IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF COAL IN ORDER TO OBTAIN COKE AND BYE PRODUCTS THEREEROX
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard de Soldenhoff of Louvain in the Kingdom of
Belgium but at present of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS
EMPLOYED
IN THE TREATMENT OF COAL IN ORDER TO OBTAIN COKE AND BYE PRODUCTS
THEREEROX
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard de Soldenhoff at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th September 1882.
RICHARD DE SOLDENHOFF of Louvain in the Kingdom of Belgium but at
present of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF COAL IN ORDER TO
OBTAIN COKE AND BYE PRODUCTS THEREFROM.
The Invention has for its object the production of good metallurgic coke and
at the same time the maximum of bye products obtainable from any given
quality of coal, the bye products referred to are the tarry and ammoniacal
products.
To obtain the above mentioned results in the apparatus herein described coals
more or less rich in gas can alone be advantageously treated
Tar is a product of condensation and is composed of hydro-carbons rich in
carbon which by decomposing under the action of a high temperature and in
presence of carbon cement the latter with precipitated carbon and thus form coke.
It therefore results that to obtain good coke and at the same time tarry products
there must be an excess of hydro-carbons rich in carbon.
In order to obtain the maximum of tarry products from coal of the character
above designated, it would be necessary to submit it first to a low temperature
and gentle distillation which would be gradually raised before attaining a point
of great intensity, which would otherwise be prejudicial to the production of the
tarry products and which accords precisely with the requirements for the
manufacture of coke.
The intense heat must be maintained quite to the end of the operation, that is to
say until the perfect production of coke.

page_text: This operation in order to give useful effect approaching to that which would be
obtained in laboratories, necessitates the employment of an apparatus capable of
being readily worked and manipulated according to the will of the attendant.
I have endeavoured to solve this problem by the arrangement of apparatus
hereinafter described.
The furnace I employ has the form of a long rectangular chamber the sides of
which are provided with a number of flues or channels for the circulation of the
burning gases or of cold air. The sole of each furnace is also mounted on a flue
the object of which is the same as that of the side flues.
Every two furnaces touching each other at their sides form an inseparable couple,
which arrangement is intended as will be hereinafter described to attain the gentle
working which I call distillation at low temperature.
Each side wall contains four compartments one above another the first or
uppermost of which, communicates at one part with an end flue or channel running
across the ends of the furnaces and at another part with the furnace by means of
a series of openings and lastly by an aperture at the end thereof.
The said first compartment can be cut off at will from the end flue or channel by
a register which is readily accessible through an opening giving access to the said
end flue or channel.
This arrangement enables all the furnaces to be cut off at will from the end flue
or channel.
The second and fourth compartments of the side wall are longitudinal flues or
chambers which serve at will as combustion chambers or for the circulation of cold
air. The second flue or channel at one part communicates at will with the end
flue or channel and at another part is always in communication with the
fourth flue or channel and consequently with the flue or channel of the sole of the
furnace.
The third compartment of the side wall is an air flue or channel furnished with
an air inlet at each end.
Half of this flue or channel has the roof composed of perforated bricks,
whilst the other half has the bottom made with bricks of the same description.
The two air inlets regulate the quantity of air admitted into the third flue or
channel. It results from this arrangement that when communication is established
between the second flue or channel and the end flue that is to say when the
circulation of gases in the side wall is from the first compartment into the end flue
or channel thence through the second and fourth compartments into a large flue or
channel communicating with the chimney the third flue or channel divides the hot
air into the condition of fine streams and combustion is effected in this side wall.
This corresponds with the hot working of the furnace. If on the contrary
communication between the end flue or channel and the side wall is cut off, which
corresponds with the cold working, and the circulation of gases in the side wall
does not take place and if it should be perceived that the furnace was working
too hot, the air inlets should be opened, which would conduct cold air into the
side wall.
The air would traverse the second and fourth flues or channels and consequently
would lower the temperature of the furnace.
It is evident that the two preceding cases relatively to the working of the furnace
constitute the two extreme cases, between which a number of variations may be
made, thus, there might be admitted a small quantity of the gases and a little air,
a small quantity of the gases and much air, or no gas and little air according to
circumstances.
The brick arch or crown of the furnace is provided with an opening, which at
will communicates at the two ends of the furnace with the air, another opening
places the furnace in communication with the aforesaid air opening. This latter
takes air from the exterior, and the opening in the crown of the furnace conducts it
into the furnace.
This latter arrangement enables a portion of the gases to be burnt in the

page_text: furnace itself. It is evident that this will take place only in the hot working, the
cold working will on the contrary necessitate the closing of the air openings and
consequently the absence of air in the furnace.
The channels or flues under the sole communicate with the large flue or passage
before mentioned, which latter also communicates with the main flue or chimney.
Each furnace or the upper flue in the side wall is provided with an opening
which receives a cast iron tube. The said opening and tube lead off the gases
during the cold working and conduct them into the condensing tube. In this case
communication between the furnace and the end flue or channel is intercepted, and
the air openings are also closed. The said condensing tube is the tube for the
condensation of the gases and in order the better to utilize its surface it is made of
wrought iron and immersed in water contained in a suitable reservoir.
Each furnace possesses two charging orifices in the crown thereof.
With respect to the tube leading the gases into the condensing tube I would add
that at at certain height above the furnaces it is furnished with a valve which by a
single motion enables either furnace of a couple to be cut off from the condensing
tube and at the same time to place the other in communication with the latter.
The gases intended to be cooled that is to say condensed having arrived in the
condensing tube which is inclined the condensed liquid parts can be drawn off by a
cock at the lower end; the volatile parts pass to an apparatus in which the ammonia
is dissolved in water and can be drawn off by a cock at the lower part thereof.
The gases remaining in a volatile state will pass into a receiving tube from which
the cold gases are drawn off by means of tuyeres which enter each side wall. These
gases burn in the side walls when hot working and ignite on contact with the
flames of the gases burning in the side walls. There is therefore no additional
furnace to burn these gases nor additional fire places to increase the temperature
in hot working of ovens.
If it were found necessary to increase the temperature in the furnaces and other
parts in consequence of the gases escaping from the chimney too hot, recourse
could be readily had to a system of Siemens' regenerators placed at the foot of the
chimney.
These latter would permit of reheating the gases passing out from the receiving
tube before their introduction into the side walls of the furnaces.
The means for closing the furnaces should be simple and effective, for this purpose
they are provided with cast iron doors lined with bricks, these doors enter
completely into the masonry.
This latter arrangement enables the joint of the doors to be made flush and thus
easily luted.
The charging apertures are provided with cast iron covers which are immersed in
sand in order to prevent the entrance of cold air.
All the moveable joints of the tubes are water joints.
I will now proceed to a description of the mode of working.
The arrangement of flues and ovens is such that if required all ovens may work
hot as ordinary coke ovens and produce coke and no bye products.
Each charge of coal has to be submitted to two processes, one a cold distillation,
the other a hot distillation.
The first is for the purpose of producing gases exclusively at a low temperature
for condensation, whilst the second is to make the coke.
The end flue or channel is provided with cross divisions. Each compartment of
this channel or flue embraces two furnaces, although at any one moment of the
operation it receives the gases from only a single furnace.
This arrangement enables the gases to be directed from this end flue or channel
into one or other side wall of two furnaces above mentioned by means of the
registers. For example when the communication between the furnace and the end
flue or channel is intercepted and consequently the gases from this furnace escape by
the tube into the condenser. This accords with the cold working of the first furnace.
During the hot working of the same furnace the valve of the tube communicating with

page_text: the condenser will occupy the position immediately opposite to that which it occupied
in the cold working and will then intercept the communication between the furnace
and the condenser, but the register will be displaced and therefore the gases from
the first furnace will pass into the end channel whence finally they will be directed
into the side wall of the furnace which is working hot. The course traversed by
these gases will be 1st two channels of the side wall. 2nd two soles of the couple
of furnaces. 3rd the large channel or flue which will conduct these gases into the
chimney.
The cold working of a furnace will permit of only a partial opening of the register
in order to admit only a thin stream of these gases into the side wall of this
furnace. But if notwithstanding this precaution the furnace should work hot, a
certain quantity of fresh air could be admitted into the side wall as has been above
described.
Having described the heating and cooling of a side wall of the furnace, I will
now proceed to describe the organization of work in a group of furnaces.
For this purpose let it be supposed first that the 1st furnace is working hot, it
should therefore follow that the 2nd is working cold and the 3rd also, the 4th and 5th
hot whilst the 6th will work cold.
Finally the hot furnaces are 1, 4, 5. This arrangement applies to any given
number of furnaces so long as they are in pairs.
The general working will be as follows:-The first furnace works hot, the register
of the end channel will be open and the gases pass into the latter. These gases
will be caused to enter in great part into the side wall to the left of the first
furnace, whilst a small fraction of these gases will enter if necessary, into the side
wall to the right. These two portions of these gases will re-unite below the sole
of the first furnace, then they will enter into the sole of the second furnace and
from there will be directed into the channel communicating with the chimney.
The 2nd hot furnace of the group is the 4th in the series, after having passed the
gases into the end channel they will be admitted mainly or entirely into the 4th
side wall counted from the left. These gases will be directed into the sole of the
furnace No. 3 whence they will go into that of the furnace No. 4 and afterwards
into the large channel communicating with the chimney.
The 3rd hot furnace is No. 5 the gases of which after being conducted into the
end channel entirely or partially will go into the 5th side wall counted from the left.
A small fraction of these gases can be admitted into the 6th side wall. From all
ways they will enter into the sole of the furnace No. 5 whence they will pass into
that of No. 6 and lastly into the side wall to the right of the latter furnace whence
finally they will pass into the large channel or flue communicating with the
chimney.
With respect to the cold working it will be understood from the description of
the furnaces and from that of the hot working. It is evident that the furnaces
which work on the hot system will after being emptied and recharged begin to
work on the cold system, whilst those which had worked cold will then work hot.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard de Soldenhoff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th March 1883.
RICHARD DE SOLDENHOFF of Louvain in the Kingdom of Belgium but at
present of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF COAL IN ORDER TO
OBTAIN COKE AND BYE PRODUCTS THEREFROM
"
The Invention has for its object the production of good metallurgic coke and at
the same time the maximum of bye products obtainable from any given quality
of coal, the bye products referred to are the tarry and ammoniacal products.
To obtain the above mentioned results in the apparatus herein described coals
more or less rich in gas can alone be advantageously treated.
Tar is a product of condensation and is composed of hydro-carbons rich in carbon
which by decomposing under the action of a high temperature and in presence of
incandescent carbon cement the latter with precipitated carbon and thus form coke.
It therefore results that to obtain good coke and at the same time tarry products
of good quality there must be an excess of hydro-carbons rich in carbon.
In order to obtain the maximum of tarry products from coal of the character
above designated, it would be necessary to submit it first to a low temperature and
gentle distillation which would be gradually raised before attaining a point of great
intensity, which would otherwise be prejudicial to the production of the tarry
products and which accords precisely with the requirements for the manufacture of
coke.
The intense heat must be maintained quite to the end of the operation, that is to
say until the perfect production of coke.
This operation in order to give useful effect approaching to that which would
be obtained in laboratories, necessitates the employment of an apparatus capable of
being readily worked and manipulated according to the will of the attendant.
I have endeavoured to solve this problem by the arrangement of apparatus
hereinafter described.
The furnace I employ has the form of a long rectangular chamber the sides of
which are provided with a number of flues or channels for the circulation of the
burning gases or of cold air. The sole of each furnace is also mounted on a flue
the object of which is the same as that of the side flues.
Every two furnaces touching each other at their sides form an inseparable
couple, which arrangement is intended as will be hereinafter described to attain the
gentle working which I call distillation at low temperature.
Each side wall contains four compartments CD.E F one above another the
first C or uppermost of which, communicates at one part with an end flue or
channel G running across the ends of the furnaces and at another part with the
furnace by means of a series of openings H and lastly by an aperture I at the
end thereof.
The said first compartment can be cut off at will from the end flue or channel G
by a register J which is readily accessible through an opening giving access to the
said end flue or channel G. This arrangement enables all the furnaces to be cut
off at will from the end flue or channel.
The second and fourth compartments D and F of the side wall are longitudinal
Blues or chambers which serve at will as combustion chambers or for the circulation
of cold air. The second flue or channel D at one part communicates at will with
the end flue or channel G and at another part is always in communication with

page_text: the fourth flue or channel F and consequently with the flue or channel K of the
sole of the furnace.
The third compartment E of the side wall is an air flue or channel furnished
with an air inlet L at one end only or at each end.
Half of this flue or channel E has the roof composed of perforated bricks, whilst
the other half has the bottom made with bricks of the same description.
The two air inlets regulate the quantity of air admitted into the third flue or
channel. It results from this arrangement that when communication is established
between the second flue or channel D and the end flue G that is to say when the
circulation of gases in the side wall is from the first compartment C into the end
flue or channel G thence through the second and fourth compartment D and F
into a large flue or channel M communicating with the chimney; the third flue or
channel E divides the hot air into the condition of fine streams and combustion
is effected in this side wall. This corresponds with the hot working of the furnace.
If on the contrary communication between the end flue or channel G and the side
wall is cut off by damper J' which corresponds with the cold working, and the
circulation of gases in the side wall does not take place and if it should be perceived
that the furnace was working too hot, the air inlets L should be opened, which
would conduct cold air into the side wall. The air would traverse the second and
fourth flues or channels and consequently would lower the temperature of the
furnace.
It is evident that the two preceding cases relatively to the working of the
furnace constitute the two extreme cases, between which a number of variations
may be made, thus there might be admitted a small quantity of the gases and a
little air, a small quantity of the gases and much air, or no gas and little air
according to circumstances.
The brick arch or crown of the furnace is provided with an opening N which
at will communicates at the two ends of the furnace with the air, another
opening O places the furnace in communication with the aforesaid air opening.
This latter takes air from the exterior, and the opening in the crown of the furnace
conducts it into the furnace.
This latter arrangement enables a portion of the gases to be burnt in the furnace
itself. It is evident that this will take place only in the hot working the cold
working will on the contrary necessitate the closing of the air openings and
consequently the absence of air in the furnace.
The channels or flues K and K¹ under the sole communicate with the large flue
or passage M before mentioned, which latter also communicates with the main flue
or chimney.
Each furnace or the upper flue C in the side wall is provided with an opening P
which receives a cast iron tube. The said opening and tube lead off the gases
during the cold working and conduct them into the condensing tube R. In this
case communication between the furnace and the end flue or channel G is inter-
cepted, and the air openings N are also closed. The said condensing tube R is
the tube for the condensation of the gases and in order the better to utilise its
surface it is made of wrought iron or cast iron and immersed in water contained in
a suitable reservoir.
Each furnace possesses two charging orifices S S¹ in the crown thereof.
With respect to the tube leading the gases into the condensing tube I would
add that at a certain height above the furnaces it is furnished with a valve T
which by a single motion enables either furnace of a couple to be cut off from
the condensing tube and at the same time to place the other in communication
with the latter.
The gases intended to be cooled that is to say condensed having arrived in the
condensing tube R which is inclined the condensed liquid parts can be drawn off
by a cock at the lower end U; the volatile parts pass to an apparatus V in which
the ammonia is dissolved in water and can be drawn off by a cock at the lower
part W thereof. The gases remaining in a volatile state will pass into a receiving

page_text: tube X from which the cold gases are drawn off by means of tuyeres Y which
enter each side wall. These gases burn in the side walls when hot working and
ignite on contact with the flames of the gases burning in the side walls. There is
therefore no additional furnace to burn these gases nor additional fire places to
increase the temperature in hot working of ovens.
If it were found necessary to increase the temperature in the furnaces and other
parts in consequence of the gases escaping from the chimney too hot, recourse
could be readily had to a system of Siemen's regenerators placed at the foot of the
chimney.
These latter would permit of reheating the gases passing out from the receiving
tube before their introduction into the side walls of the furnaces.
The means for closing the furnaces should be simple and effective for this purpose
they are provided with cast iron doors lined with bricks, these doors enter com-
pletely into the masonry or cast iron frames may be attached to the brick work
with bolts and cast iron doors mounted thereon which latter arrangement is shown
in the drawing.
This enables the joint of the doors to be made flush and thus easily luted.
The charging apertures are provided with cast iron covers which are immersed in
sand in order to prevent the entrance of cold air.
All the moveable joints of the tubes are water joints.
I will now proceed to a description of the mode of working.
The arrangements of flues and ovens is such that if required all ovens may work
hot as ordinary coke ovens and produce coke and no bye products.
Each charge of coal has to be submitted to two processes, one a cold distillation
the other a hot distillation.
The first is for the purpose of producing gases exclusively at a low temperature
for condensation, whilst the second is to make the coke.
The end flue or channel G is provided with cross divisions Z. Each compartment
of this channel or flue embraces two furnaces, although at any one moment of the
operation it receives the gases from only a single furnace.
This arrangement enables the gases to be directed from this end flue or channel
G into one or other side wall of two furnaces A B above mentioned by means of
the registers JJ. For example when the communication between the furnace and
the end flue or channel G is intercepted and consequently the gases from this
furnace escape by the tube into the condenser R. This accords with the cold
working of the first furnace. During the hot working of the same furnace the
valve T of the tube communicating with the condenser R will occupy the position
immediately opposite to that which it occupied in the cold working and will then
intercept the communication between the furnace and the condenser, but the register
will be displaced and therefore the gases from the first furnace will pass into the
end channel whence finally they will be directed into the side wall of the furnace
which is working hot. The course traversed by these gases will be 1st two channels
DF of the side wall. 2nd two soles of the couple of furnaces K K¹. 3rd the large
channel or flue M which will conduct these gases into the chimney.
The cold working of a furnace will permit of only a partial opening of the
register J in order to admit only a thin stream of these gases into the side wall
of this furnace. But if notwithstanding this precaution the furnace should work
hot, a certain quantity of fresh air could be admitted into the side wall as has been
above described.
Having described the heating and cooling of a side wall of the furnace, I will
now proceed to describe the organization of work in a group of furnaces.
For this purpose let it be supposed first that the 1st furnace A is working hot, it
should therefore follow that the 2nd B is working cold and the 3rd A' also, the
4th B and 5th All hot whilst the 6th B₁ will work cold.
Finally the hot furnaces are A, B², A". This arrangement applies to any given
number of furnaces so long as they are in pairs.
The general working will be as follows-The first furnace A works hot, the

page_text: register J of the end channel G will be open and the gases pass into the latter.
These gases will be caused to enter in great part into the side wall to the left of the
first furnace, whilst a small fraction of these gases will enter if necessary, into the
side wall to the right. These two portions of these gases will re-unite below the
sole K of the first furnace, then they will enter into the sole K' of the second
furnace B and from there will be directed into the channel M communicating with
the chimney.
The 2nd hot furnace of the group is the 4th B' in the series, after having passed
the gases into the end channel G they will be admitted mainly or entirely into the
4th side wall counted from the left. These gases will be directed into the sole K
of the furnace A¹ whence they will go into the sole K¹ of the furnace B¹ and
afterwards into the large channel M communicating with the chimney.
The third hot furnace is A" the gases of which after being conducted into the end
channel entirely or partially will go into the 5th side wall counted from the left.
A small fraction of these gases can be admitted into the 6th side wall. From all
ways they will enter into the sole of the furnace A" whence they will pass into
that of B and lastly into the side wall to the right of the latter furnace whence
finally they will pass into the large channel or flue communicating with the
chimney.
With respect to the cold working it will be understood from the description of
the furnaces and from that of the hot working. It is evident that the furnaces
which work on the hot system will after being emptied and recharged begin
to work on the cold system, whilst those which had worked cold will then work
hot.
:
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that I do not claim the
various details herein shown and described separately considered but what I do
claim is the improved process and apparatus employed in the treatment of coal in
order to obtain good metallurgic coke together with the maximum of bye products
obtainable from such coal substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof I the said Richard de Soldenhoff have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fifth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
AAT BRITTANA