IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING AND INCREASING THE LIGHT POWER OF ILLUMINATING GAS
Year: 1878

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 the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PURIFYING AND
INCREASING THE LIGHT POWER OF ILLUMINATING GAS." A communication
from abroad by Orazio Lugo, of Flushing, State of New York, United States
of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1878.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PURIFYING AND INCREASING THE LIGHT POWER OF ILLUMINATING GAS."
A communication from abroad by Orazio Lugo, of Flushing, State of New York,
United States of America.
The Invention consists,―
First. In purifying illuminating gas by passing the same through bone-black or
animal charcoal, whereby foreign substances, such as sulphur and ammoniacal
compounds and so forth, are separated from the gas.
Second. In carburetting gas by passing it through bone-black or animal charcoal
which has been impregnated or saturated with hydrocarbons.
Illuminating gas is now manufactured by the destructive distillation of coal, and
by purifying the products of such distillation by passing them through water, lime,
and oxide of iron, etc., etc.
Illuminating gas is also manufactured by the decomposition of steam or water in
contact with highly heated carbon. This gas, generally known as "water gas," is
further carburetted by means of or with dydrocarbons, after which it is heated in
retorts to a high degree of heat, and then purified by about the same means as those
applied to the purification of gas produced by the destructive distillation of coal.
Die 71

page_text: Notwithstanding the known processes applied for the purification of gases
produced in this manner, large amounts of impurities, such as sulphur, ammoniacal
and other compounds, remain in the gas, which thereby becomes destructive to
health and property.
-
By the application of the improved process such objectionable impurities are
removed, and this is effected by passing the gas, after it leaves the hydraulic main,
through purifiers of bone-black or animal charcoal contained in filters, tanks, or
other suitable vessels. The number or capacity of said purifiers depends upon the
quantity of gas to be purified. The bone-black or charcoal contained in these
purifiers decomposes and absorbs the ammoniacal and sulphur compounds from the
gas, and also deodorizes them. After a certain length of time the bone-black or
animal charcoal looses its power of absorbing said impurities. In this case it is
washed with steam or water and revivified, the same as is done in sugar refineries,
when it regains its purifying power and is fit to be used over again. The wash
waters are valuable as they contain ammoniacal salts which are easily extracted
from the water by evaporation.
In the manufacture of "water gas" as refered to above, the gas is passed after
it leaves the generators through filters or other suitable vessels filled with bone-
black or animal charcoal for the sole object of purifying it, as described in the case
of coal gas, or the charcoal contained in such filters or purifiers is impregnated or
saturated with hydrocarbons for the purpose of purifying and carburetting it at a
single operation, after which it may or may not undergo the usual process of
superheating or so-called "fixing;" or I may also pass the already carburetted
water gas through purifiers containing bone-black or animal charcoal."
So far the application of the Invention to the manufacture of gas has been
described, its application to the purification of all kinds of illuminating gas can be
effected by placing vessels containing bone-black or animal charcoal in every place
where gas is consumed. These vessels or purifiers are to be so situated that the
gas can enter them either before going into the meter or after having passed
through the meter, but before escaping from the burners, one or more of these
purifiers can be used, some of which may only contain bone-black or animal
charcoal, while one or more of them may contain bone-black or animal charcoal
saturated or impregnated with a suitable hydrocarbon for the purpose of further
increasing the illuminating power of the gas.
The animal charcoal or bone-black may be used alone, but if combined with other
substances such should be chosen as will not detract from the properties of the
bone-black or prevent its advantageous revivification.
The following is claimed as the Invention,-
First. The process of purifying gas, which consists in passing the same through
animal charcoal or bone-black, substantially as described.
Second. The process of purifying and enriching gas at a single operation, which
consists in passing the same through animal charcoal or bone-black which has
been impregnated or saturated with a suitable hydrocarbon, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal. this Twelfth day of November. A.D. 1878.