Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas and of Bye-products from Liquid Hydrocarbons.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas and of
Bye-products from Liquid Hydrocarbons.
I PAUL DVORKOVITZ of Fernwood, North Hill, Highgate, in the County of
London, Chemist do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of gas and of bye-products
from liquid hydrocarbons wherein internal heating of the fixing chamber for
gasifying the hydrocarbon is resorted to. Such apparatus is described for example
in the Specifications of Letters Patent No. 17150 of 27th October 1890 and
No. 19641 of 12th November 1891 granted to Theodore Green Springer of Chicago
but my invention is not limited to application to that apparatus.
My said invention has for its principal object to obviate objections to the use of
such apparatus arising principally from the large quantity of fuel required to heat
it, and from the loss of valuable bye products owing to the large amount of air
which enters the fixing chamber or cupola in which the gases are fixed and the
waste of gas and objectionable flames due to the burning of the gas which is left in
the fixing chamber or cupola after each operation and further to prevent the injury
to the outlet valve or valves and consequently its or their capability of closing
tightly so that there is danger of combustion of the gas occurring as and after, it
leaves the apparatus.
According to my invention I divide the fixing chamber or cupola and also the
generator from which the heat is obtained and in which the water gas is produced
by a partition or partitions into two or more compartments and thus I reduce the
space in the fixing chamber or cupola in which air and gases after each operation
are contained and by arranging passages and sets of valves corresponding to the
number of compartments formed, I can carry on the operation continuously as a
compartment or compartments can be in operation whilst the other or others is or
are out of operation. I conduct the liquid hydrocarbon and water gas through a
gasifier constructed or arranged preferably as described in the Specification of my
application for Patent No. 7983 of 27th April 1892 and I heat the said gasifier by
the otherwise wasted heat from the generator by leading the products of combustion
therefrom to the said gasifier. In this arrangement the fixing chamber or cupola
is kept at a much lower temperature than it is in the arrangements as shewn in
to heat
Springer's said Specifications or such like arrangements as I "blow up
the apparatus from the generator by passing the products of combustion from the
generator through the gasifier and then down the fixing chamber or cupola and
therefrom to an outlet in a chimney which conceals the flame of the gases which
were left in the fixing chamber or cupola and which burn at the said outlet.
"
Owing to the heat of the fixing chamber or cupola being thus lowered I prevent
the gasification or destruction of valuable bye products which are destroyed by the
high heat of the said fixing chamber or cupola when arranged and worked as
described in Springer's said Specifications or such like arrangements. I may
provide a bye pass for generator gas from the gasifier direct to the aforesaid outlet.
and chimney so that the generator gas can be passed only occasionally into the
cupola at such times as heating thereof is required and so prevent loss of bye
products.
I can if desired fix the oil gas separately from the water gas and afterwards mix
the fixed gases.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas and of
Bye-products from Liquid Hydrocarbons.
I, PAUL DVORKOVITZ late of Fernwood North Hill Highgate but now of
No. 6 Willow Bridge Road, Canonbury in the County of London, Chemist 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of gas and of bye products
such for example as benzol, toluol and the like from liquid hydrocarbons wherein
internal heating of the fixing chamber for gasefying the hydrocarbon is resorted to.
Such apparatus is described for example in the Specifications of Letters Patent
No. 17150 of 27th October 1890 and No. 19641 of 12th November 1891 granted to
Theodore Green Springer of Chicago but my invention is not limited to application
to that apparatus. My said invention has for its principal object to obviate
objections to the use of such apparatus arising principally from the large quantity
of fuel required to heat it, and from the loss of valuable bye products owing to the
large amount of air which enters the fixing chamber or cupola in which the gases
are fixed and the waste of gas and objectionable flames due to the burning of the
gas which is left in the fixing chamber or cupola after each operation and further
to prevent the injury to the outlet valve or valves and consequently its or their
capability of closing tightly.
According to my invention I divide the fixing chamber or cupola and also the
generator from which the heat is obtained and in which the water gas is produced
by a partition or partitions into two or more compartments and thus I reduce the
space in the fixing chamber or cupola in which air and gases after each operation
are contained and by arranging passages and sets of valves corresponding to the
number of compartments formed I can carry on the operation continuously, as a
compartment or compartments can be in operation whilst the other or others is or
are out of operation. I conduct the liquid hydrocarbon and water gas through a
gasifier constructed or arranged preferably as described in the Specification of
Letters Patent No. 7983 of 27th April 1892 granted to me and I heat the said
gasifier by the otherwise wasted heat from the generator by leading the products
of combustion therefrom to the said gasifier. In this arrangement the fixing
chamber or cupola is kept at a much lower temperature than it is in the arrangements
as shewn in Springer's said Specifications or such like arrangements as I "blow up"
to heat the apparatus from the generator and pass the products of combustion from
the generator through the gasifier and then down the fixing chamber or cupola and
therefrom to an outlet in a chimney which conceals the flame of the gases which
were left in the fixing chamber or cupola and which burn at the said outlet. Owing
to the heat of the fixing chamber or cupola being thus lowered I prevent the
gasification or destruction of valuable bye products which are destroyed by the high
heat of the said fixing chamber or cupola when arranged and worked as described
in Springer's said Specifications or such like arrangements. I may provide a bye
pass for generator gas-from the gasifier direct to the aforesaid outlet and chimney
so that the generator gas can be passed only occasionally into the cupola at such
times as heating thereof is required and so prevent loss of bye products.
I can if desired fix.the oil gas separately from the water gas and afterwards mix
the fixed gases.
In order that my invention may be well understood I will further describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 of which represents
in vertical section an apparatus constructed according to my invention, and
Figure 2 is a horizontal,section of the same.
which steam is decomposed to produce water gas.
A is the furnace or generator in

page_text: Above this furnace is a cupola or fixing chamber B through which the water gas
after passing through a gasifier C is caused to pass on its way to the condenser or
other apparatus. The furnace A and the fixing chamber B are each divided by a
partition D into two compartments A2 A3 and B2 B3 respectively. The compart-
ments A2 A3 of the furnace or generator A are connected by pipes or passages a a²
and valves a³ at with a pipe or passage a leading to the lower part of the gasifier C
which gasifier may be like that described in the aforesaid Specification of Letters
Patent No. 7983 of April 27th 1892. This gasifier is heated by the heated
products of combustion which pass through the pipe or passage a or a² from the
furnace or generator. The said heated products enter the gasifier at the lower part
thereof and after circulating round the tubes therein pass out at the upper end
through an outlet and are conducted thence by a pipe or passage c either direct to
the chimney or by means of valves into one or other of the compartments B²
or B3 of the fixing chamber B and thence by one or other of two pipes or
passages e or e² and valve e³ or e¹ to the chimney. The fixing chamber may thus
be heated to the required degree by means of what would otherwise be waste
products of combustion from the furnace. The furnace or generator is in com-
munication by pipes or passages ff and valves f³f with a pipe or passage f³
leading to a chamber in the gasifier in which the water gas generated in the
furnace or generator mixes with or becomes carburetted by hydrocarbon, vapourized
in the tubes in the gasifier as described in the aforesaid Specification of Letters
Patent No. 79832. The carburetted gas passes from the gasifier C and is con-
ducted by a pipe or passage ¹ and valve 2 or 3 into the upper end of one or other
of the compartments B2 B3 of the fixing chamber B and passing down through the
reticulated brick work or the like therein, passes out by the pipe or passage e or e²
and valve e ore into a pipe or passage e' or e8 leading to the place of consumption
or to a condenser or a gas holder or other apparatus.
The vapours or gases of the liquid hydrocarbon in the gasifier can be drawn
out from the said gasifier by an exhauster which delivers the said vapours or gases
so that they meet the water gas at such a pressure as to prevent the said water gas
from forcing the vapours or gases back into the gasifier and so to obviate danger
of the gasification or destruction of valuable bye products. The exhauster may
be of any convenient description and it may if desired be in the form of an ejector
worked by the force of the water gas issuing from an orifice around another orifice
from which the vapours or gases are drawn from the gasifier by the said water gas
so that the water gases and the gases or vapours of the hydrocarbon become
intimately mixed.
In working the apparatus the compartments A2 A3 of the furnace or generator A
are charged with coke and lighted air under pressure being then admitted into one
of the compartments say the compartment A2 through the pipe k the valves a³
being adjusted so as to establish a communication through the pipe or passage a
between the said compartment A2 and the gasifier so that the heated products of
combustion from the compartment A² will enter the gasifier and heat the vapourizing
pipes therein.
When the coke in the compartment A has been raised to the required tem-
perature the supply of air is discontinued and the valve a³ closed so as to cut off
the communication and at the same time the valve at is opened so as to establish a
communication between the gasifier and the compartment A³ of the furnace or
generator. Steam is then admitted to the compartment A' by the pipe and the
valve opened so as to establish a communication by the pipes or passages and
between the compartment A² and the carburetting chamber f in the gasifier.
Liquid hydrocarbon is also admitted to the interior of the tubes of the gasifier
which tubes being heated by the products of combustion from the furnace A effect
the vapourization of the hydrocarbon the said vapour becoming intimately
incorporated with the water gas in the carburetting chamber f whilst the heavy
tar is deposited in the chamber and may be withdrawn therefrom through a suitable

page_text: outlet as required. The carburetted water gas passes from the gasifier C at h and
is conducted by the pipe or passage valve and branch pipe or passage ³ into
the compartment B2 of the fixing chamber B wherein those constituents of the
carburetted gas which it is desired shall be converted into illuminating gas are
rendered permanent whilst valuable bye products such as benzol toluol and the
like deposit in the compartment B2 and can be removed therefrom as required.
The permanent gas passes out of the compartment B2 through the pipe or
passage e and valve e and is conducted by the pipe or passage e' to a gas holder
or other apparatus. While steam is being decomposed in the compartment A² of
the generator the coke in the compartment A³ is being "blown up" or raised in
temperature by air admitted through the pipe 2 the heated products of combustion
passing from this compartment through the pipe or passage a² the valve at being
open and the valve a³ closed so that the products of combustion will pass into the
lower part of the gasifier and maintain the vapourizing tubes at the required
temperature. When the coke in the compartment A2 has cooled down the supply
of steam thereto is discontinued and steam is introduced into the compartment A³
the valves being adjusted so as to close the passage for gas from the compartment A²
to the gasifier and open the communication between the said gasifier and the com-
partment A³ for the passage of the gas from the said compartment into the
carburetting chamber of the gasifier wherein it mixes with the hydrocarbon
vapour and passes into the pipe or passage by which it is conducted into the
upper end of the compartment B³ of the fixing chamber or cupola B whence it
passes down through the reticulated brick work or the like contained therein and
out through the pipe or passage to a condenser or other apparatus. It will be
seen that my arrangement of apparatus admits of the process being carried on
continuously and the heat of the fixing chamber being regulated as required so as
to ensure the preservation of the valuable bye products.
In cases where a pure oil gas (that is without water gas) and bye products from
the liquid hydrocarbon are required I may dispense with the use of the water gas
and also if desired with the fixing chamber the bye products being obtained in the
condensers into which the vapours are passed directly from the gasifier by the
exhauster.
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. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas and of bye products from liquid
hydrocarbons, the combination of a furnace or generator divided by a partition
into two or more compartments in which water gas is alternately produced, a
gasifier or chamber in which the water gas is carburetted or enriched with hydro-
carbon vapour the said gasifier being heated by the generator gas from the furnace
or otherwise, a fixing chamber heated by the generator gas after it leaves the
gasifier the said fixing chamber being divided by a partition into two or more com-
partments into which the carburetted water gas is conducted alternately, and
wherein the components of the gas and hydrocarbon vapour which it is desired
shall be converted into illuminating gas are rendered permanent, whilst valuable
bye products deposit in the said compartments; and passages and valves for con-
ducting the generator gas and water gas in the directions required so that the
apparatus can be worked continuously substantially as herein before described.
2nd. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas and of bye-products from liquid
hydrocarbons, a fixing chamber wherein the components of the carburetted water
gas which it is desired to convert into illuminating gas is rendered permanent the
said fixing chamber being heated by generator gas from the furnace in which water
gas is made or otherwise in combination with means whereby the said generator
gras may be conducted direct into the chimney or into the fixing chamber and thence
to the chimney substantially as herein before described.

page_text: 3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting means whereby the
manufacture of gas and of bye products such as benzol, toluol and the like from
liquid hydrocarbons can be carried on by a continuous process substantially-as.
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of September 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.