IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND IN THE APPARATUSES USED THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 18, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 5, Piccadilly,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND IN THE APPARATUSES USED
THEREFOR." A communication from George Spring Dwight, of Stockholm,
in the Kingdom of Sweden.
Sealed the 25th June 1880, and dated the 29th December 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henri Adrion Bonnevillo at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December 1879.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 5, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS, AND IN THE
APPARATUSES USED THEREFOR.' A communication from George Spring Dwight,
of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden.
"
It is very desirable to have in practical operations a furnace for the generation
of combustible gases, wherein different carbonaceous and hydrocarbon materials
may be used successfully and various gases produced, and such furnace should be
substantially and simply constructed, and in a manner calculated to most
thoroughly utilize the heat generated and prevent loss by radiation. The accom-
panying plans and descriptions illustrate an example of a furnace which fulfils
these various conditions.
Fig. 1 represents an interior plan; Fig. 2 an exterior plan; Fig. 3, a side
sectional interior view; Fig. 4, a side sectional external view, and Fig. 5 an end
sectional interior view.
A is the iron casing or shell, and A¹, A, are the walls and partitions of fire-brick;
B is the primary combustion chamber wherein the fuel is burned upon the
hydraulic grate S, if a grate is required, which is not always the case. This
chamber is provided with a slide or door a at the top for charging the fuel, and a
door or doors c to give access to the grate for cleansing. This door c may be made
large enough to give access also to the ash-pit c¹, but in this Drawing such access is
had by means of the door c², from which point the entire space under both the
chambers C and B is reached. The chamber B is connected with chambers C, D.

page_text: and E, wherein secondary combustion is maintained by the ignition of the gases
escaping from the fuel burning in chamber B. These chambers C, D, and E are
filled with refractory material closely placed, so that the heat of the burning or
escaping gases shall be absorbed and afterwards used in gas-making. B is con-
1.ected with D by an opening D¹, and with E by the passage E¹; B is connected
with C by the ash pit c². Both the chambers C and E have an outlet at their top
for the waste products of combustion, and these outlets are closed or opened by
covers or valves a² and a³; C has also a gas outlet F, and there is another gas
outlet F¹ at the base of chamber E. The cover G gives access to the top of
chamber D for repairs; H is a blast pipe furnishing air to chamber B or C as
Imay be required, and H' a similar pipe supplying it to B or D, J is an apparatus
for supplying pulverized or fine carbonaceous material into the upper part of
chamber B fitted with a sliding door or cover a¹; K is an inlet pipe for furnishing
steam to E; K¹ is a similar pipe for supplying steam to chamber C; L is an inlet
pipe for introducing fluid hydrocarbons into the upper part of chamber B; M is an
inlet or injector for supplying fluid hydrocarbons at the base of chamber C; o, o,
are peep-holes for watching the heat of the interior.
The operations of this compound furnace are as follows:-1st. When it is
intended to make a non-luminous gas from lump-coal a fire is kindled in chamber
B, the valve as being opened and a and a closed. Blast is then applied at H to
stimulate the combustion of the fuel, and at H¹ to burn the gases of partial com-
bustion carried over into D and E. When a sufficient heat has been attained in
B, D, and E, the valve a³ is closed, that at F in chamber C is opened, blast having
first been shut off. Steam is introduced at K which passing through the mass of
heated refractory material in E and D becomes heated, and passes into B through
the opening D' Here it descends through the incandescent coal and decomposes
into what is known as water-gas, which passes out of the ashpit into and upwards
through the chamber C, its sensible heat being largely deposited in the refractory
materials therein stored, and out by way of the valve at F to the holder or place of
use. When the heat of the coal has been reduced below the point necessary for
economical conversion the steam is shut off, the valve at F is closed, the cover a² is
opened, blast is applied at H' and afterwards at H, by which means the combustion
of the coal is stimulated from above, and the resulting products are burned in
chamber which thereby attains additional heat. By introducing the air first
at H¹ the inflammable gases remaining in C are expelled without explosion.
When the heat of the furnace is sufficiently restored the air is shut off, a³ is
closed, the valve at F¹ is opened, steam is admitted at K' which descends through
the hot bricks in C, passes upwards through the grate S into the coal, and there
becoming decomposed passes through D and by way of E¹ out of the valve F' to
holder or place of use.
2nd When it is desired to utilize the slack or dust of any carbonaceous
materials these are placed in the apparatus or hopper J, the furnace is fired as in
the first case, though the chambers D and E are now driven to a much higher
temperature. When this is attained the blast is shut off, a³ is closed, the steain is
admitted at K, the screw or feeding mechanism in the hopper J is set in motion,
and the powdered or granulated fuel thereby introduced into the top of chamber B.
This meeting the intensely heated steam accomplishes a mutual decomposition and
the resulting gases escape at F.
3rd. Precisely the same operation may be employed when it is desired to
substitute fluid for powdered materials, except that in place of the hopper the
inlet-pipe L is used for their introduction, which by the heat of the steam are
decomposed into non-luminous gas.
And in this case the furnace may be used alternately, first, in the mauner just
described, and secondly, by introducing the steam at K¹ and the fluid hydrocarbons
at M.
4th. If it is desired to generate illuminating gases by employing powdered fuels
(as in case second) for the production of hydrogen and carbonic oxyde, and liquid

page_text: hydrocarbons for olefiant gases, then the operation of the furnace is the same as
described in case second, but in addition the chamber C must be heated by burning
therein a portion of the combustion products from the coal by opening a², and
blowing air through H¹ and H. When all the chambers are sufficiently hot steam
is admitted at K, which acquiring an intense heat and being decomposed with the
powdered fuel from the hopper, as before related, passes down through the coal on
the grate. As the resulting gases pass from below the grate to the space at the
base of chamber C fluid hydrocarbons are injected into them by the inlet M,
and these immediately vaporize and sweeping upward together with the water-
gases among the bricks in chamber C become thoroughly fixed as permanent gases,
and emerge at the valve F.
5th. Should it be desirable to effect the decomposition of the steam by the use of
fluid hydrocarbons, and the enrichment of the gas so derived by fluid materials also,
then the process is the same as in case fourth, except that instead of employing the
hopper J the fluid is introduced at inlet L for the decomposition of the steam, and
into M for the enrichment of the resulting water-gas, and the illuminating gases so
produced pass out of the furnace at F. This method may be alternated by intro-
ducing the steam at K¹, the fluid for its decomposition at M, and the fluid for
enrichment at L, the resulting illuminating gases passing out at F'.
6th. Where lump coal is used alone in the decomposition of the water and fluid
hydrocarbons for enrichment, the furnace is so fired as to heat all the chambers,
but not so intensely as in the former case (second). Air is then shut off, the
outlets except F¹ closed, and steam admitted at K¹, which becomes superheated
in chamber C, and ascending through the coals in B is decomposed, and in the
form of water-gas meets the vapours of bydrocarbons admitted in fluid form
into the top of chamber B by means of inlet L. These mingling together pass
through the heated refractory material in chamber D, where they are rendered
permanent and pass out at valve F¹. This plan of making illuminating gas may
be reversed and used alternately by entering the steam at K, the fluid hydro-
carbons at M, the gas being led out at valve F.
7th If it is desired to use solid hydrocarbon materials for the enrichment of
the water-gas instead of fluids, the saine operation is repeated as described in case
sixth, except that instead of using the inlet-pipe L the hopper J is used to feed
finely-divided coals or other substances rich in hydrocarbons, which meeting the
water-gas ascending from the coal are converted and impart an illuminating power
to it.
8th If it is wished to employ solid hydrocarbons for enrichment in a larger
form, as lump, cannel, or other rich coals, the chamber C may be emptied of its
refractory materials and may be charged at a³ with such hydrocarbons, and the hot
water-gas having been obtained from the contact of steam admitted at a³ with
either pulverized or fluid materials in the top of chamber B, or by passage through
the hot coals in said chamber, passing through the solid or lump hydrocarbons
stored in chamber C distils their olefiant gases and escapes with them at valve F.
The coke or residual from such coals or cannels may be drawn from the door c³, and
charged into the chamber B.
9th. Should it be desirable to produce a gas of nearly pure hydrogen, the kaolin
spheres or balls in either chamber C or E, or both, may be replaced in whole or in
part by iron or other metallic substance capable of sustaining sufficient heat, and at
the same time oxydizing and dioxydizing readily.
The furnace will be so fired that such substance will be heated to redness, and
the steam being brought into contact with it in that condition the oxygen of the
water combines with the metal, releasing the hydrogen, which passes onward
through the incandescent fuel on the grate and out by means of either outlet as the
case may be. If it is desired to enrich such gas by combination with carbon gases,
this may be accomplished by very highly heating the chamber D and introducing
steam at K. The hydrogen passing through D becomes sufficiently heated to
compel as it passes the incandescent fuel an association with itself of a proportion

page_text: of the carbon. The degree of enrichment will depend upon the quality of the fuel
employed, and in some cases it will be more convenient to inject into the heated gas
pulverized or fluid materials in the manner already described.
The metal after becoming oxydized may be reduced to the metallic state by
passing through it the products of partial combustion from chamber B.
It is possible to extend the period of gas-making in several of the cases above
described, and largely increase the volume of gas produced by introducing simul-
taneously with the steam and at the proper point a supply of air sufficient to
maintain the fuel in combustion and counteract the cooling influence of the steam.
This fact is mentioned to show the possibilities of the system, but the plan is not
in practice advisable, because such introduction of air necessarily involves a dilution
of the gases produced by admixture of nitrogen.
When the process of gas-making by any of the various plans described is
completed, and it is desired to stimulate the heat of the furnace by introducing
air and fresh fuel, the chimney valve nearest to and the blast pipe most distant
from the gas outlet last used should be first opened, as this will expel the
inflammable gases remaining in the furnace without explosion.
The furnace herein before described is given as an example, but it may be varied
in its shape to cylindrical, oblong, or polygon, and its chambers may be either
vertical or horizontal, or both, and these need not be combined in one structure or
enclosed in one casing, but may be separately erected.
The heat of the products escaping from such furnaces, or the heat from the
combustion of its gases, whether those resulting from the introduction of air during
firing up, or of steam afterwards, or of both simultaneously, may be variously
employed either to heat the incoming air, or the water, or steam, or all of them,
but such applications are not new and are not therefore claimed as a novel
Invention.
But a new and advantageous use may be made of such heat by applying it to
the distillation or generation of gases from hydrocarbon materials. It is well
understood that in the conversion of such materials for purposes of illumination
a large waste occurs because of the inconstancy of the temperature applied to them,
an excess of heat decomposing them in whole or in part into fixed carbon or
graphite, while an insufficient temperature converts them into condensable vapours
or tar. This loss is chargeable to the variability of temperatures inseparable from
the combustion of crude fuels, and is greatly reduced by the substitution of more
uniform heats, such as are often yielded by the escaping products of furnaces, or in
a higher degree still by that resulting from the combustion of a gaseous fuel. It is
evident that if the temperature necessary to perfectly convert a given quantity and
kind of hydrocarbon into olefiant and other luminous gases is ascertained by the
application of a known volume of hot gases, then it becomes possible by regulating
the supply of one to the other to obtain a continuous and constant result.
A further example of the applicability of this system to the simultaneous
generation of rich bydrocarbon gases in retorts is illustrated in Fig. 6, which is a
plan of a double furnace with retorts set within, and various connections, and
Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, one half interior, and one half exterior. The
water-gas is generated by any of the various methods already described in
chaniber B. Two furnaces are here combined in one apparatus, the superheating
chambers D and E being constructed horizontally with fire-clay retorts set within,
wherein either fluid or solid materials are to be distilled or gasified. When one
furnace is engaged in making water-gas the chambers D and E therein are reduced
in temperature by the steam passing through them, and the retorts therein give
out from the hydrocarbons within them vapours in excess of fixed gases, at the
same time the other furnace is being blown with air, thereby heating the retorts
within it to a temperature sufficient to generate permanent gases, and the vapours
coming over from the first furnace by means of pipe F into the hotter retorts of
the second furnace are thoroughly fixed. The water-gas passing out from B by
way of F and b, and entering the centre valve Z, passes thence into the least heated

page_text: and afterwards the most highly heated retort, and all tarry and hydrocarbon
vapours are converted, and the hydrogen is enabled to unite with the transforming
carbon while in the nascent state to form hydrocarbon gases. The centre valve is
so adjusted that both generators B may be separated or detached, and the gases
distilling in the retorts may pass directly to the gas-holder, so preventing any loss
of the rich hydrocarbons.
When the temperature of the furnace engaged in generating water-gas becomes
too much lowered the steam is shut off, the centre valve Z is turned, the chimney
slides being simultaneously shifted by a mechanical connection with the centre
valve, and blast is applied to reheat the furnace; steam now passes into the
other furnace, the whole process already described continuing in the reversed
direction.
The heat of the escaping products of combustion may be used to generate
steam in a non-explosive boiler M; K are pipes for conducting steam; H, for the
blast.
The retorts may if preferred be arranged vertically, or in furnaces quite separate
in construction from that employed in the generation of the water-gas, though such
separation will probably involve a loss of fuel. The arrangement shown in Fig. 6
and 7 may be varied, so that the different parts of the furnaces may be more
closely related, and the loss by radiation reduced. The plan for separately distilling
hydrocarbons may, as already mentioned, be still further varied by the separate
treatment of the bydrocarbons, which may be described without additional Drawings.
Any suitable retort may be set either vertically or horizontally within walls of fire-
brick, with a fire-space arranged for the combustion of any of the combustible gases
already described. These gases shall be supplied to said fire chamber in sufficient
volume and with such regularity as to maintain the retort at such temperature as
shall be required most economically to convert the hydrocarbon materials within it
into illuminating gases. The supply of such materials may be adjusted to the
distilling power of the gases in combustion about the retort. Especially if fluid
hydrocarbons should be employed will it be possible to so accurately adjust the
flow thereof into the retort to the heat of a fixed volume of the gases in combustion
as to obtain an almost constant result in the quantity and quality of the olefiant or
other gases produced. These gases may if desired be diluted by intermixture with
the water-gas by diffusion in a holder, or by any other means.
Having thus fully described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details above enumerated, as these may obviously be modified
without departing from the principle of the Invention, but what I claim is,-
1st. The compound furnace, herein before described, for the production of various
gases by the several methods described.
2nd. The production of illuminating gases by separately or otherwise distilling
the hydrocarbon materials by application to them of the heat of the products of
said compound furnace either in a sensible form or in combustion, or both, in the
Imethods described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventyening.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)