Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas from Fluid Hydro-carbons.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 8th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1887
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing
Gas from Fluid Hydro-carbons.
1, ARTHUR GEORGE MEEZE, of Redhill in the County of Surrey, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of
Apparatus for the manufacture of fixed illuminating gas from fluid hydro-carbons,
and relates particularly to improvements in apparatus in which shale-oil, petroleum
and hydro-carbons of a kindred nature are, together with highly heated water vapour
or superheated steam, injected into suitable retorts and dissociated at high
temperatures.
According to the system or process of manufacture I employ for the purposes of
this invention, the apparatus consists primarily of a steam and oil injecting or
aspirating device, and a decomposing retort. To increase the thermolysing efficiency
of the retort it may be fitted with impact devices or with deflectors of known con-
struction. Gas making plant of this comparatively simple type has hitherto proved a
practical failure in consequence of the difficulties experienced.
1. In obtaining from reasonably hot retorts a really fixed
gas.
2. In regulating and controlling the light giving quality of the product.
3. In keeping the retorts and fittings free from obstructive deposit.
4. In maintaining a regular action of the injector and consequently a continuous
production of gas.
My present improvements are intended to obviate these difficulties, and in carrying
my invention into effect I may construct my gas generator substantially as described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to Thomas Steven Lindsay and
numbered 6938 or in any other similar or suitable way. Instead however of passing
the gases direct from the generator to the condenser, gas holder, or distributing
mains, as contemplated in the invention of Lindsay, I combine with the generator a
suitable exhauster and motor, whereby I am enabled to dissociate the vapourous
contents of the retorts under a partial vacuum with important economic results. I
am aware that the use of an exhauster for removing the gases from ordinary gas

page_text: retorts is not a new device, and therefore, in order to make quite clear what I regard
as the novel features of my present invention, I will describe more fully the
nature of my improvements and the way in which they overcome the difficulties
hitherto experienced.
1. I have discovered as the result of considerable and costly experimenting that I
can dissociate mixed hydro-carbon and water vapours into a permanent fixed gas
much more efficiently than heretofore by maintaining the pressure in the retorts
very much below that of the atmosphere. Hitherto the purpose for which exhausters
have been used has been to "get away" with the gas already made, and thus to relieve
the retorts of undue pressure. Consequently the object has been principally keep
a level (or nearly level) guage on the retorts. In my invention, however, I work and
produce gas under a partial vacuum varying slightly with the oils used but always of
considerable amount. By this means I am able to accomplish in a degree never
before attained the fixing of so called oil gas. At the same time I also overcome
other difficulties incidental to the process of making gas from steam and fluid hydro-
carbons such as the removal of back-pressure, which by a serious retarding action
on the rate of dissociation has hitherto prevented the economical working of plant
similar to that described by Lindsay in the Specification referred to above; moreover,
by thus reducing the pressure I can fix the gas at a lower and less destructive
temperature than heretofore and thus effect a great saving in wear and tear of
plant.
2. By admitting air at some suitable point between the exhauster and the outlet
pipe, or into or near the last retort, I can by a suitable valve regulate the supply and
thus bring the gas down to any standard candle power desired. "Sometimes I admit a
little air simultaneously with the oil and steam. Thus I use the exhauster to draw
air at various points for diluting and chemically influencing the gas in process of
manufacture.
3. In retorts fitted with deflectors or with impact devices the back-pressure is
much increased and speedily results in the formation of a serious destructive deposit.
By decomposing the vapours under a partial vacuum this difficulty is removed.
4. The effect of back-pressure is not only to act directly on the rate of dissociation
and thus interfere with the continuous production of gas, but also to act indirectly by
disturbing the regular action of the injector. In my invention as here employed I
cause the exhauster to assist the injector and may even use it alone as an oil, or oil
and water-vapour feed.
I prefer to combine my arrangement of exhauster, retort, air valvo and injector
with a governor consisting of a small gas pressure holder balanced by a counterpoise
and open to the retorts, so that it may vary in position with the vacuum in them, and
in so varying regulate and control the speed of the motor by actuating a throttle or
feed valve or otherwise.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing
Gas from Fluid Hydrocarbons.
I ARTHUR GEORGE MEEZE of Redhill in the County of Surrey, Consulting
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 :—
This invention relates to improvements by means of which many difficulties hitherto
experienced in the manufacture of gas from steam and fluid hydrocarbons may be
overcome.
Heretofore, in manufacturing illuminating gas by the injection of steam together
with petroleum, shale oil, or hydrocarbons of a kindred nature, into heated retorts,
the process has proved a practical failure, in consequence of the difficulties
experienced :-
(1) In obtaining from reasonably hot retorts a really fixed gas.
(2) In regulating and controlling the light-giving quality of the product.
(3) In keeping the retorts, particularly such as are fitted with deflecting or impact
devices, free from obstructive deposit.
(4) In maintaining a regular action of the injector, and consequently a continuous
production of gas.
I have discovered that I can remove these difficulties, expedite the process of
gascous dissociation, and convert mixed hydrocarbon and water vapours into a fixed
and merchantable gas, much more efficiently, and at a lower and less destructive
temperature than heretofore, by conducting the operation under a partial vacuum.
Morcover, by reducing, and maintaining the pressure of gas in the retorts considerably
below that of the atmosphere, I am enabled readily to admit an induced current of
hydrogen, water gas, or air, or other suitable gas or vapour, either before or after the
gas is made, for the purpose of dilution, or for chemically influencing the oil gas in
process of manufacture."
Now in order to attain these desirable objects, I have devised, as an addition to
apparatus heretofore used in the manufacture of gas from liquid hydrocarbons, a
suitable exhauster and motor, together with a governor, which, as the pressure of gas
in the retorts varies, will control the speed of the motor, and thereby regulate the
action of the exhauster.
The apparatus thus constituted will then consist, primarily, of a steam and oil
injecting or aspirating device, and a decomposing retort, having its thermolysing
efficiency increased by a complement of deflecting or impact devices, to which is
added the exhauster, motor, and governor.
I am aware that in the ordinary process of making gas, exhausters are pretty
generally employed, and inasmuch as, in carrying my improvements into effect, I also
make use of an exhauster or its equivalent, but for a different purpose, I will proceed

page_text: to point out wherein the difference lies.-Hitherto the purpose for which exhausters
have been used, has been to remove the gas as it is generated, and thereby to quicken
its production, and also to relieve the retorts of undue pressure, and to keep the gas
from prolonged contact with the heated retorts, which contact is apt to induce
unprofitable decomposition. But the object heretofore has never been, as is the object
of my invention, to obtain a vacuum, or partial vacuum, within the retort, during the
process of converting mixed vapours of steam and fluid hydrocarbons into a fixed
illuminating gas, for the purpose of more effectually fixing the gas and of controlling
and regulating its merchantable character by the proportionate induction of diluents
or chemically active agents, and of preventing a deposit from being made, and for
other reasons hereinafter set forth. In fact, the use of an exhauster as herein
contemplated, would be mischievous in the ordinary process of making gas.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a general plan view of part of a gas-works
arranged according to my system, and Fig. 2 is a separate view, in sectional elevation,
on a larger scale, of a governor used in connection with the exhauster, and to be
presently described.
B is the plan of the retort setting, consisting of two benches of retorts of three
each. One hydraulic main is removed to leave the retort mouthpiece below it
exposed. is the steam and oil injector opening into an ingression pipe shown in
dotted lines at I, by means of which the vapours are conveyed to the rear end of the
retort R. O is the principal main, connected by the main ¹ with the condenser K.
-From K the main 02 leads to the exhauster E, from whence the main 0³ leads to
the drying box D.
The mains 02 03 are connected by a bye pass y provided with a check valve allow-
ing gas to shunt when the exhauster is not operating. The main O leads to the
meter M*, and the main 0° to the holder. t is an inlet or induction pipe supplied
with a regulating tap for admitting air, hydrogen, or water gas into the main O, but
this inlet pipe may open directly into the retort or ingression pipe, or at any other
convenient point. At t I have shown in dotted lines how the inlet pipe opens into
the retort when I admit hydrogen or water gas for chemically influencing the oil gas
before it is properly fixed.
The exhauster E is driven by a small steam engine C, through overhead shafting,
not shown in the drawing. G is the tank of a small governor shown separately at
Fig. 2, consisting of a gas pressure holder h, balanced by a counterpoise w, and
communicating, by means of a pipe p, with the hydraulic main and retorts, so that
the gas pressure holder varies in position with the exhaustion in the retorts, and in
thus varying, actuates the rod and the steam or throttle valve v, so as to regulate
and control the speed of the engine, and maintain a constant degree of exhaustion in
the retorts under varying conditions in the feed of steam and oil from the injector.―
x is a tap for regulating the flow of displaced air from the annular space of the
holder, and by means of which the sensibility of the governor may be adjusted, and
its too hasty response controlled, should any extreme variation of pressure occur.
By this means the reduced pressure of gas within the retort is maintained uniform,
and is adjustable to suit differences in the quality of the hydro-carbons used, and in
the proportions of the induced supply of air, hydrogen, or water gas, or other suitable
gases or vapours.-These proportions are only determinable by experiment, and
depend upon the candle power of the gas desired, and the quality of the hydro-
carbons employed.
Incidentally, my improvements overcome many difficulties peculiar to the process
of making gas from steam and fluid hydro-carbons, such as back pressure, which, by a
serious retarding action on the rate of dissociation, has hitherto prevented the
economical working of oil gas plant. Moreover, by thus reducing the pressure, I can
fix the gas at a lower and less destructive temperature than heretofore, and effect a
great saving in wear and tear of plant, and utilize iron retorts where only fire-clay
retorts were previously eligible. I also prevent the formation of obstructive deposit,
and assist and regulate the action of the injector.
The admission of an induced current of air, hydrogen, or water gas, for diluting or

page_text: chemically influencing the gas during manufacture, is, for the former, that is diluting,
preferably effected by the pipe t, and for the latter, that is, chemically influencing, by
the pipe t, so that the hydrogen or water gas may undergo thermolysis in the retort
in contact with the vapours of oil and steam, and thereby enter into new chemical
combinations.
The gas generating apparatus with which I propose to combine my exhaust
apparatus, and the device for regulating the supply of hydrogen or water gas or air
(for diluting the rich hydro carbon gas, as, or after it is generated), may be of any
suitable description, but I prefer either that described in the specification of a patent
granted to Thomas Steven Lindsay dated June 8th 1885 No. 6938, or that described
in the specification of a patent granted to me and dated September 29th 1886
No. 12340, or analogous apparatus in which provision is made, by the aid of
deflectors, for thermolysing the passing current of fixed gas and vapour; for, by the
application of the exhaust apparatus, I am enabled to reduce the back pressure, which,
by a serious retarding action on the rate of dissociation, has hitherto prevented the
economical working of plant fitted with deflectors.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and also the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for making gas from steam and fluid hydrocarbons, the combination
with the gas generating apparatus fitted with deflectors, of an exhauster and a motor
(with or without a governor) substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
2. The combination of the apparatus claimed in the first claim, with an air inlet or
induction pipe fitted with a controlling valve, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described.
3. The improved method or process of manufacturing a fixed illuminating gas from
steam and fluid hydrocarbons, viz. ; by injecting their vapours into suitable retorts,
and therein subjecting them to gaseous thermolysis under a partial vacuum, or
reduced pressure, either with or without an induced supplementary current of air,
hydrogen, water gas, or other suitable gas or vapour, substantially as herein described
and set forth.
1