Improved Method of and Apparatus for Producing Gases from Bituminous Fuel.
Year: 1890

page_text: Improved Method of and Apparatus for Producing Gases from
Bituminous Fuel.
I, FRANCIS EDWARD Ross, of 10 Whitehorse Road, Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to a method of and apparatus for producing a
mixture of carburetted hydrogen or gaseous hydrocarbons and producer gas
from bituminous fuel in such a manner as to avoid the formation of easily
condensible hydrocarbon vapours, and also to prevent the formation of clinker
from the ashes or non-combustible portion of the fuel.
For this purpose the bituminous fuel is charged into a producer and distilled
by heat due to combustion of gaseous fuel forced into the upper part of the
producer, the distillation being effected at such a temperature that very little
if. any condensible hydrocarbon vapour will be produced.
The carburetted
hydrogen and other hydrocarbons thus obtained, together with the products of
combustion from the gaseous fuel, descend through the incandescent mass of
coke resulting from bituminous fuel previously distilled, so that any condensible
hydrocarbons that may have been produced during the distillation will be
decomposed and converted into a fixed or non-condensible gas, and the carbonic
acid gas in the products of combustion be, by combination with carbon of the
coke, converted into carbonic oxide. The gaseous hydrocarbons, carbonic oxide,
and other gases thus obtained, can be led either direct to a furnace or other
apparatus where they are to be utilized, or to a gas holder. Before being used
they may, if desired, be purified.
To prevent the formation of clinker, the producer is so arranged and the
temperature of distillation so regulated that the process of gasification of the
fuel, both by distillation and by combination with carbonic acid, shall not be
complete until the gases reach a zone where the temperature is too low to effect
fusion of the ash. The gaseous fuel and the air to effect its combustion may
bo forced into the combustion or distillation chamber of the producer by any
suitable means such as pumps or blowers; or a steam jet or an air jet may be
used for the purpose.
The gas burned in the combustion chamber of the
producer may be part of that made therein, or it may be made in a separate
auxiliary producer.
According to one construction, the producer is of inverted truncated conical
form having at the top a charging opening located at one side of the axis of
the producer and also a lateral inlet passage for gaseous fuel, air, and steam.
At the bottom the producer is provided with an opening for discharge of ash,
and with a lateral outlet passage for the gases produced. Over the inlet opening
s secured a box comprising a central mixing chamber with air inlet openings,
and an outer gas chamber, the two being in communication by openings in a
vall or division between them. The gas chamber is in communication by means
of a pipe with the lateral gas outlet passage of the producer, and into the
mixing chamber projects a steam pipe or nozzle, or an air pipe or nozzle, the
rrangement being such that when steam or air passes through the nozzle during

page_text: the working of the producer, part of the gases escaping from the producer, will
be caused to flow, together with air, into the combustion or distillation chamber.
Valves or regulators are provided to control the flow of steam, air, and com-
bustible gases.
When steam is used to cause the combustible gas and air to
enter the distillation chamber, it will be decomposed in a manner well under-
stood, hydrogen and carbonic oxide being produced which mix with the other
gases obtained.
Dated this 2011....
1000
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Producing Gases from
Bituminous Fuel.
I, FRANCIS EDWARD Ross, of 10 Whitehorse Road, Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, Civil 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; -
This invention has reference to a method of and apparatus for producing a
mixture of carburetted hydrogen or gaseous hydrocarbons and producer gas
from bituminous fuel in such a manner as to avoid the formation of easily
condensible hydrocarbon vapours, and also to prevent the formation of clinker
from the ashes or non-combustible portion of the fuel.
For this purpose the bituminous fuel, for example coal, is charged into a gas
producer and distilled by heat due to combustion of gaseous fuel forced into the
upper part of the producer, the distillation being effected at such a temperature
that very little if any condensible hydrocarbon vapour will be produced. The
illuminating gas consisting of carburetted hydrogen and other hydrocarbons
thus obtained together with the products of combustion from the gaseous fuel,
descend through the incandescent mass of coke resulting from the bituminous
coal previously distilled, so that any condensible hydrocarbons that may have
been produced during the distillation will be decomposed and converted into a
fixed or non-condensible gas, and the carbonic acid gas in the products of com-
bustion will, by combination with carbon of the coke, be converted into carbonic
oxide. The gaseous hydrocarbons, carbonic oxide, and other gases thus
obtained, can be led either direct to a furnace or other apparatus where they
are to be utilized, or to a gas holder. Before being used they may, if desired,
be purified in any suitable or known way.
To prevent the formation of clinker, the height of the charge in the producer,
and the temperature of distillation are so regulated that the process of gasifica-
tion of the coal by distillation and by combination with carbonic acid, shall
not be complete until the gases reach a zone where the temperature is too low
to effect fusion of the ash.
The gaseous fuel, and the air to effect its combustion, may be forced into the
combustion or distillation chamber of the producer, by any suitable means,
such as pumps, or blowers, or a steam jet; or an air jet may be used for the
purpose. The gas burned in the combustion chamber of the producer.may be
part of that made therein, or it may be made in a separate auxiliary producer.

page_text: in the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a vertical section, and a sectional plan, of
one form of gas producer or apparatus suitable for carrying out my invention.
Tho producer 1 has' at the top a charging hole 2 surmounted by al hopper 3
with charging cone 4, and also a lateral inlet 5 for a mixture of gaseous fuel,
and air, or air and steam. At the bottom, the producer has a grate 6, a main
outlet 7 for the gases produced, an outlet 8 through which a portion of the
gases can be withdrawn for combustion in the upper part of the producer as
hereinafter explained, and an opening 9, normally closed by a door, and serving
for the removal of ashes. 10 is a box or casing connected with the outlet 8
by a pipe 11 with valve 12, and also with the inlet 5 by a pipe 13. This box
or casing is provided with a perforated rotary disc or regulator 14, a conical
air nozzle 15, and a steam pipe 16. The producer is charged with bituminous
fuel such as coal, to about the height shown so as to form a distillation
chamber 18, and the fuel is ignited at the bottom. Air is then caused to flow
through the air regulator and nozzle by a steam jet issuing from the pipe 16
and to descend through the mass of fuel in the producer, the valve 12 at this
time being closed. The producer gas thus obtained is led away through the
outlet 7 to any suitable place for use. When the mass of fuel is well ignited,
a fresh charge of bituminous coal is introduced through the opening 2, and the
valve 12 opened.
The producer being now in action, steam flowing through the pipe 16 will
cause part of the gases produced in the apparatus to flow from the bottom of
the producer through the pipe 11 into the pipe 13 wherein it will be mixed
with air drawn through the air regulator and nozzle, and with steam passing
through the pipe 16, the combustible mixture thence passing into the distilla-
tion chamber 18 wherein it is completely burnt. The steam, when used, will be
converted into water gas as well understood, which will mix with the other
gases produced. The supply of combustible gas, air and steam is regulated by
valves so that the heat caused by the complete combustion of the combustible
mixture will produce a temperature in the distillation chamber of say from
about 1500° to 2000° F. or such as will cause the distillation of the charge 19
of bituminous coal, and the production therefrom of carburetted hydrogen and
other hydrocarbons such as are usually produced for illuminating purposes by
tho distillation of bituminous coal in externally heated retorts, the temperature
moreover being such as to prevent, or nearly so, the formation of easily con-
densible hydrocarbons. The carburetted hydrogen and other gases thus obtained
descend through the incandescent mass of coke 20, and any condensible hydro-
carbons that may be present therein will be decomposed and converted into a
fixed or permanent gas, and the carbonic acid gas produced by the complete
combustion of the gaseous mixture introduced into the distillation chamber will
be converted into carbonic oxide. By this means during the working of the
apparatus, the coke produced by the distillation of the coal will be gradually
converted into gas. The carburetted hydrogen, carbonic oxide, and other gases
thus obtained in a continuous manner, escape by the outlet 7, except such
portion thereof as is drawn through the pipe 11 for combustion in the distilla-
tion chamber. With a height of charge of about three feet and a temperaturo
of about 1500° to 2000° F. in the distillation chamber, the temperature of the
lower portion of the mass of coke will be too low to effect fusion of the ash
and consequent corrosion and clogging of the grate.
apparatus will thus be rendered easy and regular.
The working of the
Should the height of the mass of coke be found to rise, due to its conversion
into carbonic oxide by carbonic acid gas being too slow, the supply of com-
bustible gas and air to the distillation chamber should be increased, so as to
produce a larger quantity of carbonic acid.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical section and a plan of apparatus in
which an independent gas producer 21, which may be of any suitable construc-

page_text: tion, is provided to generate the combustible gas for combustion in the distil-
lation chamber 18 of the gas producer 1. 22 is a pipe for introducing a blast
of air, or air and steam to the producer gas on its way from the gas producer 21
to the distillation chamber. 23 is a pipe for introducing a blast of air, or
air and steam to the bottom of the gas producer 21. In this arrangement the
whole of the gases passing through the producer 1 escape by the outlet 7. In
other respects the operation of this arrangement is similar to that hereinbefore
described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described method of producing carburetted hydrogen or gaseous
hydrocarbons and producer gas by distilling bituminous fuel in a gas producer
by heat resulting from the combustion of a mixture of gaseous fuel and air, or
air and steam, forced into the chamber or space directly above the fuel, and
causing the resulting gases to descend through the mass of incandescent coke
resulting from the bituminous fuel previously distilled substantially as herein
described for the purpose specified.
2. Apparatus for producing a mixture of carburetted hydrogen or gaseous
hydrocarbons and producer gas according to the preceding claim, constructed
and operating substantially as herein before described with reference respectively
to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1891.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
40, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.