IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO-CARBON FURNACES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO-CARBON
FURNACES." A communication from abroad by Byron Sloper and Walter
Marsh Jackson, both of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of
America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS
"
IN HYDRO-CARBON FURNACES." A communication from abroad by Byron Sloper
and Walter Marsh Jackson, both of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in hydro-carbon furnaces, that
is, in the application of vaporized water, with or without liquid or sub-divided fuel,
in connection with solid or porous carbonaceous material, for the production of
heat, and in apparatus for carrying such improvements into effect.
Heretofore in the employment of liquid fuel for the production of heat it has
been injected into a furnace by means of steam under pressure, and there ignited,
the steam serving simply as a medium for its introduction; the heat produced
depending entirely upon the consumption of the liquid fuel. When thus applied
the carbon of the fuel, being simply burned by uniting with the atmospheric air in
a cold state, carried into the furnace by the natural draft, produces a white flame
of comparatively small heating capacity, and the steam passes off undecomposed,
and its valuable gaseous constituents are not utilized.
Practical experience has led to the discovery of an improved method, in which
the gaseous constituents of steam can be utilized by decomposing the steam, and
burning the resultant gases, either alone or in conjunction with liquid or sub-divided
fuel, which gases consist principally of pure hydrogen and carbonic oxide, the
latter being an inflammable gas generated by the union of the oxygen of the steam
with the carbon of the fuel, and a valuable heating agent. To accomplish this
result, however, it is found absolutely necessary to modify the existing furnaces, and
to effect the decomposition by bringing the vaporized water or steam into intimate
contact with solid or porous carbonaceous material, at an intense white heat, in a
decomposing-retort and combustion chamber combined, as will be more fully
D

page_text: hereinafter specified. When the steam is thus decomposed, and the resultant gases
are burned in conjunction with the liquid or sub-divided fuel, it is found that
the combustion of such fuel is not only complete, but that the consumption of fuel
is greatly reduced, owing to the instantaneous decomposition of the steam, and the
utilization of the gases arising therefrom.
Throughout the present Specification I refer to solid or porous carbonaceous
material as a decomposing agent in contradistinction to the liquid or sub-divided
fuel employed, and by such solid or porous carbonaceous material I mean either
coal, coke, charcoal, or other similar material, whether compact, such as coal, or
porous, such as charcoal, coke, or the like.
This Invention consists, First. In the production of heat of a process of
decomposing water by injecting the same in a vaporized condition, either with or
without the admixture of either liquid or subdivided fuel, into or upon solid or
porous carbonaceous material, located in a decomposing retort and combustion
chamber combined, and constructed for the purpose, whereby mutual decomposition
of the water and fuel into hydrogen and carbonic oxide is effected by causing the
vaporized water, either alone or in conjunction with the liquid or subdivided fuel
to "hug" the surface of the solid carbonaceous material, and to be brought
successively into intimate contact with fresh portions of the same, as more fully
hereinafter specified.
Second. In a process of burning liquid or subdivided fuel in conjunction with
the gases, resulting from the decomposition of water by atomizing and injecting
such fuel, together with a current of steam upon a bed of solid or porous carbonaceous
material heated to an intense white heat, in a suitable decomposing retort and
combustion chamber combined, whereby the mutual decomposition of the steam
and fuel into hydrogen and carbonic oxide is effected by the successive and
intimate contact of the steam, and the liquid and subdivided fuel upon the solid or
porous carbonaceous material in the decomposing retort and combustion chamber,
and perfect combustion of the resultant gases is effected, and the most intense heat
produced, as more fully hereinafter specified.
Third. In an improved process of burning liquid or subdivided fuel by atomizing
and injecting the same by means of a current of steam upon a bed of carbonaceous
material heated to an intense white heat in a decomposing retort and combustion
chamber combined, and causing it, together with the gases generated to reverberate
over or through the solid or porous carbonaceous material, so as to bring it and
said gases into intimate contact with successive fresh portions of the solid or porous
carbonaceous material, as more fully hereinafter set forth.
Fourth. In a process of burning liquid or subdivided fuel by atomizing and
injecting the same upon a bed of solid or porous carbonaceous material heated to an
intense white heat in a decomposing retort and combustion chamber combined, in
conjunction with a current of air, and causing the whole to reverberate over and
"hug" the solid or porous carbonaceous material, so as to bring the gases developed
into intimate contact with successive fresh portions of solid or porous carbonaceous
material, whereby a thorough combustion of the liquid or sub-divided fuel is effected,
and an intense heat produced.
Fifth. In the combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel of
a decomposing retort and combustion chamber combined, and having its interior
provided with a series of salient and re-entering deflecting surfaces to deflect or
reverberate the liquid or subdivided fuel and steam, and the gases arising therefrom,
and cause the same to come successively into intimate contact with fresh portions
of solid or porous carbonaceous material.
Sixth. In the combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel
and decomposing steam of a decomposing retort and combustion chamber combined,
and adapted to hold solid or porous carbonaceous material, the said decomposing
retort and combustion chamber being made in sections of fire tiles or other
refractory material, whereby it may be located in the furnace without removing
the front or any portion of the furnace, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

page_text: Seventh. In the combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel
of a decomposing retort and combustion chamber combined, and adapted to hold
solid or porous carbonaceous material, and provided with a series of reverberating
and deflecting surfaces on its interior, a suitable injector for introducing liquid
or sub-divided fuel, whereby the gases resulting therefrom are caused to "hug" the
surface of the carbonaceous material, as more fully hereinafter specified.
Eighth. In the combination in a furnace of a decomposing retort and combustion
chamber, adapted to contain solid or porous carbonaceous material with an atomizer
for injecting liquid or sub-divided fuel into said retort and chamber, and suitable
air passages, whereby, if necessary, air may be introduced into the retort and
combustion chamber in conjunction with liquid or sub-divided fuel, with or without
steam, and caused to reverberate over, and "hug" the solid or porous carbonaceous
material for the purpose of completing the combustion and intensifying the heat as
more fully hereinafter set forth.
Ninth. In the combination with the combined decomposing retort and combus-
tion chamber of an injector, whereby atomized or sub-divided fuel in conjunction
with a current of steam or air, or both, may be supplied to said retort and
combustion chamber, as more fully hereinafter set forth.
In the Drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a furnace with a portion of the front,
and one of the side walls broken away, showing this Invention.
Figure 2 represents a horizontal sectional view of the decomposing retort and
combustion chamber, detached, and
Figure 3 a vertical sectional view thereof.
The letter A indicates the furnace, which may be constructed of any suitable
material, and which may be of the ordinary, or any approved form, for the different
purposes for which the heat may be desired.
The letter B indicates a decomposing retort and combustion chamber located in
the furnace. This may be constructed of any suitable refractory material. In the
present instance it is represented as constructed of fire-tiles, built up in the central
part of the furnace at the forward end of the same having the heating spaces C at
each side.
The letter D indicates the door of the furnace located directly in front of the
decomposing retort or combustion chamber, so that, the carbonaceous material
(indicated by the letter E) can be conveniently charged into said chamber and
retort.
The letter F indicates an atomizing injector, by means of which the liquid fuel is
introduced into the furnace. This injector is constructed of cast metal, with the
body in one piece, having the chamber G provided with suitable pipes I, K, by
means of which it can be connected with a suitable steam generator and liquid fuel
tank or supply chamber. The said injector is provided with screw nozzles, which
have their walls in parallel conical planes, when in place, and which can be adjusted
by means of lock nuts, so as to vary the relative distances between their respective
openings, in order to regulate the injection of the liquid or sub-divided fuel. One
or more of said injectors may be employed, as occasion requires, and said injector
or injectors, are located just in front of the furnace, projecting through a suitable
aperture or apertures in the same, in a line about on a level with the top of the
inside of the decomposing-retort and combustion-chamber, so as to project the
liquid or sub-divided fuel directly against the first of a series of deflecting or
reverberating surfaces over, into and through the body of the carbonaceous
material. The injector or injectors are preferably swiveled to their connecting oil
and steam pipes, so that they can be swung back or forth in order to be under
ready control. The steam pipes and oil pipes are connected by a cross pipe having
a suitable cock, and the said steam and oil pipes are provided with valves, so that
the oil can be shut off, and the steam may be passed through the oil pipe for the
purpose of blowing out any sediment which may collect in the oil chamber of the
injector. The interior of the decomposing retort and combustion chamber is

page_text: provided with a series of deflecting or reverberating surfaces N, which consist of
salient and re-entering angles or curves as indicated, formed on the interior of the
said decomposing retort and combustion chamber, so as to gradually contract the
decomposing retort and combustion chamber for the purpose hereinafter explained.
The letter O indicates the air pipes entering at the sides or other portion of the
furnace and extending through the heating spaces to the forward part of the retort
and combustion chamber where they terminate, in such position that the draft
caused by the injected steam and liquid fuel will create an induced current of.
heated air, which will enter the decomposing retort and combustion chamber along
with the injected fuel and steam and thus assist in the combustion, the air in its
passage through the pipes being heated to an intense heat, by which the combustion
is further intensified.
The connections leading to the injector as well as the air pipes are provided with
suitable cocks and valves, by means of which the supply of steam and liquid or
sub-divided fuel and air may be admitted and controlled.
In order to observe the interior of the decomposing-retort and combustion
chamber and the combustion taking place therein one or more "bulls' eyes" may
be provided at any convenient point in the walls of the furnace for the
purpose.
The operation of this Invention will be readily understood in connection with the
above description, and is as follows:-
The decomposing retort and combustion chamber is properly charged with the
carbonaceous material, which forms an inclined bed therein, as indicated in the.
Drawings. This being ignited and brought to a white heat, the liquid or sub-
divided fuel is introduced through the injector. The steam and liquid or sub-
divided fuel in an atomized condition enter the front of the decomposing retort or
combustion chamber, being deflected directly upon the bed of carbonaceous material
where the steam is instantaneously decomposed by the oxygen of the steam uniting
with the carbon at an intense white heat, thus converting the steam completely
into carbonic oxide and hydrogen gases, the air at the same time serving to
perfectly consume the gases, creating an intense heat. The salient and re-entering
curves of the decomposing retort and combustion chamber deflect and check the
velocity of the steam, especially when under high pressure, and cause the volume of
gases generated alternately to expand and contract in said chamber and be brought
into more and more intimate contact with the carbonaceous material therein by the
gradual contraction of the retort or combustion chamber so that they cannot escape
unconsumed. The gases resulting from the decomposed steam furnish the main and
most important heating factor, thus largely reducing the consumption of the liquid
or sub-divided fuel.
Having thus fully described this Invention, what I claim is,—
First. In the production of heat the process of decomposing water by injecting
the same in a vaporized condition either with or without the admixture of either
liquid or sub-divided fuel into or upon solid or porous carbonaceous material located
in a combined decomposing retort and combustion chamber constructed for the
purpose, whereby mutual decomposition of the water and fuel into hydrogen and
carbonic oxide is effected by causing the vaporized water, either alone or in con-
junction with the liquid or sub-divided fuel to "hug" the surface of the solid or
porous carbonaceous material and be brought into intimate contact with the same,
substantially as specified.
Second. The process of burning liquid or sub-divided fuel in conjunction with
the gases resulting from the decomposition of water by atomizing and injecting
such fuel in conjunction with a current of steam upon a bed of solid or porous
carbonaceous material heated to an intense white heat in a suitable decomposing
retort and combustion chamber combined, whereby the mutual decomposition of the
steam and fuel into hydrogen and carbonic oxide is effected by the successive and
intimate contact of the steam and liquid or sub-divided fuel upon the solid or
porous carbonaceous material in the said decomposing retort and combustion chamber

page_text: and perfect combustion of the resultant gases is effectedand the most intense heats
produced, substantially as specified.
Third. The process of burning liquid or sub-divided fuel by atomizing and
injecting the same by means of a current of steam upon a bed of carbonaceous
material heated to an intense white heat in a decomposing retort and combustion
chamber and causing it, together with the gases generated, to reverberate over or
through the solid or porous carbonaceous material so as to bring it together with
the gases generated into intimate contact with fresh portions of solid or porous
carbonaceous material, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The process of burning liquid or sub-divided fuel by atomizing and
injecting the same upon a bed of solid or porous carbonaceous material heated to an
intense white heat in a decomposing retort and combustion chamber combined in
conjunction with a current of air, and causing the whole to reverberate over and
"hug" the solid or porous carbonaceous material so as to bring the gases developed
into intimate contact with the solid or porous carbonaceous material, whereby a
thorough combustion of the liquid or sub-divided fuel is effected and an intense heat
produced.
Fifth. In combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel a
combined decomposing-retort and combustion chamber having its interior provided
with a series of salient and re-entering deflecting surfaces to deflect or reverberate
the liquid or sub-divided fuel and the steam and the gases arising therefrom, and
cause the same to come into intimate contact with fresh portions of the solid or
porous carbonaceous material.
Sixth. The combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel and
decomposing steam of a decomposing retort and combustion chamber adapted to
hold solid or porous carbonaceous material, the said decomposing retort and com-
bustion chamber being made in sections of fire tiles or other refractory material,
whereby it may be located in the furnace without removing the front or any other
portion of the same, substantially as specified.
Seventh. The combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel of a
decomposing retort and combustion chamber adapted to hold solid or porous
carbonaceous material, and provided with a series of reverberating and deflecting
surfaces on its interior, and a suitable injector for introducing liquid or sub-divided
fuel whereby the gases generated therefrom are caused to "hug" the surface of the
carbonaceous material, substantially as specified.
Eighth. The combination in a furnace for burning liquid or sub-divided fuel of a
decomposing retort and combustion chamber adapted to contain solid or porous
carbonaceous material with an atomizing injector for injecting liquid or sub-
divided fuel into said retort and chamber and suitable air passages, whereby air if
necessary may be introduced into the retort and combustion chamber in conjunction
with the liquid or sub-divided fuel with or without steam, and cause to reverberate
over and "hug" the surface of the solid or porous carbonaceous material for the
purpose of completing the combustion and intensifying the heat, substantially as
set forth, and
Ninth. The combination with the combined decomposing retort and combustion
chamber of an injector, whereby atomized or sub-divided fuel in conjunction with a
current of steam or air or both may be supplied to said retort and combustion
chamber, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fourth day of February AD 1881