, New
Jersey, Gas Engineer, 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 :-
One object of my present invention is to effect an economy or saving and to
provide for the utilization of so much of the waste heat of a water gas generating
plant as is necessary under various existing conditions for heating the air-blast or
blasts to any required or predetermined temperature and further to provide for the
utilization of the balance or remaining portion of the waste heat for generating
steam; and to this end my invention consists of the improvements hereinafter
described and claimed.
The nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accom-
panying drawings forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of my
invention and in which
Figure 1, is an elevational view illustrating portions of a well-known type of
water gas generating apparatus commonly designated "The Lowe Apparatus," and
Fig. 2, is a perspective view of boilers and an air-heater for use in connection with
the portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and these two figures taken
together illustrate a plant embodying features of my invention.
Fig. 3, is a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating a flap
valve shown in Figure 1, at the junction of the stack and waste gas conduit.
Fig. 4, is a vertical sectional view illustrating the by-pass shown in Fig. 2, and
adapted to afford means whereby any required portion of the waste gas may be
directed to an air-blast heater and whereby the balance or remaining portion of
the waste gas may be directed to a boiler or boilers, and
Fig. 5, is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a modified form of by-pass
wherein the waste gas is supplied to the air-heater without mingling with waste
gas that has traversed the boiler and that is escaping therefrom into the boiler
off-take.
In the drawings 1, designates portions of one type of water gas generating
apparatus of the "Lowe" class provided with any suitable air-blast connections 2,
eteam connections 3, and main 4, for conveying away the so-called water gas that
is generated and intended for preservation and use. During the operation of
heating up such an apparatus preparatory to the manufacture of so-called water
gas, fuel is consumed in the generator usually under the influence of a forced draft,
and the highly heated waste gas resulting from this combustion is discharged
usually from the top of the superbeater as shown, although in some instances, it is
also discharged from other parts of the apparatus, for example, from the carburetter,
and my present invention is applicable to any type of such apparatus, the point of
the apparatus from which the waste gas is led off being immaterial, the apparatus
shown being selected merely for purposes of illustration. The waste gas given off
or discharged from the apparatus shown in Figure 1, while it is being heated up
for the manufacture of water gas, is utilized advantageously and economically
according to my invention, because the air-blast may be heated to any required
temperature by a portion of it and because the balance of it is utilized for
generating steam which is supplied to the apparatus, more especially during the

page_text: 6:
generation of useful gas or
"
water gas
as it is commonly designated. During
the operation of heating up the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the waste gas is in
whole or in part, usually the former, prevented from escaping at the stack 4, and is
directed into a waste gas conduit 5, by means of any suitable valve or valves for
controlling the opening or passage through the stack 4, and conduit 5. For
purposes of illustration, Figs. 1 and 3, a flap valve 6, is availed of for this purpose
and this flap valve may be caused to completely interrupt the passage of waste gas
through the stack 4, as shown by full lines in Fig. 3, or through the waste gas
conduit 5, as shown by dotted lines in said figure. Moveover, this flap valve may
be placed in a position intermediate of those above mentioned in order to direct so
much of the waste gas to the conduit 5, as is necessary or desirable for heating air
and water and the remainder thereof to the stack 4, to permit of its escape
therethrough. The conduit 5, leads to a by-pass 7-8, whereby so much of the
hot waste gas may be passed through the part 7, and air-heater 11, as is necessary
or requisite under existing conditions for heating the blast to the temperature
required under the existing conditions for attaining the most economical and
beneficial results in the apparatus shown in Figure 1. In this connection it may
be remarked that the quantity or proportion of the heat of waste gas that should
be imparted to the air-blast varies according to the quality and kind of fuel
employed in the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and according to other conditions
that will be readily understood by gas-makers and that determine for the time
being the most economical temperature at which the blast may be employed. To
provide for increasing or diminishing the quantity of the sensible heat of the waste
gas utilized for heating the air-blast or in other words to provide for increasing or
diminishing at will the temperature of the air-blast, use is made of a valve or
valves. As shown two valves 9 and 10, are employed for this purpose, but a flap
valve like that shown in Fig. 3, and hinged as at a, Fig. 2, might be employed in
lieu thereof. For the sake of explanation it will be assumed that the valves 9
and 10, are partially open and in order to increase the temperature of the air-blast,
the valve 9, is opened and the valve 10, is closed either wholly or in part according
to the increase of temperature required, whereby an additional quantity of waste
gas is directed from the conduit 5, to the heater 11, with the result that the air-
blast is heated to a correspondingly higher temperature, conversely the opening of
the valve 10, and closing of the valve 9, causes a diminished quantity of waste gas
to be delivered to the air-beater II, whereby the temperature of the air-blast is
correspondingly decreased. In all cases, the portion of the waste gas which is not
employed for heating the air-blast in the heater 11, is directed through the part 8,
to the boiler 12, through which it circulates, for example, in the direction indicated
by arrows a, in Fig. 2, in order to give up its sensible heat for the purpose of
generating steam which in turn is supplied by means of the connections 3, to the
apparatus illustrated in Figure 1. 13 and 14, represent additional boilers of the
same tubular type as boiler 12, and which may or may not be employed.
Within
the boilers 13 and 14, when present, there is maintained a combustion of suitable
fuel and this combustion is controlled by air-blasts supplied from the air-blast
pipe 2, through branch pipes 15, that may be provided with automatic damper
regulators that control the passage of air through them and that are governed
automatically to maintain the required pressure of steam. The heated products of
combustion from the boilers 13 and 14, may, by closing the valves 16 and 17, and
opening valves 18 and 19, be caused to traverse the conduit 20, and air-heater 11,
in the direction indicated by the arrows b, in order to impart their sensible heat to
the air-blast. In this connection it may be remarked that the air-heater may
resemble in construction a tubular boiler and that the products of combustion from
the boilers 13 and 14, may be caused to traverse one set of tubes in the heater 11,
while the waste gases issuing from the part 7, are caused to traverse another set of
tubes in the heater 11, although the employment of one or two sets of tubes in the
heater 11, is a matter of construction. By closing the valves 18 and 19, and
opening the valves 16 and 17, the products of combustion from the boilers 13

page_text: and 14, may be permitted to escape through the off-takes 21 and 22, without
entering the air-heater 11. The waste gases, after traversing the boiler 12, and
after having been deprived of at least a portion of their sensible heat for the
generation of steam, escape through the pipe 23, and as shown in Fig. 2, mingle
with the waste gas traversing the part 7, and the resultant mixture passes the
valve 24, which is open for this purpose, and escapes through the air-heater 11, as
is indicated by the arrows c. From the air-heater 11, the comparatively cool
gases escape, in the present instance, through a pipe 25, into the off-take 22, as
shown by the arrows d, however, if the temperature of the gases traversing the
pipe 25, will warrant it, this pipe may be replaced by an additional air-heater. By
closing the valve 24, and opening the valve 26, Fig. 4, none of the waste gas is
passed through the heater 11, although either all or a part of it according to the
position of the valves 9 and 10, passes through the boiler. In such case, the air-
heater 11, may be heated wholly by means of the products of combustion from the
boilers 13 and 14. Although horizontal tubular boilers are illustrated in the
drawings, still my invention is obviously applicable to boilers of a vertical type
and in such case, the air-heater may also be disposed vertically and made to
stand upon its end on the boiler. It will be observed that as shown in Fig. 2,
and above described, the waste gas passing through the pipe 23, after having
been deprived of at least a part of its sensible heat in the boiler 12, unites and
commingles with hot waste gas traversing the part 7, on its way to the air-heater 11.
In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a separate connection 27, and valve 28, whereby this
commingling of hot and partially cooled waste gas before entering the air-heater,
is obviated. Referring to Fig. 5, when the valve 28, is open and the valve 9,
closed, the hot waste gas traverses the part 27, and enters the air-heater 11, and in
this construction the waste gas which issues from the boiler 12, through the pipe 23,
may be directed to the off-take 22, by closing the valve 24, so that under these
circumstances, the waste gas which has been cooled by traversing the boiler 12,
does not enter the air-heater 11, although it may be caused so to do by closing the
valve 26, Figure 4, and opening the valve 24, Fig. 5. Air is forced into air-
conduit 2, Figs. 1 and 2 by means of a blower or other suitable device not shown,
and by closing the valves 29 and 30, and opening the valve 31 Fig. 2, this air
would be caused to pass directly through the conduit 2. However, this is not done,
but the valve 31, is closed and the valves 29 and 30, are opened so that the
incoming air is caused to traverse the pipes 32 and 33, and space between the tubes
of the air-beater 11, in the direction indicated by the arrows e, and in a direction
opposed to the direction of travel of the hot gas through the tubes of the air-heater.
From the air-heater, hot blasts of air are supplied through the conduit 2, to the
apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, in any well-known manner. 32 Fig. 1, is a door
provided at the base of the stack 4, and adapted to be opened periodically by the
gas-maker in order that he may examine the condition of the out-going or waste
gas. Moreover the door 32, may be opened in order to admit air to the waste gas
so that the latter may be burned before entering the boiler 12. If there is not
sufficient draft when the door 32, is open, the natural draft of the boiler off-take 22,
may be aided by a small steam jet injector 34.
Various modifications in the manner of constructing and working the above
described apparatus have been referred to, however, a description will now be given
of its usual mode of operation:
While the apparatus is being heated up preparatory to the generation of water
gas, the conduit 4*, is closed, the flap valve 6, is turned into the position indicated
by full lines in Fig. 3, for directing waste gas from the apparatus shown in
Figure 1, through the conduit 5, and in this connection it may be remarked that
when water gas is being generated, the stack 4, is open and the flap valve 6, is in
the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, for closing the conduit 5, so that
any water gas that may leak from the superheater, will pass through the stack 4,
into the air. Moreover the valve 6, when in this position prevents the ingress of
cold air by way of the stack 4, to the boiler 12. From the conduit 5, so much of

page_text: the waste gas as is necessary for heating the blast to the temperature necessary or
desirable for producing the best results in the apparatus shown in Figure 1, is
passed through the by-pass 7, directly to the heater 11, where its sensible heat is
given up to the current or blast of air traversing the pipes 32, 33 and 2; the
remaining portion of the waste gas is led by the pipe 8, into and through the
boiler 12, and in which it imparts at least a part of its sensible heat for the gener.i-
tion of steam, which, together with the steam generated by the boilers 13 and 14,
is supplied to the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Moreover the gas-maker may
raise or lower the temperature of the air-blast at will and in the proper manner for
securing the most economical and beneficial results under the existing conditions
such as quality of fuel, condition of fire, and the like, by the simple operation of
changing the apportionment of waste gases between the air-heater and boiler
through the intervention of the by-pass 7-8, and its complemental valve or valves.
The hot gaseous products from one or all the boilers including the partially cooled
waste gas from the boiler 12, may be passed through the air-heater 11, as has been
already described or, if preferred, these last mentioned gaseous products from one
or all of the boilers may be permitted to escape through the off-takes 21 and 22,
without traversing the air-heater 11. In such case, the air-heater is heated wholly
by means of hot waste gas traversing the part 7.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates that
modifications may be made in details without departing from the spirit thereof,
hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts
hereinabove set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but
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 combination, a water gas apparatus alternately cooled by the production
of water gas and re-heated giving rise to waste gas, air and water heaters apper-
taining to and co-operating with said water gas apparatus, and a by-pass for
distributing waste gas from said water gas apparatus among its air and water
heaters, substantially as described.
2. In combination, a water gas apparatus alternately cooled by the production of
water gas and re-heated giving rise to waste gas, air and water heaters co-operating
with and appertaining to said water gas apparatus, and a by-pass and valve
connections for apportioning waste gas from the water gas apparatus among its air
and water heaters, substantially as described.
3. In combination, a water gas apparatus, an air-heater, water heaters whereof
some are fired, connections for conveying hot products of combustion from the last
mentioned water heaters to the air heater, and a by-pass for distributing heated gas
from the water gas apparatus among the air heater and remaining water heaters,
substantially as described.
4. In combination, a water gas apparatus, an air heater, a water heater, a
by-pass for apportioning heated gas from the water gas apparatus among the air
and water heaters, and separate pipe connections from the water and air heaters to
the boiler off-take, substantially as described.
5. In a gas apparatus, by-pass connections for supplying and apportioning waste
gas from the apparatus to and among the separate air and water heaters that
appertain to and co-operate with the apparatus, substantially as described
6. The combination in a water gas apparatus of, a fixing chamber provided with
a water gas off-take and with a discharge stack, a conduit and by-pass for
conveying waste gas from said stack and apportioning the same among the water
and air heaters that appertain to and co-operate with the water gas apparatus, and
valve connections for opening communication with the stack and closing communi-
cation with the conduit during the production of water gas whereby leakage of the
latter is prevented from entering the heaters and escapes into the stack,
substantially as described.

page_text: 7. In combination, a water gas apparatus, a conduit and by-pass for conveying
waste gas from the stack thereof and apportioning the same among water and air
heaters, and a door in the stack, substantially as described.
8. In combination, a water gas apparatus, a conduit and by-pass for conveying
waste gas from the stack thereof and apportioning the same among water and air
heaters, a door in the stack, and an injector or steam jet exhauster discharging
steam or air through the air heater, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1894.
JOHN MORRELL RUSBY.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.