Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of "Producer Gas" and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of "Producer Gas"
and Apparatus therefor.
We, HENRY CHARLES JENKINS, A.M.I.C.E., of 5, Deerbrook Road, Herne Hill,
in the County of Surrey, Metallurgist, and THOMAS CEATON LOWDEN, of 7,
South Hill Park, Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex, Woollen Warehouse-
man, 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 relates to improvements in or connected with the manufacture
of "producer gas," and to an improved form of producer, in which the heat of
the furnace shall be more economically utilized than has heretofore been usual
and the bye-products more readily recoverable. A further object of this inven-
tion is to effect improvements in the structural details of the producer, and to
make provision for the convenient regulation of the temperature of the furnace
or of various portions thereof.
Advantages incidental to the improvements according to this invention are
great uniformity of the quality of gas produced, and large quantity of bye-
products from given material.
According to this invention the roof of the producer is preferably formed by
a tank or pan containing brine or other liquid, the temperature of which may be
raised by the heat which would otherwise be wasted by radiation from the top
of the producer. The interior of the producer is further divided into two
chambers or zones of which one forms the receptacle for the incandescent fuel
and is normally at a higher temperature than the other, which forms a recep-
tacle for the gases and other products.
In order that the temperature of the latter zone may be regulated a pipe is
preferably supplied through which a spray of water, steam, hot or cold air, or
any other desirable fluid may be delivered on to the wall or walls of the said
zone so as to regulate the temperature of the interior. The water, steam or other
fluid after having been sprayed on to the walls of the cooler zone may be caused
to pass over the walls of the hotter zone and serve in turn, to regulate the tem-
perature of the latter, and be subsequently passed in the form of say, super-
heated steam into the furnace portion of the producer and there employed in the
production of producer gas; or the heated fluid may be employed for any other
desirable purpose.
One arrangement and construction of producer according to this invention is
by way of example illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being a sectional elevation of the producer,
Figure 2 a plan partly in section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,
Figure 3 an elevation of a detail of construction,
Figure 4 a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
T
standanda A
4h example illustrated night in number

page_text: spaced at equal distances round a pit B formed in the ground, is carried a pro-
ducer having a double casing CC conveniently formed of sheet metal in the
shape of a cylinder, hexagon, octagon or other convenient figure and preferably
with a substantially conical or contracted lower portion. The roof of the pro-
ducer is formed by a tank D, and an arch E having a central -aperture E¹ is
provided which serves to divide the interior of the producer into two chambers
or zones, an upper and a lower. The interior of either or both these zones is
preferably lined with fire-clay, although this may be omitted from the upper
zone.
A retort F depends centrally from the roof of the producer extending down-
wards through the central aperture E¹ in the arch E into the lower zone and
the fuel I for the latter is fed into the latter through the retort F by means of
a hopper G and conical valve G¹ in a well known manner.
An outlet H communicating with the interior of the cooler zone is provided for
the gases produced within the apparatus, and a pipe or other inlet H³ is provided
through which a hot or cold air blast may be supplied in order to sustain com-
bustion of the incandescent fuel I¹. The latter is supported centrally at the
bottom upon the resulting ash I which rests upon the bottom of the pit B.
Laterally or circumferentially the fuel is supported by the side walls of the
hotter zone and by the fire-bars J.
For the sake of clearness the lower or hotter zone will be referred to by the
letter K, and the upper or cooler by the letter K¹.
The joint between the roof D of the apparatus and the side walls CC¹ may
conveniently be formed by sand or cement L.
The spraying apparatus in the example illustrated consists of a single turn
of pipe M, encircling the wall of the cooler zone K¹ near its upper extremity
and perforated on the side adjacent to the said wall, so that water or steam
supplied to the pipe M will be sprayed upon the wall of the zone K¹. The water
or steam then passes downwards through the annulus C³ formed between the
inner and outer casings CC¹ to the fire-bars J, through which it passes to the
interior of the producer. If desired a gutter O may be provided for the reception
of water which has not been converted into steam and which may be led off to
a common sump, for use again if desired. The angle iron C4 which serves to
stiffen the lower rim of the outer cylindrical casing C is preferably made in short
lengths with intervening spaces so as to leave passages for the steam or water,
the angle iron C5 which stiffens the inner casing C¹ being continuous and pro-
vided, if desired, with a throating strip C6, which serves to throw the water
into the gutter 0.
In the construction shown in Figure 1 the lower ends of the bars are caused
to rest in a channel J¹ and their upper ends against bars or a ring J2, the channel
and ring being supported by suitable projections A¹A respectively upon the
standards A.
In an alternative construction shown in Figure 3, the bars are hooked at their
upper ends so as to engage the upper ring Ja, their lower ends resting upon or
against the lower support J¹, which in this instance need not be channelled.
If desired the bars may in either construction be provided at either top or
bottom or both with lateral projections which serve to maintain the desired
space between the adjacent bars to permit of access of air to the fuel.
A projection from each standard A may be provided to serve to maintain
the bars in place. The outer casing of the producer is, by means of the standards,
divided at the lower or contracted portion into panels which are preferably con-
structed so as to be readily removable, one such construction being illustrated
in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
In this construction each standard A. is provided with lateral and nearly vertical
grooves A for the reception of the edges of the adjacent casing panels C7 on
either side. These grooves A³ are of sufficient width to permit of the insertion.
between the outer wall of the groove and the panel of wedges, or of a packing Q¹

page_text: operated upon by set screws Q, by either of which devices the panel may be
clamped against the inner wall of the groove. Each panel C7 is made of such:a
width that when in position it is impossible for both vertical edges to be simul-
taneously touching the bottoms of the two grooves A³ receiving those edges. If,
therefore the wedges or other clamps be slackened, the panel may be slid cir-
cumferentially until one vertical edge beds on the bottom of its groove A³, and
matters may be so arranged that the other vertical edge will then be clear of the
walls of its groove and may be moved radially outwards and the whole panel
removed from between the two adjacent standards. The upper edge of each
panel is preferably bolted to the casing C or to an angle iron attached thereto..
The panels together with the standards form a continuous casing, the lower
edge of which dips into the pit B below the surface of the water, thus forming
a water seal to the entire apparatus. The excess ash resulting from the fuel is
withdrawn from time to time as may be required through the water from under
the aforesaid lower edge of the outer casing without interruption to the operation
of the producer.
The tank D is provided with partitions D¹ arranged radially, in all but one of
which are holes D. These holes are preferably placed alternately near the outer
and near the inner circumference of the tank.
Cold brine or other liquid is fed into the tank D at a point just to one side of
that diaphragm 11 which has no hole, and after flowing round the tank is drawn
off hot at the other side of the said solid diaphragm. It will be clear that owing
to the position of the perforations D2, the liquid in passing from inlet to out-
flow follows a somewhat tortuous or zigzag course, its direction of flow being
alternately radially inward and radially outward combined with a circumferential
movement. An inspection hole D³ is preferably provided in the pan D through
which the interior of the producer may be observed; a cover as indicated in
the drawing may be provided to close this opening when desired; other inspection
holes may be provided at convenient places such as in one side of the producer
to allow of inspection of the various portions of the interior.
The retort F is suspended by a flange F¹ resting on a flange D' in the central
opening at the top of the producer, portions of which flanges F and D being
cut away so as to leave teeth on each which together form a bayonet joint and
so permit of the ready detachment and attachment of the retort F. The central
opening E in the arch E through which the mouth of the retort passes, is prefer-
ably provided with a guard ring E³, but this guard ring may in many cases be
dispensed with if desired.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:—
The furnace in the zone K having been kindled the mass of fuel I' is main-
tained in combustion at a temperature of incandescence by means of hot air,
or of cold air delivered under slight pressure thereto through the bars J from the
inlet pipe H. In order that this blast may be more or less evenly distributed
round the grate, a baffle-plate P is preferably provided immediately below the
inlet H. The circumferential extent of this plate may be about 45°, whilst
above and curved over the sides of the inlet is a diaphragm H which deflects the
air downward.
The temperature of the blast entering at H³ may be raised or lowered accord-
ing as it is desired to raise or lower the temperature of the furnace, the air,
which may have been previously heated being further heated in its passage
round the annulus between the outer and inner casings, near the fire bars, by
heat. By this means the casing is kept comparatively cool, and the heat which
would otherwise be wasted by radiation is utilised to raise the temperature of
the blast. The ultimate temperature of the blast when it reaches the bars J
may be regulated by adjusting the temperature of the air entering at. H' before
it receives the additional heat in the. annulus.
.
Steam may be supplied to the furnace through any convenient opening or
through the opening H¹ together with the air, or as preferred, in the following

page_text: manner The spray from the pipe M may consist of either water or steam and
be so regulated with reference to the temperature of the wall against which it
plays that steam may be derived therefrom with which the furnace may he
supplied. This steam is sometimes in a superheated condition, but should there
be any excess of water this is collected hot in the gutter O and may be put
to any useful purpose such, for example, as being used over again. The spray
thus serves the double purpose of cooling the zone K¹ and of forming steam for
the supply of the furnace; but the annular space C³ may by the provision of a
suitable diaphragm C7 be utilised as a water jacket in which brine or other liquid
may be heated, the spray tube M may be then placed lower down in the annulus.
As the fuel is consumed it forms ash I2, which serves to support the superin,
cumbent incandescent mass which in turn is pressed downwards by the fresh
fuel contained in the retort F. The supply contained in the retort F has to be
continually renewed to keep pace with the consumption, and whilst in the retort
the mass is strongly heated by radiation, and by the heated gases deflected on
to the mouth of the retort by means of the arch E. The result is that the coal
or other fuel is gradually coked, and the volatile constituents issuing at the
mouth of the retort pass downward into the heated zone K; the gaseous products
from the hot zone K pass upward in the zone K¹, the temperature of which is
kept lower than that of the zone K by means of the spray from the tube M.and
by the tank D; the object of this reduction in temperature being not only to
utilise the heat that the gas here possesses (by raising the temperature of the
liquid sprayed from the tube M, or of the liquid in the tank D or above mentioned
water jacket) but also to preserve the bye-products from the fuel, such for
instance as 'ammonia, cyanides and other nitrogen compounds from unnecessary
decomposition, before they pass away by the lateral tube H. Some of the heat
contained in the gases which enter the zone K¹ passes to the tank D. and its
contents, and is so utilised. The gas emerging at the outlet pipe H may be led
to recovery plant, and the bye-products there separated. Should any bye-
products be formed which are liquid at the temperature of the cooler zone these
may be collected in the angle which the arch E makes with the inner case C¹
and drawn off from time to time by a suitable outlet pipe.
The temperature of each of the zones K K¹, or various portions thereof, may
conveniently be kept under observation by means of suitably placed thermo
electric junctions.
Should it be desired to keep the temperature of the cooler zone lower than can
conveniently be effected by means of a spray or sprays, or if it should for any
other reason be desirable, the upper portion of the annular space C³ may be
converted into a water or other cooling jacket as before stated. The extent of
this jacket vertically may either be limited to that of the zone K¹, or may
extend below it. Within this jacket, water or other liquid may be caused to
circulate, or in some other case the heated gases may be put through pipes sur-
rounded with a liquid cooler than the gas.
According to another construction the internal wall of the cooler zone K' is
provided with projections which compel the gas to follow a tortuous course in
passing to the outlet H, and these projections being kept cool in any convenient
manner, serve to reduce the temperature of the gas to the desired extent, and at
the desired rate:
This invention is not limited to the precise construction or arrangement here-
in before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which many
modifications may obviously be made without departure. from the spirit of this
invention, an important feature of the invention being the employment of a
chamber immediately adjacent to the hot one where the gases are produced, in
which second chamber the temperature of these gases is speedily lowered for the
purposes herein before set forth, particularly for the purpose of preserving the
bye-products from unnecessary decomposition.
A convenient construction of fire bar differing from that already described

page_text: is illustrated in Figure 3 one of the bars J being there shown hooked at its
upper end and engaging with the upper ring J2 which in this instance is made
of angle iron.
As a further example of the modifications which may be made the hopper and
conical valve shown in the drawings for regulating the supply of fuel may if
desired be replaced by a measuring chamber, provided with a sliding door at
both its upper and lower end, the slides being alternately moved by any desired
means so that at each complete movement a measured quantity of fuel passes
through the chamber from a hopper placed above it.
Or as a further example, the pipe M may be replaced by one or more pipes
making several convolutions, and one cooler zone such as K' may be in com-
bination with two or more heated zones similar to K instead of one as shown if
BO desired.
In extreme cases the spray tube may be placed inside the cooler zone and the
spray directed against the inner surface of the wall.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
"
1. In a gas "producer the combination with the hot chamber in which the
gases are formed of a cooler chamber immediately adjacent thereto into which
the gases are passed and cooled to preserve the bye-products from decomposition.
2. A gas producer, the temperature of the whole or a part of which may be
regulated substantially as described by means of a spray of water or of steam.
3. A gas producer, the temperature of the whole or a part of which may be
regulated substantially as described by means of a combination of a steam or
water spray and a cooling jacket or tank.
4. In a gas producer cooling the gas and heating a liquid or steam by spraying
the liquid or steam against or near the wall of the producer.
"3
5. The method or process of manufacturing "producer-gas by which water
or steam or other liquid is sprayed upon the casing of the producer then mixed
with air and the mixture applied to fuel within the producer to form "producer-
gas" and bye-products.
66
6. The combination with a gas-producer" of a tank such as D which con-
stitutes the roof thereof, said tank having divisions such as D¹ perforated as
at D substantially as and for the purposes described.
"
33
7. In a gas-producer having a cooling chamber such as K' immediately adjacent
to that in which the gases are produced an arch such as E substantially as
and for the purpose described.
8. In a gas producer having a dividing "arch
such as E the combination
with the "arch of a retort F extending down through an aperture in the arch
substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. A gas producer having the casing surrounding the fire bars formed of panels
such as A engaging in the manner described with their supports so as to be
readily removable.
10. The complete gas producer and appurtenances substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.