Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 8th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 9th Dec., 1887
I, JOHN BIRCHALL, of Oaklands, Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of that kind of gas which is made in
what is known as a Gas Producer.
According to this Invention I construct an apparatus for the manufacture of gas
in such a manner that a simple chamber, or chambered erection serves as a continuous
alternating gas producer. I construct and arrange the apparatus so that the fuel is
maintained mainly at the points of inlet and outlet of the chamber.
In operation according to this Invention the air is introduced through a duct at
one side, or end of a chamber, passes through the fuel and then afterwards passes
through incandescent fuel at the other side, or end of the chamber and escapes into a
second duct. These ducts serve alternately as gas ducts or air, or air and steam ducts
according to which way the apparatus is working and they are controlled by valves.
An example of this apparatus may consist of a chamber which may be of oblong
shape and built of refractory material with a level floor, or instead of the chamber
being quite open and having a level floor, a body of refractory material may be
erected of say a triangular shape with its inclines so situated near the bases as to
form hearths (either with or without fire bars) which refractory material may have
pipes, or a vessel placed within it to raise the temperature of air, or water, or what-
ever they may contain and this body will tend to facilitate the purification of the
gas by giving the gas a further distance to travel through incandescent fuel, or the
chamber may contain a vessel near its centre for like objects. The walls of
the chamber at the points of inlet and outlet are arched, or supported at the bottom
so as to form the space for the air to enter, or the gas to escape and by the extension
of these spaces under and outside the walls, ducts connected with the flues and with
suitable doors and valves will be formed for the reception and conduct of the gas on
its way into the flues and for the air necessary for generating the gas and also for the
reception of scoria. Air at atmospheric pressure, or suitable blowing apparatus
would be provided giving the required quantity of air into both ends, or sides of the
chamber, but into only one of them at one time. The air is passed through the fuel
CO
1177

page_text: at one side, or end blowing up the fuel and generating gas which passes through the
fuel at the other end, or side, part, or all of which will be in an incandescent state.
At certain periods I propose to alternate this action but ultimately producing the
same result by passing the air in the reverse direction and so by this means keeping
up a sufficient supply of incandescent fuel. The fuel to this chamber is supplied by
the ordinary Bell and Hopper arrangement. I propose to form apertures in the walls
so situated that they will command the points in the interior at which the clinker is
likely to be formed, some of which apertures will be in a line with the interior walls
by which the clinker can be broken up and displaced without the necessity of opening
the furnace doors in the ducts, so that the operation of manufacturing the gas may
be as little interrupted as possible. The gas made by this apparatus will be of
superior description and may be used for almost every purpose where gas is used but
its illuminating and heating power may be further augmented by the introduction
into the chamber of any description of oil (or other equivalent material and through
this coming into contact with heated fuel, will be converted into gas which will mix
with that produced by the fuel in the chamber and go forward with it through the
incandescent fuel and thereby be thoroughly mixed and purified. Steam may be
introduced into the chamber for the production of what is known as water gas.
I prefer to use valves of circular shape and of suitable dimensions which drop into
and form a seat in a layer of sand. The valve is of hollow formation and is so
constructed that its bearing, or bottom edge is wide enough to have a good seat and
yet sharp enough to cut into the layer of sand into which it drops. The valve may
have corrugations indented deep enough, that it will, on being turned, carry forward
and distribute the sand into which it drops sufficiently deep to make a tight joint.
The valvo may be filled with water to keep it cool, or the valve may be formed of a
circular piece of iron with corrugations, or plain with a disc. The sand of the seating
on which the valves drop is supplied by channels made in the adjoining walls and of
sufficient number to ensure the whole of the seat being covered with sand. The
valves are so arranged that they can be turned round to ensure the proper distribution
of the sand and make a tight joint. As the sensible heat of gases made according to
this Invention will be very great, I may in some cases provide regenerators for
recovering and storing it and so provide for the use of the heat thus obtained to heat
the air employed for making the gas, or for burning with the gas, or for other
purposes.
A battery of gas producing apparatus according to this Invention will consist of
a number of chambers built side to side or back to back and the chambers, ducts and
valves, may be arranged in any suitable way or direction to form a convenient plant.
Dated this 8th day of February 1887

page_text: I, JOHN BIRCHALL of Oaklands, Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 the manufacture of that kind of Gas which is made in
what is known as a Gas Producer.
According to this Invention I construct an apparatus for the manufacture of Gas
in such a manner that a single chamber or chambered erection serves as a Continuous
Alternating Gas Producer. I construct and arrange the apparatus so that the fuel is
maintained incandescent mainly at the points of inlet and outlet of the chamber.
In operation according to this Invention air at atmospheric pressure or through
suitable blowing apparatus is introduced through a duct at one side or end of a
chamber and passes into fresh burning or live fuel becoming gas in the usual way
which afterwards passes through incandescent fuel at the other side or end of the
chamber and escapes by an outlet duct into the main; the apparatus being so
constructed that this action can be reversed by passing the air in the opposite direction
and so by this means keeping up a sufficient supply of incandescent fuel and ultimately
producing the same result. The fuel is supplied to this chamber by the ordinary
Bell and Hopper arrangement or any arrangement that will resist escape of gas
whilst feeding.
I form apertures in the walls so situated that they will command the points in the
interior at which clinkers are likely to be formed some of which apertures will be in
line with the interior walls by which the clinker can be broken up and displaced
without the necessity of opening the furnace doors so that the operation of manu-
facturing the Gas may be as little interupted as possible. The gas made as above
described and in this apparatus will be of a high degree of combustibility. Its
illuminating and heating power may be further augmented if desired by the intro-
duction into the chamber of any description of oil or other equivalent material, which
through coming into contact with the heated fuel will be converted into which
will mix with that produced by the fuel in the chamber and go forward with it
through the incandescent fuel and thereby be thoroughly mixed. The construction
of the apparatus is such as to enable the gases before finally leaving it to pass through
an incandescent body to insure the conversion of the Hydro-carbons into permanent
gases and rendering the gas substantially free from carbonic acid.
gas
An example of this apparatus may consist of a chamber which may be of oblong
shape and built of refractory material with a level floor. Or instead of the chamber
being quite open and having a level floor a body of refractory material may be
erected say of a triangular shape with its inclines so situated near the bases as to
form hearths (either with or without fire bars). This body will tend to insure the
conversion of the Hydro-carbons into permanent gases and to the production of gases
of a higher degree of combustibility by giving them a further distance to travel
through incandescent fuel.

page_text: The walls of the chamber at the points of inlet and outlet are arched or supported
at the bottom so as to form the space for the air to enter or the gas to escape and by
the extension of these spaces under and outside the walls, ducts (connected with the
flues and with suitable cleaning doors and valves) will be formed for the reception
and conduct of the Gas on its way into the flues and for the air necessary for
generating the Gas and also for the reception of Scoria.
The above specifies generally the nature and objects of this Invention but that the
same may be clearly and exactly understood I have annexed hereto 4 sheets of
drawings being examples of apparatus constructed according to this Invention and
embodying the node of operation and characteristics above specified. The drawings
form a part of this Specification and are marked with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those used in the following explanation of them.
Like letters are
used throughout the various views to denote like or corresponding parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a Gas Producer according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section through the apparatus at X X Figure 1 and
Figure 3 is detail of a valve and certain passages of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a cross section of a modified form of the Producer shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan in section of the Producer.
Figure 6 is a section of the Producer through X X Figure 5 and
Figure 7 a full plan of same.
With reference in the first instance to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, A is
the gas producing chamber having a lining of refractory firebrick, and a level floor B:
C, designate the passages or culverts through which the air is led to the chamber A
and the gas is taken from it. D D are the valves for controlling communication
between the passages CC¹ and the gas mains E E, F designates one of the air valves-
of the water lined type-for controlling the communication between the air main G
and the passages CC the said passages C C and main G being connected by the
ducts H. I are close fitting doors for gaining access to the passages C C¹ for any
desired purposes. J J are feeding hoppers of ordinary construction. K designate
stoking holes of ordinary type through which clinkers forming upon the sides of the
walls can be reached and removed.
In operation-the producer being supplied with fuel to the desired height and
ignited air is led from the air main G through one of the ducts H and so introduced
into say the passage C the gas valve D belongs to this passage and is of course closed
and the other valve D' open. The oxygen of the air in passing through the fuel-
assuming it to be incandescent first combines with the carbon of the fuel forming
carbonic acid and then in passing further through the fuel takes up another particle
of carbon forming carbonic oxide and enters the passage (from whence it is led
away by the gas main E' to any desired place. By the continuation of this operation
the fuel near and about the passage Cf would become partially cooled whilst that
near the passage C where the air entered would become highly incandescent, but
before the temperature of the fuel near the passage C has fallen below that sufficient
to cause practically all the oxygen or carbonic acid to be converted into carbonic
oxide the process is stopped and the valves all reversed. That is the gas valvo D1,
and the air valve F of the passage are closed and the gas valve D, and the air
valve of the passage Care opened thus now admitting air to the passage Cand
thereby the operation is alternated. By this means it will be seen that the gas in all
cases loaves the apparatus at that portion where the fuel is the hottest and con-
sequently assures as far as possible the conversion of all the oxygen of the air to
carbonic oxide and at the same time brings to an incandescent state the fuel at the
portion it enters the apparatus and prepares it for the alternation of the process.
The above description of the operation refers only to the gasification of the carbon
(and this would constitute the complete operation if coke and air were used to make
the gas).

page_text: But when coal is employed as the fuel the hydrocarbons given off pass down
through the fuel and before reaching the outlet, that is either the passage C or C¹
have to pass through a body of incandescent fuel which renders them all permanent.
When a portion of steam is used with the air as would occur if the air wore
delivered to the apparatus by a steam jet blower such steam would, in passing through
the fuel be converted into carbonic oxide and hydrogen.
In Figure 1 the division or body of brickwork herein before specified is shown in
dotted lines and designated L. To have access to the surfaces of this body for the
removal of clinker apertures are provided at the sides of the chamber A through
which apertures pokers can be inserted in the usual way to clean the surface of the
body L of clinker.
The modified example of apparatus according to my Invention shown in Figures 4,
5, 6 and 7 is of duplex form that is two gas producers or producing chambers A are
arranged back to back. In this example the admission of the air and the exit of the
gas are separated namely the air enters by the passages C, C and the exit of
the gas resulting from the passage of the air through the fuel takes place by
the passages CC³. It will thus be seen that the air has to take a diagonal course
through the fuel. The admission valves F and the doors I are disposed on the side of
the apparatus and a steam jet blower is placed between them. The dividing wall L
is in this case provided as shown. The ends of the air ducts H are provided with
doors by which additional means of gaining access to the chamber A is provided.
The division wall L is of such a height that the run or length of travel for the air
and gases from one of the air inlets H to the corresponding gas outlet (2 in the other
and opposite portion of the chamber A shall be such as will convert all the oxygen
of the air to carbonic oxide and the hydrocarbon gases renderd permanent.
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. In the manufacture of "producer-gas" effecting the production of such gas by
passing air or air and steam through fuel contained in a chamber (such as A) in
alternate courses or directions such air or air and steam being introduced at one side
or end of the chamber and leaving at the opposite side or end of such chamber
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A gas producer consisting of a chamber such as A provided with air and gas
passages such as described whereby air or air and steam may be passed through the
fuel in such chamber in alternate courses or directions as, or substantially as set
forth.
3. The gas producer herein described consisting mainly of a chamber of brick-
work A (with or without a division L) having passages C and O' air valves F F gas
valves DD and mains E E¹ charging hoppers J J and cleaning apertures, all
arranged constructed and operating substantially as set forth with reference to
Figures 1. 2, and 3 of the drawings.
4. The gas producer herein described consisting mainly of a chamber or chambers
such as A of brickwork, having a dividing wall or walls L air valves Fair
passages CC gas valves D D and passages (2 (13 charging hoppers J J and
cleaning apertures K all arranged, constructed and operating substantially as set
forth with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
Dated thin 7th day of Navamhan 1007