IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL-GAS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN HANSON of Elm Tree Hill, Bingley, in the County of York, Upholsterer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL-GAS to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the method or process of
purifying coal-gas, of the sulphur it contains, by means of a new purifying agent,
consisting of oxide-of-iron and ammoniacal liquor, operated upon or utilized in such
a manner that less labour and attention is required, and the expense attending the
revivifying process is dispensed with; this I accomplish in the following manner :-
I form a long casing of metal plates which I place in a horizontal position and
mount therein two agitators which are made to revolve in opposite directions.
Openings are formed at each end for the inlet and outlet of the gas.
The agitators are circular and of considerable length, the space within the
circumference of each, being filled in with bars in such a manner that small
irregular meshes or spaces are formed through which the gas must pass, from the
inlet to the outlet of the casing.
The purifying agent, before mentioned is placed in the casing in a semiliquid
state and filling it to such a height that a portion of each agitator revolves in the
same by which the whole of the bars become coated with the semiliquid purifying
agent, and the gas passing through the irregular meshes or spaces is subjected to
the purifying influence of the oxide-of-iron and ammoniacal liquor by which the
sulphur is removed.
The revivifying process is accomplished by working the agitators without passing
the gas through the casing.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Purifying
Coal Gas.
I JOHN HANSON, of Elm Tree Hill, Bingley in the County of York, Upholsterer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING COAL GAS and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the method or process of
purifying coal gas of the various impurities it contains and in especial the elimi-
nation of the sulphur compounds, by means of a liquid, composed of oxide-of-iron
and ammoniacal or other liquor, hereinafter called the " purifying agent" and
operated upon or utilized in such a manner that less labour and attention is
required, and the expense attending the revivifying process is dispensed with.
This I accomplish in the following manner:-I form a casing of metal plates which
I place in a horizontal position and mount therein one or more agitators which are
made to revolve in one or opposite directions, openings are formed at each end
for the inlet and outlet of the gas.
gas
The agitators are cylinderical in form by preference and of considerable length
the space within the circumference of each being filled in with bars in such a
manner that small irregular meshes or spaces are formed, through which the
must go, in its passage from the inlet to the outlet of the casing. The purifying
agent is placed in the casing in a liquid or semiliquid state and fills it to such a
height, that a portion of each agitator revolves in the same by which the whole of
the bars are constantly kept covered with a dripping coat of the purifying agent,
and the gas passing through the irregular ineshes or spaces, is thereby subjected to
the cleansing influence of the purifying agent. The revivifying process is accom-
plished by having the space along each side of the revolving portion of the
apparatus, divided by seal-joints, by which arrangement the purifying agent can
be revivified whilst the gas is passing through.
And now in order that my invention may be fully understood, I append drawings
illustrative thereof, and shall refer to the several figures, by letters of reference.
Fig. 1. Represents the apparatus with the inlet end removed.
Fig. 2. Represents a sectional elevation through A B.
Fig. 3. Represents a section through one of the agitators.
The casing E. E¹. E" may be formed of metal plates and put together in various
forms, the most convenient being that shewn in the annexed drawing, where the
bottom plates E are segmental, to which are secured the side plates E', and
the seal-joint plates H, the latter supporting the semicircular covers E. Two
shafts M. M may be geared to rotate in opposite directions (except in the case of
small machines where one motion only is required) running in journals at each end
of the casing, and in a standard J at the middle; to these shafts are secured, one or
more agitators K. K¹. K. Kl constructed of bars of wood or metal cither radiating
from the centre, or put transversely as shewn in Fig. 3, thus forming the meshes

page_text: or spaces before mentioned; around this trellis-work of rods, are a series of bars L
which are fixed obliquely in iron frames P, at each end of each agitator, and to one
or both ends of the agitators are fan-wings N also fixed obliquely, these fan-wings
may be geared to rotate, at a greater speed than the agitators if necessary, by
securing them to an independant collar.
The casing is divided into two or more compartments, each one being charged
with the purifying agent, to such a height, that a portion of each agitator will
revolve in it, as shewn in Fig. 1.
A feather-flange T (Fig. 2) fixed at the middle of the top part, will prevent any
accumulation of gas at the top of the casing. Two or more small revolving
agitators C. C fixed near the bottom of the casing, will prevent the denser
ingredient of the purifying agent, and also any dense matter from the gas
accumulating there, by keeping the whole in suspension.
The gas enters the apparatus at one end, as indicated by arrow, and is at once
caught by the fan-wings N, and assisted forward into the meshes or spaces of
the revolving agitators K. K. after which its course is broken by the feather
flange T, after passing which it is caught by the fan-wings N' connected with the
agitators K K revolving in the opposite directions, and working its way
through the meshes of the same to the outlet of the casing.
Each agitator revolving in the purifying agent, the bars L will be constantly
carring a fresh supply of the same around and discharging it into the meshes of the
agitators thereby exposing a great amount of wetted surface to the gas as it passes
through the apparatus from end to end, and the strong afinity existing between
the purifying agent and the sulphur compounds contained in the gas will completely
eliminate these impurities from it as it works its way through the meshes or spaces
of the agitators. The purifying agent being continuely in motion by the action of
the agitators will be carried underneath the seal-joint plates H into the space Stat
each side of the revolving portion of the apparatus where it will be revivified by
the action of air admited through the open grating R. which forms the top of that
part of the apparatus, thereby doing away with the ordinary manner of revivifying
oxide-of-iron.
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
1st The method or process of purifying coal gas, by means of a liquid, consisting
of oxide-of-iron and ammoniacal or other liquor.
2nd Apparatus constructed upon the principal herein described, and fitted with
revolving agitators substantially in the manner and for the purpose stated.
·
02 .
100
JOHN HANSON.