Improvements in Gas Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1899
Improvements in Gas Generators.
We, WILLIAM JOHN MCCLURG, Secretary, of 500, Southfield Street, Pittsburg,
Pa., U.S.A., and COMMODORE RUSSEL MILLER, Inventor, of Hillsboro, Ohio, U.S.A.,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of gas generators for producing gas from
oil and it has for its object to provide improvements whereby the efficiency of the
working of the apparatus is greatly increased.
The invention comprises a suitable shell or casing, having a partition wall
which forms two generating chambers having independent fire-places and ash-pits;
the latter being connected by valved openings. Openings are also made therein
to permit steam to be injected. Onenings are also provided for the insertion of
blast pipes through which air is iniected to the ash-pits. The two generating
chambers are connected by valved passages at their lower ends, and also with
pipes for injecting steam into their upper and lower ends. Blast pipes are also
entered into the lower ends of the generators to force air therein. Valved passages
lead from the upper ends of the generating chambers to the place of use or storage.
Two carburetting chambers are provided, and are each connected at their lower
ends, and provided with valved connections to one of the generating chambers.
Pines enter the upper ends of the carburetting chambers and enable oil to be
injected therein onto trays which are placed so that the oil drips from the top
tray to the one next below it; a large surface of the thinly distributed oil being
thereby exposed to the heat. The upper ends of the carburetting chambers are
connected by valved passages with the gasometer or place of use. A safety valve
is placed near the upper ends of the carburetting chambers.
An alternative form of the generator consists of a furnace over which two cham-
bers are arranged and connected thereto and with each other at points above the
normal fuel level. Spirally arranged passages enable oil to be injected into the
chambers onto a spiral ledge surrounding and secured to a hollow spindle by which
the ledge is rotated. Passages are arranged around the chamber to permit the
escape of the gas generated to the place of storage or use.
1000
R. RAINSFORD.
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in Gas Generators.
We. WILLIAM JOHN MCCLURG, Secretary, of 500, Southfield Street, Pittsburg,
Pa., U.S.A., and COMMODORE RUSSEL MILLER, Inventor, of Hillsboro, Ohio, U.S.A.,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
Price 8d1

page_text: to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in apparatus for
the manufacture of fuel and illuminating gas, and has for its object a construc-
tion, whereby the gasses arising from the distillation of coal and the decomposi-
tion of steam. are thoroughly combined and rendered fixed and whereby such
gasses, when poor in illuminating properties, can be enriched to any desired
degree.
In general terms the invention, consists in the construction and combination
substantially as hereinafter more fully described and particularly claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1
is a sectional elevation of a producer constructed in accordance with my inven-
tion; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional
plan; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a further modification of the construction
shewn in Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views; Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation
of an alternative form of the apparatus; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the
same, the plane of the section being indicated by the line II-II Figure 7: Fig. 95
is a similar view, the plane of section being indicated by the line III-III Fig. 8;
Figure 10 is a sectional plan view, the plane of section being indicated by "the
line IV-IV Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 12. is a
sectional plan, the plane of the section being indicated by the line VI-VI,
Fig. 7; and Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modification in the
manner of connecting the generating and carburetting chambers.
In Figs. 1 to 6 my improved producer consists of the fire chamber 1, in which is
maintained a deep bed of coke, and the fixing chambers 2 and 3. Within the.
chambers or compartments 2 and 3 are arranged retorts 4, which extend entirely
through the chambers and are provided at their upper ends with charging, hoppers 5,
and their lower ends, extending as shewn in Fig. 1, outside of the chambers, are
provided with suitable closing devices 6.
Immediately below the lower ends of the retorts are arranged hoppers 7, con-
nected by passages 8 with the interior of the fire chamber, and adapted to receive
coke as it is discharged from the retorts and direct it into the fire chamber.
A spiral passage or conduit is formed in each of the chambers 2 and 3 by, a
continuous vane.9 arranged spirally around the retort and extending transversely
from the exterior wall of the retort to the interior wall of the chamber. This vane
or spiral partition consists of a series of sections 10, as shown in Fig. 6, formed of
fire-clay or other material capable of withstanding a high heat. The outer and
inner edges of the sections 10 are supported by curved tiles 11 (shewn in Figs. 1
and 5) which, in turn, are supported by the sections forming the turn of the spiral
next below. This construction and arrangement permits of the quick and easy
removal and replacement of the vanes.
The hoppers 5 and 7 are provided with closing slides 12 and 13 respectively, to
prevent the escape of gasses from the retort and fire chamber.
It will be noticed that in the construction shewn in Fig. 1 the chambers 2 and 3
are formed in separate structures and that the side walls of the recess 14 between
said structures are lined with sheet metal to prevent the percolation of oil through
the walls of the chamber into the recess.
As shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, the chambers 2 and 3 may be formed on opposite
sides of a single retort 15. The producer is preferably made oval in cross section,
as shewn in Fig. 3. and divided into two chambers by a similarly shaped retort
arranged centrally in the producer above the fire chamber and the wing walls 16,
extending from the sides of the retort, preferably in planes corresponding approxi-
mately to the major axis of the retort and producer. The lower end of the retort 15
is supported by an arch 17, forming the top of the fire chamber 1, which is placed
in communication with the chambers, 2 and 3 by ports 18, formed through the
arch 17. The baffle plates 20 are placed in zig-zag order and are supported by
corbals 21 on the side walls of the chambers 2 and 3.

page_text: The tortuous or spiral passages formed by the vanes 9 afford a very large surface
for the vapourization of the oil in one of the chambers and the fixing of the gases
in the other chamber. This construction can be employed without the coking-
retort, if desired, as shewn in Fig. 4.
In using the apparatus shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the fuel chamber is charged
with coke or other suitable carbonaceous material, which is brought to a state of
incandescence by a blast of air introduced into the ash pit below the grates, and
coal of suitable quality is charged into the retorts, and the volatile matters driven
off by the heat from the gasses and products of combustion passing through the
chambers 2 and 3. The gasses generated in the retorts can be employed for
illuminating purposes or can be mingled with the fuel gasses generated in other
portions of the apparatus, by connecting the outlet pipe 26 from the retort with
the mains 25 from the fixing chambers or in any other suitable manner.
As soon
as the charge in the retorts has become sufficiently coked the lower ends of the
retorts are opened, if the apparatus shewn in Fig. 1 is employed, so that the coke
can pass from the retorts to the fire chamber.
In making fuel gas, steam is introduced below the grate of the fire chamber
by the pipe 23, and is decomposed as it flows up through the incandescent coke in
the fire chamber. As the gasses, during the upward flow of the steam, reach the
top of the fire chamber, they mingle with gasses produced by the volatilization of
oil as it flows down along the vanes or baffle plates in one of the chambers, as 2.
These mingled gasses then pass up through the other chamber 3, where they become
thoroughly commingled and fixed. Each of the chambers is provided at its upper
end with a pipe 24 for the introduction of oil and with a conduit 25 for conduct-
ing the gasses to a place of use or storage. In the operation described, the oil
pipe 24 of the chamber 2 would be opened and the outlet conduit closed, while in
chamber 3 the oil pipe would be closed and the conduit opened. When it is desired
to reverse the operation of the producer, the above described positions of the valves
of the oil feeding pipes and the outlet conduits are reversed. The same process
applies to the construction shewn in Fig. 4, but the gas is formed by the steam,
and oil, and products of combustion in the furnace only; the coking retorts being
dispensed with.
In the constructions shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the
lower end of the coking retort is not closed, the charge therein being supported by
the charge in the fire chamber and dropping down as the coke is consumed in the
fire chamber.
In the alternative forms of the invention shewn in Figs. 7 to 13 the fuel cham-
bers 35 and 35 are charged with fuel, preferably coke, and when the charges have
been brought to a state of incandescence by an admission of an air blast through
the pipes 36 and 36, which are provided with regulating valves 37 and 37ª, a
suitable quantity of coal is charged into one of the chambers as 35 through a
feed hopper 38 and the valves 37, 37, closed. Steam is now forced into the
chamber 35 through the pipe 39 entering the chamber above the normal level of
the fuel. The steam passes down through the incandescent fuel in said chamber
into the closed ash-pit 40, thence through the opening 41 in the partition between.
the ash pits 40, 40 into the latter and thence up through the incandescent fuel
and distilling coal in the fuel chamber 35. The steam in passing down through
the incandescent fuel in chamber 35 is decomposed, and hydrogen and carbon
monoxide gasses are formed. These gasses are further heated in passing up through
the incandescent fuel in chamber 35 and assist, materially, in the distillation of
the coal in said chamber. The gasses produced by the decomposition of the steam
and distillation of the coal are thoroughly commingled in the chamber 35 and
escape therefrom through the pipe 42 to tank 43 and thence through the pipe 44
to the scrubbers or holders. The pipes 42 and 42ª project down nearly to the
hottom of the tanks 43 and 43ª and are connected by branches to the pipe 44 as
shewn in Fig. 7. As soon as the charge in the chamber 35 is reduced in temperature
to such a degree as to render it incapable of decomposing the steam, the valve in

page_text: pipe 39 and the valve 45, controlling the opening in the partition between the
ash-pits, are closed. As the charge in chamber 35 was not chilled, but further
heated by the passage of the hot gasses from chamber 35, the heat thereof can be
used for the decomposition of an additional quantity of steam, which is admitted
into the ashpit 40° through the pipe 46°. After the steam has been cut off from
the chamber 35 and the valve 45 closed the valve 37 is opened to blast up the charge
in the chamber 35, and as soon as the charge in the chamber 35 has been cooled
down by the passage of steam, by which time the coal charged thereinto at the
beginning of the operation, will have been coked, the valve in steam pipe 46°
is closed and the valve 37 in the blast pipe 36" is opened to blast up the charge
in chamber 35. During the blowing up of the charge in chambers 35 and 35°
the valves 47 and 47" in pipes 42 and 42 are closed, and the valves 48 and 48* in
the vertical pipes 49 and 49ª are opened so as to permit of the escape of gasses pro-
duced in the blowing of the charges. As soon as the charges in the fuel chambers
have been brought to the desired state of incandescence the valves 37, 37ª,
and 48, 48, are closed and a suitable supply of coal is charged into the chamber 35.
Steam is next admitted into the chamber 35 through the pipe 39 and the valves 45
and 47 are opened. The steam is now decomposed in chamber 35ª, and the result-
ing gasses pass up through the chamber 35, where they commingle with the gasses
distilled from the coal therein, the combined gasses escaping through the pipe 42
and tank 43 to the pipe 44, as herein before described. When it is desired to
enrich the gasses generated in the manner described, the valves 47 and 47* are
closed and the valves 50 and 50% in branches 51 and 51°, connecting the pipes 42
and 42 with carburetting chambers 52 and 52, are opened. These carburetting
chambers are preferably built on top of the fuel chambers from which they are
separated by an arch 53 as shewn in Figs. 8 and 9. The chambers are connected
at their lower ends by a passage 54, and each of the chambers is provided with
a series of inclined overlapping baffle plates 55. These baffle plates are centrally
supported by a wall 56 built on arches 57 at the lower ends of the chambers. As
shewn in Figs. 8, and 9, the supporting wall does not extend above the upper baffle
plate, and openings 58 are formed under the arches 57, thereby permitting of free
communication between the two compartments of each chamber.
In describing the operation of the carburetting apparatus it will be considered
that gas is being generated in chamber 35. The valves 47, 47* and 48, 48" in the
pipes 42 and discharge pipe 49 are closed and the valve 50 in branch pipe 51 is
opened, thereby permitting the gasses to flow into and up through carburetting
chamber 52, at the same time oil is forced through the pipe 59 into the upper
end of chamber .52 by means of fluid pressure connected to the injector by
a pipe 60. The oil is partially vapourized by the steam and partially by the
highly heated baffle plates 55. The oil and gasses flow down along the baffle
plates of chamber 52 when they meet and commingle with the gasses from the
fuel chamber 35. The commingled gasses flow up between and along the highly
heated baffle plates 55 in chamber 52, whereby they are more thoroughly mixed
and rendered stable. From the upper end of the chamber 52 the gasses flow
through the pipe 61 through the water seal in tank 43 into pipe 44.
When the gas to be carburetted is generated in chamber 35, the valves 47, 47
and 48, 48%, and 50, are closed and the valve 50° opened so as to cause the gas to
flow into chamber 52°. Oil is introduced in the manner described into the upper
end of chamber 52, and the gasses produced from the oil flow from said chamber
through passage 54 into chamber 52 and from the upper end of said chamber
through pipe 61" and water seal in tank 43", to pipe 44, which, as before stated,
conducts the gas to the scrubbers, holder, or distributing main.
When it is desired to heat the carburetting chambers and their baffle plates
(usually effected during the blowing up operation), the valves 47, 47, and 48, 48
are closed, and the valves 50, 50%, and 62, 62ª, at the upper ends of the carburetting
chambers 52. 52ª, are opened, thus causing the products of combustion from the
generating chambers to flow up through the carburetting chambers. In order to

page_text: insure the combustion of the gasses produced in the generating chambers during
the blowing up operation, air blasts are introduced into the carburetting chambers
through pipes 63, 63, and 64, 64ª. The pipes 63, 63, are arranged so as to meet
the gasses as they enter the carburetting chambers, and the pipes 64, 64", are located
so as to supply additional quantities of air to the gasses while passing through the
carburetting chambers. A thorough combustion of the gasses is thus provided for
and at such points as to utilize the heat generated by such combustion in heating
the carburetting chambers.
In lieu of conducting the gasses from the generating to the carburetting chambers
by pipes 42 and 51 as hereinbefore stated, openings 65 may be formed through
the arch 53, thereby directly connecting each generating chamber with the car-
buretting chamber above it as shewn in Fig. 13. The passage of gasses from the
generating chambers is controlled by valves 66, arranged in the openings 65.
As shewn in Figs. 7, 11, and 12, the water seal tanks 43, 43, are provided with
valved pipes 67, 67, for filling the tanks, and valved outlet pipes 68, 68", for
drawing the water from the tanks. A water gauge 69, 69, is arranged on the side
of each tank to indicate the depth of water therein. The tanks are also provided
with valved outlet pipes 70, 70, which are connected to a reservoir 71 for the
reception of tar, etc., separated from the gas during its passage through the water
in the sealing tanks. While it is possible to so arrange the apparatus so that both
pipes 42, 42, and 61, 61", will pass into one tank and be sealed by the water
therein, it is preferred to use independent sealing tanks, as shewn, for the reason
that they can be operated in such manner as to avoid the use of valves in the
pipes 61, 61, as, for example, if the gas is being carburetted in chamber 52 and
the gas flowing out through pipe 61, water is admitted into tank 43" until it has
attained sufficient depth to overcome the pressure of fluid in the carburetting
chambers, thereby compelling the gas to pass out through pipe 61 and tank 43,
wherein there is only sufficient water to seal the lower ends of pipes 42 and 61.
When the operation of the apparatus is reversed, the tank 43 is filled to a height
sufficient to counterbalance the pressure in the gasses in the carburetting chambers,
and the water in tank 43. is allowed to escape until the water therein will seal
the ends of pipes 42" and 61" without presenting any material resistance to the
flow of gas through pipe 61ª.
It is customary to employ steam for injecting oil into the carburetting chambers;
but its use is objectionable for the reason that the baffle plates and walls of the
chambers are rapidly chilled by the steam and further, as there is not sufficiently
highly heated carbon where the steam enters to properly decompose the steam and
combine with the oxygen of the steam a large percentage of carbonic acid gas is
formed, which renders the purification of the gas more difficult and expensive. In
order to avoid these objectionable features, a combustible gas under pressure
such, for example as is generated in the practice of the invention-is employed.
for spraying the oil into the carburetting chambers. The employment of gas not
only avoids the objectionable features above referred to, but is not attended by any
waste, as it passes back to the point from which it was drawn.
It is the usual practice in the manufacture of gas to force steam up through the
bed of incandescent material with the result of chilling the lower portion of the
charge to a greater extent than the upper portions, and in blowing up the charge
the air blast is also forced upwards. Hence the heat is carried away from the
portion of the charge which has the lowest temperature, so that there is always
a portion of the charge, approximately two or three feet, more or less, in thickness,
that is practically inoperative, not having sufficient heat to decompose the steam
and in some cases the temperature of this part of the charge is so low as to have
a chilling effect on the steam. It is characteristic of my improvement that the
steam is forced down during one portion of the operation through the incandescent
material so that the heat is carried down to the lowest portions of the charge, the
highest portions being chilled to the greatest degree, so that when the air is forced
up through the charge the heat will be carried up to and through the chilled

page_text: portions. It results from this method of operation that much less time is required in
blasting up, thereby effecting a saving of fuel, and the whole of the charge is
brought to an effective temperature. It is true that during the latter part of each
operation or turn the steam is forced up through one of the generating chambers,
thereby chilling the lower portion of the charge therein; but when the operation
of the apparatus is reversed, after blasting up each generating chamber; steam
is forced down through the same chamber, thereby forcing the heat down through
the previously chilled portion and raising it to operative temperature.
'
It is characteristic of our invention that the gasses generated by the distillation
of the fresh fuel pass directly from the generator as soon as formed so that all the
valuable heat and illuminating qualities of the gas are preserved. The distillation
of the fresh fuel is effected in part by the underlying bed of incandescent material
and the heat radiating from the walls of the generating chamber, but principally
by the hot gasses formed by the passage of the steam through the second body of
incandescent material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
(1.) In a gas generator the combination of a fire chamber or furnace, two cham-
bers or compartments arranged above the fire chamber and connected thereto and
with each other at points above the normal fuel level, and provided with spirally
arranged passages and pipes for introducing oil into and conducting gas away from
the upper portions of said chamber, substantially as set forth.
(2.) In a gas generator, the combination of a fire chamber two coking retorts
above the fire chamber, two chambers each enclosing one of the retorts and provided
with spirally arranged passages, substantially as set forth.
(3.) A gas producer having in combination two generators having a valved con-
nection with each other at their lower ends, pipes for injecting steam into the
upper and lower ends of the generators, blast pipes for forcing air into the lower
ends of the generators, two carburetting chambers connected at their lower ends,
valved connections from each generat to one of the carburetting chambers, pipes
for injecting oil into the upper ends of the carburetting chambers, and valved
connections from the upper ends of the carburetting chambers to the place of
storage or use, substantially as set forth.
(4.) A gas producer having in combination two generating chambers having a
valved connection with each other at their lower ends, pipes for injecting steam
into the upper and lower ends of the generators, blast pipes for forcing air into
the lower ends of the generating chambers, valved connections from
the upper ends of the generating chambers to the place of use or storage, two car-
buretting chambers connected at their lower ends and each having a valved
connection to one of the generating chambers, pipes for injecting oil into the upper
ends of the carburetting chambers, valved connections from the upper ends of the
carburetting chambers to the place of use or storage, and a valved escape opening
at or near the upper ends of the carburetting chambers substantially as set forth.
(5.) A gas producer having in combination a shell having a partition wall,
thereby forming two generating chambers having independent ash-pits, a valved
opening connecting the ash-pits, pipes for injecting steam into the ash-pits and
the upper ends of the generating chambers, blast pipes for injecting air into the
ash-pits and valved connections from the upper ends of the generating chambers
to the place of storage or use, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1898.
R. RAINSFORD,
Agent for Applicants...