Improvements relating to the Carburetting of Illuminating Gas and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
Improvements relating to the Carburetting of Illuminating Gas and
to Apparatus therefor.
I, EMILE FRANÇOIS JEAN CLEMENT BAUWERAERTS, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Gas 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:
The process of carburetting illuminating gases which forms the subject of this
invention is not confined to simply increasing the anonut of carbon contained in
poor gas but also of rendering gases (more especially those rich in carbon)
adaptable for the radical combustion of this substance, in such a manner as to
enable them to burn without giving off smoke and without causing oily or
carbonaceous deposits of any description, which defects are especially inherent in
acetylene gas for example, and have prevented this brilliant illuminant from
coming into practical use, either alone or in combination with other illuminating
gases, and this in spite of the fact that numerous attempts have been made to
purify this gas and also notwithstanding its mixture with air, nitrogen, oxygen or
other diluents hitherto proposed to be employed.
The non-success of dilutions by means of gases suggested to the applicant the
idea of experimenting with the object of ascertaining whether the addition to rich
gases of volatile substances, more particularly of those which may be called the
Č.H.O series, would conduce to obtaining more satisfactory results by reason of
their decomposition into their constituents, the hydrogen of which increasing the
heat of combustion, itself aided by the oxygen, thus effecting the complete
consumption of the carbon and thereby increasing the luminosity of the flame.
By developing this idea and by experimenting with the series commencing with
ethyl oxide and including acetic acid, acetone, and the alcohols, it has been found
that the best result is obtained with vapours of methylic alcohol, which, when mixed
with acetylene, enables this gas to burn without occasioning either smoke or
deposits.
Having ascertained this fact I endeavoured to find a practical method of mixing
upon a commercial scale the gas with alcoholic vapours, and I have discovered
that by passing the gas through alcohol at the ordinary temperature or even by
simply causing it to pass over alcohol, the gas becomes sufficiently charged with
vapours to attain the desired result.
In the course of these experiments, I also found that the gas gives up to the
alcohol, apart from the water, the other foreign bodies which it holds in suspension,
especially the fatty and oily substances which occasion imperfect combustion ; Í
have likewise found that by adding to the alcohol a few drops of sulphuric acid
the gas is freed from any sulphuretted hydrogen which it may contain, so that the
alcohol forms both an efficient carburetting and purifying agent for gases in general
and especially for rich gases such as acétylene.
As a result of this discovery, not only is acetylene gas which has in this manner
been carburetted and freed from its impurities and so burns without smoke and without
occasioning a deposit upon the burners or in the pipes, capable of being used to any

page_text: extent as an illuminating medium, but it may also form a powerful adjutant.to
ordinary coal gas for the purpose of increasing its illuminating power to a large
extent for a relatively small proportion of the mixture.
From this it follows that, according to the object to be attained, cither from
acetylene alone or from a mixture of acetylene with another gas, all the appliances
suitably arranged and containing one ог more alcoholic carburetting-purifying
vessels, either for acetylene alone or for the two gases, may be suitable for commercial
purposes, either for effecting the production at central stations or for individual
distribution by establishing small apparatus in dwelling houses, the dimensions of the
apparatus being regulated according to the method which is adopted.
The numerous varieties of acetylene generators at present known render a detailed
description thereof unnecessary and as the addition, to one of these generators, of one
or more carburetting-purifying vessel will also be readily understood, I will not
describe the method of carrying it out for acetylene alone; but the apparatus to be
employed for a mixture of acetylene and another gas, particularly the smali
distributing appliances for dwelling houses requiring certain special arrangements in
order to ensure an automatic proportionment of the mixture of the gases with regard
to the consumption, I will describe by way of example a method of application, with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which,
Figure 1 is a general view of the appliances connected in operative order.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section through an acetylene generator.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section through a carburetter-purifier for acetylene
gas.
Figure 4 shews a vertical section through the mixing apparatus for acetylene gas
and coal gas.
Figure 5 shews a vertical section through the automatic regulator of the mixture
of gas.
Figure 6 is an axial section.
Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 1-2 Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a cross section on the line 3-4 in Figure 6, and
Figure 9 is a front elevation of a device in form of a gas meter, combining
in a single apparatus the devices described separately with relation to
Figures 3, 4 and 5.
a
In the present instance the acetylene generator. (Figure 2) is shewn as
gasometer containing the calcium carbide upon which a valve or the like which
is capable of regulation, drops exactly the quantity of water which is necessary
for the production of the gas, the carbide being contained in a vessel placed in
water in order that it may be constantly kept cool, but, as already stated, any
other generator of gas under strong pressure and with a reducing cook, is
equally suitable, or instead of a generator I may even use a carboy of liquefied
acteylene.
The acetylene gas enters the carburetter-purifier E which may likewise be
arranged in any suitable manner, for example in the manner shewn in Figure 3
where it constitutes a reservoir or bath of alcohol mixed with a small quantity
of liquid sulphuric acid, through which passes the acetylene, entering by the
pipe To and passing out at T. Beneath the bath E is arranged a vessel E¹ into
which passes through the overflow pipe P the layer of impurities retained by the
purifying liquid and which may be finally run off through the discharge cock E².
The purified and corbnretted acetylene gas passes into the regulator R. through
the pipe To and proceeds through the pipe T2 into the mixing apparatus M
(Figure 4) in which also passes through the pipe Ts the coal gas coming from the
ordinary supply pipes.
The two gases pass in. mingling into a conical part C integral with the
cover C, the rim of which fits into the cylinder M, being immersed in an
internal annular water reservoir. From the cone C¹ the gaseous mixture passes
into the vessel C, which is suspended from the pipe of the funnel, and then
spreads over the surface of a bath of alcohol which imparts to it the carburetting

page_text: vapours, afterwards proceeding through the pipes tt traversing the vessel so as to
onter the cylinder A which it leaves by the pipe T leading to the burners B.
An overflow pipe t¹ leading to the lower trough M serves to discharge the layer
of impurities which the gases may have left upon the surface of the alcohol.
An outlet pipe T for the gaseous mixture is joined to one of the branches V¹
of a communicating mercury vessel which forms the regulator R (Figure 5), the
other branch V widens at the top into a cup to which are connected the
pipes T and T². The pipe T plunges into the cup in such a manner as to
leave free above the normal level of the mercury a passage corresponding to the
maximum proportion of acetylene gas to be admitted into the mixing apparatus
with a proportion or maximum quantity of coal gas corresponding to a given
number of burners, which, when they are all lighted, cause in the mixing apparatus
the normal pressure corresponding to the normal level of the inercury and to the
desired proportionment of the gases.
Now when a certain number of burners is extinguished, the gas required is less
and too much acetylene would arrive for the quantity of coal gas consumed if its
admission into the mixing apparatus were not correspondingly diminished. This
diminution is automatically effected by the regulator in the following manner;
When the consumption of gas decreases the pressure increases in the cylinder A, the
capacity of which is invariable, and is transmitted through the pipe T to the
regulator. As a consequence the mercury rises in V and restricts the passage for
inlet into T, which it closes completely when all the burners are extinguished.
It will thus be readily seen that the proportion of acetylene is regulated
automatically for any number of burners and that these latter may be opened and
closed as frequently as desired without causing the illuminating power of the
flame to vary such power being always regular in all the brilliant luminosity
produced by the mixture of the two gases which is always in proportion to the
consumption.
Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 represent an apparatus in the form of a gas meter
including in a single apparatus the purifier, the regulator and the mixer which
have been previously described. In fact, in this apparatus, which is principally
adapted for domestic purposes, the cylinder is the receptacle having a constant
capacity which receives the carburetted mixture, and in this latter C¹ is the mixing
funnel into which the two gases penetrate through T and T3 and to which is
fixed the vessel C for the alcohol. This latter is provided with a float F
provided with an index rod a the top u of which is visible in a glass cap v in
order that it may indicate the level of the alcohol which is not visible. This
float is of special construction in that it is annular and that it is denticulated at
its upper edge b which is entirely covered with a disc D upon which rises from the
centre the inlet pipe G' for the gaseous mixture. This pipe G¹ has an outer covering
or sheath G which slides upon a pipe G rising in the interior of the mixing cone C₁
which is surmounted by a funnel K, for the introduction of the alcohol. This latter
first of all fills the bottom of the mixing apparatus to the height of the pipe Ga, then
it passes between this latter and the pipe G' into the vessel Č.
The regulator R is fixed to the cylinder A the foremost wall of which plunges into
the mercury, forming a vessel communicating from the receptacle R, which contains
it and which is open to the interior of the cylinder. gauge tube n the upper
portion of which terminates in a cup g serves for the introduction of the mercury
which may be withdrawn through the cock R³.
To the rear wall of the cylinder A is fixed the purifier E containing the
alcohol mixed with sulphuric acid. The purifier is surmounted by a receptacle E
having a bell or dome, to which is fixed by means of a suitable lug P¹ an
inverted cap E making a water seal with a basin or receptacle Es which is
upon the bell or dome.
In the vessel E³ rises a tube E for the passage of the
gas and this tube is closed when the bell rises by a valve S which is suspended
therein.
The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the preceding

page_text: description. The acetylene gas is admitted through To into the purifier E whence it
rises through the pipe E into the bell and the cap E. Immediately the production
exceeds the consumption the bell rises and closes the passage by means of the
valve S, reopening this latter however, as soon as equilibrium is restored. From E¹
the. gas passes through T' into the regulator R and thence through T2 into the mixing
cone C where also the coal gas is conducted through T3. The gaseous mixture then
passes through the pipe G' beneath the disc D over the alcohol in the carburettor C
and issues from beneath the disc through the denticulations in the rim or flange b
of the float F in order to escape through the pipes tt into the cylinder A whence it
passes through the pipe T to the burners. As it is directly in communication with
the mercury of the regulator in the cylinder, the operation continues to be that above
.described as regards proportionment to the consumption. The cocks R1 R2 R³ R*
are draining and cleansing cocks whilst R is an overflow cock.
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 :-
1. A process for carburetting gas or a mixture of several gases, characterised by
their mixture with vapours of volatile substances of the CHO series, more
particularly methylic alcohol.
2. The method of effecting the carburetting process above mentioned, characterised
by placing the gas or mixture of gases in contact with one of the volatile substances
of the CHO series, more particularly methylic alcohol, by washing in or passing
through or merely over the surface of the extracting or purifying liquid, either
mixed with other ingredients or not, for freeing the gases from their impurities.
3. For the purpose of carburetting a gaseous mixture in accordance with the
process above described, the admission of the mixture, either previously purified or
not, into a closed vessel partly filled with alcohol and traversed by escape pipes for
the mixture of gas and of the vapours received in a vessel of constant capacity
which is in communication on the one hand with the burners and on the other, with
one of the columns of a mercury communicating vessel the other column of which
causes the passage for the admission of one of the gases into the mixing apparatus
to vary with the object of proportioning the mixture according to the consumption..
Dated this 28th day of June 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.